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Welcome to our August emailing!
Greetings, birding friends. August is always a unique month for us at Field Guides. While we have tours running early and late in the month, mid-August is when we take time to gather for our annual business meeting in Portal, Arizona. It’s a special time for all of us at Field Guides—including many retirees—to reconnect, talk shop, and enjoy each other's company before we hit the ground running for the autumn season and beyond.
In this month’s emailing, we’re featuring an exciting lineup of upcoming tours and new announcements. We’re thrilled to introduce a brand-new concept to our catalog: an inaugural Mindful Birding Retreat in Sedona, Arizona, designed to blend birding with nature-based wellness. We’re also announcing a new summer escape to Mexico’s Chihuahua, region targeting Thick-billed Parrots and Eared Quetzals. Additionally, we’re highlighting our two-part Costa Rica: Birding the Edges tour, several upcoming departures for Belize, a roundup of five late-December holiday getaways to trade the winter hubbub for great birding, and a brief note on a new booking-fee policy for select high-demand tours.
As always, we've also included our monthly Recent Photos Gallery, with about 115 images from ten tours to nine countries on four continents. We also have 17 reports from recent tours, 19 fresh itineraries, two new trip videos, and a list of departures over the next six months that still have space available.
Our thanks to participant Sid England for the fantastic photo of a White-crested Laughingthrush from our Cambodia: Angkor Temples & Vanishing Birds tour. This is a wonderful itinerary for seeing some of Asia's rare waterbirds, as well as one of the world's great legendary cultural sites at Angkor Wat. Phil Gregory will be guiding next year's departure from January 30th-February 15th, and there is still space available.
Our thanks as well to guide Doug Gochfeld for the charming photo below of a mother and baby Rhesus Macaque from one of our two recent Borneo departures.
Lastly, our apologies to tour participant David Parsley who contributed the lead image for our most recent emailing—the great shot of a Ruby-topaz Hummingbird from Bahia, Brazil. We had inadvertently credited that photo to someone else.
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A New Way to Experience the Forest: Our Inaugural Mindful Birding Retreat
While our traditional itineraries are famously dedicated to maximizing our time birding and wringing out as many birds as possible in various geographic regions, we are excited to introduce a brand-new concept to the Field Guides catalog: a dedicated space to slow down, settle into one place, and experience birding through a more restorative lens.
From April 15–19, 2027, we are partnering with Holly Merker and Holly Thomas of the Mindful Birding Network to present the Arizona Mindful Birding Retreat: Sedona. (See below for more information about the Hollys.) They'll be joined by our own senior guide, Chris Benesh. This unique retreat blends birding with the proven, health-enhancing practices of nature-based wellness. Modern research consistently shows that slow, deliberate immersion in nature lowers cortisol, reduces anxiety, and boosts cognitive clarity, among a myriad of other benefits to overall human wellness. On this retreat, we will transition from simply identifying the birds around us to deeply observing and connecting with them.
We will spend our four nights at the Briar Patch Inn (the grounds pictured above), a quiet sanctuary nestled under a canopy of cottonwoods and sycamores along the banks of Oak Creek. Staying in one place allows us to adjust to the local environment, where morning feeder visitors, the sounds of the creek, and the shifting canyon light become a natural part of our daily rhythm.
Our mornings will feature focused, gentle excursions. We will explore some of northern Arizona's most striking habitats, from the red-rock landscapes of Red Rock State Park to the tranquil, bird-rich waters of Page Springs. Along the way, we will look for spring specialties and riparian favorites, including Common Black Hawk, Summer Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Painted Redstart, Bell's Vireo, Vermilion and Brown-crested Flycatchers, and localized nesting warblers like Lucy’s and Grace’s—all while practicing techniques that can enrich both your birding and your personal daily wellness routine. Our afternoons are intentionally spacious, leaving plenty of time for personal reflection, photography, journaling, simply relaxing by the creek, as well as optional guided offerings. Evening activities will also feature feature stargazing, exploring nocturnal wildlife, sharing a gratitude practice, and reflecting on the highlights of the day.
Whether you are a seasoned birder eager to cultivate a more meditative field practice, or simply looking for a restorative, nature-focused escape in the American Southwest, we invite you to join us for this unique journey.
