Birding the Point Reyes National Seashore just northeast of the Gulf of the Farallones and southeast of the Cordell Bank.  This area is a migrant trap, a peninsula jetting out into the Pacific Ocean miles west of the mainland.  We will bird Douglas Fir Forest, Oak Savannah – rolling hills, Drakes Bay, Pacific Ocean beaches, Abbott’s lagoons, wetlands, streams and the Light House Point in search of Pelagic species from land. Airport pick-up & drop-off can be arranged.  Contact Rich at 925-353-0266 or Yellowbilledtours@gmail.com for early planning and to lock in your dates.

Summer 2021

• Small group trips are available with a maximum of 6 participants to allow for social distancing.

Client Testimonial 2021  –

Yellowbilled Tours Field trips – I wanted to take a minute to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Rich Cimino and Yellowbilled Tours.  We just finished a birding trip around the San Francisco Bay Area. Rich knows where the birds are to be seen, this along with his driving added to the time in each location. Rich not only put me on a lot of great birds (5 life birds), he was also very professional, knowledgeable and fun to bird with!  The birds were not only incredible, but the area, weather, and food was also amazing. I look forward to future adventures with Rich and Yellowbilled Tours.  Thanks again.

Brian Clegg

Michigan

Clients Testimonial – 2019 

October 18th, 2019: My wife and I hired Yellowbilled Tours for a one-day trip in Point Reyes.
Rich Cimino was everything we would want in a guide.
Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, pleasant. We had a great time and saw a ton of birds. A great experience.
I would certainly use yellow-billed again and would strongly recommend them to others.
Stewart Van horn, Pittsburgh / Loretto, PA..

January 18 2019: Rich Cimino led our small group of birders inland from the San Francisco Bay area and Point Reyes in Central California for two days. He started us off in grand fashion by getting us lingering looks at a couple of Ridgeway’s Rails.  He took us to several places that weren’t even on our radar and led us to many target birds much more quickly than we could have achieved on our own, if we’d found them at all, saving us much valuable time in the process.

When we told him we would be birding on our own in search of California Condors a few days later, he told us precisely where we could find them.  His directions were right on the mark and we found the birds effortlessly.  We probably would have missed them without his guidance.

In addition to being skillful with bird-finding, Rich is very personable and we thoroughly enjoyed his company. He has a deep knowledge of Central and Northern California that extends beyond birding expertise. He gave us recommendations on restaurants that led us to excellent dining, and a fabulous bakery that got our mornings off to a great start.

The next time I’m in the area, I will certainly team up with Rich for more great birding.

Ron Morris – Winston-Salem, NC

March 21 Field Trip Woodpecker Trail, Bear Valley, with Rich Cimino By Vicky Van Meter

About 15 of us enjoyed a walk through the meadows and oak woodlands along the Woodpecker Trail with Rich Cimino. This trail starts just south of the Bear Valley Visitor Center in the Point Reyes National Seashore in West Marin. The day was sunny and cool but rain the day before made the woods damp and perfect for birding. As we gathered in the parking lot we watched the violet green and tree swallows darting about. Entering a grove of old Douglas Firs at the beginning of the trail, the Acorn Woodpeckers were busy, as evidenced by the tens of thousands of holes in a granary in a huge Douglas Fir. Another tree was filled with the neat rows of well holes made by Red-breasted Sapsuckers. Sapsuckers feed on the sap and the insects attracted to it. Varied Thrush are moving north at this time of year and we spotted one in the tangled underbrush. We also heard or spotted American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Bewick’s Wren, Hermit Thrush, and Stellar and Scrub Jays. As we entered an open meadow we spotted a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers overhead. We continued to hear these birds as we continued our walk but did not get another look. A pair of Western Bluebirds perched on a coyote bush glowed in the sun. Entering the oak woodland we discovered a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglets, then we were entertained by the long songs of several Pacific Wrens chatting in the trees. Other species included Chestnut-backed Chicadee, Pine Siskins, Golden-crowned Sparrows, and California Towhees. As we ended our day, we spotted two Hutton’s Vireos out in the open sunlight in a Bay Tree near the picnic area. Rich is a knowledgeable and engaging leader and we enjoyed our spring day in West Marin.

 April 9th. 2020 – Mines Road, Livermore Alameda County with Yellowbilled Tours meeting location below.

Some birds are just easier to see on Mines Road than anywhere else in Alameda County, including Bald and Golden Eagles, Phainopeplas, Rufous-Crowned Sparrows, Wrentits, Yellow-Billed Magpies, Violet-Green Swallows,  and maybe even a rare Lewis’s Woodpecker or scarce Lawrence’s Goldfinch.  Join Rich Cimino for an all-day adventure to see what we can find.  The winding road climbs into the mountains for some 30 miles with little room to park on the shoulders.  The weather may be warm, but rain cancels  Bring food and water.  Two meeting spots 6:30 AM in Bon Air parking lot on Barry Ave.,Larkspur or Meet at the Jack-in-the-Box on N Livermore Ave. at 7:30 AM – call Rich for directions.  Rest room facilities are available at Jack-in-the-box and at The Junction (28 miles up Mines Road). Field trip finishes at 3PM. Field cost is $ 75.00 per person take 3 birders to go.

Winter 2020  Shorebird I.D. CLASS: An easy 3 Hour beginning birding class specific to Shorebirds at low tide.  Birding the mud flats of Corte Madera Creek and Eco-logical Preserve and other local Marin low tide areas. Cost $60.00 per person. Call to arrange timing for the low tide event and your time in the field.

Call Rich at 925-353-0266 or email yellowbilledtours@gmail.com

January 31, 2020

Birding San Pablo Bay for diving ducks and grebes, as well wading birds and Gulls species.
We will also look for the Puget Sound variety of White-crowned Sparrow.
Bring your scope, water, a snack, and a smile. We will not break for lunch. However there are restaurants nearby for lunch afterward.
There are no rest rooms available during this Bird walk. If you wish to create a map for direction use the Bay Café address which is 2165 E. Francisco Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901.
Field trip leader is Rich  Cimino
925-353-0266

| March 19, 2020 | Marin Audubon Bird walk along Corte Medera Creek and the mud flats of Niven Park 8:30AM.  Meet at Niven Park.  Field trip has no cost. This bird walk will have water birds, general bay area species with the possibility of early arriving  White crowned Sparrow – Pugetensis and the Golden Crowned Sparrow. Call Rich Cimino for directions.

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