A Chronological List of Upcoming FONT Birding & 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 availability noted):


ARIZONA, USA & SONORA, MEXICO,  A fine birding & nature tour in the mountains and the desert. 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 southern Arizona. The second part will be in Sonora, Mexico at a vast remote ranch in the hills. August 18-27, 2010  $US 2,395, plus air to/from Tucson, Arizona.  

ARIZONA, USA & SONORA, MEXICO,  A fine birding & nature tour in the mountains and the desert, but this tour mostly in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. Two days, at the beginning & end of this tour in Arizona, near Phoenix, at a couple locations very good for birds & plants. In Sonora, Mexico, we'll visit the coast of the Sea of Cortez, as well as various inland habitats, up into the mountains, where our emphasis will be on birds, butterflies, mammals, and reptiles & amphibians not readily seen in the US. 
August 27 - September 5, 2010  $US 2,395, plus air to/from Phoenix, Arizona & Hermosillo, Mexico.  (1 PLACE  AVAILABLE)

WEST COAST USA (Washington State & central California) 
(a week-long birding tour, about equally split between Washington State and central California).
During this tour, there are 2 pelagic trips one offshore from Washington, the other from California.
This will be our 14th time for this tour. It is at a prime-time for bird rarities, and as always, if something rare is about, an effort is made for it. Such birds, during this tour in the past, have included Little Curlew, Mongolian Plover, Long-toed Stint, and White-winged Tern.
Pelagic rarities have included Red-tailed Tropicbird and Laysan Albatross.
Cumulatively, 327 species of birds have been seen during this tour. And 59 species of mammals. The complete list is in our web-site. September 10-19, 2010  $US2,195, plus air.  

ARGENTINA, A land with birds named Horneros, Canasteros, Negritos, Gallitos, and Doraditos. This tour, AR-1, in North-central and South Argentina for endemic & specialty birds of the country, and of course others too! 
In various habitats including the chaco. With a visit to the Valdez Peninsula in northern Patagonia. 
With birds such as the Black-legged Seriema, Rufous-throated Dipper, Lark-like Brushrunner, and the Many-colored Chaco Finch in the north. And Magellanic Penguin, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Burrowing Parrot, and Yellow Cardinal in the south. With also an assortment of marine and land mammals.  September 27 - October 10, 2010  $US 2,995, plus air.   

BRAZIL (tour BR-3), in two very different regions of the country, the states of Minas Gerais & Rio Grande do Sul. The latter is the southernmost Brazilian state, near the border with Uruguay. Birds to be sought will be endemics and specialties of the regions, including the rare Brazilian Merganser, but there will be many more. An assortment of mammals is possible, too, such as Maned Wolf, Giant Anteater and various monkeys. We've done this tour a few times, and we've always seen many, many birds. 
October 16-30, 2010. $US 3,395, plus air.
Optional Extension: For Birds & Animals of the Brazilian Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul (tour BR-3A), October 30-Nov 3. $US 1,495, plus air. During our tour there in 2006, mammals that we saw included: Jaguar, Ocelot, Pantanal Cat, Maned Wolf, and Brazilian Tapir, in addition to Giant Anteater, Marsh Deer, and Crab-eating Foxes & Raccoons. Also during the night excursions we saw numerous owls and nightjars.  (2 PLACES NOW AVAILABLE) 

CHILE, with birding in some areas very 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.  
The tour includes a pelagic trip, offshore from central Chile. 
Birds range from Albatrosses and Condors, to Tapaculos (among them a Turca), and Torrent Ducks. 
Tour CH-1 -- the High Andes, a pelagic trip, & Southern Chile, including the Lake District & Chiloe Island: November 12-21, 2010:  $US 2,995, plus air.   

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) December 1-4, 2010  $US 1,395  
An enjoyable Caribbean birding experience, with some specialty birds.
Tour WI-5b:  Jamaica  December 4-10, 2010  $US 2,295 
Tour WI-5a&b:  Combination Tour Cayman Islands & Jamaica December 1-10, 2010 $US 2,995.
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). 

GUATEMALA, Our Festive Holiday Birding & Nature Tour in the Highlands & Lowlands, including the Mayan ruins at Tikal:  December 26, '10 - January 5, '11. $US 2,795, 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. January 10-22 (not including Amami) or January 10-26,  (including Amami), 2011. 
$US 3,995, plus air (with Amami), $US 3,495, plus air (not with Amami) .
The optional extension January 22-26, 2011 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.

COSTA RICA & adjacent PANAMA  (tour CR-1), in mostly the highlands for birds and other nature. Birds such as the Quetzal and Bellbird, and an array of Tanagers & Hummingbirds. Also: Orchids, Butterflies, and Mammals. January 30 - February 15, '11.  $US 2,990, 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. 
January 29 - February 6, 2011. $US 2,295, 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!  February 6-11, 2011.  $US 1,975, plus air.