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Holly Merker is a professional birding guide, author, and educator who integrates her background in art therapy into nature-based wellness programming for audiences of all ages. Certified in Wellness Counseling, a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide (ANFT) and Practitioner (FT Hub), and trained in mindfulness practices (MBSR, Koru, and Mindfulness Mentoring), she founded The Mindful Birding Network in 2021 as a global advocate for the practice. Her work guiding readers on how to maximize the therapeutic and health benefits of birds is featured in two co-authored books: Ornitherapy: For Your Mind, Body, and Soul (Crossley Books, 2021) and The Power of Birdwatching / Die Kraft der Vogelbeobachtung (Freya Verlag, 2023).
Holly Thomas bridges the intersection of science and mindful birding by combining her credentials as a certified yoga and meditation teacher with a PhD in Physiology from UC Berkeley, where she researched stress and inflammation. A dedicated birder and active member of The Mindful Birding Network, she leads yoga, nature, and birding workshops designed to tap into our innate capacity for holistic well-being. Through these outings, she explores how focusing attention on the present moment serves as a powerful gateway to health, bringing together her greatest passions in the process.
Please contact our office to learn more or to reserve your spot.
(Photo of Holly Thomas (left) and Holly Merker (right) courtesy of Holly Merker.)
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Mexico's Chihuahua: Thick-billed Parrots and Eared Quetzals
July 5-11 | Micah Riegner
Focused squarely on the pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental, this short summer escape targets two of Mexico's most coveted mountain nomads: the endangered Thick-billed Parrot and the elusive Eared Quetzal.
The summer monsoon coincides with the breeding season for both key targets. Thick-billed Parrots nest in towering high-elevation aspens, using powerful bills to break open pinecones, while Eared Quetzals seek out nest cavities and forage on Madrone and Chokecherry fruit. Based in La Junta and joined by biologists from Organización Vida Silvestre, we'll explore Area de Proteccion de Flora y Fauna Papigochi to track down both species before they disperse south after breeding.
We'll also visit Cascada de Basaseachi National Park—site of Mexico's second-highest waterfall—to scan for Black and Chestnut-collared swifts. In the surrounding forests, we'll seek regional specialties including Pine Flycatcher, Mountain Trogon, Mexican Chickadee, American Goshawk, Montezuma Quail, Russet Nightingale-Thrush, Hooded Grosbeak, White-striped Woodcreeper, and, with luck, Aztec Thrush.
Escape the summer heat and join us in the high Sierras for an immersion into the world of Thick-billed Parrots and Eared Quetzals.
For more information, please contact our office and we'll be happy to assist.
(Photo of the rare Eared Quetzal by guide Micah Riegner.)
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Jan 8-17, 2027 (Part I) & Jan 16-25, 2027 (Part II)
Megan Edwards Crewe & Vernon Campos
Smaller than most U.S. states, Costa Rica is a tremendously rich mixing ground for more than 900 bird species, combining striking scenery of volcanic cordilleras and lush tropical forest. Designed to complement our classic tour, this two-part winter adventure explores premier habitats and targets regional specialties not covered on our March or holiday itineraries.
Part One travels south from San Jose along the spine of the Talamanca Mountains to the Panamanian border. We will break up the drive with montane birding at Cerro de la Muerte, tracking down a host of prized Chiriqui Highland Endemics before arriving in San Isidro to seek out the dazzling Turquoise Cotinga. Then, we will divide our time between the mid-elevation Wilson Botanical Gardens and the Pacific lowlands at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. This allows us to target southern specialties like the endemic Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager, Orange-collared Manakin, Baird's Trogon, Ruddy Foliage-gleaner, and Fiery-billed Aracari, alongside a wonderful assortment of regional hummingbirds.
Part Two heads north toward Nicaragua, starting with an impressive array of highland birds at Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens, where we could see close to fifteen hummingbird species. We will explore the lush cloudforests of Bosque de Paz before visiting the vast wetlands of Cano Negro and the rich Caribbean foothill forests of Arenal Volcano. Highlights include exceptional wetland boat trips for the local Nicaraguan Grackle, Sungrebe, and American Pygmy Kingfisher, as well as forest trails that host local specialties like Gray-headed Dove, Black Guan, and the range restricted Keel-billed Motmot.
Have questions or ready to sign up? Contact our office here.
