VENTFLASH #109 July 02, 2010
Posted by Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 62 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Ari...Dear friends,
It was the 13th day of our Birding Across America by Train tour, the last day before we flew home. From Albany, New York to Seattle, Washington, we had traveled 3,000 miles across this great country and had seen so much: 18 species of warblers in the lush woodlands of New York's Adirondack Mountains; Chestnut-collared Longspurs, skylarking Bobolinks, dancing Sharp-tailed Grouse, a staging flock of 150 Red-necked Phalaropes, and Western Grebes performing courtship displays—all on the prairies and potholes of North Dakota; a pair of Varied Thrushes gathering worms along the roadside in Olympic National Park, 50 Harlequin Ducks amid the log booms of Ediz Hook, and Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemots, and much more on Washington's scenic Olympic Peninsula.
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Sooty Grouse— Photo: Tom Lawler |
On this morning we were making our way up to Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park. The ride up had been beautiful and we had observed a black bear foraging at close range just upslope from the road. After enjoying the spectacular panoramic views from the visitor center at the summit, we started down the mountain. Then, unexpectedly, the lead van came to a sudden stop in the road. My first thought was the bear, but it seemed unlikely we would stop so suddenly for an animal we had already enjoyed prolonged views of on the way up. Then the words came over the radio in a rapid-fire series, "Sooty Grouse displaying just upslope on your left!" I looked up and there was a male Sooty Grouse with his tail fanned, strutting just 30 yards from the road. We decided to turn around, find a place to pull over, and walk back. Such an opportunity was too good to pass up.
As we approached the area where the grouse was displaying, it flew across the road and alighted on the grassy shoulder just 30 feet in front of our group and proceeded to display in full view! Needless to say, our tour group was stunned by this performance. To our amazement, the bird then walked toward us in slow halting steps until it was only 20 feet away!
For over 20 minutes we stood there transfixed by the sights and sounds of this amazing bird. We could see every detail of his gorgeous plumage. His tail was broadly tipped with gray; the back feathers were dark with wonderful brown vermiculations; and his eyecombs were brilliant yellow, as was the exposed skin of his air sacs. Over and over the bird emitted a series of six low hoots, and then waited to see if a rival answered. We were all totally entranced. No one wanted to leave, but finally we had to pull ourselves away. In over 35 years of leading bird tours, this was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had—and one none of us will ever forget.
In this issue:
REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS FOR GALAPAGOS, ARGENTINA & UGANDA
WEST TEXAS: CIBOLO CREEK LODGE – $500 DISCOUNT AVAILABLE!
LATE SUMMER TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
FINAL THOUGHTS
REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS: GALAPAGOS, ARGENTINA & UGANDA
Among the many departures VENT will operate this coming fall and winter are trips to three of the world's most special places for birding and wildlife viewing: the Galapagos Islands, Argentina, and Uganda. I consider each of these destinations among VENT's greatest trips. I wanted you to know that we are offering registration discounts on tours to all of these locations. After this fall, our next Galapagos trip will not operate until July 2011, while Argentina will not be offered again until 2012, and Uganda in 2013. I hope you will consider taking advantage of one or more of these discounts.
Galapagos Islands
In the last VENTflash, I announced our fall Galapagos Islands Cruise, November 6-15, 2010, a departure we are operating in collaboration with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic aboard the National Geographic Islander. Lindblad has recently made the decision to offer a discount of $500/person for anyone who registers for this exciting trip. Of course, this offer extends to VENT travelers as well. The VENT leaders for this expedition will be Paul Greenfield, co-author of the landmark field guide The Birds of Ecuador, and Bob Sundstrom.
November is an excellent time to visit the Galapagos. Our itinerary includes most of the major islands: Santa Cruz, Española, Isabella, Fernandina, and Santiago. Participants will have a chance to see a majority of the endemic birds and other charismatic species that make these islands such a draw. Among the expected species are seabirds found nowhere else: Galapagos Penguin, Waved Albatross, Galapagos Shearwater, Galapagos Petrel, Elliot's and Galapagos storm-petrels, and Swallow-tailed and Lava gulls. Of the landbirds, the famous Darwin's finches are always high on everyone's list, but sightings of other island specialties such as Galapagos Hawk, Galapagos Flycatcher, and several species of mockingbirds are assured.
