Seek out the legendary Island Scrub-Jay on Santa Cruz Island, the range-restricted Yellow-billed Magpie, and the majestic California Condor alongside a rich supporting cast of coastal, desert, and mountain birds. Spend a full day offshore aboard a specialized vessel searching for seabirds and marine life seldom seen from land. Explore a remarkable range of ecosystems—from the misty Pacific shoreline and chaparral hillsides to desert washes, mountain overlooks, and lush inland wetlands—each offering unique birding opportunities. Visit the Salton Sea and scan for rare species like the Yellow-footed Gull and observe large flocks of gulls and shorebirds. Explore the rich deserts of Southern California in search of desert specialties, including the elusive LeConte’s Thrasher, Black‑tailed Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla, Greater Roadrunner, Gambel's Quail, and Costa's Hummingbird. Immerse yourself in Southern California’s breathtaking coastal landscapes, where dramatic ocean cliffs, tranquil lagoons, and pristine beaches create a mosaic of habitats teeming with birdlife.

The tour package includes: Expert guiding service Ground transportation during the tour Entrance fees to parks and preserves Accommodations as stated in the itinerary Full day pelagic tour Round-trip transportation to Santa Cruz Island It does not include meals, travel expenses including but not limited to airfare to and from the tour destination, travel insurance, extended stays (before and/or after the tour), alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and items/expenses of personal nature. About Meals:  Although this tour does not include meals in the tour package; all the hotels on this tour include complimentary breakfasts. Depending on the day’s route, lunches will be combination of quick “grab and-go” fast food or sit-down at a casual cafe with dinners at a local restaurant. Evenings are left open so you can choose from the restaurants near our lodging or explore local dining on your own. You are always welcome to join us for dinner. Joining the group is completely optional; your tour leader will share where they’re heading for dinner so you can join if you’d like. We will carry light snacks and water daily.

TOM FORD-HUTCHINSON

The difficulty level of this tour is Moderate. It is designed for birders who enjoy full days in the field (7-10 hours) weather permitting. There is some hiking in areas such as Kitchen Creek, involving uneven terrain and elevation changes, but nothing technically demanding. Most birding occurs on level ground, including well‑maintained trails, boardwalks, and scenic overlooks. Typical walks range from 1–3 miles, taken slowly with frequent stops for viewing and photography. The tour also includes moderate drives between locations broken up by frequent stops.   Mornings begin at sunrise to take advantage of cooler conditions and peak bird activity. Our days on this tour follow a comfortable, well‑paced rhythm designed to maximize birding opportunities while keeping the experience relaxed and enjoyable. Our daily itinerary will remain flexible to accommodate changes in weather, local conditions, and patterns of bird activity. This flexibility allows us to adjust both the timing and the order of locations visited, ensuring that participants experience the best possible birding opportunities throughout the trip.   A full day is dedicated to an offshore pelagic tour, during which participants may spend time standing, seating, or moving about the vessel. As ocean conditions vary, participants should bring layers, sun protection, and motion‑sickness remedies as needed. The itinerary also includes a ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island, which requires boarding, disembarking, and walking on docks and boat ramps. The crossing is generally smooth but may involve light vessel motion depending on ocean conditions. Once ashore, walking is done on well‑established island trails at a leisurely pace while searching for the Island Scrub‑Jay and other wildlife.

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is likely during this tour. Mountain Quail California Quail Allen's Hummingbird California Condor Island Scrub-Jay Tricolored Blackbird Black-chinned Sparrow California Towhee California Thrasher California Gnatcatcher California Scrub-Jay White-headed Woodpecker Yellow-billed Magpie LeConte's Thrasher California Gull Ridgway's Rail And many more!

