_2013 extras: Jaguar II, Brazilian Merganser

With our first tour full, we've added a second departure of this popular trip for Jul 27-Aug 7 with guide Marcelo Padua. Don't let the name fool you -- we'll not only be looking for the big cat but for a bevy of great birds in the heart of Brazil. See all the details on our tour page, as well as the itinerary.

Did you know, too, that Marcelo will be guiding an extension to his Oct 2013 Safari Brazil tour that will visit Canastra for the endangered Brazilian Merganser and more? (Or if you're joining Part I of our Spectacular Southeast Brazil tour, take a couple of days on your own in Rio after that and you could join this extension too!) 

_Winter owls tour...added for January 12-16!

Winter is fast approaching...and with it thoughts of many northern owls and other specialties we'd all like to see -- like the delights above photographed by participants Spike Baker and Jody Lawrence on our last special departures for winter birds. In southern Ontario, guides Peter Burke and Jay VanderGaast have been watching the situation and report:

"This coming winter is shaping up to be one of the best for winter specialties in the last five years. With poor food supplies to the north, many species have begun to appear as far south as the Great Lakes and beyond -- birds like Pine Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Common and Hoary redpolls, White-winged and Red crossbills, Evening Grosbeak, and even Boreal Chickadee.

"Of course the stars of the show tend to be the northern owls! At this point (late November), a smattering of Northern Hawk Owls, a couple of Boreal Owls, and a few Great Gray Owls have made an appearance. Gyrfalcon, a holy grail of the north, has also been seen at several locations, and Snowy Owls have set up winter territories at traditional sites. Northern Shrike should not be hard."

With great prospects for a good variety of owls and other headline birds, we've added a tour January 12-16 with Peter and Jay guiding. We only offer this tour every few years when conditions look good. To hold a spot, e-mail our office or call us at 800-728-4953 as soon as possible.

_Cool bird news: an avian family tree

Do you ponder how birds are related to each other...or perhaps might you be a genealogy buff and have your own family tree hanging on the wall at home? Check out this interesting graphic researchers completed recently.

_Holiday & January last spaces

Still a few possibilities for Dec-Jan birding escapes:
Arizona Winter Specialties: Dec 28-Jan 2 with Dave Stejskal (2 spaces)
Ecuador's Wildsumaco Lodge: Dec 28-Jan 7 with Willy Perez (2 spaces)
The Lodge at Pico Bonito, Honduras: Dec 30-Jan 4 with John Coons
Yellowstone in Winter: Jan 12-20 with Terry McEneaney (2 spaces)
Oaxaca: Jan 19-26 with Megan Crewe & Pepe Rojas (2 spaces)
Colombia: The Cauca Valley and the Western & Central Andes: Jan 19-Feb 4 with Richard Webster (4 spaces)
Jewels of Ecuador I: Jan 19-Feb 5 with Rose Ann Rowlett & Willy Perez
Northeast Brazil (Part II): Jan 23-Feb 9 with Bret Whitney & Marcelo Padua (1 space)
Here's a list of our Feb-May tours with one or more spaces still open. Contact our friendly office to help you get planning!

Jewels of Ecuador II: Feb 1-18 with Mitch Lysinger & Pepe Rojas
Best of the Pacific Northwest: Feb 2-7 with Terry McEneaney (1 space)
Trinidad & Tobago: Feb 15-24 with Megan Crewe (1 space)
Guatemala: Shade-grown Birding: Feb 20-Mar 2 with Jesse Fagan (1 space)
Philippines: Mar 1-24 with Dave Stejskal
Honduras: Land of the Emeralds: Mar 2-10 with Jesse Fagan (4 spaces)
Brazil Nutshell: Mar 2-16 with Marcelo Padua & John Coons (3 spaces)

"Terry Stevenson is not only totally knowledgeable and does everything he can to get every participant on the bird...but also humorous, affable, a font of information about living in East Africa, full of good stories. He's one of the two absolutely best birding guides we've ever had -- and he may well be The Best!" J.W., East Africa Highlights 2012

Birding Plus Egypt: Mar 3-20 with Terry Stevenson
Southwestern Ecuador Specialties: Mar 7-21 with Mitch Lysinger
Ecuador's Wildsumaco Lodge: Mar 15-25 with Willy Perez
Colombia: Santa Marta Escape: Mar 16-24 with Richard Webster (4 spaces)
Costa Rica: Mar 16-31 with Megan Crewe (2 spaces)

"John Rowlett and Pepe Rojas were excellent guides and worked well together -- skilled, personable, and fun to be with. I'm always happy with Field Guides personnel. Your office staff was eager to answer questions, showing patience and warmth. You always measure up to or exceed other tour companies." M.G., Peru's Magnetic North: Spatuletails, Owlet Lodge & More

Ecuador Rainforest & Andes: Mar 17-31 with John Rowlett (3 spaces)
Lesser Antilles: Mar 30-Apr 14 with Jesse Fagan (2 spaces)
Bhutan: Apr 5-24 with Richard Webster
Texas Coast Migration Spectacle II: Apr 20-26 with John Coons
Texas's Big Bend & Hill Country: Apr 20-29 with Chris Benesh & Pepe Rojas
Spain: May 3-15 with Megan Crewe & Willy Perez
Ethiopia: May 3-23 with Richard Webster & Phil Gregory (3 spaces)
Arizona: Birding the Border: two departures -- May 10-19 with John Coons (4 spaces) and May 17-26 with Chris Benesh (2 spaces)
Point Pelee Migration Spectacle: May 11-18 with Peter Burke (4 spaces)
Uganda: May 23-Jun 13 with Terry Stevenson & Jesse Fagan
Virginias' Warblers: May 29-Jun 2 with John Rowlett
Alaska: two tours, each in two parts -- (first tour) May 31-Jun 8 & Jun 7-17 with Megan Crewe & Pepe Rojas; (second tour) Jun 7-15 & Jun 14-24 with Chris Benesh & Eric Hynes

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