ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA

This unique tour seeks some of North America's most difficult-to-see species at a time of year when field conditions in the desert are at their most comfortable. Snow may be present on the highest peaks but the lowland valleys warm up with pleasant winter sunshine. Avian diversity is high in the region and we may well record over 270 species including the spectacle of tens of thousands of Snow and Ross's Geese, and Sandhill Cranes. The whole area has a proven record for rarities, very much reflected in our recent 2012 tour with Rufous-capped Warbler, Nutting's Flycatcher and Smith's Longspur amongst the impressive range of species recorded. Our slightly amended itinerary now incorporates an opportunity to see Grey Whales and seabirds at the end of the tour in San Diego.

Day 1 We will take a flight from London to Phoenix for a two-night stay.

Day 2 We start in the Greater Phoenix area where we may find Gambel's Quail, Gilded Flicker, Gila Woodpecker, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Abert's Towhee, Say's Phoebe and Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler. Many species winter on the numerous artificial lakes and water treatment plants and we should encounter Eared and Pied-billed Grebes, Canvasback, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup and Neotropic Cormorant. The metropolitan area can be good for winter rarities and we'll follow the local bird news with great interest: Baikal Teal, Rufous-backed Robin, Varied Thrush, Streaked-backed Oriole, Harris's Sparrow and Smith's Longspur have all been found in recent winters. Rosy-faced Lovebirds have been established for many years in Phoenix and we shall make an effort to find them.

Day 3 We will leave reasonably early, heading east, stopping first at The Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior. This beautifully landscaped park displays desert plant species from all around the world. Wintering birds may include Red-naped Sapsucker and Canyon and Rock Wrens. Recent winters have produced many rare birds including Northern Saw-whet Owl, Williamson's Sapsucker, Cassin's and Plumbeous Vireos and Brown Thrasher. Nearby we'll check appropriate habitat for Juniper Titmouse and Crissal Thrasher. We then head south to Santa Cruz flats where Ferruginous Hawk and Mountain Plover winter, but we should also find good numbers of other raptors including Prairie Falcon and Northern Caracara. Burrowing Owl and Bendire's Thrasher are often present and we shall certainly come across large flocks of American Pipits, Horned Larks, Lark Buntings and White-crowned Sparrows. Greater Roadrunners can be expected here. We will then head towards Tucson where we'll spend one night.

Day 4 Local bird news may well dictate our agenda for the day. Winter rarities are discovered in Tucson with regularity, especially at Sweetwater wetlands where we may try for resident Harris's Hawks before heading south. Our main focus, however, will be the famed Madera Canyon which is worth a visit at any season. The forested hillsides and well-stocked feeders in the lower canyon can be extremely productive drawing in Mexican Jay, Bridled Titmouse and Lesser Goldfinch. In some years Magnificent Hummingbird, Olive Warbler, Painted Redstart and Scott's Oriole can be found. Black-capped Gnatcatchers may be present in the lower canyon or at sites close by, though they remain exceptionally rare in the USA. The grasslands below the canyon can be good for American Kestrel, Eastern Meadowlark lilianae, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds. We then travel south (perhaps diverting to a small lake which may host Least Grebes) to Nogales for a two-night stay.

Day 5 We leave early for our first drive through the beautiful San Rafael grasslands. On the way, we may encounter such excellent species as Montezuma Quail, Acorn Woodpecker and Lawrence's Goldfinch. However, our main focus will be on sparrows: amongst the many Savannah, Vesper and Lark Sparrows we will hope to find Grasshopper Sparrow and the ever-skulking Baird's Sparrow. We shall also search furtive Sprague's Pipits which could spring up anywhere in the vast, scenic grasslands. Bald Eagles, White-tailed Kites and Short-eared Owls are possible here too. In the afternoon we will visit Paton's yard, Patagonia and Kino Springs where we might find Western Screech-owl, Black Phoebe, Lazuli Bunting and Green-tailed Towhee.

Day 6 This morning we will go straight to Patagonia Lake State Park where we will look for Elegant Trogon, Mountain Bluebird and Ash-throated, Hammond's, Dusky and Grey Flycatchers. We might also find Black-crowned Night Heron, Sora and Virginia Rails, Hepatic Tanager and Black-chinned and Swamp Sparrows. Winter rarities have included Black-capped Gnatcatcher and Nutting's Flycatcher. We later head north to spend the next two nights in Benson.

Day 7 We will head for the Sulphur Springs Valley where the combination of wetlands, agricultural fields and lowland desert attract vast quantities of birds in winter, including up to 12,000 Sandhill Cranes. The whole area is extremely good for raptors and we could encounter Golden Eagle, 'Harlan's' Red-tailed and Ferruginous Hawks. Great Horned Owl can often found at a daytime roost and Scaled Quail inhabits the mesquite scrub. Huge numbers of Yellow-headed Blackbirds roost in the cattails. In the late afternoon we shall visit the well-known birding spot of Willcox Twin Lakes, which is good at all times of year for waterfowl, shorebirds and passerines. Large flocks of Chestnut-collared Longspurs may well host McCown's and, more rarely, Lapland Longspurs. Loggerhead Shrike is often easy to see here.

