India: Lions and Tigers and Bears … & Birds!

India: Lions and Tigers and Bears … & Birds!

This Trip is GUARANTEED.

 

We first ran this aptly named program three years ago, and it lived up to its billing—we saw lions and tigers and bears—and lots of birds. (click here for the complete list.) We start in Sasan Gir National Park, the only place in Asia where lions still exist. But Gir is also home to India’s other big cats, such as leopards and lesser cats such as jungle cat and rusty spotted cat. All of these cats will be among our mammal targets on our morning and evening safari drives in Gir. And let’s not forget the birds—250 species of birds can be found here. Our major targets include White-rumped and King Vulture, Rock and Jungle Bushquail, Black and Painted Francolin, and a suite of larks, including Sykes’s, Short-toed, Rufous-tailed, and Singling Bush Lark.

Next up is Velavadar Blackbuck National Park, a sanctuary famous for its large variety of antelope species, in particular the Blackbuck, which is characterized by elegant spiraling horns that can be two-feet long in mature males. Other target mammals include Jackal, Hyena, and Indian Wolf. Birding is good here, too—over 265 species have been recorded here; it’s particularly good for raptors; our targets include three kinds of falcon (Red-necked, Laggar Falcon, and Saker), two kinds of harrier (Hen and Pallid), and Greater Spotted Eagle. Other specialty birds include two kinds of crane (Common and Demoiselle) and the rare Lesser Florican.

Tiger/Rajveer Singh

Once the former hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, our next national park, Ranthambore, is one of the biggest and most renowned national parks in India. It’s the best place in the world to see tigers in the wild and, if we’re lucky, we might see sloth bears here, too. (On our 2023 trip, we saw tigers on three drives and sloth bears twice.) eBird reports 330 bird species at Ranthambore.

Our last national park is Keoladeo. Because of its varied ecosystems, India is home to 1300 bird species, including over 60 endemics. It’s a birder’s paradise, particularly in its sanctuaries where critical habitat has been preserved. The jewel of these sanctuaries is Keoladeo National Park. Almost a third of India’s bird species can be found here. Declared a protected sanctuary in 1971, UNESCO designated the park a World Heritage Site in 1985. Because much of the park is wetlands our targets here include Bar-headed Goose, Greylag Goose, Knob-Billed Duck, Common Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck, Cotton Pigmy Goose, Gargany Teal, Falcated Duck, Common Teal, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Greater Flamingo, Yellow Bittern, Black Bittern, Striated Heron, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill, Black-Necked Stork, and Saras Crane.

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Great-Grey-Owl by Jacob Roalef

Minnesota Owls and Winter Wonderland #2

Since we filled two offerings of this trip in 2025—and we’ve already filled the first one for 2026—we’re adding another one. Winter birding in Minnesota can be extremely rewarding with both amazing birds and breathtaking scenery. This six-day itinerary focuses on owls as well as a variety of other species that call the boreal forest and Lake Superior their winter home. Starting in Minneapolis, the tour will target Long-eared, Northern Saw-Whet, and Great Horned Owls, all of which occur in this area but are not found further north. From there we’ll head up to Duluth for the next four nights. The incredible Sax-Zim Bog will be our focus for the next few days; it’s home to loads of our target species, such as Great Grey and Barred Owls, Northern Hawk-Owl, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Boreal Chickadee, Ruffed Grouse, Common Redpoll, and Canada Jay. In addition to this well-known USA birding site, the tour will explore the Duluth/Superior harbor for species such as Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Long-tailed Duck. This is also the best tour location to find the coveted Snowy Owl to round out our owl targets for this trip. The bog and the lake are not the only birding destinations; we’ll venture into Superior National Forest in search of both Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers and, with some luck, Spruce Grouse. After three full days exploring the area, we’ll pack up and leave Duluth to head back to the airport in Minneapolis. Extra birding may be possible on the final day, depending on flight times. This trip is limited to 7 people.

Long-eared Owl by Jacob Roalef

For a detailed trip report from last year’s trip, click here.

Price:
$2,890 per person, sharing 
Single supplement: $410

Questions? Contact GGBA Travel Coordinator Eric Schroeder at tr***********@********************ce.org.

Ready to register?  Contact Eric first.  He will put you in touch with Birding Ecotours.

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Deserts of California

Deserts of California

This trip is led by the GGBA-beloved podcaster and guide Ivan Phillipsen of Wild Latitudes. Ivan was born and raised in southern California and is excited to take us to his old haunts.

The tour begins and ends in Palm Springs, in the Coachella Valley. This is the western edge of the Sonoran Desert—a landscape of sand dunes, cacti, dry flood channels, and boulder-strewn slopes. Surrounding the valley are the snow-dusted peaks of several mountain ranges. A fascinating mixture of birds, other vertebrates, insects, and desert plants awaits you in this unique environment.

Joshua Tree National Park / Ivan Phillipsen

Our exciting and educational journey will take us to nature hotspots across the Coachella Valley, through Joshua Tree National Park, to the shores of the Salton Sea, and into Anza Borrego Desert State Park. You’ll not only see wonderful birds on this trip, but you’ll also learn about desert ecosystems and the region’s fascinating geology.  Several of the most magnificent sites we’ll visit are lush desert oases, shaded by native California Fan Palms.

