Eagle-Eye Tours (2024)

20/12/2024

Award-winning photographer, Liron Gertsman, led our Ecuador Bird Photography tour, with a group of 6 keen photographers. They captured some amazing bird images and learned about processing photos along the way.

See the trip report for more great images:
https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/ecuador-bird-photography-2024-report-with-images/

Gertsman Photography

20/11/2024

We had a fantastic tour exploring the best of Costa Rica's Caribbean region with a focus on North American migrants. It was an incredibly productive tour with a great diversity of raptors, migratory songbirds, and Neotropical residents. There were a number of highlight birds including American Flamingo, Brown Noddy, Blue-and-Gold Tanager, Black Hawk-Eagle, Resplendent Quetzal, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Black-crested Coquette, Yellow-naped Amazon, Great Green Macaw and Yellow-winged Flatbill.

Photos by Benny Jacobs-Schwartz: Emerald Tanager, Great Green Macaw, Violet Sabrewing, Blue-and-Gray Tanager

To read the full trip report, follow the link in our Bio.

16/11/2024

On our Patagonia Birds & Wildlife Tour with Canadian Geographic, we birded through Southern Argentina and Chile, visiting a variety of habitats from the Beagle Channel to the dry steppe off of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It was a great time to be there as most Austral migrants had returned to breed and the usual host of Boreal Migrants were wintering. Notable bird species include a Franklins Gull at Rio Grande, Elegant-crested Tinamou in the pampas of southern Chile, and a Blue Petrel in the Beagle Canal. Notable Mammal species include Guanaco, Puma, South American Sea Lion, and Big Hairy Armadillo.

Photos: Perito Moreno Glacier © Kaiden Bosch, Gentoo Penguin © Jdubcaptures, Puma © Kaiden Bosch

Read the full trip report: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/patagonia-birds-and-wildlife-with-canadian-geographic-trip-report-2024/

06/11/2024

In October we visited the Atlantic rainforest of Southeast Brazil. During the tour we saw over 60 Brazilian endemic bird species and a huge assortment of Atlantic rainforest endemics (shared with Argentina and Paraguay)! On our best days, we were recording around 130-150 species per day of mostly forested habitat and Intervales was the most species-rich.

Photos by Steve Ogle: Tanager feeding frenzy, Brassy-breasted Tanager, Festive Coquette, Giant Antshrike, Purple-crowned Plovercrest, Diademed Tanager

Read the full trip report here: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/brazil-atlantic-rainforest-trip-report-2024/

11/10/2024

The inaugural Eagle-Eye fall Nova Scotia tour went off with flying colors. We enjoyed beautiful weather as we travelled down the Annapolis Valley to Brier Island, and around the bottom of Nova Scotia back along the Atlantic coast to Halifax. On the way, we witness thousands of Semipalmated Sandpipers along the edge of the Bay of Fundy, migrating flocks of songbirds heading south for the fall, and a nice array of shorebirds, including the striking American Oystercatcher. We boated out into the rich krill waters of the Bay of Fundy to witness the waters teeming with 40 thousand Red Phalaropes, and get up close with Humpback Whales, South Polar Skua, and Great Shearwaters. We walked sandy beaches, enjoyed iconic lighthouses and quaint fishing villages, and enjoyed the fine food and hospitality that Nova Scotia is known for! Can’t wait for next year!

Read the full trip report and see more images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/nova-scotia-trip-report-sep-3-12-2024/

Photos: Great Shearwater © JS Lees, White-rumped Sandpipers © JS Lees, Semipalmated Sandpipers © JS Lees, Peggy's Cove lighthouse © LKoepke

02/08/2024

We had many highlights on our Belugas, Bears & Birds trip in July. We had superb cooperation from the Beluga whales that seemed intent on following us around on our second Churchill River excursion… pods of large white adults and a few grayish young trailing immediately behind the zodiac and surfacing all around us. And not only did we get a respectable 218 bird and 20 mammal species overall on this tour, but we were able to get amazing photos and incredible looks at most. And who can forget the owls - 4 Great Grays when we thought we’d be lucky to get one, 6 Great Horned, and a couple surprises… a Burrowing Owl in the southwest and a Northern Hawk Owl that zipped by in front of the van in Riding Mountain National Park!

Photos by Michael Kennedy: Beluga, Great Gray, Black bears, Parasitic Jaeger.

Read the full trip report and see more great images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/belugas-bears-birds-july-6-16-2024/

31/07/2024

We has a 2 successful tours to the High Arctic & NWT. Our first group observed 165 species of birds. Highlights were undoubtedly the very many sightings (14!) of Yellow-billed Loon, including a spectacular takeoff at close range, a bird fishing right next to the road and discovering a female on the nest.

