Southeast Arizona’s Birding Hotspots Express – Spring Migration Edition

Southeast Arizona offers some of the best birding in the world. The region’s diversity of landscapes, elevational range, and plant communities provide habitat for more than 400 species throughout the year. Montane vegetation extending from the Rockies meets southern flora from the Sierra Madre Occidental. On the east, the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts meet. Cool coniferous forests, oak and pine woodlands, deserts, and grasslands separate the mountain ranges. Birds associated with all of these habitats are easily accessible within a half-day drive from Tucson.

Join Front Range Birding & Optics + Reefs to Rockies for an immersive 6-day experience at some of Southeast Arizona’s best birding hotspots. This is Arizona spring birding at its best!

About Your Guide: Chip Clouse is a long-time bird tour leader and a Reefs to Rockies’ Naturalist Guide. He’s also ProStaff for Opticron Optics and Former Manager of Front Range Birding Company.

Originally enamored with tooth and claw predators, his fascination with birds started by volunteering with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to monitor Peregrine Falcon nest sites. His fascination and love for birds was cemented once he saw his first Western Tanager while working for the Peregrine Fund in Oregon. Chip’s experience includes 20 years of bird research and project management experience in nine states and the Caribbean nation of Grenada, a Masters in Conservation Biology from Colorado State University, five years with the American Birding Association, two years as a rep with Novagrade Digiscoping adapters and stints guiding at 15+ different US birding festivals.

Chip is excited to share his love of Arizona birds and habitats with you.

ITINERARY

Day 1 (Sat, May 3): Tucson to Willcox ~ Morning arrival to Tucson International Airport (TUS). We’ll hit one or two Tucson area hotspots to start. We’ll then continue to the Willcox Playa and Cochise Lakes IBA (Important Bird Area) hotspots before settling in for the night in Willcox. The heart of this IBA is the massive Willcox Playa, a broad alkaline lakebed fringed with semi-desert grassland, primarily saltgrass and sacaton and mesquite. The playa is seasonally flooded to a shallow depth. Outlying this playa are the satellite lakes and wetlands of Cochise Lakes and Twin Lakes Golf Course. Get to know fellow travelers this evening during our Welcome Dinner.

Plan to arrive to Tucson International Airport (Airport code TUS) by 9 am today.

Accommodations: Arizona Sunset Inn

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 (Sun, May 4): Willcox to Portal ~ We’ll work our way east to Portal to start the day. This afternoon, a second guide will join us as we explore the Chiricahuas, one of several sky islands in southeastern Arizona. Sky Islands are isolated mountain ranges surrounded by lowland desert or grassland. The Chiricahuas rank on every Top 10 list of birding destinations in the United States. This evening will include a nocturnal outing in search of owls and other nocturnal specialties close to our lodge.

Accommodations: Portal Peak Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 (Mon, May 5): Portal and Chiricahua Mountains ~ Full day of birding hotspots along Stateline Road that runs between New Mexico and Arizona in addition to Paradise and Portal.

Accommodations: Portal Peak Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4 (Tues, May 6): Portal to Sierra Vista ~ There’s still time this morning for more Chiricahua birding with our local guide before heading to Sierra Vista area where we’ll spend the next two nights. Birding enroute.

Accommodations: Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5 (Wed, May 7): Sierra Vista and Surroundings ~ Day of exploring the Huachuca Mountains, home to some of the best birding in Arizona with likely stops to include Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary, Beatty’s Guest Ranch, and other sites of interest based on recent sightings. We’ll also enjoy some birding and leisure time at Casa de San Pedro.

Accommodations: Casa de San Pedro Bed & Breakfast

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Farewell Dinner

Day 6 (Thurs, May 8): Sierra Vista to Tucson ~ We’ll make our way back to Tucson in time for an afternoon flight home. Birding along the way and in Tucson with stops based on recent sightings and group’s interests. Plan to depart TUS Airport after 3:30 pm.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

DETAILS

Price: $2645* per person based on two people sharing double occupancy accommodations.

Add $445* if you prefer a private, single occupancy room. Please note that private rooms may not be available at Portal Peak Lodge and Casa de San Pedro. If you plan to book a private room, check with us first to confirm availability.

Inclusions: double occupancy accommodations; all meals starting with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 6; private van (Ford Transit or similar) transportation starting and ending at Tucson International Airport (TUS); Driver/Guide; daily birding and wildlife viewing with spotting scope available; additional local guide for afternoon and evening birding on Day 2 & half day on Day 4; entrance fees and sugar funds; gratuities for your guides and at restaurant meals; conservation donation.

Exclusions: flights, travel insurance, optional activities, gratuities for hotel staff, and personal expenses.

*Price is based on payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable will be assessed at time of payment based on card used.

Group size: 6-8 participants + Chip Clouse. We are known for having smaller group sizes with a better participant to guide ratio than most companies offering similar itineraries.

A Note About Gratuities – Your trip cost includes gratuities for your guide, as well as at restaurants for included meals. This allows us to reliably and equitably compensate everyone working so hard to keep you happy, healthy, and safe during your trip.

Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. When seeking out birds on foot, there will be primarily short to moderate walks on a variety of terrain. In some of the mountain canyons, we will walk on established trails of varying steepness with some uneven, rocky terrain. Some locations have benches available for resting and there may be the option to stay at feeding stations rather than hike. Most walks will be under a mile with a total distance of up to three to five miles on a given day.

Plan to arrive to Tucson International Airport (TUS) by 9 am on May 3 and depart from TUS after 3:30 pm on May 8, 2025.

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