A Chronological List of Upcoming 
FOCUS ON NATURE Birding and Nature Tours   

Focus On Nature Tours has been conducting birding & nature tours to various, interesting places (with good birding) since 1990.
The approach with FONT birding tours is to do our best to provide good, enjoyable tours for groups that normally maximize at 6 to 8 people.


Upcoming tours, (with some availability noted):


THE CARIBBEAN, the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  (tour WI-3), A birding & nature tour in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (tour WI-3), for endemic & specialty birds, and Hispaniola has many. In the Dominican Republic, there are over 25.  January 28 - February 4, 2012. $US 2,595, plus air.  

THE CARIBBEAN, a special tour in the northern LESSER ANTILLES (tour WI-4), following our tour in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (tour WI-3). On each of these of the islands to be visited, in the Lesser Antilles, there are endemic & specialty birds. On BARBUDA, the endemic Barbuda Warbler; on MONTSERRAT, the endemic Montserrat Oriole; on GUADELOUPE, the endemic Guadeloupe Woodpecker. On DOMINICA, the Imperial Parrot and other endemics and specialties, such as the Forest Thrush and Blue-headed Hummingbird. Offshore, some seabirds and Sperm Whales and other marine mammals. February 4-12, 2012. $US 2,895, plus air.  

Central & Northern CHILE, with birding in areas quite different from each other -  in the Andes, along the Pacific Coast, and in the Chilean desert & montane steppes with saline lakes, with flamingos & more,  in northern Chile.  
Birds range from Albatrosses and Condors, to Tapaculos (among them a Turca). 
Tour CH-2 -- the Andes & Pacific Coast & the desert & saline lakes and volcanoes of Northern Chile: February 17-26, 2012:  $US 2,995, plus air.  

JAPAN, in the winter, to be our 36th birding tour in Japan.
To the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Amami (the last of these optional), including a day-long pelagic onboard a ferry between Honshu & Hokkaido. During this tour, we've always seen the rare Blakiston's Fish Owl, large numbers of Steller's and White-tailed Eagles, and cranes (as many as 7 species). A complete list of birds is in our web-site. February 17-29 (not including Amami) or February 17 - March 4, (including Amami), 2012. 
$US 4,995, plus air (with Amami), $US 4,195, plus air (not with Amami) .
The optional extension February 29 - March 4, 2012 to the southern Japanese island of Amami is for a number of bird specialties & endemics, including Lidth's Jay, the "Owston's or Amami Woodpecker", Amami Thrush, Amami Woodcock, and possibly Saunder's Gull and Black-faced Spoonbill.

Northern COSTA RICA  (tour CR-1), a birding & nature tour from the highlands to the lowlands, from the Caribbean rainforest to the dry Pacific coast, and in between. In addition to the rainforest, includes a number of habitats, and, for good measure, a volcano and a boat-ride along a tropical river. Birds will be many, ranging from those as small as hummingbirds to as large as a Jabiru. March 9-17, 2012 
$US 2,295, plus air.  (This tour can be combined with the March 17-25 tour in southern COSTA RICA : combination price $US 3,895, plus air)   (TOUR FILLED)     

Southern COSTA RICA  (tour CR-2), in the southern part of Costa Rica, where birds have a "southern tint" (cotingas, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodcreepers, antbirds, and furnarids, to name a few). Also in the mountains the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal. To be our 32nd birding & nature tour in Costa Rica. March 17-25, 2012  $US 2,295, plus air.  (TOUR FILLED)

GUATEMALA , with birding in a Land of Mayas & Motmots. In the highlands, and in the Peten lowlands, including a stay at Tikal, a great place for birding, where we've seen some great birds. Including Orange-breasted Falcon, Great Curassow, Tody Motmot, and Gray-throated Chat. In the highlands among the birds we've seen Resplendent Quetzal, Pink-headed Warbler, Sparkling-tailed Coquette and other hummingbirds, and the rare Azure-rumped Tanager.
Tour can be done in 2 parts or in combination. 
Tour 1A, in the Highlands: March 27 - April 3, 2012  $2,595, plus air; 
Tour 1B, in Peten, including Tikal: April 3-8, 2012  $1,695, plus air to/from Guatemala. 
Combination: March 27 - April 8, 2012  $US 3,490, plus air.  

