www.speysidewildlife.co.ukenquiries@speysidewildlife.co.uk | 01479 812498

CALIFORNIA

1-5 In September, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary has fantastic

numbers of whales, dolphins and birds and we’ve two boat trips lined up: our first day-long voyage will focus on the huge variety of seabirds in the area – these include Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Cassin’s and Rhinoceros Auklets, plus Ashy, Black and Fork-tailed Storm Petrels to name a few. Amongst the thousands of Sooty Shearwaters we shall look for Buller’s and Pink-footed Shearwater and, with luck, a Black-footed Albatross may sail across our wake. The boat operator has pioneered pelagic birding tours from Monterey, with over 30 years’ experience, so they’ll make sure we won’t miss a thing!

Our second half-day whalewatch may include Humpback Whale, Orca, Dall’s and Risso’s Dolphins, or even mighty Blue Whales.

Monterey Bay for whales and dolphins Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, albatrosses and pelagic species Condors and Sea Otters along the Big Sur coastline Yosemite National Park’s granite cliffs and giant Sequoias Phalaropes, grebes and desert birds at scenic Mono Lake Migrant shorebirds at Point Reyes Seashore Hawk-watching at the Golden Gate, San Francisco

Spectacular California, the most varied state in America, with wildlife to match! Includes the Monterey coast, Yosemite National Park, boat trips and hawk-watching at the Golden Gate.

Elsewhere, fantastic California Condors are now back and soaring over Pinnacles National Monument. We’ll look for these, the largest bird in North America, in this inspiring landscape of volcanic spires and chaparral. Golden Eagle, Canyon Wren and Phainopepla are also present and west coast specialities include Yellow-billed Magpie, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse, Wrentit, California Thrasher and Lawrence’s Goldfinch.

Birding the beautiful Big Sur coastline south of Monterey, we’ll look for species found along the rocky shores, such as Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, Surfbird and Wandering Tattler. Stars of the show are sure to be the delightful California Sea Otters, that frequent the tangle of kelp beds in the coves and bays.

Dates Sat 11 - Sun 26 Sep 2021

Price £6,550

Deposit £1,300 Single Supp £1,500

Leaders Darren Rees and David Wimpfheimer

Flights British Airways, scheduled Outbound: Morning Heathrow-San Francisco Inbound: Overnight San Francisco-Heathrow

Weather Warm (20°- 30°C) but can be cooler at sea and in the mountains

Walking Maximum of 2-3 miles on easy trails. Walks from our bases at Yosemite and Mono Lake may involve some at altitudes above 8000ft. These will be on well maintained paths at an easy pace but please consult with your GP if you think this may be an issue

Meals All included from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 15

Insects Occasional, but not a nuisance

Accom Twin and single rooms all ensuite

Group 12

Just some of what we hope to see:

Blue WhaleHumpback WhaleRisso’s DolphinSea OtterNorthern Elephant SealBlack BearBlack-footed AlbatrossBuller’s ShearwaterPink-footed ShearwaterBlack Storm PetrelRhinoceros AukletCalifornia CondorBald EagleWhite-tailed KitePrairie FalconGreat Gray Owl

Burrowing OwlCalifornia QuailBlack OystercatcherBlack TurnstoneWandering TattlerSurfbirdNuttall’s WoodpeckerAcorn WoodpeckerWhite-headed WoodpeckerYellow-billed MagpieChestnut-backed ChickadeeWrentitCalifornia ThrasherCalifornia Towhee

“Mighty whales and cute critters, including adorable Sea Otters; huge-winged

California Condors, whacky woodpeckers and dainty

hummingbirds. Lots of my favourite things

on one tour!“ Darren Rees

01479 812498 | enquiries@speysidewildlife.co.ukwww.speysidewildlife.co.uk

6-8 We visit famous Yosemite National Park after the Labor Day crowds

and we’ve two full days to enjoy this stunning landscape. We’ll search for Red-breasted and Williamson’s Sapsucker and Black-backed, White-headed and Acorn Woodpeckers, amongst many others. If we’re lucky, we may encounter Coyote, Black Bear or Great Gray Owl, but perhaps the natural landscape will be the highlight – the giant Sequoia trees have to be seen to be believed and then there are the spectacular waterfalls and the mighty granite peaks of Half Dome and El Capitan.

9-11 Beyond Yosemite we climb from the Merced River at 2500ft to

almost 10,000ft at Tioga Pass, where birds of the high mountain include Mountain Chickadee, Blue Grouse, Townsend Solitaire, Clark’s Nutcracker and Steller’s Jay; arriving at Lee Vining, next to Mono Lake, for the next three nights.

Mono Lake may be referred to as the Dead Sea of California, but it’s anything but - this rich ecosystem is a vital staging post for huge numbers of migrant birds: tens of thousands of grebes and phalaropes share the water with a billion brine flies! The setting is remarkable, with the dramatic Sierra Nevada as backdrop, rising abruptly from the arid sagebrush of the Great Basin. A different avifauna awaits here, with Pinyon Jay, Sage Thrasher, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Green-tailed Towhee and Mountain Bluebird. At Bridgeport Lake, there are big numbers of wildfowl, that attract Bald Eagles as well as Prairie Falcons and we’re sure to visit

the historic deserted town of Bodie – the miners and townfolk have long gone, but the Sage Grouse remain!

12-14 Our final base is the wild Point Reyes National Seashore, a

renowned migration hotspot. We’ll explore the estuaries, windswept beaches, coastal grasslands and thickets, that have made this a world famous preserve. There is a large staging of Western and Least Sandpipers and coastal scrub should hold Chestnut-backed Chickadees, California Quail, California Towhee and migrant passerines such as Hutton’s Vireos and Hermit and Townsend Warblers.

Our last full day will be at the Marin Peninsula, north of San Francisco and the aptly named Hawk Hill. Raptor migration is at a peak and, given favourable weather conditions, large numbers of accipiters, buteos, harriers and falcons pass south over Golden Gate Park. Amongst the Merlins and Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, we may encounter Swainson’s or Ferruginous Hawk. If the winds are wrong, we’ll still have the view over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco!

15-16 On our last morning, we’ll have a half-day tour of San Francisco

– the city by the bay, before we return to the airport for our late afternoon flight, arriving in the UK on Day 16.

“A land of superlatives and such variety, with the wild coastline of Big Sur and Point Reyes; the desert beauty of Mono Lake and the eastern Sierras; and the grandeur of Yosemite National Park. California has the lot.” Darren Rees

Mary Braddock: Sea Otter Mark Denman: California Condor, Acorn Woodpecker Darren Rees: California Quail, Mono Lake Roy Atkins: Humpback Whale

Day 1 Fly to San Francisco, transfer to Monterey 5 nights Best Western Monterey Inn

Days 2-5 Wildlife exploration in and around Monterey and Big Sur coast with two boat trips

Day 6 Transfer to Yosemite National Park 3 nights Yosemite Valley Lodge

Days 7-8 Wildlife exploration around Yosemite National Park

Days 9-11 Transfer to Mono Lake 3 nights Lakeview Lodge

Day 12 Transfer to Point Reyes birdwatching enroute 3 nights Tomales Bay Resort

Days 13-14 Wildlife exploration around Point Reyes

Days 15-16 Half-day visit to San Francisco, thenflighttoUK,arrivingback in morning of Day 16

Outline Itinerary