Birdwatching North America with Birdingpaltours

Birdwatching tours around California
with a local Birdingpal guide

  • If you are you an independent birdwatcher, who does not care for large group tours, then Birdingpaltours is for you
  • Our tours are flexible, safe and the use of a local guide lets you participate in the planning
  • A local guide knows all the hotspots and you get the most out of your trip
  • You select the date and length for a trip to suit youself
  • If your time is limited, we’ll design a tour to fit your needs
  • A professional Birdingpal guide can customize your tour, and you will see the birds you want.
  • Your guide is also your travel companion, who will make sure you experience the native people, scenery, culture, history and food, first hand.
  • You will enjoy the advantage of all the attention you get in a small group, for the same price or perhaps even less, than you will pay if you travel with the large tour groups from other countries
  • Remember, the next time you travel, you do not have to miss the birdwatching if your partner or travel companions are non birders; a local guide is flexible, and will easily accommodate other needs too
  • Hiring a Birdingpal guide will boost the local economy and help protect birds other wildlife and their habitat

Birding in Yosemite with Michael Elsohn Ross

Let Mike help you design your own custom birding trip
to search for the Yosemite bird species that you wish to see.

Over 260 bird species have been recorded in the Yosemite National Park, with additional species being sighted each year. This rich diversity of birds is due to the wide range of elevations and ecosystems in the park, from oak-woodland/chapparral on the western side of the Park to alpine fell fields and plateaus on the Park’s eastern edge. In between is a rich mix of forest and meadow communities. Many species migrate north and south along the Sierra Nevada and others cross from east to west. Upslope migrants venture into the park from the Sierra foothills to the west and the Mono Basin to the east.
Michael Elsohn Ross has been leading bird walks, multi-day birding field classes, and custom guides birding trips in Yosemite National Park since 1977. Michael is a year round resident of the park community of El Portal. He is the author of over 40 books for young people, including a biography of pioneer ornithologist, Margaret Morse Nice and also works as a biological consultant conducting rare plant and animal surveys.

"Black Backed Woodpecker"

Yosemite Birds by elevation and habitat
Within Yosemite’s 1189 square miles are a wide variety of bird habitats. Check out the list of recommended Yosemite bird watching locations and the bird species likely to be sighted in each locale.
El Portal- 2100 feet at the Yosemite park boundary
Best times- March through May (Species present in winter are in bold)
Species: Golden Eagle, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Pygmy Owl, Common Poorwill, White-throated Swift, Calliope Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Western Scrub Jay, Steller’s Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Wrentit, American Dipper, Canyon Wren, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Black Phoebe, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Western Bluebird, Cedar Waxwing, California Thrasher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Bullock’s Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch.
Yosemite Valley, Big Meadow- 4000 feet.
(Initials of a location indicate which one is the prime site to see a species- YV=Yosemite Valley, BM=Big Meadow).
Best times- March through October (Species present in winter are in bold).
Species: Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Mountain Quail BM, California Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Pygmy Owl, White-throated Swift, Vaux’s Swift, Black Swift YV, Calliope Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, White-headed Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Black Phoebe, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee YV, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Pacific Wren, American Dipper, Canyon Wren, Western Bluebird BM, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler YV, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting BM, Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Bullock’s Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence’s Goldfinch.

"Western Kingbird"

Hodgdon Meadows, Crane Flat, Glacier Point Road (Species present in winter are in bold).
(Initials of a location indicate which one is the prime site to see a species- HM=Hodgdon Meadows, CF=Crane Flat, GPR=Glacier Point Road).
Species: Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, Mountain Quail, Sooty Grouse GPR, Northern Pygmy Owl, White-throated Swift, Vaux’s Swift, Calliope Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, White-headed Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Black Phoebe, Cassin’s Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Pacific Wren, Western Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak, Green-tailed Towhee GPR/CF, Bullock’s Oriole, Purple Finch, Cassin’s Finch and Lawrence’s Goldfinch.
Tuolumne Meadows Birding season- June through mid-October.
(Species present in winter are in bold).
Species: Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Swift, Anna’s Hummingbird, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Western Wood-pewee, Clark’s Nutcracker, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Western Tanager, Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Cassin’s Finch and Red Crossbill.
Tioga Pass and high elevation trails: June through mid-October.
White-tailed Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Swift, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Clark’s Nutcracker, Violet-green Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Rock Wren, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, HermRrosy-finch.

Single or multi-day tours can be designed specially for individuals, couples, or small groups. (Group size limit is 10). Michael can also recommend lodging that is close to the best birding spots. The fee for a full day of birding is $300 (up to 4 people and $50 for each additional participant). Half day walks cost $200 (up to 4 people). Once dates and other details are confirmed clients Michael will email a contract from the Yosemite Conservancy and payments will be made to the Conservancy.

Convert your tour cost into your currency of choice.

For more details please send a message to Michael.   

Birding guide Michael Elsohn Ross, your local Birdingpal guide
Michael specializes in walking tours at locations where a wide variety of species can be observed. These are moderate walks of 1-4 miles. More strenuous hikes may be necessary to observe alpine species, such as gray-crowned rosy finches. Besides identifying species by field marks and vocalizations, Michael shares his knowledge of life histories and specific habitat relationships. Let him help you design your own custom birding trip to search for the Yosemite bird species that you wish to see.


Testimonials.
Really enjoyed the last two days of bird study. It has been a long time since I have gone out "into the bush" to look for birds. Most of my watching has been at the seashore. Very different, as the birds are in plain sight- the lazy man's birding.
Craig Knox, CA
Kathi and I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our outing. The pygmy owl was the bird highlight
Kathi and Greg Jacobs, CA
Here are some of the pictures from our June trip to Yosemite. I had a great time! I hope all is well.
Prem McMurdo, CA

Electronic map of California

Guide books and CD’s recommended:

Bird Songs of California CDs
Bird Songs of California Series: MACAULAY LIBRARY OF NATURAL SOUNDS Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology 2003
The Complete Guidebook to Yosemite National Park by Steven P. Medley. 2008 Yosemite Association
National Audubon Society Field Guide to California by Peter Alden 1998

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Last update 29/01/2012