Many shorebirds found during previous years proved to be still present, and witnessing the mating of a pair of Red Phalaropes was truly spectacular, as well as a sudden find of a Rock Ptarmigan on the side of the road. Truly, the tundra holds so many special birds, often familiar to us but never encountered in this behavior before.

On the mammal front, the hunting Eurasian Stoat, Arctic Fox and the often-docile Arctic Hares were amazing extra’s, as well as hundreds of Ringed Seals on the ice, which were barely present the year before.

Photos by Joachim Bertrands: King Eider, Yellow-billed Loon, Red Phalarope, Long-tailed Jaeger

Read the full trip report and see more great images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/high-arctic-northwest-territories-jun-29-jul-9-2024/

19/07/2024

The innagural Eagle-Eye Tours trip to Alaska visited Kenai Fjords, Utqiagvik (Barrow), and Nome and was a great success. Over 13 days we saw an incredible variety of Alaskan Habitats and incredible birds like Gyrfalcon, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Northern Wheatear, Steller's, Spectacled and King Eider, Arctic Loon, Snowy Owl, Parakeet Auklet, Horned Puffin, and many more. We also encountered a few rarities for the state including Curlew Sandpiper and Manx Shearwater.

In many cases, mammals stole the show and major highlights included a group of 5 massive Fin Whales, multiple pods of Orcas at exceptionally close distances and a group of 4 Polar Bears feeding on a Bowhead Whale carcass.

Read the full trip report and see more great images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/alaska-birding-tour-june-2024/

Images: Steller's Eider © Phil Chaon; Rock Ptarmigan, Snowy Owl, Pacific Loon © Benny Jacobs-Schwartz; King Eiders © Phil Chaon

17/07/2024

Our Newfoundland birding tour offers a remarkable diversity of spectacular scenery, a good chance at seeing iconic mammals like moose and caribou, plus a variety of seabirds and northern mainland birds.

On our June Grand Newfoundland tour, we got to see some of the fabulous seabird colonies that dot the Avalon Peninsula, including thousands of Northern Gannets, Atlantic Puffins, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common and Thick-billed Murres, as well as Razorbills and Black Guillemots.

But who could have expected some of the surprises we would get during this trip. Great moose and caribou, an incredible show of Humpback Whales at St Vincent’s beach, and a most cooperative trail-side Lynx! Overall, we had 112 species of birds, including a few write-ins to the list, the most significant one, of course, the unforgettable Steller’s Sea Eagle!!

Read the full trip report and see more great images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/grand-newfoundland-trip-report-jun-16-27-2024/

Images by Mitch Doucet: Steller's Sea Eagle, Willow Ptarmigan, Atlantic Puffin, watching Humpback whales from shore

07/06/2024

Our unique double-themed England Birds & Gardens tour combines birding and gardens in a delightful part of the world, southern England.

This year’s tour proved a great success, and covered everything you might expect from southern England at this time of year! Chocolate-box villages, weather that could be closer to either wintry or summery depending on the day, and of course world-renowned gardens full of spring-blooming shrubs and extensive, wilder, protected areas teeming with birdlife.

Beth Chatto’s, Barnsdale and especially Kew Gardens were a big hit, while avian highlights included fantastic views of specialities such as Great Bittern, Bearded Reedling and Eurasian Spoonbill.

Photos © Jim Vincent: Bearded Reedling, Eurasian Jay, Bressingham Garden, Wyken Hall

Read the trip report here: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/england-birds-gardens-se-trip-report-apr-27-may-8-2024/

03/06/2024

In April we ran two very successful birding and wildlife safaris to Tanzania. We explored the northern circuit of Tanzania, visiting Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, the incredible Ngorongoro Crater, the plains of the Serengeti and stunning Lake Victoria. We saw 49 species of mammals including the Big 5 and well over 400 species of birds.

Photos: Gray-crowned Cranes © R Friesen, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu © R Friesen, Elephant and calf © B Crowston, Pin-tailed Whydah © B Crowston, Leopard in tree © B Crowston, Zebras in Ngorongoro Crater © D Floer

Read the trip reports and enjoy some great images on our blog:

Tanzania (Mar 28 - Apr 11, 2024) Trip Report: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/tanzania-birding-wildlife-safari-trip-report-mar-28-apr-11-2024/

Tanzania (Apr 13 - 28, 2024) Trip Report: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/tanzania-birding-wildlife-safari-trip-report-apr-13-28-2024/

27/05/2024

Our Patagonia Photo tour this year was something different and special. We were a small group that navigated the Chilean and Argentine landscapes in search of wildlife and stunning visuals. From getting within five metres of a puma in Torres del Paine, to hiking around Lago Huemul for some of the most vibrant fall colours any of us had ever seen, this tour did not fail to deliver. Add to that the great food and vibrant culture of the locals and our cups spilled over, and so did our memory cards. It was a trip to remember!