Day 1: Arrival in San Diego & Coastal Birding. Arrive in San Diego International Airport (SAN), take complimentary shuttle to hotel and meet us at the hotel lobby at 2 pm. Gather with your guide and fellow birders for an introductory birding afternoon to some of San Diego’s hotspots.  Species we may observe include Belding’s Savannah Sparrow, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Western Gull, Elegant Tern, Brandt’s Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Wandering Tattler, Brown Pelican, Reddish Egret, and Short-billed Gull – among several countable exotics. As the sun sets, we join the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station, San Diego.   Day 2: San Diego Area Hotspots, Tijuana Slough NWR, and Tijuana River Valley. We begin the day at the Tijuana Slough NWR, one of Southern California’s most important coastal wetlands and a vital stop along the Pacific Flyway. This is one of the best places to search for regional specialties such as Ridgway’s Rail and Belding’s Savannah Sparrow. We then head to the Tijuana River Valley, a lush riparian corridor near the U.S.-Mexico border. Here we explore shaded trails and riverine woodlands, keeping an eye out for late-season migrants and post-breeding dispersal flocks. The valley’s blend of habitats offers excellent opportunities for photography and relaxed birding. Target species in this area include Least Bell’s Vireo, Wrentit, California Thrasher, California Towhee, California Gnatcatcher, Allen’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds, Yellow-breasted Chat, Bushtit, and a variety of sparrows and flycatchers. Also, raptors such as Red-tailed Hawk and White-tailed Kite may be seen patrolling the skies. We then continue north to the dynamic waters of San Diego Bay. The mosaic of mudflats, tidal channels, and restored wetlands is alive with both resident and migratory birds. We walk the boardwalks and levees, scanning for herons, egrets, and flocks of terns diving for fish. Target species include the three Scoters (Surf, White-winged and Black), Brown Booby, Clark’s and Western Grebes, Red-necked Phalarope, Royal Tern, Osprey, Red Knot, Forster’s Tern, Short-billed Dowitcher, Black-bellied Plover, American Avocet, as well as variety of shorebirds.  As the day unfolds, we continue exploring San Diego’s diverse coastal hotspots, each offering its own blend of habitats and birdlife. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station, San Diego.   Day 3: Pelagic Tour. Today is dedicated to the open sea—we take a pelagic tour that promises encounters with species rarely glimpsed from shore. Likely species we may see during the tour include: Black-vented, Pink-footed, and Sooty Shearwaters may all make an appearance, as well as Craveri’s and Guadalupe Murrelets, Leach’s, Townsend’s, Ashy, Black and Least Storm-Petrels, Cocos Booby, Red-necked and Red Phalaropes, Pomarine, Long-tailed and Parasitic Jaegers, Cassin’s Auklet, Common and Arctic Terns, and Sabine’s Gulls.  Between bird sightings, the ocean itself offers surprises: pods of dolphins and sea lions, and the possibility of a distant whale spout keeps everyone alert. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station, San Diego. Day 4: Coastal Hotspots to Ventura. Today we start our journey up the coast toward Orange County making several stops at beaches, parks, and preserves along the way. Our first stop, Point La Jolla, where the dramatic meeting of ocean and cliffs creates a spectacular backdrop for coastal birding. The unique geography of Point La Jolla funnels seabirds close to shore, offering excellent opportunities for observation and photography. Species we may observe include Brandt’s Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Western Gull, Elegant Tern, Western Grebe, Heermann’s Gull, California Gull, Wandering Tattler, Black Oystercatcher, Pelagic Cormorant, Caspian Tern, and Black Skimmer, among many others. We continue to enjoy some of Southern California’s best birding hotspots and scenic coastal views as we travel to Ventura. The road hugs the coastline offering a mix of coastal and freshwater habitats and great spots for gulls, terns, and migratory songbirds, with beautiful ocean views. Other notable target species for the day include Hutton’s Vireo, Western Tanager, Townsend’s Warbler, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Allen’s Hummingbird, Western Bluebird, California Towhee, California Quail, Nanday Parakeet, Willow Flycatcher, California Scrub-Jay, and a variety of herons, egrets, and shorebirds. Overnight: TownePlace Suites, Ventura-Oxnard.   Day 5: Channel Islands National Park. Today we take the ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island, the largest of California’s Channel Islands and a sanctuary for unique flora and fauna. Take in dramatic vistas, wildflower displays, and the tranquil atmosphere of this remote island. We search for the legendary Island Scrub-Jay, a striking blue corvid found nowhere else on earth. We explore the oak woodlands and coastal terraces, listening for the jay’s distinctive calls and watching for its bold, inquisitive behavior. Along the way, we may also encounter a variety of other species including Allen’s and Anna’s Hummingbirds, Bewick’s Wren, Hutton’s Vireo, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, and Orange-crowned Warbler. Overnight: TownePlace Suites, Ventura-Oxnard.   