Discover Our Birding Tours & Events

Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler

Introducing Our Birding Photography Tours

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure, bird lovers and shutterbugs! In 2026, we’re launching exclusive, photography-focused birding tours that’ll take your passion to new heights! Our small-group trips are crafted for intimate, deliberate experiences, ensuring you snag jaw-dropping shots of your target birds. From the vibrant wilds of Texas to stunning North American hotspots, plus epic bucket-list international journeys, we’ve got your dream birding escape covered. Stay tuned for all the juicy details—your next great shot is waiting!

Example 2027 Draft Tours Being Planned Below

Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern

Alaska Bird Photo Adventure: From Tundra to Arctic Shores (June 2027)

Discover the breathtaking avian diversity of Alaska on this immersive bird photography expedition, tailored for enthusiasts seeking rare Arctic species and stunning landscapes. Starting in the vibrant city of Anchorage, we'll journey south to the coastal fjords of Seward, then north to the remote tundra of Nome, and finally to the edge-of-the-world outpost of Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow). This trip highlights Alaska's unique ecosystems, from seabird colonies teeming with puffins and kittiwakes to high-Arctic specialties like Snowy Owls, Spectacled Eiders, and breeding shorebirds in their vibrant plumage. With Kim Risen and Barry Noret as guides, comfortable accommodations, and small-group dynamics, expect to log over 150 species while enjoying endless daylight and minimal crowds. Perfect for birders of all levels, this adventure combines wildlife viewing, photography opportunities, and cultural insights into Alaska's Indigenous heritage. Trip duration: 12 days. Group size: 8-12 participants. Best season: June (peak breeding and migration).

High-Level Draft Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Anchorage

Arrive at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation briefing on Alaska's birdlife. Optional urban birding in nearby parks for common species like Bald Eagles and Northwestern Crows. Overnight in Anchorage.

Days 2-4: Seward and Kenai Fjords National Park

Drive south to Seward (about 2.5 hours) for boat excursions into the dramatic fjords. Spot seabirds such as Tufted and Horned Puffins, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Marbled Murrelets, and possibly ancient murrelets. Hike coastal trails for forest birds like Varied Thrushes and Townsend's Warblers. Watch for marine mammals including orcas and humpback whales. Overnights in Seward.

Day 5: Travel to Nome

Fly from Anchorage to Nome (1-hour flight). Settle into your lodge and begin exploring the Seward Peninsula's vast tundra. Afternoon birding for introductory species like American Golden-Plovers and Long-tailed Jaegers. Overnight in Nome.

Days 6-8: Nome Tundra Exploration

Venture along the famous Kougarok, Teller, and Council Roads for Arctic specialties: Bluethroats, Arctic Warblers, Willow Ptarmigans, and shorebirds in breeding plumage such as Bar-tailed Godwits and Semipalmated Sandpipers. Search for rarities like Bristle-thighed Curlews and Gyrfalcons. Enjoy the rolling landscapes and potential sightings of muskoxen or grizzlies. Overnights in Nome.

Day 9: Travel to Utqiaġvik (Barrow)

Fly north from Nome to Utqiaġvik (about 2 hours via Anchorage connection). Arrive at the northernmost point in the U.S. and check into accommodations. Evening birding around freshwater lakes for initial Arctic encounters. Overnight in Utqiaġvik.

Days 10-11: Utqiaġvik Arctic Birding

Focus on high-Arctic endemics: Snowy Owls, Spectacled and Steller's Eiders, King Eiders, Pomarine Jaegers, and breeding shorebirds like Red Phalaropes. Scan the sea ice for Ivory Gulls and Ross's Gulls if conditions allow. Visit cultural sites and learn about Inupiat traditions. Overnights in Utqiaġvik.

Day 12: Departure from Anchorage

Fly back to Anchorage (1.5-hour flight) for international connections. Farewell breakfast and optional last-minute birding if time permits.

This itinerary is flexible based on weather and bird activity, with all internal flights, meals, and guiding included. Contact us for pricing and customization options. Note: This is placeholder content for the Birds of Texas website—explore Texas birds locally while dreaming of Alaskan adventures!