Some special birds we hope to find include Greater Roadrunner, Phainopepla, Verdin, Gambel’s Quail, Common Ground Dove, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Neotropic Cormorant, Burrowing Owl, Cactus Wren, Canyon Wren, Abert’s Towhee, and Black-throated Sparrow.

California Fan Palms in the Indian Canyons / Ivan Phillipsen
Canyon Wren / Ivan Phillipsen

And Ivan has added something new for this year’s trip—a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway into the wilderness of the San Jacinto Mountains. At 8,516 feet you’ll be high above the desert, surrounded by coniferous forest where we’ll look for some high-elevation species, including White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee, and Clark’s Nutcracker. After an afternoon of birding, we’ll enjoy dinner at the tram’s Mountain Station before heading back to our hotel.

Wild Latitudes is offering us a very attractive price:
$2,375 per person
$585 single supplement

Questions?  Contact Dawn at tr***********@*************ds.org.

Ready to register?  Contact Dawn first.  She will register you and put you in contact with Wild Latitudes.…

CUBA – Birding Hotspots and Northern Highlights

CUBA – Birding Hotspots and Northern Highlights

GGBA is going to Cuba with Holbrook! Get to know the birds of Cuba during this exploration of the country’s western and Cayo regions.  Cuba’s geography makes it the perfect classroom to study island endemism and biodiversity as you make your way through a selection of ecosystems, including wetlands, forests, coastal lagoons, and limestone hills. 

Bee Hummingbird / Ernesto ReyesBee Hummingbird / Ernesto Reyes

Together with your ornithologist guide, you’ll have the opportunity to seek out and identify specialties like the Cuban Trogon—Cuba’s national bird, known locally as the Tocororo—and the world’s smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird. Not only will you visit prime birding hotspots, but you’ll also encounter the lively spirit of the Cuban people as you interact with and learn from local residents.

A trip to Cuba is like a step back in time, with its colonial buildings, classic American cars, and oxen pulling wooden plows through the fields. Evidence of the Cuban population’s passion is apparent at every turn, from their music, dance, love of life, and appreciation of the natural beauty found on this small Caribbean island. Beyond its cultural legacy, Cuba has a wealth of natural resources, including the distinctive limestone hills known as mogotes, unspoiled coral reefs, miles of beaches, two UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites, and a Ramsar site, among others.

MORE information about Cuba.

Limited to 10 participants.

PRICING:
$5,095, per person, based on double occupancy
Single Supplement = $750

Questions?  Ready to register?  Contact Dawn at tr***********@*************ds.org.

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Southern Costa Rica

Southern Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s remarkable avian diversity stems from its varied habitats, geographic positioning, topography, and climate.  With over 935 bird species recorded, including 7 endemic species, Costa Rica boasts one of the highest levels of bird diversity in the world, all within an area smaller than West Virginia.

Golden-browed Chlorophonia by Mario Cordoba

The southernmost mountain range in Costa Rica, the Talamanca, stretches across the southern half of the country into Chiriqui Province in western Panama. These mountains host numerous endemic bird species. Highlight species in this region include Volcano Hummingbird, Scintillant Hummingbird, Black-capped Flycatcher, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Sooty Thrush, Timberline Wren, Ochraceous Wren, Dark Pewee, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, White-throated Mountain-Gem, Talamanca Hummingbird, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Ruddy Treerunner, Spangled-cheeked Tanager, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Volcano Junco, Costa Rican Pygmy Owl, Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Brushfinch, Ochraceous Pewee, Flame-throated Warbler, Black-cheeked Warbler, Collared Redstart, Peg-billed Finch, and Yellow-winged Vireo.

Baird’s Trogon by Mario Cordoba

The Osa Peninsula, originally an island, became part of the mainland due to tectonic activity. It remains isolated from other rainforests by drier habitats to the north and south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the high Talamancas to the east. This isolation has allowed many
species, including birds, flora, and other fauna, to evolve uniquely. In the Costa Rican south Pacific lowland rainforest, including the Osa Peninsula, species restricted to this region include Charming Hummingbird, Costa Rican Swift, Baird’s Trogon, Fiery-billed Aracari,
Golden-naped Woodpecker, Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner, Black-hooded Antshrike, Yellow-billed Cotinga, Orange-collared Manakin, Riverside Wren, Spot-crowned Euphonia, and the endemic Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager.

Our tour will primarily focus on the Talamanca Mountain Range and Osa Peninsula but we will also visit the intermountain valleys of San Vito and El General. Between these regions, 70 endemic bird species can be found. Our objective is not only to observe these endemics
but also to learn about these crucial areas of biodiversity.

Our guide, Mario Cordoba, will provide illustrated lectures throughout the tour to enhance this educational experience. Our tour coincides with the peak of spring migration, with species from Central and South America moving north.

During our trip we’ll visit:

  • Talamanca mountains in San Gerardo de Dota
  • Las Cruces Biological Station in San Vito area
  • Los Cusingos Bird Sanctuary & El General Valley
  • Pacific rainforest lowlands near Golfito and Osa Peninsula

PRICE
$3800 per person for double occupancy
Single Supplement: $650

For questions, or to register, contact Dawn at tr***********@*************ds.org…