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Within the US, California has few rivals when it comes to habitat diversity. It seems that things change every few miles, which makes for great birding and a wonderful assortment of birds, from Sooty Shearwaters visiting from the southern hemisphere and Black-footed Albatrosses from Hawaii, to enigmatic Wrentits, Nuttall's and White-headed woodpeckers, Williamson's Sapsucker, California Thrashers, Lawrence's Goldfinch, and Oak Titmouse. Even some species widespread elsewhere have California twists, such as "California Raven" (a potential split) and "Thick-billed" Fox Sparrow.

From the coast we'll cross the Diablo Range and the agricultural Central Valley on our way to the Sierra Nevada range. We will spend a couple of days exploring different elevations in the Sierra, birding the conifer forests and productive deciduous riparian and meadow habitats.

We'll spend the remainder of the trip exploring the San Francisco Bay Area in depth. In summer, coastal fog comes in off the ocean and is caught by the coast slopes, often only passing through the famous Golden Gate or low passes in the hills. This creates an incredible moisture gradient, giving each region of the Bay Area a different climate and habitat type. We will be covering the rocky coast, coast slope, San Francisco Bay itself, as well as the inland Diablo range--each with different avifaunas. The diversity within the Bay Area makes for great birding. A highlight will be a pelagic trip to the rich waters of the Pacific, where our main quest will be a diversity of seabirds, from shearwaters to storm-petrels, phalaropes, and yes, even a Black-footed Albatross. Most common at this time of year are Sooty and Pink-footed shearwaters, Common Murre, Cassin's (if there is krill) and Rhinoceros auklets, and who knows what else--the ocean always holds surprises. Mammal watching tends to be spectacular during our pelagic trip.

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Client comment
"The tour was excellent. Every aspect of the tour met or exceeded my expectations. The itinerary was well constructed and varied. The different habitats made for a highly varied trip list. Chris Benesh was an excellent guide: knowledgeable and personable. He managed the tour and the group very well, setting a serious yet relaxed pace. He got everyone on just about every bird. He dealt with the few inevitable minor issues that arise very easily. Your office service was pleasant and efficient. I have never had a bad experience with Field Guides. You are my first choice when planning a birding trip." B.P., SLICE OF CALIFORNIA: SEABIRDS TO SIERRA tour participant