Saturday 30th May - Friday 12th June 2009

From Birds to Bears &
Mountains to Prairies

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The land in and around Yellowstone National Park is filled with wildlife. From majestic mountain ranges to pristine valleys, the wonders of this region are endless – 300 active geysers, crystal blue lakes, cascading waterfalls, and the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states. Grizzlies, wolves, elk, bison, antelope, moose, and 318 species of birds make this area home. In spring, nature puts on a vivid display as the environment comes back to life after the long winter. The air is filled with bird song. Elk, bison, and deer give birth and raise calves in the valleys, while large predators hunt and raise their young. This tour explores a stunning region of the American west – including the Greater Yellowstone area, the stunning Grand Tetons and Montana’s expansive prairies all of which hold special and sought after species.

Our Tour Itinerary

Day 1
lWe will take a morning flight from London to Jackson Hole, Wyoming where we arrive in the evening. If time and daylight permits, we’ll bird some natural areas and ponds along the way and get a first look at the vast landscape of the spectacular Grand Tetons. Night in Jackson.

Day 2
Today, we’ll explore the area around Jackson. We’ll visit the National Elk Refuge, home to 5,000 Elk during the winter season. In the spring, the Refuge wetlands are used by thousands of migrant and breeding waterfowl including Trumpeter Swan, Long-billed Curlew, and Sandhill Crane. We’ll keep watch for such open-country birds as Prairie Falcon and Mountain Bluebird while also exploring Grand Teton National Park, one of the top five US National Parks for bird watching. This magnificent park encompasses a range of habitats from alpine meadows to sagebrush flats, to lodge pole pine forests to mountain streams. These varied habitats are home to a variety of species including Olive-sided and Cordilleran Flycatcher, Green-tailed Towhee, Red-naped Sapsucker, Williamson's Sapsucker, MacGillivray's Warbler, Western Tanager, Rock Wren, Lincoln's, Brewer’s and Savannah Sparrows, Tree and Violet-green Swallows, American White Pelican, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Long-eared, Great Horned and the elusive Great Grey Owl. Picturesque woodlands and creeks hold even more delights such as Broad-tailed and Calliope Hummingbirds performing wonderful aerial display flights, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-headed Grosbeak, Clarke’s Nutcracker, Cassin’s Finch, Mountain Chickadee, Audubon’s Warbler and if we are lucky Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. In the forest we could come across Blue Grouse, while the Sage brush can hold the elusive Sage Grouse and Sage Thrasher. Night Jackson.

Days 3 – 4
This morning we depart Jackson and head toward Yellowstone National Park. We’ll explore some sites in the northern Tetons along the way and enter Yellowstone at the south entrance. Once inside the Park, it is only a matter of time until we experience a “Bison Jam” and have to navigate around herds of Bison along the road. We will stop at overlooks along the way to see the thundering waters of the Yellowstone River and its Upper and Lower Falls. We will watch for Coyote, Northern Harrier, Elk and hopefully see the splendid but elusive Harlequin Duck in the fast-moving waters of LeHardy Rapids.

As we drive along the shores of Yellowstone Lake we will keep a watchful eye for Western Grebe, Greater Scaup, Double-crested Cormorant, Bufflehead, and Eared (Black-necked) Grebe. We will make several other stops in the park where we can hope to see White Pelican, Barrow's and Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Western and Clark’s Grebes, Greater Scaup, Bald Eagle, and Osprey. We’ll check several ponds in the area including one with deep enough water to attract Canvasback and other diving ducks. We will explore varied habitats including meadows dotted with sagebrush, aspen woodlands, lodge pole pine, and spruce-fir forests. In the lush forests, we hope to find Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay, Steller’s jay, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Continuing on all the way to the northern end of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River we will stop to see the impressive Tower Falls. We’ll also travel through Dunraven Pass and enjoy spectacular vistas while watching for Trumpeter Swans, Cinnamon Teal, Elk and American Bison. During our time here, we will explore the Hayden Valley; visit the famous Norris Geyser Basin, travel through Craig Pass, and cross the Continental Divide. Several packs of Grey Wolves live in this area as well as massive Grizzly Bears which will have cubs at this time of year. Spending time at suitable vantage points we can hope that we can connect with either of these magnificent mammals. Nights in Yellowstone National Park

Days 5 - 6
After a morning check of the birds in the area, we will make our way to the west side of Yellowstone National Park, making regular stops to look for American Dipper, check for a variety of forest birds and keep a look out for Bighorn Sheep. We’ll also stop at several small ponds that attract Western, Clark's and Red-necked Grebe and Common Loon.

