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USA - Montana & Wyoming: Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

© Coyote by Forrest Rowland

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.

Top Birds

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.

Top Mammals

Gray Wolf; Grizzly & American Black Bears; Bighorn; Mountain Goat; American Bison

Habitats Covered

shortgrass and mixed-grass Prairie, Riparian Deciduous Forest, Sagebrush Steppe, Lake and Marsh wetlands, Montane Coniferous Forest, Alpine grassland

Expected Climate

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.

Max Group Size

6 with 1 Rockjumper Leader and local leaders where necessary

Tour Pace & Walking

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.

Accommodation

3-4 star accommodations throughout the tour.

Ease of Birding

generally easy, though sometimes species like Northern Pygmy Owl or Gray Partridge can be a little tricky to pin down.

Number of Species Expected

220+

Other Attractions

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.

Photographic Opportunities

incredible photo ops of dozens of bird species and some 14 species of mammal, minimum

What our clients say about us

Stephan Lorenz
JA, Texas 2021

Stephan was a great birding guide and tour manager. He knew his patch and worked tirelessly to find and ensure all participants had good birds views. He located all the key 'target' birds. He and his partner produced great al fresco dining and ensured all arrangement worked well, not easy in these COVID impacted times. As always with RJ, I had a most enjoyable trip and satisfied my birding wishes. Well done RJ and Stephan/Claudia. Than you all.

Stephan Lorenz
MT - Colorado 2022

I am always very pleased and comfortable with the Rockjumper and High Lonesome tours that I have been on. Stephan and Claudia are a wonderful couple! They make everything run so smoothly and are so pleasant to be around. I know it is their job, but they always take any issues or complications in stride and do their utmost to make everything run smoothly. And Stephan is as good as it gets as a birding guide... so well prepared and knowledgeable about everything. This is my third tour with him (in the US) and am always amazed (even though I shouldn't be by now) how quickly he picks up on birds in the area. Tremendous trip, even having logged 5000 miles in the vans, and am looking forward to the next one this summer.

Stephan Lorenz
SJ - USA 2019

Stephan Lorenz was a fantastic guide! He found all the birds; and also importantly, he made sure everyone was able to see them. He and Claudia were delightful to travel with. Stephan was also very knowledgeable about the general natural history of Texas and the state in general. It made the trip especially interesting. Stephan was stellar, the trip was great!

Stephan Lorenz
MC, Texas 2021

We enjoyed the tor especially seeing so many warbler the first day. Stephan is a fantastic guide and makes sure that every participant gets a chance to see every bird, as much as possible. We never expected to see so many birds in Texas, and I credit Stephan with that achievement.

Adam Walleyn
JW & JW, California 2021

Luke & Adam did a great job. This tour was the perfect US specialty tour (will be interested to see more of these)... We covered tons of environments in a fairly small territory. Luke is a LA-area expert and aimed us exactly where we needed to be.

USA - Montana & Wyoming: Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem 2024

23 Jun 2024 - 30 Jun 2024 (8 days)

USD4,595 - No Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland

Tour price (Per person): USD4,595 * GBP3,680 * EUR4,297 * AUD7,036

Single Supplement: USD670 * GBP537 * EUR626 * AUD1,026

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