THE CARIBBEAN, a birding & nature tour in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (tour WI-3), preceding our special tour in the northern LESSER ANTILLES. For endemic & specialty birds, and Hispaniola has many. In the Dominican Republic, there are over 25.  February 12-19, 2011. $US 2,295, 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 there's an endemic warbler; on MONTSERRAT there's an endemic oriole; on GUADELOUPE there's an endemic woodpecker. On DOMINICA, there are 2 endemic parrots. During the tour, we will see a nice number of endemic & specialty birds. February 19-27, 2011. $US 2,895, 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. February 28 - March 9, 2011  $US 2,195, plus air. 

ARIZONA, USA & SONORA, MEXICO,  A fine birding & nature tour in the mountains and the desert, but this tour mostly in the northern Mexican state of Sonora. Two days, at the beginning & end of this tour in Arizona, near Phoenix, at a couple locations very good for birds & plants. In Sonora, Mexico, we'll visit the coast of the Sea of Cortez, as well as various inland habitats, up into the mountains, where our emphasis will be on birds, butterflies, mammals, and reptiles & amphibians not readily seen in the US.  March 11-20, 2011  $US 2,395, plus air to/from Phoenix, Arizona & Hermosillo, Mexico.  

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. March 19-29, 2011  $US 2,475, plus air. 

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 29 - April 5, 2011  $2,495, plus air; 
Tour 1B, in Peten, including Tikal: April 5-10, 2011  $1,595, plus air to/from Guatemala. 
Combination: March 29 - April 10, 2011  $US 3,390, plus air to/from Guatemala.  

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 15-24, 2011  $US 2,295, 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 24 - May 2, 2011  $US 2,195, plus air to/from Texas. 

JAPAN, in the spring, with birding in central & southern Japan, including a visit to a small island that's a magnet for migrating birds, Hegura, off Honshu in the Sea of Japan. On the southern islands of Nansei Shoto (Amami & Okinawa) and in Kyushu, we'll be going for bird specialties & endemics: Fairy Pitta, Lidth’s Jay, Amami Woodcock, Pryer’s Woodpecker, Okinawa Rail. May 12-29, 2011  $US 3,495, 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. June 2-6, 2011  $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 9-18, 2011  $US 2,995, plus air.  

SPAIN, 2011 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 19-26, 2011  $2,395, plus air.
SP-2: The Pyrenees Mtns & Ebro Delta: June 26-July 3, 2011  $2,275, plus air.
SP-3: The Canary Islands: July 3-8, 2011  $1,995, plus air.
Combinations: SP-1&2: June 19 - July 3, 2011  $3,295, plus air.
SP-2&3: June 26 - July 8, 2011  $3,190, plus air.
SP-1,2,3: June 19 - July 8, 2011  $4,295. plus air.  

Costa Rica (tour CR-2), a Summer Birding 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 28th birding tour in Costa Rica . July x-xx, 2011  $x,xxx, 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 xx-xx, 2011  $USx ,6xx, plus air to/from Panama .

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 6-20, 2011  $US 3,375, plus air.  

BRAZIL (tour BR-3), a birding tour that can be combined with the previous tour, to prime places for birds in Southeast Brazil, notably Itiatia, Ubatuba, & Intervales. At each of these locales, there are a number of Brazilian endemic & specialty birds, with good assortments of hummingbirds, tanagers, flycatchers, and furnariids. Also; toucans, trogons, and thrushes.  August 21-29, 2011  $2,895, plus air.  
(The Brazilian tours BR-2 & BR-3 can be combined, August 6-29, 2011,  with the price of $4,995, 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 24-30, 2011  $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 30 - October 8, 2011  $US 3,195, plus air. (This tour can be done either independent of, or in conjunction with, the preceding Sweden tour) 

JAPAN, 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 17-31, 2011  $US 2,995, 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 5-20, 2010  $US 3,395, plus air. 
Can be done in combination with the tour AR-2, that follows, in southern Argentina: Nov 20 - Dec 2, 2011: $US 4,895, 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 20 - December 2, 2011  $US 3,495, plus air. 
Optional Extension: CHILE Short-stay: Dec 2-5 (following AR-2): including High Andes, a pelagic trip, birding in various habitats: $US 1,395.   

CHILE, with birding in some areas very 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.  
The tour includes a pelagic trip, offshore from central Chile. 
Birds range from Albatrosses and Condors, to Tapaculos (among them a Turca), and Torrent Ducks. 
Tour CH-1 -- (the "Short-Stay") in the High Andes & a pelagic trip on the Pacific:  December 2-5, 2011:  $US 1,395, plus air
Tour CH-2 -- the High Andes, a pelagic trip, & Southern Chile, including the Lake District & Chiloe Island: December 2-11, 2011:  $US 2,995, plus air.  

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Note: Prices subject to change.  Prices in effect at time of registration guaranteed. 

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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!