Photos by Steve Ogle

See the trip report for more images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/patagonia-photo-tour-april-2024/

24/05/2024

We had a fantastic 12-day birding tour in Spain, where we saw a total of 210 species of birds, including some outstanding bird observations. Some highlights included the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse in brilliant morning light, the closeness with which we saw the great S***m Whale in Tarifa, the impressive Long-eared Owl, and the incredible nesting Bald Ibis. This tour also included fascinating history and culture and delicious food. It was an incredible opportunity to enjoy the incredible birds in Europe with two local guides, Pablo and Javi.

Read the full trip report: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/spain-trip-report-april-2024/

Photos: Collared Pratnicole, Bald Ibis, Birding in Gredos Mountains, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse © Javi Elorriaga

17/05/2024

On our Colombia birding tour in April, we encountered a number of special species, including Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, the spectacular Buffy Helmetcrest, Violet-tailed Sylph, Velvet-purple Coronet and... well, a total of 56 species of hummingbirds! Any tour which sees that many hummingbirds, as well as six species of antpittas (plus 6 more heard) is a remarkable tour, in our humble opinion. All in all, during our 13 days of birding, we recorded an amazing 487 species of birds, 7 species of mammals, and a bunch of interesting insects and plants and other wildlife.

Photos: Andean Motmot, Bicolored Antpitta, Buffy Helmetcrest © Héctor Gómez de Silva

Read the trip report here: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/colombia-trip-report-april-1-15-2024/

29/03/2024

At last! Eagle-Eye Tours returns to the “island of enchantment” for the first time in four years – post Covid! Given that the full complement of 12 participants had signed up, it appears that birders are keen to get back to the host of endemic bird species along with everything else this wonderful island has to offer.

Our Puerto Rico birding tour explored from El Yunque in the east to Cabo Rojo in the west, in the capable hands of professor Alcides Morales. We encountered all 19 of the endemic bird species. We even managed great looks at a few PR Parrots - both banded and unbanded individuals! In addition to this impressive tally of endemics we also clocked up some great looks at many other species; plenty of shorebirds and waterfowl, several overwintering neotropical songbird migrants, and a good representation of PR’s lively exotic avifauna.

Photos: Puerto Rican Tody © Paul Prior, Antillean Crested Hummingbird © Paul Prior, El Yunque hike © Paul Prior

https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/puerto-rico-trip-report-2024/

22/03/2024

The winter 2024 South Texas tour was one to remember! This tour is always full of interesting and notable birds, but this year's tour will be remembered as downright legendary.

A veritable host of rarities from Mexico had taken up winter residence in the Rio Grande Valley. On a normal year, we would hope to get one to two of these special visitors to this area, but this year we had no less than TEN amazing vagrants from south of the border!

Then as if that wasn’t enough, we broke our all time trip high count, with 201 total species of birds observed on the tour! It was a great winter for a diverse array of species, and our counts reflected that. It is an honour being able to share these incredible moments with our guests. Read more in the trip report below.

Photos by Skye Haas: Green Jay, Gray-collared Becard, Red-crowned Parrot

Read the trip report and see more images on our blog page: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/winter-in-south-texas-2024-trip-report/

19/03/2024

Eleven excited birders took part in our second Belize & Tikal birding tour this year, along with leaders Jared and Alex. Throughout our eleven days together we explored amazing and diverse habitats, hiked beautiful mountain trails, strolled ancient Mayan cities, experienced nature at its best and shared a wealth of wonderful birds and other wildlife.

Photos: Coati at Tikal © Alex Alvarado, Boat tour at Crooked Tree © Alex Alvarado, Yucatan Jay © Jared Clarke, Ocellated Turkey © Jared Clarke

Read the trip report and see more great images: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/belize-tikal-trip-report-jan-28-feb-7-2024/

15/03/2024

We saw a spectacular number of Mexican endemics and specialties on our Southern Mexico birding tour. In total, we saw 409 species and 22 additional ones heard; many of these are endemic or nearly endemic to Mexico, including the highly sought after Bumblebee Hummingbird, Garnet-throated Hummingbird, Rosita’s (Rose-bellied) Bunting, Nava’s Wren and Giant Wren.

Photos: Rosita's Bunting © Olivier Barden, Bumblebee Hummingbird © Olivier Barden, Birding at Palenque © Héctor Gómez de Silva

Read the entire trip report and see more photos here: https://www.eagle-eye.com/blog/southern-mexico-2024-trip-report/

Eagle-Eye Tours