MOS Sponsored Birding Travel
The MOS launched a member benefit that has received enthusiastic response: birding travel to some of the great hotspots in the world. We’re concentrating on the Americas right now, but we can expand to anywhere members might wish. And your wishes are important. If there is a spot you’ve always wanted to visit, let us know (contact Maryanne Dolan). We’ll do our best to gather enough like-minded birders to make the trip viable. With Covid coming under control, it’s time to spread our wings a bit and look for birding spots outside the mid-Atlantic region.
2026-2027 TRAVEL
Had it with everything and everyone? Feel the need for a get-a-way? No worries, MOS has some great trips on the horizon. Choose from any of the following, or send in a suggestion.
March 17 – 27, 2026: Guatemala: The Highlands and Lake Atitian
Two spots just opened up on this trip. We will be concentrating on the higher elevations and several of Guatemala’s major reserves. From Los Andes Private Nature Preserve to Los Tarrales (11,500 feet!) to Santiago de Atitlan, we have a shot at exploring the best birding spots in Guatemala. Click on this link for a detailed itinerary and to sign up. https://holbrook.travel/mos-gt26
Trip cost $3495 based on double occupancy; single supplement is $400. Trip limited to 10.
April 7 – 18, 2026: Costa Rica’s Northern Loop: The Quest for Endangered Species
Costa Rica is a relatively small country but it lies within a bird-rich neotropical region boasting an extraordinary number of bird species for its size. To date, 936 bird species have been recorded including 7 endemic species and 20 globally threatened species. With an area of only 51,100 km – smaller than the state of West Virginia—Costa Rica holds the highest density of bird species of any continental American country, making it a true paradise for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. This remarkable biodiversity is a testament to the country’s diverse ecosystems, ranging from cloud forests and rainforests to coastal wetlands and high-altitude paramo regions.
For this 2026 trip we will rejoin Mario Cordoba’s team at Crescentia Expeditions to explore the northern part of Costa Rica, including La Ensenada Dry Forest and the Pacific mangroves , Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Bijagua Foothills Rainforest, the Caño Negro Wetlands, La Selva Biological Station and more! Participants from the 2024 Costa Rica trip will be delighted to learn that Antony will lead this one, too. We can expect to find far more birds than can be listed here with an emphasis on endemics. Check with me ([email protected]) for a detailed itinerary.
Cost is $4100 per person with a $750 single supplement. Trip is limited to 10. A deposit of $600 is needed to secure a spot.
(TRIP FULL; WAITING LIST ONLY)
September 10-24, 2026: Tanzania.
What more is there to say? It’s Tanzania – the Serengeti! Ngorongoro Crater! Over 1,100 bird species can be found in Tanzania, 29 of them endemics. Our local guides will make a determined effort to get us on all of them. We will start our adventure in Arusha, in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, concentrating on woodland birds, water birds, raptors such as the Crowned Eagle and African Goshawk, and Colobus and Blue Monkeys. Moving on we will visit Tanangire Park, its vast 7,700 square miles supports the second largest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania, second only to the Serengeti. There are over 500 species of birds in Tanangire alone. Manyara, our next stop, boasts 400 species , 100 of which have been spotted in a single day! Ngorongoro Crater is up next – home to an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 large animals – and an impressive list of birds including: Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Kori Bustard, Secretary bird, Bateleur and Martial Eagles, barbers, cisticolas and the Quailfinch to name just a few. Finally, we will enter the Serengeti, one of the world’s largest natural sanctuaries. It extends for an incredible 5,790 square miles, but we will concentrate on the southern and central areas. We should see prides of lions, leopards draped over trees, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, zebra, giraffe, gazelles, many of the smaller cats…..it’s a feast. And then the birds. They are everywhere: Helmetshrikes, Red-throated tit, Whydah, Weavers, 6 species of vulture, hornbills. I could go on and on. And I haven’t even mentioned photographic opportunities: beautiful panoramas, long undisturbed views…It should be on everyone’s bucket list. Alas, it’s pricey.
Cost is $8775, with a single supplement of $950. A deposit of $350 will hold a slot.
Trip is limited to 7.
Click this link for a detailed itinerary and to sign up.
November 2-11, 2026: Colombia: Bogota, the Andes and coffee-growing regions.
A 10-day tour exploring birding hotspots around Bogota, going high into the Andes and then moving to the Magdalena Valley before ending with a few days exploring the quintessential coffee region with its beautiful landscapes full of feeders and the best coffee in the world (or so, Giovani, the tour organizer assures me!) We expect to see between 250-300 species of birds, including 15 endemics and 40 species of hummingbirds.
Contact Maryanne for a detailed itinerary.
This trip is full with a waiting list. If more are interested, we can arrange another trip (before or after this one.) Contact Maryanne to be waitlisted. Deposits for the second trip will be accepted when it is full.
Cost: $3,500 per person based on double occupancy; $600 single supplement. Additional trip limited to 10.
September 9-21, 2027 South Africa.
This is a repeat of the highly successful just returned trip.
We will start in Johannesburg, make our way to Mount Sheba and Blyde River Canyon – birding the whole way – until we end up in Kruger National Park where we will see a wide array of birds…way too many to list here….as well as the big cats, elephants, zebra, etc. For a detailed itinerary and to sign up, follow this link.
Trip is limited to 10 participants
Cost: $5,330; single supplement $650; deposit $500.
October 24-November 15, 2027: New Zealand
Again, repeating the very successful trip that just ended.
For 21 days we will explore the island of New Zealand seeking out endemics, migrants and anything else in our path. Nor will we ignore the waters around New Zealand. Pelagics are very much a part of this trip and are spectacular. Specie targets are far too many to list on this email, but contact Maryanne for a draft itinerary.
Trip is limited to 8 participants
Cost: Final cost is not yet established. No deposits will be accepted until the final price is determined. I will list interested members on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Contact Maryanne Dolan ([email protected]) for details.
