EcoAvian Tours

10/11/2018

Join me on this excellent new tour covering the states of Salta and Jujuy in Northwest Argentina, a land of striking geology, world famous red wines, and the southernmost cloud forests in South America! Search for stunning species such as Red-tailed Comet, Andean Flamingo, Black-legged Seriema, Burrowing Parrot, Tucuman Mountain-Finch, and Crested Gallito -- then spend a few days birding and being in awe at the majestic Iguazu Waterfalls on the extension.

05/10/2018

Join me on this fabulous Naturalist Journeys birding and nature tour of Spain, one of the richest and most exciting countries for birders in Europe. Marvel at the granitic Sierra de Gredos, unspoiled countryside of Extremadura, teeming wetlands of Andalusia, and saline lagoons of Castilla-La Mancha.

Observe many of the species of classic western literature and mythology, such as White Stork, Common Nightingale, Eurasian Hoopoe, and Little Owl. Search for many of Europe's greatest birds such as Great Bustard, Bearded Reedling, Spanish Eagle, European Roller and so much more.

02/10/2018

20/09/2018

Join me next year on a Naturalist Journeys tour to Brazil's Pantanal and Atlantic Rainforest!

https://www.naturalistjourneys.com/tours/2019/09/29/brazil-s-pantanal

A pair of Blue-and-gold Macaws photographed in the Pantanal of Brazil on our last tour. These, along with jaguar, giant otter and giant anteater are just some of the iconic species you can find with 2019's tour guide Carlos Sanchez...

24/10/2017

Want to see Bachman's Sparrow, Florida Scrub-Jay, Mangrove Cuckoo, Spot-breasted Oriole, White-crowned Pigeon, Swallow-tailed Kite and more? Please check out my short 6-day/5-night set departure tour with Naturalist Journeys this upcoming year (Apr 27 - May 2, 2018) right at the peak of migration:

http://www.naturalistjourneys.com/tours/2018/04/27/florida-everglades-more

15/03/2017

Back in 2013, I spent four months living and guiding in Brazil. In September 2017, take the opportunity to relive the experience with me as we travel through the Pantanal, the Cerrado, and the Amazon Rainforest, staying at renowned lodges such as Cristalino and Pousada Piuval. Species we will target include Jaguar, Hyacinth Macaw, Cryptic Forest-Falcon, Black-girdled Barbet, Razor-billed Curassow and more among a plethora of jacamars, puffbirds, toucans, parrots, 40+ species of antbird...and even an outside chance for Harpy Eagle!

Contact me for itinerary and details, only 3 spaces left!:

[email protected]

03/02/2017

Trindad and Tobago: Birds and Turtles! June 13 – June 23, 2017

Ever thought about birding Trinidad and Tobago? The Tropical Audubon Society is now offering an exciting, comprehensive itinerary to the island guaranteed to impress with a colorful diversity of tropical birds, the two endemics (Trinidad Piping-Guan and Motmot), and cool specialties (Oilbird, White-tailed Sabrewing, etc).

Check it out! I hope some of you can join me:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/tas-website/comfy/cms/files/307/original_Trinidad_and_Tobago_Itinerary_2017_June_13_to_23.pdf

05/01/2017

Over the past couple of days, I has been a lot of fun helping Yve Nagy Morrell on her ABA Big Year quest. We tallied well over a hundred species in 48 ours, including Red-whiskered Bulbul, Spot-breasted Oriole, Groove-billed Ani, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Mangrove Cuckoo, and more. However, the coolest experience was spotting this Smooth-billed Ani while Yve was driving along at 45mph towards Everglades NP! "STOP, THAT'S AN ANI!," I exclaimed. The unique tail twitching behavior gave it away even from a distance.

31/05/2016

A few shots from guiding around South Florida this spring!

04/03/2016

Winter is the time to best time to be in South Florida for diversity with over 20 warbler species, half a dozen western flycatchers, and nearly all the specialties present. This past month's rarity highlights included American Flamingo, Zenaida Dove, and Smooth-billed Ani. In addition, clients in February were all spoiled with views of Snail Kite, Mangrove Cuckoo, Spot-breasted Oriole, and more. Who knows what spring will bring?

07/12/2015

Despite the incredible 8.5 inches of rainfall that fell over the Kendall-Tamiami area of Miami, FL on Saturday, I ended up having a very successful day with Timothy Gerla and Adair McNear of North Carolina. We tallied an impressive 89 soggy bird species, including a host of specialties such as Red-whiskered Bulbul, Spot-breasted Oriole, Magnificent Frigatebird, White-crowned Pigeon, Gray-headed Swamphen, and more. However, the star of the day was this lovely male wet Western Spindalis set against a gray sky. Photo Credit: Adair McNear.

13/11/2015

With its spectacular colors and bizarre bill, the Roseate Spoonbill is one of the most distinctive and photogenic wading birds in Florida. Out of the six species of spoonbill worldwide, this is the only one found in the western hemisphere and the only one that is decidedly pink.

05/11/2015

In addition to the vagrant Northern Wheatear, the Florida Keys continues to host an exciting mix of resident and migrant species throughout it's length, including this lively and cooperative Reddish Egret that decided to hunt within a few meters of the camera!