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Galapagos Tortoise— Photo: Sven-Olof Lindblad |
Our Galapagos trips are more than a birding trip and should be regarded as a complete natural history experience. Landings at each of the islands on our itinerary will put us in the company of marine iguanas, lava lizards, sally lightfoot crabs, and sea lions. Guided interpretive walks reveal the islands' remarkable botanical communities and fabulous geologic features.
Prior to the cruise we are offering an optional two-night pre-trip to the bird-rich Tandayapa Valley just west of Quito, November 4-6, 2010. Participants will see a marvelous variety of hummingbirds, tanagers, and other birds of the Andes. The pre-trip will be co-led by Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom. Fee is $675 in double occupancy from Quito.
Galapagos Islands Cruise, November 6-15, 2010, with Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom; cabins begin at $5,380 in double occupancy from Quito. With discount pay just $4,880 in double occupancy. Limit 24.
Argentina
I can't say enough good things about Argentina, a land of wide open spaces, diverse and bird-rich habitats, wonderful people, great food and accommodations, and a very pleasant climate.Since Argentina is so large, we have designed three fall tours, each visiting a different part of the country. These tours may be taken separately or combined into one grand tour.
We are offering a discount of $500/person to anyone who registers before July 15, 2010 for any of our fall Argentina tours. You can save even more by taking advantage of our combined tour discounts available to anyone who takes connecting tours.
I hope you'll consider joining us on one or more of these fine tours:
Northeast Argentina: Pampas, Ibera Wetlands, and Iguazú, November 10-21, 2010 with Steve Hilty and a local leader; $3,675 in double occupancy from Buenos Aires. Discounted fee is only $3,175 in double occupancy. Receive an additional $225 discount when combining with Northwest Argentina.
This trip focuses on several of Argentina's most bird-rich regions including the famed pampas southwest of Buenos Aires, the endemic-rich wetlands of northern Corrientes, and the tropical forests of the Iguazú region.
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Greater Rhea— Photo: Hernan Goni/Seriema Nature Tours |
Northwest Argentina: Chaco, Andes, and Altiplano, November 20-December 3, 2010 with Steve Hilty and a local leader; $4,490 in double occupancy from Buenos Aires. Discounted fee is only $3,990 in double occupancy. Receive an additional $225 discount when combining with Northeast Argentina; receive an additional $325 discount when combining with Southern Argentina.
This tour offers an intimate look at the special birds, habitats, and majestic landscapes of northwestern Argentina.
Southern Argentina, December 2-13, 2010 with Steve Hilty and a local leader; $5,095 in double occupancy from Buenos Aires. Discounted fee is only $4,595 in double occupancy. Receive an additional $325 discount when combining with Northwest Argentina.
Our Southern Argentina trip encompasses two broad areas in Patagonia and the unforgettably scenic region of Tierra del Fuego.
VENT has been operating tours to Argentina for over two decades. Our trips are led by Steve Hilty, one of the foremost authorities on the birds of South America. As the author of the monumental Birds of Colombia (1986) and, more recently, Birds of Venezuela (2003), Steve brings the highest levels of knowledge and experience to any tour he leads. Working with Steve are some of the best local guides we've ever worked with anywhere. Traveling in Argentina is like traveling in Europe since the quality of accommodations, food, and infrastructure are very high.
I am confident that you will love Argentina. Whether your interest is in seeing the expansive pampas, rainforests, and Iguazú Falls of the Northeast; the desert-like Chaco and magnificent, bird-rich landscapes of the Northwest; or the vast rolling grasslands and snow-crowned mountains of Patagonia, we have the perfect Argentina trip for you.
Uganda
Home to over 1,000 species of birds and a collection of mammals that rank among the finest in Africa, Uganda is widely considered one of the world's premier birding and wildlife destinations. Our next Uganda trip will operate January 14-February 2, 2011. We are offering a $1,000/person registration discount for anyone who signs up for our Uganda tour before August 15, 2010. Please note that we will not offer this trip again for at least two years.