Darwin's Finch
Darwin's Finch

Ecuador and Galapagos Birding Photo Adventure: From Andes to Enchanted Isles

2027 Draft Trip

Embark on an unparalleled birding odyssey through Ecuador's diverse ecosystems and the iconic Galapagos Islands, home to some of the world's most unique avian species. Beginning in the historic capital of Quito, explore the cloud forests of Mindo, high Andean paramo at Antisana, and the lush Amazon basin before flying to the Galapagos for island-hopping adventures. Highlights include vibrant hummingbirds, antpittas, and cock-of-the-rock on the mainland, alongside Darwin's finches, blue-footed boobies, waved albatross, and flightless cormorants in the archipelago. With Kim Risen as guide, comfortable lodges, and opportunities for snorkeling amid marine life, this trip could yield sightings of 500+ species, including numerous endemics. Ideal for avid birders, the journey blends natural history, evolutionary insights, and stunning volcanic landscapes. Trip duration: 15 days. Group size: 6-10 participants. Best season: Aug-Sept (dry weather in Galapagos, peak bird activity).

High-Level Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Quito

Arrive at Quito International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Welcome orientation and optional city birding for urban species like Black-tailed Trainbearers and Sparkling Violetears. Overnight in Quito.

Days 2-3: Mindo Cloud Forest and Chocó Region

Drive northwest to Mindo (about 2 hours) for immersion in the biodiverse cloud forests. Visit reserves like Bellavista and Paz de las Aves for leks of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Giant Antpittas, Toucan Barbets, and dozens of hummingbirds such as Booted Racket-tails. Hike trails for tanagers, quetzals, and possible Long-wattled Umbrellabirds. Overnights in Mindo lodge.

Day 4: Antisana High Andes

Excursion to Antisana Ecological Reserve (2-hour drive) for high-elevation specialists like Andean Condors, Black-faced Ibis, and Carunculated Caracaras. Scan paramo grasslands and lakes for Cinereous Harriers and Variable Hawks. Return to Quito for overnight.

Days 5-6: Amazon Basin Exploration

Fly to Coca (30 minutes) and boat into the Amazon, basing at a lodge like Napo Wildlife Center. Bird along rivers and trails for Hoatzins, macaws, kingfishers, and canopy species such as Paradise Tanagers and Spangled Cotingas. Night walks for owls and potoos. Overnights in the Amazon lodge.

Day 7: Travel to Galapagos - San Cristóbal Island

Fly from Quito to San Cristóbal (2 hours). Settle in and visit El Junco Lagoon for frigatebirds and White-cheeked Pintails. Afternoon coastal birding for Lava Herons and Yellow Warblers. Overnight on San Cristóbal.

Days 8-9: Española and Floreana Islands

Boat to Española for colonies of Waved Albatross, Nazca Boobies, and Red-billed Tropicbirds. Snorkel at Gardner Bay for marine life. The next day, to Floreana for flamingos at Punta Cormorant and Darwin's finches at the highlands. Overnights on San Cristóbal or en route.

Days 10-11: Isabela Island Adventures

Transfer to Isabela, hike Sierra Negra Volcano for Short-eared Owls and Galapagos Martins. Explore wetlands for Galapagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, and Mangrove Finches. Boat to nearby islets for Blue-footed Boobies and marine iguanas. Overnights on Isabela.

Days 12-13: Santa Cruz Island and Highlands

Move to Santa Cruz, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station for Giant Tortoises and educational exhibits. Highland excursions to Los Gemelos sinkholes for Vermilion Flycatchers and Woodpecker Finches. Final coastal scans for Swallow-tailed Gulls. Overnights in Santa Cruz.

Days 14-15: North Seymour and Departure

Day trip to North Seymour for Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds in breeding displays, plus Swallow-tailed Gulls. Return to Baltra for the flight back to Quito. Farewell dinner and optional last birding; depart from Quito the next day.

This itinerary is adaptable for weather, bird migrations, and group preferences, with all flights, meals, and expert guiding included. Contact us for details and bookings. Note: This is placeholder content for the Birds of Texas website—discover Texas avifauna while planning your Ecuadorian escape!