01/11/2015

South Florida has been blessed this autumn with several fantastic, continuing rarities: a Variegated Flycatcher, an austral migrant from South America; a Northern Wheatear, a bird that winters in Africa; and Smooth-billed Ani, now pretty much extirpated as a breeding resident in the ABA area. In addition, more regularly occurring species such as Shiny Cowbird, American Flamingo, Short-tailed Hawk, and Mangrove Cuckoo are also about -- it is an exciting time to be down here!

22/10/2015

It's not always just about the birds. While guiding clients for a day in Miami earlier this month, we happened to run into this very cool Snapping Turtle at Matheson Hammock County Park.

20/10/2015

Here is a 'Cuban' Yellow Warbler from one of my recent tours with Tom and Janet from Pennsylvania. A resident of red mangrove forest in the Florida Keys and parts of Miami-Dade, this vocally distinctive subspecies was only first found breeding in Florida in 1942.

21/07/2015

Smooth-billed Ani seen at Loxahatchee NWR while guiding Evan Speck on a fantastic two-day whirlwind tour of southeast Florida. Other highlights included Mangrove Cuckoo, Shiny Cowbird, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Spot-breasted Oriole, White-winged Parakeet, Black-whiskered Vireo, and many hatch year White-crowned Pigeons in suburban Kendall. July is still good for specialties!

27/04/2015

Restricted to southeast Florida within the ABA area, White-crowned Pigeon is a fascinating frugivore that shows behavioral convergence with some of the imperial-pigeons of Australasia. Contrary to recent studies, they do not only nest in mangroves in Florida. I have personally witnessed them nesting in suburban Kendall. - EcoAvian Tours (www.ecoavian.com)

22/04/2015

Egyptian Goose, the newest ABA-countable exotic (2014), has a burgeoning population in southeast Florida. In just a few years, it has managed to colonize many lakes and canals throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. How have they managed to be so successful here? For one, they make fantastic parents. Photo by tour participant, Linda Gammello

17/04/2015

Although at least partially resident in southeast Florida, it is much easier to observe Mangrove Cuckoo in May and June as they become more vocal. I photographed this cooperative bird in early June of last year. Have you seen this species in the ABA yet?

13/04/2015

Red-whiskered Bulbul, native to southern Asia, is a staple ABA-countable exotic on EcoAvian Tours (www.ecoavian.com). They inhabit only a limited stretch of suburban Miami, where they occur in lightly wooded neighborhoods with an abundance of fruiting trees and shrubs. I have also observed them taking nectar from the introduced bottlebrush trees.

12/04/2015

While guiding Linda and Sherry from Minnesota/Wisconsin yesterday on an EcoAvian Tour (www.ecoavian.com), we came across a fantastic mixed flock of Orange-winged Parrots and Red-masked Parakeets feeding low in the trees in Miami, Florida. What a great opportunity for photos!

06/04/2015

While guiding Paul Bedell from Virginia today, we came across a flock of Red-masked Parakeet raiding a feeder in South Miami. Endemic to the Tumbesian endemic region of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru (easy to see in Ecuador's Jorupe Reserve), this near-threatened species has established an introduced population of a few hundred individuals in and around Miami, Florida.

04/04/2015

On today's EcoAvian Tour (www.ecoavian.com), we had great looks at a vocalizing pair of Mangrove Cuckoos as well as a 'Golden' Yellow Warbler right within view of the Miami skyline. Then, we headed to Flamingo in Everglades National Park where we saw the continuing male Shiny Cowbird as well as this very cool American Crocodile!

03/04/2015

Glowing in the morning light, this Spot-breasted Oriole was very cooperative today for Mike Hensley on today's EcoAvian Tour (www.ecoavian.com) for South Florida exotics and specialties!

27/03/2015

Always a highlight on an EcoAvian Tour (www.ecoavian.com), Short-tailed Hawk is a beautiful and cleanly marked raptor that soars at great heights in search of avian prey. This hawk spends the winter hunting over both natural and man-made habitats throughout the southeastern part of the state -- commonly over suburbia where I live!

22/03/2015

How do you treat yourself after seeing a La Sagra's Flycatcher? Clients can always enjoy the rich Miami dining scene for lunch, such as this Peruvian Pisco Sour and ceviche spread. EcoAvian tours (www.ecoavian.com) knows how to dine!

19/03/2015

April is a great time to see Spot-breasted Oriole on an EcoAvian Tour (www.ecoavian.com)! First recorded in Florida in 1949, it has been gracing the mature yards and suburban parks of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties for several decades. Despite its brilliant coloration, it can be quite difficult to locate when not vocalizing. Carlos Sanchez

17/03/2015

Last week on an EcoAvian Tour (www.ecoavian.com), Terry Berch McNally from the London Grill in Philadelphia experienced a whirlwind day trip in southeast Florida. After catching up with exotics like Red-whiskered Bulbul and White-winged Parakeet and a fantastic ceviche lunch in Coconut Grove, we headed over to Green Cay Wetlands for wetland specialties such as this cooperative Limpkin! Carlos Sanchez

15/03/2015

While guiding Amy Simmons from New York today, we obtained fantastic views of the continuing La Sagra's Flycatcher at the Lantana Nature Preserve in Palm Beach County, Florida. We also swept up Purple Swamphen, Egyptian Goose, White-winged Parakeet, and Shiny Cowbird during the course of the day. Key West Quail-Dove tomorrow! Carlos Sanchez