Nature & Wildlife Guiding Tours

Nature & Wildlife Guiding Tours

Nature & Wildlife Guiding Tours

Nature & Wildlife Guiding Services is the heart of what I do at Cottontop Birding: getting you into the field, at the right time, in the right place, so wild moments unfold right in front of you.

Whether you're chasing hummingbirds in Southeastern Arizona, photographing quetzals on a Costa Rica Birdwatching Expedition, or soaking in lion roars at dawn on an East Africa Wildlife Safari through Kenya and Tanzania, I handle the where, when, and how. You just bring your curiosity.

I offer everything from relaxed day trips to focused target-bird missions, including a Southeastern Arizona Birdwatching Tour, specialized Reptile Exploration nights, and Nature Photography Tours where we talk light, background, and fieldcraft. Prefer a quieter experience? My Private Birding Guide Service keeps things one-on-one or just you and your partner. Got a club or a crew of friends? Group Birdwatching Tour Packages keep everyone organized, learning, and laughing together.

For travelers dreaming bigger, I design Custom Wildlife Tour Planning that can link an Ecuador Birdwatching Adventure with cloud forests, Andes, and lowland jungle, or build a single-country deep dive that fits tight vacation windows.
After four decades of birding and over thirty years guiding on three continents, I know the backroads, the seasons, and the small details that turn a checklist into a story you'll be telling for years.

Signature Wildlife Expeditions

From the specialized desert trails of Southeastern Arizona to the hyper-diverse habitats of Costa Rica, Ecuador, and East Africa, I design every journey to match your pace, optimize photography opportunities, and deliver unforgettable encounters with the natural world.

🌵 Southeastern Arizona Birding & Nature Tours

I provide single or multi-day guided excursions through the premier birding hotspots of Southeast Arizona, including Cave Creek Canyon, Portal, the Huachuca Mountains, and our local riparian habitats. I use my extensive regional knowledge to help you find target lifers, build customized daily itineraries, and show you our unique desert biodiversity—including regional specialties.

🦎 Arizona Reptile & Amphibian Tours

I run specialized field outings dedicated entirely to herpetology enthusiasts. I will safely guide you into the field to track, observe, and photograph Arizona’s incredible native reptiles and amphibians in their diverse natural habitats. From hidden desert canyons to mountain foothills, we will focus on finding unique local species safely and respectfully.

🦏 East Africa Wildlife & Birding Safaris

Leveraging my six years of living and guiding in Kenya, I design premium safaris that perfectly balance breathtaking big-game mammal viewing with deep-dive birding. Together, we will explore East Africa's legendary savannahs, lakes, and rift valleys, utilizing my intimate regional knowledge to maximize your wildlife encounters and discover spectacular avian diversity.

🦜 Costa Rica & Ecuador Birdwatching Tours

I lead immersive trips into hyper-diverse cloudforests, rainforests, and highlands. I bring my twenty years of experience living and guiding in Costa Rica to ensure you enjoy a highly productive, stress-free birding trip with incredible species counts. Let me handle the intricate regional logistics while you focus entirely on your target global lifers.

📸 Nature & Wildlife Photography Tracking

I space and structure these specialized tours specifically for photographers. Instead of rushing to the next spot, I focus heavily on lighting, positioning, and waiting patiently for the perfect behavioral shot of birds, mammals, and reptiles. I proudly offer technical, environmental, and tracking guidance to help you capture stunning images along the way.

🤝 Custom Itineraries & Subcontracting

I build tailor-made travel plans for individuals, couples, or private groups with specific target species, strict timelines, or custom paces. Additionally, I offer my professional services to established travel agencies looking to subcontract a highly experienced, personable, and organized tour leader who delivers exceptional group logistics management for your own client departures.

Destinations

I lead custom wildlife adventures across four of the world's premier ecosystems.

Southeastern Arizona

Explore world-class desert hotspots to find rare regional specialties and hummingbirds.

East Africa

Unforgettable safaris balancing legendary big game viewing with spectacular, diverse birding.

Costa Rica

Highly productive journeys through lush rainforests packed with vibrant tropical species.

Ecuador

Immersion trips into hyper-diverse cloudforests and highlands for ultimate avian encounters.

Who This Is For

I craft immersive, personalized journeys for explorers who want to experience wildlife at its finest.

For Individuals

Tailored solo adventures focused entirely on finding your specific target wildlife lifers.

For Couples

Shared wildlife journeys perfectly paced for unforgettable, private nature discoveries together.

For Groups

Custom, well-organized expeditions designed for seamless birding and great camaraderie.

Plan Your Next Adventure

Tell me what you would like to see, and I will reply personally with ideas, dates, and next steps, usually within one business day, no pressure to book.

Contact

Give us a call

(701) 391-9870

Send us an email

[email protected]