(Photo of a White-collared Manakin courtesy of guide Chris Benesh.)
| | Southeast Arizona Birding Festival | | |
We had an incredible week in Tucson, AZ, at the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, held August 12–16, 2026. A huge thank-you to everyone who stopped by our booth. It was a great deal of fun connecting with so many enthusiastic birders and celebrating our shared passion for birding and conservation.
We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the Tucson Bird Alliance for organizing such a phenomenal, seamless event. A special shout-out goes to our amazing field trip leaders, John Coons, Chris Benesh, and Alex Sundvall, for guiding such fun and memorable excursions in the field. We also want to thank Sharon Mackie and Jesse Fagan, who brought wonderful energy and friendly faces to our table throughout the event.
We loved seeing each of you at the festival and hope to have you on a tour with us soon. Don’t forget to use the discount coupon provided in your event swag bag for attending the festival. The coupon expires at the end of the year.
Happy birding!
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Belize: Tropical Birding, Short and Sweet
Nov 20-28, 2026 | Chris Benesh & Sam Wilson
Feb 6-14, 2027 | Chris Benesh
Nov 19-27, 2027 | Sam Wilson
For those interested in exploring the Neotropics, Belize offers an accessible and rewarding introduction. As an English-speaking country with relatively short flight times from many U.S. cities, it provides a seamless transition into the vibrant birdlife of the American tropics.
Our itinerary focuses on two distinct settings, allowing us to settle in and explore our surroundings thoroughly. We begin in the lowlands near Lamanai, where the blend of riverine forest and ancient Mayan ruins creates a compelling backdrop for observing a wide variety of birds. We then move to the Cayo District, where the pine-dominated ridges and humid hardwood forests offer a different perspective on the region's diversity.
Throughout the tour, we seek out a broad spectrum of tropical families and regional specialties, ranging from trogons, motmots, and toucans, to raptors such as the Orange-breasted Falcon or King Vulture. We have departures available in both November of this year, and February & November of 2027.
Please contact our office for more information or to sign up.
(Photo of an Orange-breasted Falcon by guide Chris Benesh.)
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If your ideal holiday season involves unwrapping new landscapes and seeing new birds, or uncorking champagne somewhere far from your usual routine, we have a handful of late-December departures. Let's trade the standard winter bustle for superb birding, wild places, and an inspiring change of scenery!
Each of the following five holiday-straddling departures currently has at least two spaces available unless noted otherwise:
Mexico: Oaxaca Valley, Dec 19-26, 2026 with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
A rich immersion into the dry scrub, oak-conifer forests, and misty cloud forests surrounding historic Oaxaca City, targeting localized endemics like Ocellated Thrasher, Dwarf Jay, and Oaxaca Sparrow alongside the region’s legendary cuisine and culture.
Holiday Costa Rica: Rancho Naturalista I, Dec 19-27, 2026 with Jay VanderGaast
A relaxed, single-site holiday stay at the famous Rancho Naturalista Lodge, exploring the bird-rich Caribbean slope from montane cloud forests to lowland reserves for species like Snowcap and White-collared Manakin, returning each evening to comfortable quarters and active balcony feeders.
Arizona Winter Specialties, Dec 27, 2026-Jan 2, 2027 with Micah Riegner
A short, but truly exceptional winter tour through the deserts, riparian canyons, and sweeping grasslands of southern Arizona, targeting thousands of wintering Sandhill Cranes, dense sparrow flocks, specialized raptors, and a possible star-studded cast of rare Mexican vagrants. (One space only)
Panama's Canopy Lodge: El Valle de Anton, Dec 27, 2026-Jan 3, 2027 with Chris Benesh
A comfortable, single-lodge getaway set in the cool crater valley of El Valle de Antón, sampling foothill cloud forests and garden feeders for specialties like Tody Motmot, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Black-crowned Antpitta, and Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo.
Panama's Canopy Camp: Lowland Darien, Dec 27, 2026-Jan 4, 2027 with John Coons
Another comfortable foray into the remote, forest-clad lowlands of eastern Panama based out of safari-style tented suites, targeting eastern Panama specialties, South American range-limit species, and riverine forest edge wildlife. There is even a good chance at a locally nesting Harpy Eagle. (One space only)
Ecuador's Wildsumaco Lodge, Dec 28, 2026-Jan 7, 2027 with Willy Perez
A mid-elevation foothill immersion along the diverse eastern slope of the Andes, combining time at San Isidro with an extended stay at Wildsumaco Lodge for antpitta feeding stations, mixed tanager flocks, and a long list of regional specialties.