COLORADO and adjacent NEBRASKA & WYOMING, USA, this our annual spring tour for GROUSE, including the 2 "Sages", 2 Prairie-Chickens, Sharp-tailed, Dusky (it was the Blue), and the White-tailed Ptarmigan.
And other birds too, including, most years, all 3 species of Rosy-Finches.
A great tour. April 13-22, 2012  $US 2,495, plus air.  

TEXAS, USA,  a tour with Birds, Bats, & Butterflies, in a big state with lots of each, starting at Corpus Christi (for Rockport & the Aransas Refuge) and including the lower Rio Grande Valley, and the Edwards Plateau. Other wildlife too, with an assortment of mammals. Bird specialties would include the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, and whatever good happens to be along the Lower Rio Grande. Also a chance for a fine warbler fallout along the Gulf and lingering Whooping Cranes. 
April 22-30, 2012  $US 2,295, plus air. 

BRAZIL  (tour BR-4), a special tour for Amazonian specialty birds, including antbirds, parrots & potoos, cotingas & coquettes, manakins & more. Including a lodge on the Rio Roosevelt, and with boat-rides and a canopy tower.  May 4-14, 2012  $US 2,895, plus air.

JAPAN, in the spring, with birding in central & southern Japan - a special tour including the Ogasawara Islands in the Pacific for specialties such as the endemic Bonin Island Honeyeater and what should be some exceptional pelagic birding. Also during the tour, on Honshu, the Oriental Stork. On Kyushu, the Fairy Pitta. And other birds too. May 17-31, 2012  $US 3,895, plus air.  

NORTH CAROLINA, USA, Our Spring Landbirding Tour for Specialty Birds, such as Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, Swainson's Warbler, and Bachman's Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Wilson's Plover, and Mississippi Kite, in an assortment of habitats. This has been our annual "Carolina Caper" since 1992.
May 31 - June 4, 2012  $US 895, plus air. (tour begins & ends in Raleigh, NC).  

ICELAND, a tour on a fascinating island with much to see and enjoy. During this tour in the past, we've seen and enjoyed Gyrfalcons at a nest. There's no place we go that's like Iceland! Seabirds (many!) at their nesting sites, Marine Mammals, and spectacular scenery. Check out the photos in our web-site. June 8-16, 2012  $US 2,995, plus air.  

SPAIN, 2012 will be our 16th year (having done 25 birding tours) in this country with castles, cuisine, and culture. During our previous tours: 4 species of vultures including Lammergeier, Spanish Imperial and 4 other species of Eagles, Eagle Owl, Wallcreeper, both Great and Little Bustards, both Marbled and White-headed Ducks, to name just a few of the 288 bird species that have cumulatively been seen during FONT tours in Spain. 
3 tours as follows:
SP-1: Extremadura & Gredos Mtns: June 17-24, 2012  $2,395, plus air.
SP-2: The Pyrenees Mtns & Ebro Delta: June 24-July 1, 2012  $2,275, plus air.
SP-3: The Canary Islands: July 1-6, 2012  $1,995, plus air.
Combinations: SP-1&2: June 17 - July 1, 2012  $3,295, plus air.
SP-2&3: June 24 - July 6, 2012  $3,190, plus air.
SP-1,2,3: June 17 - July 6, 2012  $4,295. plus air.

Costa Rica (tour CR-3), a Summer Birding & Nature Tour, to places in the country with some of the best Neotropical Birding anywhere. At a time not only good for birds, but for people, such as teachers, who just can't go when others do in the spring & winter. During our previous summer tours, nearly 400 species of birds have been seen. To be our 33rd birding tour in Costa Rica. July 9-22, 2012  $3,250, plus air.  

PANAMA, a week of fine birding in the Canal Basin, including Gamboa & Pipeline Road, and various sites closer to South America, in eastern Panama province & Darien. July 22-29, 2012  $US 2,795, plus air. 

