Birding at Monterey Bay

Carmel Valley

Birding At Monterey Bay

Birding

Natural History

Small Group

Best Value

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Discover birding at its best in the Monterey Bay region. Learn about local ecology and habitats from experts while seeking waterfowl, waders, shorebirds, songbirds, seabirds and more.

Rating (5)

Active

Program No. 11812RJ

Length

6 days

Starts at

895

6 days

5 nights

15 meals

5B 1BR 4L 5D

Carmel Valley, CA

Getting There

See travel details and required documents

At a Glance

Spend your days birding the famous Monterey Bay, one of the world’s top birding spots, and your evenings with special guests from Hidden Valley's talented faculty. This field-based program is designed for seasoned and beginning birders alike, targeting overall avian diversity and abundance throughout this world class birding destination. See local habitats and endemic species, add to or begin your “life list”, learn to recognize birds by their calls and songs, and gain valuable skills for an enjoyable lifetime activity. Regional specialties may include the Yellow-billed Magpie, California Thrasher, White-tailed Kite, California Quail, Wrentit, Gold-crowned Sparrow, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hummingbirds, Pacific Wren, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hutton’s Vireo, Cormorants, Black Oystercatcher and Tricolored Blackbird.

Activity Level

Active

Walking up to 1.5 miles with stops and at Garland Park up to 3 miles with stops. Participants should be able to embark on a boat for a 2 hour cruise.

Small Group

Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 10 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you'll ...

Embark on a boat excursion along the Elkhorn Slough Estuary, a protected habitat home to over 340 species of birds.
Spot egrets, rocky shorebirds, cormorants, passerine and seabirds at Point Lobos Nature Reserve.
Enjoy time at Garland Park looking for White-tailed Kites and a variety of oak woodland species.

General Notes

All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 14:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html. Please note, while we will endeavor to look for all birds described in the program and more, seasonality, weather, and birding behavior makes finding birds not guaranteed.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Rick Fournier

Rick Fournier is an avid birder who has lived in Monterey for the past 20 years. He operates a birding-adventure company in central California, leads groups for regional Audubon Societies, at the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and conducts avian wetland monitoring for the Moss Landing Marine Labs. He spent 4½ years in the Big Sur Ornithology Lab’s mist net program.

Rick Fournier

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6 days

5 nights

15 meals

5 B 1BR 4 L 5 D

Getting There

See travel details and required documents

DAY

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Carmel Valley, CA

Wright Hall at Hidden Valley Campus

Afternoon: 2:00 – 5:00 pm Check-in at Hidden Valley office 5:00 pm Wine & Cheese Reception. Meet your fellow participants in a wine and cheese reception in the Fireside Room. Drink California wines or juices and savor brie and crackers.

Dinner: 6:00 pm Welcome Dinner & Orientation. Like all meals at Hidden Valley, dinner is served buffet-style and presents selections from the "salad bowl of the universe" as well as tastefully prepared entrees made in our own kitchen. All baked goods are also prepared here on campus.

DAY

Birding at Point Lobos, Monterey Peninsula Natural History

Carmel Valley, CA

B,L,D

Wright Hall at Hidden Valley Campus

Breakfast: 7:00 am Breakfast is prepared fresh each day in our campus kitchen and served buffet style. Warm from the oven baked goods accompany the normal breakfast offerings of oatmeal, eggs, grits, fruit, etc.

Morning: Birding Field Trip to Point Lobos

Lunch: 12:00 pm Lunch time and an opportunity to enjoy wonderful soups and sandwich makings . . . all prepared in our kitchen and served by the staff that's been with us for over 20 years.

Afternoon: 2:00 pm Overview of the Natural History of the Monterey Peninsula led by a coastal biologist

Dinner: 6:00 pm Dinner is served (often accompanied by California wines) and features a buffet with copious greens (many from our own organic gardens) along with the entree.

Evening: 7:00PM Local winemaker introduces wines. Tasting included if you wish.

DAY

Birding at Garland Park, Free Time

Carmel Valley, CA

B,L,D

Wright Hall at Hidden Valley Campus

Breakfast: 7:00 am Breakfast

Morning: Birding Field Trip to Garland Park

Lunch: Sack lunch provided to take on your free afternoon.