Please click the links to the tour pages for full information about each of these tours. You can also contact our office for more information or to sign up.
(Photo above of a Red Warbler by guide Doug Gochfeld.)
| | New booking fee policy for select tours | | |
Field Guides has implemented a new booking fee policy for select tours. This change comes in direct response to consistent client feedback regarding space on trips. By introducing this requirement, we can manage our bookings more efficiently and provide greater certainty for confirmed participants.
The full details of this policy are now available on our website and can be read by clicking here.
| | Short videos from recent tours | | |
Many of our tour reports now include highlight videos featuring birds, wildlife, scenery, culture—or a blend of it all.
We have a pair of ten-minute highlight videos this month. The first is a collage of birds and birders from various stops along our Classic Costa Rica tour, guided by Megan Edwards Crewe. Our thanks to Megan for putting the video together. Click here or on the Scarlet Macaw below to watch the video. (Photo by participant Russ Cole.)
The second video comes from one of our two recent Alaska: The Great Land departures. This one was guided by Micah Riegner & Sam Wilson. Micah provided a great highlight video from the tour. Click here or on the photo of the North American Porcupine below to watch the video. (Photo courtesy of participant Jarmo Komi.)
| | Field Guides merch is available! We've got shirts, hats, hoodies, mugs, stickers, tote bags, and more—all a click away at our Field Guides Store. Fashionable and functional—sure to keep you comfortable and looking spiffy—check it all out at the store. | | Reports from recent tours | | We have annotated and illustrated reports from recently completed tours linked below, each with some lovely images and some with video clips, and all with great write-ups by our guides. Enjoy! | | Comments from participants | | |
We carefully read each post-tour evaluation we receive from our participants, so that we can continue to offer the best possible birding experiences and service on Field Guides birding tours. Here are two representative recent comments. From all of us at Field Guides, our thanks for all your valuable feedback.
“My overall experience was fantastic. It exceeded my expectations! Sam Wilson was a fantastic guide. We saw a huge variety of birds, and Sam’s enthusiasm kept us going even when most of us wanted to get out of the cold. I love shorebirds and was very intrigued at the possibility of seeing them on their breeding grounds, so that’s why I chose the Nome tour. This tour gave me a whole new perspective on birds and birding. My goal was to experience shorebirds on their breeding grounds, to get a better feel for their lives and what they endure. I feel that with Sam's help, I met that goal. This tour was every bit as spiritual as it was fun for me. The service of your office staff was excellent. I didn't utilize the tour manager much, but the few times I reached out to Karen Turner, she was very responsive, friendly, and helpful. Field Guides is far, far superior to any other company I have toured with. I will continue to utilize Field Guides from now on. You folks are the best!” N.W., No Place Like Nome, 2026
“I chose a tour with Field Guides for several reasons, including your ongoing support for impactful conservation projects and your reputation for high-quality tours. This was a great tour; well run, with excellent wildlife viewing. The birds were off the charts. The guide makes or breaks the tour. Marcelo Barreiros is top shelf—confident, affable, attentive, extremely knowledgeable. He did an extraordinary job of managing the group logistics from start to finish, all while ensuring a mea ningful immersion in the rich biodiversity of Mato Grosso. Marcelo's knowledge of bird vocalizations is staggering. I've birded Latin America many times and have never been with anyone more accomplished with bird identification, natural history, and conservation. The tour manager and staff were also excellent. My interactions with Christine Boilard were terrific. Subsequent interactions with Ruth Kuhl were also excellent. They are both personable, knowledgeable, and responsive, compelling ambassadors for Field Guides.” C.T., Jaguar Spotting: Pantanal & Garden of the Amazon 2026
| | Tours with openings through January | | Each month we list in this section the Field Guides departures over the next six months that still have at least two spaces available (unless otherwise noted). | | |
Based in the high desert of central New Mexico, our winter New Mexico: Birding the Land of Enchantment guided by Sam Wilson, spans the state's rose-colored desert scrub, forested mountain wildernesses, and vast prairies, highlighting the wintering rosy-rinch gathering in the Sandias and the massive concentration of Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, and Ross's Geese at Bosque del Apache. Across these diverse landscapes, we'll search for high-desert specialties like Crissal Thrasher and Cactus Wren, montane species such as Williamson's Sapsucker, Pinyon Jay, and Juniper Titmouse, and open-country raptors and longspurs, all complemented by a few hours taking in the historic downtown and art scene of Santa Fe. This winter's dates are Jan 31-Feb 7, 2027.
