FlyAway Birding

11/25/2024

FlyAway Birding just returned from a 12 day trip to birdiest country on the planet - Colombia! Our group of 8 people, plus local guides, had the pleasure of birding the Santa Marta region in northern Colombia, the Eastern Cordillera west of Bogota and the lush cloud forests of Montezuma Rainforest Lodge/Tatama National Park. We observed a whopping 451 bird species, including 41 species of hummingbird, 57 species of tanager and 43 endemic or near-endemic bird species. It was truly a remarkable trip and I’m looking forward to offering more Colombia trips in the coming years.

09/26/2024

Happy World Cassowary Day everyone! Who would have thunk it?
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/world-cassowary-day-2024-why-the-worlds-most-dangerous-bird-is-itself-in-danger
Definitely an amazing creature I would love to see one day (from a safe distance)! A trip to New Guinea anyone? These Greater Rheas from Brazil will have to suffice for now!

08/30/2024

Hyacinth Macaw was one of the birds our group was most hoping to see on our North Branch Nature Center trip to Brazil. The wetlands and savannas of the Pantanal of west-central Brazil are the final stronghold for this spectacular and vulnerable parrot. Loss of habitat and the illegal pet trade have drastically reduced the numbers of this palm fruit-eating specialist, as well as its relatives - Glaucous (probably extinct) and Indigo Macaws. It was breathtaking to watch these birds feed, fly and even come down to the river to drink! Photo credit: Miguel Carasol Gil

06/28/2024

I'm still reeling from our grand adventure in Alaska - the first FlyAway Birding trip to this magnificent corner of our continent. So many fantastic birds and mammals, incredible scenery and lovely companions! So hard to say what was the "bird of the trip", but the group especially loved the Horned and Tufted Puffins, the very vocal Bluethroat in Nome, the Sandhill Cranes around every corner, and the elegant Red-throated and Pacific Loons in their splendid breeding plumage!

06/17/2024

Our intrepid FAB travelers had an awesome time in Seward, the first leg of our Alaska trip. Our boat trip in Resurrection Bay featured a whopping 10 species of alcids, including Parakeet Auklet, Kittlitz's and Marbled Murrelets, and both Horned and Tufted Puffins. Red-faced Cormorant, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel and Northern Fulmar were also welcome sights. And add Hump-backed Whale and Orca to the list! Now onward to Nome!

02/23/2024

The inaugural trip of FlyAway Birding to Minnesota is now a wrap! Our intrepid group of 6, plus Sam and I, observed over 50 species of birds - not bad for a winter tally in the boreal forests, waterways and bogs of northern Minnesota - from Minneapolis to north of Duluth. We enjoyed 4 splendid species of owl in 4 full days of birding - Eastern Screech, Northern Hawk-Owl, Snowy and Great Gray Owl. Our quest to find a Great Gray Owl kept us vigilant until our last morning in Sax-Zim Bog, when we finally got good looks at a lone bird at dawn. Other avian highlights included Northern Shrike, Black-billed Magpie, Hoary Redpoll, Pine Grosbeak and magnificent looks at both Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers. And the mammals were wonderful as well - Snowshoe Hare, coyote and even a Pine Marten. Many thanks to our group for making this a great trip. I’m already looking forward to the next visit to Minnesota!

02/14/2024

02/10/2024

A fun day birding in Quebec and sharing in Jan's life Boreal Owl! The owl was partially concealed much of the time, but we still enjoyed some wonderful looks - even watching it feed! The Northern Hawk-Owl and Gray Partridges weren't too shabby either. Nous adorons les oiseaux!

01/26/2024

Not the best shot, but an amazing bird - Rosy Thrush-Tanager! It stayed put long enough for the whole group to get super looks.

01/25/2024

We've enjoyed a constant stream of wonderful birds on our North Branch Nature Center Costa Rica birding trip! Turquoise Cotinga, Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove, Resplendent Quetzal and 24 species of hummingbird are just some of the highlights so far. And we have a week to go! Thanks to Sam Darmstadt for these great photos!

01/21/2024

First full day here in Costa Rica. Leading a trip for North Branch Nature Center with a wonderful group of people. Already over 100 bird species, including White Hawk, Yellow-throated Toucan, Red-headed Barbet and so many more!

01/09/2024

Anyone out there have a passport and feeling super spontaneous?! We just had a last minute cancellation for our upcoming birding trip to Costa Rica. The trip starts January 19, but I thought I'd put this out there, in case someone desperately needs a serious dose of tropical birds and lush landscapes! Message me if you'd like more info!

Birding Costa Rica January 19 to 31 2024 $4,250 | ($500 deposit due upon registration) Single Supplement: $500 10 participants max Contact us to register Back to Adventures Afar C osta Rica offers both a wonderful introduction to tropical birding and a destination to return to again and again. Twice...