Experience the best of California birding.
The California Mountain & Sea Tour combines the high-elevation magic of the Sierra Mountain Range (Mountain Quail, White-headed Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker), Central Valley specialties (California Condor, Yellow-billed Magpie, Tricolored Blackbird), and a full Monterey pelagic for Albatross, Petrels, and other seabirds.
Stats
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Start & End Point: Fresno, California
Fitness Level: Moderate
Accommodation: Hotel / Boutique Lodge
Group Size: Intimate (Max 10 Guests)
Guided By:Rick Szabo + Local Guide Rachel Clark
Day 1: Arrive in Fresno + Welcome Dinner
Guests should plan to arrive in Fresno by 5:00 PM. We’ll kick things off with a welcome dinner where you’ll meet your guide and fellow birders. We’ll go over the trip details, set intentions, and get excited for the adventure ahead. It’s a laid-back evening to ease into the rhythm of the tour.
Yosemite: High Country Magic
Spend two days exploring Yosemite National Park, one of North America’s most breathtaking wilderness areas. From the granite domes of Tuolumne Meadows to the mist of Bridalveil Falls, we’ll bird through five distinct life zones—from oak woodlands to alpine tundra.
Targets include: American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Clark’s Nutcracker & Mountain Quail
Expect stunning views, crisp mountain air, and some of the best high-country birding in North America.
Central California Rarities: Pinnacles and Beyond
Next, we venture into the rugged beauty of Pinnacles National Park—home of condors, canyon walls, and chaparral birding. This landscape offers prime chances to spot California Condors soaring above sandstone cliffs. Other Birds on the hitlist include: Yellow-billed Magpie, Tricolored Blackbird, Oak Titmouse, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Prairie Falcon, Phainopepla, Rufous-crowned Sparrow.
Monterey Bay: Pacific Meets Migration
We close the tour in Monterey, where coastal birding takes center stage. On land, we’ll explore oak woodlands and coastal scrub for: Anna’s Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Townsend’s, Hermit, and Wilson’s Warblers, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, and White-tailed Kite.
Pelagic
The last adventure is a chartered boat into the rich waters of Monterey Bay for a full-day pelagic looking for seabirds. We’ll search for: Black-footed Albatross, Shearwaters: Sooty, Pink-footed, Buller’s, and Flesh-footed, Storm-Petrels: Ashy and Leach’s, Northern Fulmar, Sabine’s Gull, Parasitic Jaeger, Cassin’s and Rhinoceros Auklets, Pigeon Guillemot and Pelagic Cormorant nearshore
And it’s not just birds—Monterey Bay is famous for marine mammals. With luck, we may encounter 8 types of whales and 6 types of Dolphins including: Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Pacific White-sided Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphin, Harbor Porpoises and Sea Otters.
This is one of North America’s premier pelagic birding experiences—wild, dynamic, and unforgettable.
Includes
All Accommodations, All Meals, Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Transportation, Entrance Fees into all Parks.
Does Not Include:
Travel to/from Fresno, Travel Insurance, Alcoholic beverages, Personal Items.
Dates & Cost
Upcoming Retreat Dates
August 19 - 23
August 26 - 30
Pricing
Shared Room: $3,150 per person
Private Room: $3,950 per person
Deposit to Reserve: $500 per person