Fees for local guiding in New Hampshire and other New England states are USD $150.00 per day plus expenses. This is for an 8-10 hour day. Fees are higher for locations that are far away from my home (3+ hours driving, one way). Guiding fees for other areas are negotiable.
Examples of possibilities include:
- Bicknell’s Thrush in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Bicknell’s Thrushes can be found by hiking to high-elevation, or driving the Mount Washington Auto Road (a private toll road), or possibly by taking the tram to the top of Cannon Mountain. They are most easily heard/seen at elevations above 3,500 feet, although sometimes in late May and early June, when they first arrive, they can be found at lower elevations if the snow pack is heavy that year. I have had success locating these birds as late as July 25th.
- Black-backed Woodpecker in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Almost every year, a nest site occurs near a roadside location, and there are several known breeding areas. Their call is typically soft, and they usually forage by flaking off bark, rather than drilling holes.
- Spruce Grouse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This can be a very elusive species, and is not always present at known sites. My best success has been by hiking to several high elevation spruce/fir sites, although they also can sometimes be seen on logging roads in the Pittsburg and Errol areas.
- Yellow-bellied and Alder Flycatchers in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. These are relatively easy to find, and occur at numerous sites.
- Salt-marsh and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrows in Stratham, New Hampshire where both species occur together. This requires walking in a salt-marsh, so rubber boots are useful. Virginia Rail and Osprey are also possible at this site.
- Cerulean Warbler in Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, New Hampshire. A small population of this declining species nests here. They can sometimes be difficult to locate among the many American Redstarts and Northern Parula’s, as their songs are quite variable. Other species found here include Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-throated Vireo.
- Philadelphia Vireo in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. These breed in New Hampshire, and are usually found at a higher elevation than Red-eyed Vireo. The songs of these two vireo species are difficult to tell apart. I know of one reliable site in Berlin, close to the road, where both species usually nest.
CUSTOM TOURS
I can organize and lead a custom tour to most North American destinations for any individual or group. If you already have a tour organized, and need a guide, I am available for a daily rate, plus expenses.
Examples of recent custom tours where I designed the itinerary, took care of all the logistical details such as lodging and transportation, and provide guiding services:
- Texas Hill Country – In April 2005, I organized a 5-day tour for 3 clients to explore this area. Target birds that we saw included Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. We also saw a dramatic evening flight of bats, and learned a bit about the natural history of the area.
- Florida, Merritt Island and Lake Kissimmee – In February 2004, I guided a client on a 3-day tour here. Target birds that we saw included Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Whooping Crane.
- Southeast Arizona – In January 2005, I guided a client on a 9-day tour here. We saw Spotted Owl, Montezuma Quail, Mountain Plover, Elegant Trogon, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Le Conte’s Thrasher and many other species. In January 2008, I guided a group of 4-birders in March in Southeast Arizona with good success.
GUIDING ARRANGEMENTS
There is no fee to contact me and ask for an estimate for Private Guiding or a Custom Tour. There may be a deposit required to secure my services, depending on what is involved.
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