Afternoon: Free Afternoon to explore the area.

Dinner: 6:00 pm Dinner

Evening: Presentation from one of our talented instructors, to be announced.

DAY

Day-long Birding Expedition

Carmel Valley, CA

B,L,D

Wright Hall at Hidden Valley Campus

Breakfast: 7:00 am Breakfast

Morning: Day-long birding expedition. Sites selected at the discretion of the Master Guide based on the interests of the group.

Lunch: Sack lunches provided on field trip.

Afternoon: Field Trip continues.

Dinner: 6:00 pm Dinner

Evening: Talented pianist, teaching from the keyboard, introduces us to the music of Scott Joplin.

DAY

Boat Trip & Birding at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve

Carmel Valley, CA

B,L,D

Wright Hall at Hidden Valley Campus

Breakfast: 7:00 am Breakfast

Morning: Elkhorn Slough Expedition: Boat Trip

Lunch: Sack lunches provided for Field Trip

Afternoon: Birds of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve & Shore

Dinner: 6:00 pm Dinner

DAY

Program Concludes

Carmel Valley, CA

B,BR

Breakfast: 7:00 am Continental Breakfast

Morning: Class: Campus Birding & Summing Up

Brunch: 10:30 am Farewell Brunch & Graduation

Meals

15 Meals

5 Breakfasts

1 Brunch

4 Lunches

5 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance:

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Display

Nov 12, 2017 - Nov 17, 2017

Sep 10, 2017 - Sep 15, 2017
Nov 12, 2017 - Nov 17, 2017

Wright Hall at Hidden Valley Campus

5 nights

Carmel Valley

All rooms in Wright Hall are simple, clean and cheery, all rooms non-smoking. Each room has a bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink. All rooms exit directly to a deck or walk via sliding glass door, which can be locked from the inside but when we go out we leave them unlocked. Each room has an individually controlled heater, bed linens and towels. If you will need an alarm clock or hair dryer, you should bring these with you. There are no telephones in the dormitory rooms. Important calls may be directed to our main office (831) 659-3115 and we will post messages immediately on the door to your room. Outgoing calls may be made from the guest office which is available 24 hours a day. Our campus provides free wireless internet access. There is also a computer available for the use of our guests.

TripAdvisor Reviews

Hidden Valley Inn

5 nights

Carmel Valley

Charming Inn adjacent to Hidden Valley campus, all rooms non-smoking.

TripAdvisor Reviews

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8 Reviews

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5 Average

Robert

Eugene, OR

(5) 11 days ago

Birding at Monterey Bay held at Hidden Valley is an excellent program.

Tamara

Class of 2017

Boring, OR

(5) 25 days ago

Wonderful experience with excellent leaders who are passionate about what they are teaching.

Gil

Class of 2009

Pasadena, CA

(5) 5 months ago

If you are looking for a birding adventure that will take you to a diversity of geographic locations on-foot, by van, and boat, within a single region, this would be one to take! You will experience a visual variety of land birds, shore birds and pelagic birds - and maybe spot sea otters and whales along the way. Your guide, Rick Fournier, is a wealth of knowledge regarding birds and bird habitat, will peak your enthusiasm for this hobby, and is a just a nice guy!

Rebecca

Class of 2013

Stockton, CA

(5) 6 months ago

This is a great program if you want to see many of the birds that are unique to California. We saw over 110 different species in late October. Our leader, Rick Fournier is very knowledgeable about the birds and the area. He was very persistent in tracking down specific species he wanted us to see.

Debra

Class of 2012

Ardmore, PA

(5) a year ago

Beautiful area in California! Saw many life birds. Great group of people.

Richard

Class of 2005

Sacramento, CA

(5) a year ago

Excellent website! Clear, economical use of space, easy to use.

Thomas

Class of 2016

Point Reyes Station, CA

(5) a year ago

Birding in Monterey was a game changer. Saw many new life list birds. It has changed the way I see and hear things in nature every time I walk outdoors.

Raymond

Class of 2004

Missoula, MT

(5) a year ago

We saw 125 species of birds on this trip, visiting several habitats. The setting was relaxing and beautiful. The personnel are friendly and personal. I highly recommend this for beginning or experienced birders.