Day 6: Santa Ynez Valley & Ventura-Kern Backcountry. Today we drive north toward Cachuma Lake and the Santa Ynez Valley in search of the Yellow-billed Magpie. This is the southern edge of the species’ range in California. The surrounding oak-savanna corridors are classic magpie habitat where they are often found on fences, foraging along pastures, or flying across the road. In the afternoon we will find ourselves searching for California Condor, North America’s largest flying bird. With a wingspan approaching ten feet, condors are often seen soaring on midday thermals above the forested slopes and rocky outcrops. We also scan the skies for Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Raven, Peregrine Falcon, and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Other notable species for the day include California Scrub-Jay, California Quail, Belted Kingfisher, California Towhee, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Brewer’s Blackbird - to name a few.   Overnight: Embassy Suites, Palmdale.   Day 7: Antelope Valley, San Jacinto Wildlife Area, and Idyllwild Nature Center. The Antelope Valley sits at the western edge of the Mojave Desert, a high‑desert basin where wide skies, Joshua tree woodlands, and creosote flats create one of Southern California’s most distinctive birding landscapes. It’s a place where desert specialties, mountain wanderers, and wintering waterbirds all converge, giving the region a surprising diversity for such an arid environment. Across the valley floor, expanses of Joshua tree and juniper scrub host classic Mojave birds such as California Quail, California Thrasher, LeConte’s Thrasher, Cactus Wren, Black‑throated Sparrow, and Greater Roadrunner, among many others. In the afternoon, we explore the lush wetlands and open fields of San Jacinto Wildlife Area. The cattail-filled wetlands offer food and shelter for the endangered Tricolored Blackbird. We watch for flocks of Yellow-headed and Brewer’s Blackbirds, American Bittern, Common Yellowthroat, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, and a variety of sparrows and waterfowl such as American White Pelicans, Sora, Wilson’s Snipe, and Cinnamon Teal. Today we’ll also visit Idyllwild Nature Center and other montane locations to catch up with species such as Steller’s and Pinyon Jays, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mountain Quail, Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatches, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Red-breasted Sapsucker, among others. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites, Palm Desert.   Day 8: Big Morongo Canyon Preserve & Covington Park, and Salton Sea. We start the day early at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, a lush, ribbon-like wetland tucked into the western edge of the San Bernardino Mountains.  Sitting at the transition zone between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, the preserve’s mix of desert canyon, mesquite bosque, and expansive cottonwood–willow marsh creates an ecological crossroads that supports extraordinary avian diversity. Target species in this location include California Thrasher, Verdin, California Towhee, Western Tanager, Gambel’s Quail, Black-headed Grosbeak, Rufous Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Hooded Oriole, and Lazuli Bunting, among others.  In the afternoon we explore the shoreline of the Salton Sea, a magnet for large flocks of gulls, shorebirds, and specialty species. Here we scan for Black Skimmers gliding low over the water, large gatherings of gulls (including California and Ring-billed), and a variety of shorebirds foraging along the mudflats. The primary attraction in the area is the rare Yellow-footed Gull, a post-breeding visitor from the Gulf of California. We also watch for American Avocets, Willets, Black-necked Stilts, and the possibility of rare migrants stopping to refuel - and explore the surrounding agricultural fields, which provide habitat for Burrowing Owls, Horned Larks, Say’s Phoebe, Gambel’s Quail, Western Meadowlark, and Savannah Sparrow. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites, El Centro.   Day 9: Kitchen Creek Rd and Return to San Diego. We begin the day departing El Centro, traveling west along Interstate 8 as the landscape gradually transitions from desert lowlands to the rugged, chaparral‑covered mountains of eastern San Diego County. Along the way, we make a strategic birding stop near Kitchen Creek Road, a productive foothill habitat where pinyon‑juniper, scrub, and open slopes create ideal conditions for some of Southern California’s more localized specialties. Here, we’ll search for target species such as Black‑chinned Sparrow, Bell’s Sparrow, Gray Vireo, and Mountain Quail, while also keeping an eye out for other chaparral and montane birds that may be active in the cooler morning hours. After a relaxed but focused session in this scenic setting, we continue our drive west, descending toward the coastal basin and making additional opportunistic stops as conditions allow. El Cajon has a large Amazon parrot roost containing mostly introduced Red-crowned and Lilac-crowned Amazons and Red-masked and Monk Parakeets. By late afternoon, we arrive back in San Diego, where we settle in for our final evening together. Overnight: Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station, San Diego.   Day 10 — Tour Conclusion & Departures. Our Southern California tour concludes today.  If time allows, we will do some birding in the morning near the hotel. Airport drop-off/transfers by no later than 11 am. Participants may depart San Diego International Airport (SAN) after 2 pm.