(Photo of a rosy-finch fiesta courtesy of participant Dan Blowers.)
SOUTH AMERICA
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Spectacular Southeast Brazil (Part I), Oct 16-Nov 2, with Bret Whitney & Marcelo Barreiros
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Southern Argentina: The Pampas, Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego, Oct 29-Nov 14, with Doug Gochfeld (1 space)
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Spectacular Southeast Brazil (Part II), Oct 31-Nov 16, with Marcelo Barreiros & Micah Riegner (1 space)
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Uruguay: Birds & Wines in the Land of the Gauchos, Nov 8-20, with Marcelo Padua
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Chile: The Classic Tour, Nov 16-Dec 6, with Willy Perez (1 space)
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Colombia's Inirida: Land of Many Waters, Nov 21-29, with Jesse Fagan (1 space)
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Holiday at San Isidro, Ecuador, Nov 21-30, with Mitch Lysinger
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Emperor Penguins in the Weddell Sea: In search of Antarctica's most iconic bird, Nov 23-Dec 6, with Doug Gochfeld
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Colombia's Cloudforest: The Western & Central Andes, Nov 30-Dec 10, with Jesse Fagan (1 space)
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Ecuador's Wildsumaco Lodge, Dec 28-Jan 7, with Willy Perez
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Nowhere but Northeast Brazil!, Jan 15-Feb 1, with Marcelo Barreiros & Micah Riegner
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Colombia's Marvelous Magdalena Valley, Jan 23-Feb 2, with Dan Lane (1 space)
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Birds & Wines of Chile and Argentina, Jan 30-Feb 13, with Marcelo Padua (1 space)
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Brazil: Bahia Birding Bonanza, Jan 31-Feb 14, with Marcelo Barreiros
NORTH AMERICA
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Alaska Fall Goldmine (Part I): Rarities on the Pribilofs, Sep 23-Oct 1, with Cory Gregory
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Alaska Fall Goldmine (Part II): Ross's Gulls in Utqiagvik, Oct 2-6, with Sam Wilson
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Fall for Cape May, Oct 3-10, with Doug Gochfeld
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Arizona Winter Specialties, Dec 27-Jan 2, with Micah Riegner (1 space)
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New Mexico: Birding the Land of Enchantment, Jan 31-Feb 7, with Sam Wilson
MIDDLE AMERICA & WEST INDIES
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Mexico: Veracruz River of Raptors, Oct 4-14, with Micah Riegner & Jorge Montejo-Diaz (1 space)
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Belize: Tropical Birding, Short and Sweet, Nov 20-28, with Chris Benesh & Sam Wilson
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Jamaica III, Nov 21-28, with Cory Gregory (1 space)
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Mexico: Oaxaca Valley, Dec 19-26, with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall (1 space)
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Holiday Costa Rica: Rancho Naturalista I, Dec 19-27, with Jay VanderGaast & Vernon Campos
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Panama's Canopy Lodge: El Valle de Anton, Dec 27-Jan 3, with Chris Benesh & local guide
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Panama's Canopy Camp: Lowland Darien, Dec 27-Jan 4, with John Coons
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Costa Rica: Birding the Edges (Part I), Jan 8-17, with Megan Edwards Crewe
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Costa Rica: Birding the Edges (Part II), Jan 16-25, with Megan Edwards Crewe
AFRICA
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Madagascar, Oct 31-Nov 23, with Tarry Butcher & local guide
EUROPE
ASIA & AUSTRALASIA
To learn more about any of these tours or to hold a space, please contact our office.
| | Recently posted upcoming itineraries | | Click on any image or link below to see the detailed itinerary for the following tours. All of these itineraries are packed with information (and have a few nice photos as well). | |
Field Guides Incorporated, 4425 South Mopac Expy, Bldg 3-Ste 505, Austin, TX 78735
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