There is nowhere in North America as iconic as Yellowstone National Park. Towering mountains, spewing geysers, vast forests and valleys harbouring the highest megafauna density on the continent make this a must-visit destination for anyone wanting to experience the classic American West. But the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, as it is known by locals and researchers, is much more than what is found within the National Park’s borders, despite its enormous size. The ecosystem includes huge, pristine prairies, alpine crags and meadows, near-arid desert, and the most diverse and lovely scenery one could hope for.
For birders, a visit to the Yellowstone region means Longspurs parachuting over Mountain Plover chicks, Western Tanagers at the same feeders as Red Crossbills, Black Rosy Finches foraging at the feet of Mountain Goats, Brown-headed Cowbirds on the back of the original bovine of the continent – the Bison. Yellowstone means time spent observing wolves and bears foraging, hunting, in their natural habitats, otters and Barrow’s Goldeneye frolicking in the Lamar River, and some of the most spectacular geothermal sites on Earth. Any visit to Yellowstone is memorable and unique, but there is so much more to be seen and enjoyed than most visitors could conceive.
Black Rosy Finch; Sprague’s Pipit; Thick-billed & Chestnut-collared Longspurs;, Mountain Plover; Dusky Grouse; Three-toed Woodpecker; Williamson’s Sapsucker; Sagebrush Sparrow;, Baird’s Sparrow.
Gray Wolf; Grizzly & American Black Bears; Bighorn; Mountain Goat; American Bison
shortgrass and mixed-grass Prairie, Riparian Deciduous Forest, Sagebrush Steppe, Lake and Marsh wetlands, Montane Coniferous Forest, Alpine grassland
daytime temperatures typically range 65 -80F, with cool evenings in the 50s – 60s. Though the odd afternoon thunderstorm is likely, weather is typically very enjoyable with little precipitation.
6 with 1 Rockjumper Leader and local leaders where necessary
tour pace is relaxed, with a few short hikes that are best for species like Black Rosy-Finch and Grouse. Overall, easy and pleasant walking conditions on road and trails.
3-4 star accommodations throughout the tour.
generally easy, though sometimes species like Northern Pygmy Owl or Gray Partridge can be a little tricky to pin down.
220+
wildlife and photography, of course, are amazing. Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, driving the Beartooth Highway over the second-highest drivable pass in the country, art galleries and shops in Livingston, visit the Yellowstone Film Ranch.
incredible photo ops of dozens of bird species and some 14 species of mammal, minimum
This was my first birding tour, not only with Rockjumper, but any tour company. Being a first for me, I was a bit anxious, but am happy to say the tour met and exceeded my expectations. The lodging, meals and other tour participants were all great. Best of all was our tour guide, Stephan Lorenz. His knowledge, kindness and willingness to accommodate each member of the tour were phenomenal. I am also happy to say I picked up 94 life birds!
It is great to be traveling again, even if it is a short domestic trip. But I don’t want to sell the tour short. It really was an excellent short tour. We saw a great number of migrating warblers and shorebirds. Stephan Lorenz has an uncanny ability to find the one special shorebird or a rare migrating warbler buried in the bushes. He is also kind, informative and always helpful. And a special thanks to Claudia for her help with the driving and coordination.
This was a short trip, but we saw a great number of really good birds, rarely seen in the US or, in some case, elsewhere. Stephan is one of the best guides I’ve traveled with and he is also very patient and very accommodating. We had a fairly large group – 10 – but I believe everyone had a chance for good views of every bird. I am looking forward to traveling with Stephan again in the near future to Barrow
I would just like to say how much I enjoyed both the tours - I saw lots of new birds, and our guide Stephan Lorenz was fantastic - extremely knowledgeable, and very patient, and made sure we all saw the birds. His wife Claudia was also extremely helpful in so many ways. I certainly hope I will do another tour with them in the not too distant future. The groups on both tours were friendly and easy to get on with. It was cold in Colorado, but it is a beautiful part of the world!
An excellent tour, and Stephan and Claudia were both very knowledgeable guides. I was also very grateful to them for so conscientiously researching the options for the Covid test I needed to travel back to the UK (following the UK Government’s announcement after I had already left for the tour) and ensuring I got the test. All in all a very enjoyable experience and with lots of good birds!
23 Jun 2024 - 30 Jun 2024 (8 days)
USD4,595 - No Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland
Tour price (Per person): USD4,595 * GBP3,674 * EUR4,285 * AUD7,040
Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP536 * EUR625 * AUD1,027
USA - Montana & Wyoming: Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem I 2023 - June 2023
USA - Arizona: Southeast Specialties & Nightbirds 2023 - May 2023
USA - Texas: Spring Migration & Hill Country 2023 - April 2023
USA - Colorado: Prairie Chickens, Grouse & More 2023 - April 2023
USA - Texas: Winter: Whooping Cranes and the Lower Rio Grande 2023 - February 2023
USA - Arizona: Southeast Specialties, Monsoon Breeders & Hummingbirds 2022 - August 2022
USA - Arizona: Southeast Specialties & Nightbirds 2022 - May 2022
USA - Florida: Spring Migration & Specialities 2022 - April 2022
USA - Texas: Spring Migration & Hill Country 2022 - April 2022
USA - Colorado: Prairie Chickens, Grouse & More 2022 - April 2022
USA - Montana & Wyoming: Greater Yellowstone in Winter 2022 - February 2022
USA - Texas: Winter: Whooping Cranes and the Lower Rio Grande 2022 - February 2022
USA - Texas: Winter: Whooping Cranes and the Lower Rio Grande II 2021 - December 2021
USA - California: Southern Specialties 2021 - December 2021
USA - Arizona: Hummingbird Migration, Monsoon Breeders & Night Birds II 2021 - August 2021
USA - Arizona: Hummingbird Migration, Monsoon Breeders & Night Birds I 2021 - August 2021
USA - Arizona: Southeast Specialties & Nightbirds 2021 - May 2021
USA - Texas: Hill Country Specialties and Wildlife 2021 - April 2021
USA - Texas: Migration Spectacle along the Upper Texas Coast 2021 - April 2021
USA - Texas: Spring Migration & Hill Country 2021 - April 2021