No other area in Africa can match the amazing diversity of Uganda's birdlife. Among the many birds expected on this tour are the Shoebill, and hundreds of raptors, hornbills, bee-eaters, rollers, greenbuls, eremomelas, crombecs, longbills,broadbills, sunbirds, and numerous Albertine Rift Valley endemics. Lest you think this trip focuses exclusively on birds, our travels will take us to the country's top national parks and preserves where many of Africa's quintessential megafauna occurs including elephants, lions, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, and a variety of antelope. Uganda is also the best place to see two of the continent's most prized and highly sought species: chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. As a backdrop to the country's tremendous wildlife are some of the world's most grandiose landmarks. Places like Lake Victoria, Murchison Falls, the Nile River, and Queen Elizabeth National Park are famous locales included in our program.
Uganda, January 14-February 2, 2011 with Rainer Summers; $10,995 in double occupancy from Entebbe. Discounted fee is $9,995 in double occupancy from Entebbe. Limit 6.
WEST TEXAS: CIBOLO CREEK LODGE - $500 DISCOUNT AVAILABLE!
We are offering a $500/person discount for registrations received before August 14, 2010 for our West Texas: Cibolo Creek Lodge tour. This wonderful tour will not be offered again for at least several years. Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney will co-lead.
I discovered the Cibolo Creek Lodge about ten years ago when the manager, a birder, called me and told me about this remarkable lodge way out in West Texas that I needed to see. I agreed, and after completing a scouting visit, was sold on the place and subsequently added a stop at Cibolo Creek to our Big Bend Summer tours. Since the main destination on that tour is Big Bend National Park, there was never time for more than one night at that lodge. What began to happen, however, is that participants saw how lovely the lodge was, and inevitably asked why VENT didn't have a tour that spent ALL of its time at Cibolo Creek. I was so impressed with the expression of interest in the lodge that I ultimately created a September Cibolo Creek tour.
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Cibolo Creek Ranch— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Bird-wise, our tours to this destination have been a great success. Highlights from our 2009 tour included Golden Eagles, Zone-tailed Hawks, Common Poorwills, Gray Flycatcher, six species of hummingbirds, Varied and Painted buntings, loads of Western Tanagers, and Townsend's, Virginia's, Wilson's, and MacGillivray's warblers. For added measure, separate sightings of Sabine's Gulls at two different reservoirs near El Paso provided amazing area records.
This tour is one of VENT's most delightful trips and features an abundance of great scenery, starry nights, and a marvelous selection of southwestern birds. Furthermore, the Cibolo Creek Lodge is the most beautiful and luxurious lodge we have ever used. It has a gorgeous swimming pool and Jacuzzi, lovely rooms, and superb food.
Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney are among our most popular leaders and together make a great team. I am confident that if you take this tour you will have a wonderful time.
The fee for our West Texas: Cibolo Creek Lodge tour is $3,160 in double occupancy from El Paso. Register before August 14 and pay just $2,660 in double occupancy. Single supplement is $250.
LATE SUMMER TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
It might surprise you to know that I've already been contemplating the end of summer, even though the season has just begun; however, I thought you might be interested in knowing about some exciting August/September travel opportunities to Peru, Ecuador, and Canada. Each of these destinations is remarkably different from one another, yet all are united by the same attributes: wonderful birds, unique habitats, and beautiful landscapes.
Peru, Manu Part I, August 3-15, 2010
Peru, Manu Part II, August 12-21, 2010
VENT has been operating tours to the fantastic region of Amazonia for over two decades. Our Peru, Manu Part I tour covers the area from the Cuzco highlands down to the Alto Madre de Dios River. The road through this region offers access to a higher diversity of birds than any other road in the world. Astonishing as it may sound, over 1,000 species of birds have been recorded along a length of highway that runs for 100 miles. Fortunately most of the habitats along this road have been set aside in preserves. Since the road dead-ends at the settlement of Shintuya, there is very little traffic, which makes the road ideal for birding. The flocks of tanagers and other species that are regularly encountered are amazing. The Andean Cock-of-the rock lek next to one of the lodges where you will stay offers one of the greatest bird spectacles in the world. Unfortunately, there are plans to extend this road, which will affect the birding and result in an increase in traffic. If you want to experience what is arguably the best road in the world for birds, you should plan to do it in the next few years.
