Tours and guiding

The first Yellow-throated Vireo for the Azores, and only the third for the Western Palearctic, was a star find in 2008.

Considering a birding trip with a difference? If so, I recommend any of the tours selected for the World of Birds reader breaks program run by Birdwatch in partnership with leading specialist companies. I have devised, led or co-led a number of these fully bonded birding tours, including trips to Canada, the USA and Israel, and latterly have specialised in the Azores.

"It was a fantastic trip, not only for birds but also with you and the group, and we very much liked the different islands." Daniel and Monique Mauras, France (2010 Azores tour)

Nowhere in the Western Palearctic has such a high ratio of vagrants to resident and regular species than the Azores, an isolated archipelago in the North Atlantic. I first birded the islands in 1994 and in recent years have visited twice annually, so can vouch from experience that this is bird-finding as it should be – great rarities without the crowds and queues at twitches back home.

Azores Bullfinch, endemic to a small area of one island, is a key target on both Azores tours.

Participants on Azores tours always aim to see the endemic Azores Bullfinch, an endangered species for which, through Birdwatch, we have raised conservation funding of more than €40,000. Add to that the endemic Azores Gull (a potential split from Yellow-legged) and the near-endemic Atlantic Canary, as well as numerous endemic subspecies and frequent rare stragglers, and these islands always provide quality birding. Read on for tour details …

One of 2010's highlights was eye-to-eye contact with a vagrant Great Blue Heron on Terceira.

AZORES: OCTOBER 2012
The transatlantic vagrants tour, plus Azores Bullfinch – this annual multi-island rarity bonanza focuses on Nearctic wildfowl, shorebirds and landbirds, with past highlights including such major regional vagrants as American Bittern, Semipalmated Plover, Solitary and Upland Sandpipers, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush, White-eyed, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Hooded, Yellow and Black-and-white Warblers, Northern Parula, American Redstart, Baltimore Oriole and Bobolink, plus the endemic Azores Bullfinch. 13-21 October 2012, £1,330 plus approx £330 scheduled return flights from UK.
* Tour operated in association with Archipelago Azores (ATOL 6059) and Birdwatch magazine. For more details or to book, call 01768 775672.

Click these links to read tour reports for October 2010 and October 2009.

Cory's Shearwater and Atlantic Spotted Dolphin at sea near the Desertas Islands.

AZORES, MADEIRA AND DESERTAS: JUNE 2012
Breeding endemics, seabirds and other specialities – this exciting new itinerary will target Zino's, Desertas and Bulwer's Petrels, Barolo and Cory's Shearwaters, Monteiro's, Madeiran and Wilson's Storm-petrels, Trocaz Pigeon, Plain Swift, Berthelot's Pipit, Madeira Kinglet, Atlantic Canary and Azores Bullfinch. Good cetacean possibilities in both archipelagoes, plus outside chance of the endangered Monk Seal in the Desertas. 10-20 June 2012, plus optional three-day mainland Portugal extension for Spanish Imperial Eagle, Great Bustard, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-necked Nightjar, White-rumped Swift etc. Price TBC.
* Tour operated in association with Archipelago Azores (ATOL 6059) and Sunrise Birding LLC. For more details or to provisionally reserve a place, call 01768 775672.

First-winter Caspian Gull: is it on your list?

PRIVATE GUIDING AND TOURS
I also undertake other guided birding, either in/from London year-round, for target birds such as Caspian Gull (above) and scarce breeding species, or on custom breaks/tours in Britain and the Western Palearctic. If you want to discuss private guiding requirements, please email me at: dominic.mitchell [at] yahoo.co.uk.