Day 8 We will have a full morning's birding either in the Huachuca Mountains or in the sleepy town of St. David's before heading west back towards Phoenix. We shall most certainly stop along for any winter rarities reported from the Tucson area such as the Zone-tailed and Short-tailed Hawks, Lewis's Woodpecker, Chestnut-sided and Black-throated Blue Warblers recorded in recent winters. If time allows we may also try a return visit to Santa Cruz flats for Ruddy Ground-dove before reaching our motel in Phoenix in the evening.

Day 9 We will start the day in Buckeye, West of Phoenix trying for Le Conte's Thrashers. The same location may hold Sage Thrasher and Sage Sparrow as well. Later we will cross the vast expanse of the Cactus Plain Wilderness before reaching Parker and the Lower Colorado River. Our first major stop will be just below Parker Dam where Barrow's Goldeneye, Black Scoter and both species of scaup are possible. Above the dam, the huge river is a winter home to many species. We will search for grebes including Horned and Red-necked Grebes, and up to four species of loon including the rare Yellow-billed. Although not guaranteed, the latter has appeared in the Lake Havasu area in at least five recent winters. Other birds of interest could include Thayer's and Mew Gulls, Crissal Thrasher and Vermilion Flycatcher. Night in Lake Havasu City.

Day 10 A further morning of birding around Lake Havasu, especially for Yellow-billed Loon or any other unusual species that may have been missed on the previous day. In 2012 we saw a wintering Nutting's Flycatcher in this area, just the fifth record for the USA. We will then head south, following the Lower Colorado River and ultimately passing parts of the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. We will spend the next two nights in Brawley.

Day 11 Much of the day will be spent the day birding around the southern Salton Sea. We may well notch up a species list of over one hundred including Western and Clark's Grebes, Snow, Ross's and Greater White-fronted Geese, White and Brown Pelicans, Green Heron, American Bittern, White-faced Ibis, Tundra Swan, Cinnamon and Blue-winged Teals, Snowy Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Yellow-footed and Thayer's Gulls, Caspian Tern, Greater Roadrunner, Sprague's Pipit and large-billed Savannah Sparrow. Barn and Burrowing Owls are also quite common in this area. If we're lucky we may find the endemic 'Yuma' Clapper Rail, and possibly Black Rail. Both are resident though we would be exceptionally lucky to see or hear one in mid-winter…..but it is possible!

Day 12 e will have another full morning in the southern Salton Sea area before heading north for an afternoon at Big Morongo Valley. The small park, nature preserve and some well-stocked feeders attract many birds including Western Scrub-jay, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Spotted and California Towhees. This tiny area has a big reputation for rarities and it was here in 2007 that a Birdfinders group discovered a Common Black-hawk, just the fourth record for California. From Big Morongo we have a relatively short drive to our overnight stay in Palm Springs.

Day 13 We will begin the day by driving the winding mountain roads of San Jacinto peak. California Thrashers and Wrentits may be heard singing from the scrub. Higher up, chances for the elusive Mountain Quail increase though California Quail may also be present. We may find Williamson's and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, White-headed and Nuttall's Woodpeckers and we should certainly encounter Oak Titmouse and Mountain Chickadee. Good birding opportunities exist throughout this range of mountains and, as we head south towards San Diego, we'll be looking for Wild Turkey, Band-tailed Pigeon, Pygmy Nuthatch, Tricolored Blackbird, Pine Siskin and Cassin's Finch. Three nights in San Diego.

Day 14 This morning we take a scheduled whale-watching excursion in search of Grey Whales and other cetaceans. Though not a dedicated pelagic, the opportunity to be on the Pacific Ocean promises to be exciting with possibilities for Black-vented, Pink-footed, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Rhinoceros and Cassin's Auklets. We'll have an open agenda in the afternoon paying careful attention the local grapevine as San Diego can host excellent rarities in winter such as the Tropical and Thick-billed Kingbirds found in recent years.

Day 15 The winter birding in the San Diego area is rich and diverse and we'll spend an entire day exploring the many local habitats. California specialities may include Black-vented Shearwater and the threatened California Gnatcatcher, whilst more broadly occurring Pacific species could include 'Black' Brant, Pacific Loon, Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants, Surfbird, Wandering Tattler, 'light-footed' Clapper Rail, Heermann's and Glaucous-winged Gulls, Townsend's Warbler and Golden-crowned Sparrow. Raptors may be represented by Golden Eagle and White-tailed Kite. We may also see one of the many local rarities discovered here each winter.

Day 16 time allows, we will enjoy more birding in the San Diego area before we take an international overnight flight back to the UK, arriving on Day 17.

General Information The climate can be variable. Expect it to be cold in the mountains where snow is possible. It will be warm, perhaps hot at the Salton Sea and in the lower lying desert areas. The pace of the tour is moderate though with some early starts. There are no special medical requirements though some level of fitness is required for the canyon walks. Insects are not a major problem in January. Visas are not required. Distances between locations are quite long but the roads are good and driving is relaxed with plenty of opportunities to stop for food and drink.

Group size Minimum number for tour to go ahead: 8; maximum group size: 16 with 2 leaders.