The Upper Geyser Basin is home to more than 70 major geysers - including the world famous Old Faithful. We’ll enjoy time to explore the boardwalk trails that wind through the geysers, fumaroles, mud pots, and colourful hot springs and of course watch the unfailing eruption of Old Faithful. Moving on we will spend some time exploring the area just west of the Park where several large shallow lakes provide habitat for Franklin's Gulls, Long-billed Curlew, Caspian Tern, White-faced Ibis and other species. Sandhill Cranes are common - their loud calls rivalling only that of the Trumpeter Swan. Several wooded areas and lake edges can play host to good numbers of sparrows and flycatchers, as well as Western Tanager, Western Warbling Vireo, Yellow-headed Blackbirds and if we were really lucky as with a previous tour maybe an American Badger! Two nights West Yellowstone.

Day 7
After some morning birding, we visit the famous Mammoth Hot Springs where we will take in the many thermal features of Mammoth and check the area around the visitor centre for Red-naped Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Brewer’s Blackbird, Townsend's Solitaire, Great Horned Owl and Black-billed Magpie. We’ll also check nearby streams for American Dipper and search brushy areas for the beautiful Lazuli Bunting. If we are lucky, nearby rocky cliffs can hold grazing Bighorn Sheep, while more open areas support good numbers of Elk, Pronghorn and huge Bison. Later in the day, we will head north through Gardiner Canyon to the famous Roosevelt Arch at the northwest entrance to Yellowstone. Along the way, we will watch for Horned Lark and Mountain Bluebird in the grasslands and White-throated Swift and Red-tailed Hawk in the canyon. Night in Gardiner, Montana.

Days 8 – 10
This morning we will set off toward the remote and beautiful Lamar Valley in northeast Yellowstone. This sprawling area is sometimes called “America's Serengeti” because of the large numbers and varieties of wildlife here. It yields a breathtaking wide-open landscape scattered with ponds and large boulders and is home to herds of Elk, Bison, Mule Deer and Pronghorn as well as several packs of Grey Wolf. We’ll check the Lamar Creek for Barrow’s and Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and sometimes a pair or two of the gorgeous Harlequin Duck maybe present. Raptors are well represented and we’ll keep an eye to the sky for Golden Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk.

Since this is the central area of the recent reintroduction of the Grey Wolf, it is a prime location to view wildlife and witness the dynamics of predator/prey relationships. We will explore the area in the early mornings and evenings when animal activity is at its peak. From a safe distance, we’ll watch for Grizzly and Black Bear activity and look for Ravens, Coyote, Fox and Black-billed Magpie as they vie for carcass remains. At least two packs of wolves regularly patrol and hunt the area and we will concentrate a lot of our effort into seeing these awesome and surprisingly beautiful animals. Some years the area can hold nesting Great Grey Owls, but we would need some luck to connect with this magnificent bird. Our days spent birding and mammal watching in the Lamar Valley will prove to be one of the highlights of our tour, timed to perfection we can be sure of many exciting and memorable moments. Depending on weather condition and snow level we could encounter flocks of finches, Snowshoe Hare, Ruffed Grouse, Hermit Thrush and even Pine Martin. Our base for the next three nights will be in Cooke City, Montana a small town at the north-east entrance to Yellowstone.

Day 11
Today, we will drive the scenic Beartooth Pass enjoying stunning views of the Beartooth and Absaroka Mountain ranges. We’ll search the mountain and alpine habitats for American Pipit, Horned Lark, Northern Goshawk, Yellow-bellied Marmot and look for area specialties including Black and Grey-crowned Rosy Finches, Peregrine Falcon, Pine Grosbeak, Cassin’s Finch and Pine Siskin. We’ll also look for Clark’s Nutcrackers and hopefully see Rocky Mountain Goats. Later in the day, we’ll reach Billings, Montana. If there is time and daylight, we will explore some local birding sites. Two nights in Billings.

Day 12
We are now in sprawling prairie habitat where our time will be spent exploring the open grassland country north of Billings in search of prairie species including Short-eared Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, Western Meadowlark, Lark Bunting, Lark Sparrow, Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs. We’ll visit agricultural areas to look for American Pipit, Horned Lark, Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, Burrowing Owl, and Black-tailed Prairie Dog. We’ll check riparian areas along creeks and streams for resident songbirds and local ponds and lakes for shore and water birds such as Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes, American Avocet and a good variety of ducks. In open country we should get good views of Golden Eagle, Great Horned Owl and Prairie Falcon, while nearer town we could find Yellow-breasted Chat, Swanson’s Thrush, Say’s Phoebe, Western and Eastern Kingbird, American Redstart and Cedar Waxwing. Night in Billings.

Day 13
This morning we’ll make one last check of some local areas for birds. In the afternoon, we’ll depart from Billings International Airport for home.

Day 14
Arrival back in London where this superb tour will conclude.

Leaders: Steve Bird and Gina Nichol