BRAZIL (tour BR-2), in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost Brazilian state, near the border with URUGUAY, and including a 2-night stay in that country.
Birds during the tour will be many and varied. We've done this tour now a few times, and each time we've seen numerous birds in a beautiful and pristine region. 
August 5-15, 2012. $US 2,895, plus air. This tour can be done in combination with the one that follows in Southeast Brazil. 

BRAZIL  (tour BR-3), in the southeast part of the country, for birds & other nature, much of which is endemic, or nearly so. Including the Atlantic Forest, with time in the mountains at Itatiaia, and along the coast near Ubatuba.  August 16-24. $US 2,395, plus air. This tour can be done in combination with the preceding one in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil & in Uruguay. 

ARIZONA  A fine birding & nature tour in northern & southern Arizona including the mountains and the desert. And the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, and Petrified Forest National Parks. At a great time of year for birds: a number of hummingbirds, flycatchers, warblers, sparrows, hawks and owls, a trogon, and more. The first part of the tour will be to locations good for bird in northern Arizona. Among the birds in the area of the Grand Canyon, California Condors. The second part of the tour will be in southern Arizona including the Chiricahua Mountains, and other places, for birds such as the Montezuma Quail, Elegant Trogon, and a good variety of raptors and hummingbirds.  August 26 - September 7, 2012  $US 2,495, plus air to/from Phoenix.   

WEST COAST USA  (Washington State & central California) 
During this week-long tour, equally split between the two states, in Washington there will be a boat trip in the Puget Sound for birds and orcas, and birding at the Skagit Flats and in the Cascade Mountains. Among the birding spots in California will be Point Reyes, a place known for avian migrants, at a prime-time for rarities. This will be our 14th time for this tour. 
Cumulatively, 327 species of birds have been seen during this tour. The cumulative tally for mammals thus far is 59. The complete list of both birds and mammals is in our web-site. September 7-16, 2012  $US2,195, plus air.  

SWEDEN, a week in the southern region known as Skane, at a peak time for a bird migration that's phenomenal. In all, 158 species of birds have been seen during this tour, including raptors, waterbirds, shorebirds, and landbirds in large numbers as migrants. September 22-28, 2012  $US 2,895, plus air.   
(This tour can be done either independent of, or in conjunction with, the following Iceland tour.)  

ICELAND, one of our favorite destinations, this tour to be 16th there. At a time good for birding, and the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Birds this time of year include those in flocks, either migrating or about to, and some vagrants. Specialties sought include White-tailed Eagle, Gyrfalcon, and Ptarmigan. September 28 - October 6, 2012  $US 3,195, plus air. (This tour can be done either independent of, or in conjunction with, the preceding Sweden tour) 

WISCONSIN & MINNESOTA, a special tour including a visit to the International Crane Foundation. what should be a fabulous "Birds in Art" exhibition, a hawk watch, and more. October 13-21, 2012  $US 2,095, plus air to/from Chicago.   

JAPAN  (tour JA-3),  a birding & nature tour in northern Japan, mostly on the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido. Also with a full-day pelagic trip onboard a ferry from Honshu to  Hokkaido. This tour at a good time still for some southbound migrants, including an assortment of landbirds, shorebirds, and waterbirds. Additionally, we'll visit a number of habitats, including fields and forest, from the mountains to the coast. And we should see the top avian specialties of Hokkaido: cranes, eagles, and the big, rare Blakiston's Fish Owl.  October 12-26, 2012  $US 3,495, plus air.  

BRAZIL (tour BR-4), in Minas Gerais, for birds, mammals, and other nature, in a region with many endemic and specialty birds, foremost among them the very rare Brazilian Merganser.  Also the Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Three-toed Jacamar, and Cock-tailed Tyrant. Among the mammals, the Maned Wolf, Giant Anteater, and the Northern Muriqui (the largest monkey in the New World). October 29 - November 8, 2012. $US 2,895, plus air. This tour followed by an optional extension: 
BRAZIL  (tour BR-4A), in the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul, for even more bird and mammals. Birds such as the Hyacinth Macaw and the Jabiru. Among the mammals, Ocelots, and hopefully Jaguar as we have in the past.  November 8-13. $US 1,695, plus air.  

ARGENTINA, A land with birds named Horneros, Canasteros, Negritos, Gallitos, Doraditos, & Rayaditos. This tour to be in habitats as diverse as chaco, vast marshes, and subtropical forest. Also with a visit to Iguazu Falls, which is a good place not just for birds, but for butterflies. During the north-central Argentina part of this tour, we go for a nice number of the Argentine endemic & specialty birds.  
Tour AR-1: Northeast & North-central Argentina:  November 3-16, 2012  $US 3,595, plus air. 
Can be done in combination with the tour AR-2, that follows, in southern Argentina: Nov 16-29, 2012: $US 5,595, plus air.   

ARGENTINA, A land with birds named Magellanic. So-named a Woodpecker, a Plover, a Tapaculo, and many other birds, at places such as the Valdez Peninsula & Tierra del Fuego. Mammals, too, including Guanacos, Maras, Orcas, and the Southern Right Whale.     
Tour AR-2: Southern Argentina (in 3 regions of Patagonia): November 16-29, 2012  $US 3,695, plus air. 
Optional Extension: CHILE Short-stay: Nov 11-14 (following AR-2): including High Andes, a pelagic trip, birding in various habitats: $US 1,495.  

THE CARIBBEAN: On these islands, our aim is to see the endemic and specialty birds, and to have a most-enjoyable time doing so.
Tour WI-5a:  Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman & Little Cayman) November 28 - December 1, 2012  $US 1,395
An enjoyable Caribbean birding experience, with some specialty birds.
Tour WI-5b:  Jamaica  December 1-7, 2012  $US 2,495 
Tour WI-5a&b:  Combination Tour Cayman Islands & Jamaica November 28 - December 7, 2012 $US 3,095.
The above to be our 11th tour on the island of Jamaica (since 1994). We normally see all the endemic birds (except the 2 that are probably extinct). 

PANAMA, (tour PN-5) a week of fine birding in the Canal Basin, on both the Caribbean & Pacific sides, including Gamboa & Pipeline Road, Barro Colorado Island, and fine birding sites. November 30 - December 7, 2012  $US 2,895, plus air.

GUATEMALA, Our Festive Holiday Birding & Nature Tour in the Highlands & Lowlands, including the Mayan ruins at Tikal:  December 26, '12 - January 5, '13. $US 2,895, plus air.  

HONDURAS, the second largest country in Central America, a land of mountains & forests, of beaches & coral, of mangroves & wilderness. It has a veritable variety of habitats and parts of it are truly pristine. It is the most mountainous of Central American countries. It has the largest extent of remaining forest in Central America, about 40% of its land area. Tropical rainforest covers the lowlands of the Caribbean side. 
Honduras has more beaches than any other Central American country, with over 500 miles of coastline. 
To the Mayans around 1000 B.C., Copan was a ceremonial hub. It has been called the " Athens of the New World ". Each of the natural habitats just referred to, and Copan, will be visited during this tour. We'll also visit a remote area for the one bird endemic to Honduras - a hummingbird.   
January 5-15, 2013  $US , plus air. 

Central & Southern CHILE, with birding in areas quite different from each other -  in the Andes, the forested Lake District, and the pristine Chiloe Island, in the northern reaches of Patagonia in southern Chile. 
Birds include Penguins, Parakeets, and much more. Other nature where there's Puma and Pudu.   
Tour CH-1 -- the Andes & in the Lake District & Chiloe Island of Southern Chile: January 18-27, 2013:  $US 2,995, plus air.  

JAPAN, in the winter, to be our 39th birding tour in Japan.
To the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Amami (the last of these optional), including a day-long pelagic onboard a ferry between Honshu & Hokkaido. During this tour, we've always seen the rare Blakiston's Fish Owl, large numbers of Steller's and White-tailed Eagles, and cranes (as many as 7 species). A complete list of birds is in our web-site. January 31 - February 12 (not including Amami) or January 31 - February 16, (including Amami), 2013. 
$US 4,995, plus air (with Amami), $US 4,195, plus air (not with Amami) .
The optional extension February 12-16, 2013 to the southern Japanese island of Amami is for a number of bird specialties & endemics, including Lidth's Jay, the "Owston's or Amami Woodpecker", Amami Thrush, Amami Woodcock, and possibly Saunder's Gull and Black-faced Spoonbill.

Central & Northern CHILE, with birding in areas quite different from each other -  in the Andes, along the Pacific Coast, and in the Chilean desert & montane steppes with saline lakes, with flamingos & more, in northern Chile.  
Birds range from Albatrosses and Condors, to Tapaculos (among them a Turca). 
Tour CH-2 -- the Andes & Pacific Coast & the desert & saline lakes and volcanoes of Northern Chile: February 18-27, 2013:  $US 2,995, plus air.  

BELIZE, a birding & nature tour, in a small but great country for both birds & nature, to places in the interior & along the coast. March 1-10, 2013  $US 2,695, plus air. 

THE CARIBBEAN, in the LESSER ANTILLES (tour WI-1), for endemic & specialty birds on the islands of ST. LUCIA, ST. VINCENT, and DOMINICA. Among those endemic birds, there are rare Amazon parrots on each of the 3 islands. March 16-24, 2013. $US 2,495, plus air.  

THE CARIBBEAN, PUERTO RICO (tour WI-2), To be our 28th tour on the island, during which we'll see the nice assortment of endemic & specialty birds, in addition to having a good time!  March 24-29, 2013.  $US 2,075, plus air.

THE CARIBBEAN, the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  (tour WI-3), A birding & nature tour in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (tour WI-3), for endemic & specialty birds, and Hispaniola has many. In the Dominican Republic, there are over 25.  March 30 - April 6, 2013. $US 2,595, plus air.  

THE CARIBBEAN, a special tour in the northern LESSER ANTILLES (tour WI-4), following our tour in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (tour WI-3). On each of these of the islands to be visited, in the Lesser Antilles, there are endemic & specialty birds. On BARBUDA, the endemic Barbuda Warbler; on MONTSERRAT, the endemic Montserrat Oriole; on GUADELOUPE, the endemic Guadeloupe Woodpecker. On DOMINICA, the Imperial Parrot and other endemics and specialties, such as the Forest Thrush and Blue-headed Hummingbird. Offshore, some seabirds and Sperm Whales and other marine mammals. April 6-14, 2013. $US 2,895, plus air.  

SPAIN, 2013 will be our 17th year (having done 25 birding tours) in this country with castles, cuisine, and culture. During our previous tours: 4 species of vultures including Lammergeier, Spanish Imperial and 4 other species of Eagles, Eagle Owl, Wallcreeper, both Great and Little Bustards, both Marbled and White-headed Ducks, to name just a few of the 288 bird species that have cumulatively been seen during FONT tours in Spain. 
3 tours as follows:
SP-1: Extremadura & Gredos Mtns: June 16-23, 2013  $2,395, plus air.
SP-2: The Pyrenees Mtns & Ebro Delta: June 23-30, 2013  $2,275, plus air.
SP-3: The Canary Islands: June 30 - July 5, 2013  $1,995, plus air.
Combinations: SP-1&2: June 16-30, 2013  $3,295, plus air.
SP-2&3: June 24 - July 5, 2013  $3,190, plus air.
SP-1,2,3: June 16 - July 5, 2013  $4,295. plus air.

BRAZIL (tour BR-2), a birding & nature tour to spectacular places for both - birds & nature: Iguazu Falls and the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul, where during previous tours we've seen many birds and some animals that were great to see.  Named our  "Jabiru & Jaguar" tour, for those two species we've seen in the past (the Jabiru every time, the Jaguar during two of our most-recent tours). Among the birds will be some large ones, including the largest of the world's macaws, the largest of the toucans, and, in fact, the largest of American birds (it does not fly).  August 4-18, 2013  $US 3,475, plus air.  

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Note: Prices subject to change, but remain the same after deposit is made.  

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If you're interested in any of our tours,  please call us toll-free at 1-800-721-9986 or e-mail font@focusonnature.com
We'll be glad to hear from you!