A few spaces remain available on our Peru, Manu Part I tour, August 3-15, 2010 with Steve Hilty; $4,585 in double occupancy from Lima. Limit 7.
Peru, Manu Part II spends all of its time at what is possibly the best single-site for birds and wildlife in all of Amazonia: the Manu Wildlife Center. Among the many attractions of this famous lodge are canopy towers; bamboo thickets; an extensive trail system; salt licks that sometimes attract tapirs and other mammals; and clay banks where macaws and other parrots descend to eat minerals from the soil.
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Red-and-green Macaws at clay lick on riverbank, Manu— Photo: Robert (Spike) Baker |
This is the ideal trip for anyone who wants to experience the best of Amazonia.
A few spaces are also available on our Peru, Manu Part II tour, August 12-21, 2010 with Steve Hilty and David Wolf; $4,280 in double occupancy from Lima. Register for Parts I and II and receive a $975 combined tour discount.
Those taking our Peru, Manu Part II tour may join our Machu Picchu Extension, August 20-25, 2010 with Steve Hilty and David Wolf; $2,545 in double occupancy from Lima.
Ecuador: The Southern Andes, August 16-27, 2010
The Andes Mountains harbor the richest montane avifauna in the world. Ecuador's southern Andes are home to an array of endemic, rarely seen species including the spectacular Jocotoco Antpitta, Bearded Guan, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, White-necked Parakeet, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Lanceolated Monklet, Barred Fruiteater, Giant Conebill, and Plush-capped Finch. Tanagers and hummingbirds, two of the most beautiful families of tropical birds, are especially prominent and diverse here.
This tour offers a wonderful cross section of the habitats of the southern Andes. Among the places visited are Cajas National Recreation Area, Podocarpus National Park, and the Tapichalaca Reserve. The latter area was set aside especially to protect the Jocotoco Antpitta, which was discovered as a new species to science by Robert Ridgely in November 1997.
Ecuador: The Southern Andes will operate August 16-27, 2010 and will be led by Paul Greenfield, co-author and illustrator of The Birds of Ecuador; $2,850 in double occupancy from Quito. Limit 6.
We do not plan to offer this tour again until 2012. I hope you will be able to join Paul on this exciting trip.
Autumn Grand Manan, August 30-September 5, 2010
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Greater Shearwater— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Located in the Bay of Fundy, picturesque Grand Manan Island is a wonderful place to experience the thrill of fall migration on the northeast coast. Superb pelagic birding, marine mammals, delightful fall warbler-watching, and other migrant landbirds and shorebirds make this a standout destination. Birding the forests and coast may turn up 20 species of warblers, as well as Great Cormorant, Common Eider, and Black Guillemot. A Bay of Fundy pelagic trip often produces exciting seabirds such as Manx and Greater shearwaters, Wilson's and Leach's storm-petrels, Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, and Northern Gannet. In most years we record the impressive North Atlantic right whale, the world's rarest whale species.
This tour will be co-led by Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney. I have co-led this trip with Barry three times and always enjoyed my time there immensely. Grand Manan is a back-in-time kind of place where the pace of life resembles what I think the Maine coast was like over 50 years ago. Besides great birding and wonderful whale-watching, I have enjoyed the best lobster of my life and delicious blueberry pies.
A few spaces remain available on our Autumn Grand Manan tour, August 30-September 5, 2010 with Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney; $2,885 in double occupancy from Bangor, Maine.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Once again, the Eastern Screech-Owls that nest in the park in front of my house have brought off a brood of four young. Almost every night I have enjoyed watching them hunting for insects at dusk. As always, I feel there is something especially rewarding about seeing birds and other wildlife in the city. I hope you are having a good summer and are seeing some wonderful birds in the city where you live.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel