Victor Emanuel Nature Tours

Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 🦅 Expert birding and nature tours since 1976. Small groups, superior service, unforgettable experiences with professional guides.

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC: NEW CALEDONIA EXTENSIONVENT tour leader Max Breckenridge and a small group recently completed a wonde...
09/06/2026

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC: NEW CALEDONIA EXTENSION

VENT tour leader Max Breckenridge and a small group recently completed a wonderful extension to New Caledonia, expertly guided throughout by Isabelle, the territory's premier ornithologist and local guide.

Three full days across this remarkable French island territory delivered all the expected endemics in fine style. At Parc Provincial Rivière Bleue, one of the Pacific's finest reserves, a confiding Kagu emerged from the forest during lunch and spent the next half hour foraging for worms just a few feet from the group. The critically endangered Crow Honeyeater eventually revealed itself calling from a large kaori tree, providing walkaway views of one of the Pacific's most imperiled endemics.

Moving north to Parc des Grandes Fougères, the stunning Cloven-feathered Dove was warmly received alongside Horned Parakeet, New Caledonian Imperial Pigeon, and New Caledonian Myzomela. A pleasant walk above Bourail yielded the furtive New Caledonian Thicketbird, while Red-bellied Fruit-Dove, Long-tailed Triller, and a huge flock of Chestnut-breasted Munias rounded out a deeply satisfying three days in Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Photo credits: Max Breckenridge

đź“Ť New Caledonia

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC: FIJI & SAMOAVENT tour leader Max Breckenridge recently returned from a wonderful journey through the ...
09/05/2026

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC: FIJI & SAMOA

VENT tour leader Max Breckenridge recently returned from a wonderful journey through the tropical islands of Fiji and Samoa in search of some of the region's most tantalizing and little-known endemics.

The tour began in Western Samoa on the island of Upolu, where birding on the slopes of the main volcanic ridge delivered endemics including the endangered Mao, the scarce Samoan Triller with its distinctive yellow bill and pale eye, and the Royal Parrotfinch. A visit to O Le Pupu-Pue National Park on the dramatic south coast added Shy Ground-Dove and a nesting colony of Bridled Terns, while White-tailed Tropicbirds and Samoan Flying-foxes were a constant and welcome presence overhead.

In Fiji, two sessions on the slopes of Des Voeux Peak on Taveuni produced the enigmatic Taveuni Silktail in memorable fashion. From the capital Suva, birding in the verdant hills and valleys with local guide Vili delivered Long-legged Thicketbird, Black-throated Shrikebill, and a remarkably confiding Chestnut-throated Flycatcher, while the beautiful Namosi Road added Pacific Robin and the stunning Golden Dove.

The tour concluded on the picturesque island of Kadavu, where glorious sunshine, tropical beaches, and all four island endemics awaited at the lovely Papageno Resort. A speedy charter flight across crystal-blue waters back to Nadi and a sunset dinner with a traditional fire show provided a fitting finale to another wonderful Southwest Pacific adventure.

Photo credits: Max Breckenridge

đź“Ť Samoa & Fiji

09/05/2026

Happy National Hummingbird Day!

National Hummingbird Day falls on the first Saturday of September each year, celebrating the remarkable diversity and ecological importance of the world's hummingbirds. To mark the occasion, VENT tour leader Doris Valencia shares this stunning video of one of the Andes' most spectacular species: the Velvet-purple Coronet.

Endemic to the humid montane cloud forests of the western Andes, the Velvet-purple Coronet is restricted to a relatively small range along the Pacific slope from southwestern Colombia to northwestern Ecuador. In poor light it appears almost entirely blackish, but at the right angle it transforms into a dazzling gem, revealing a purple belly and crown, turquoise sides, and greenish wing coverts — with bright white flashes in the tail. Like other coronets, it holds its wings open for a second or two after landing, briefly exposing rich chestnut underwings — a distinctive and unmistakable field mark visible in Doris's video.

Video credit: Doris Valencia

Look closely at those eyelashes. This Southern Ground-Hornbill portrait, photographed by VENT tour leader Andy Whittaker...
09/03/2026

Look closely at those eyelashes. This Southern Ground-Hornbill portrait, photographed by VENT tour leader Andy Whittaker on our recently completed Magical Kenya tour, shows one of Africa’s most striking birds in unforgettable detail.

Among the few birds with eyelash-like plumage, the Southern Ground-Hornbill has long, specialized feathers lining the upper lid that protect the eyes from dust and vegetation during a life spent foraging at ground level. It is a detail easy to overlook in the field but impossible to miss in a portrait like this one.

Photo credit: Andrew Whittaker

đź“Ť Kenya

The Bohemian Waxwing breeds across northern forests of North America and Eurasia, moving south in winter in irruptive fl...
09/01/2026

The Bohemian Waxwing breeds across northern forests of North America and Eurasia, moving south in winter in irruptive flocks whose size and range vary with fruit availability farther north. Dressed in silky plumage of soft grays, russet, and black, with distinctive waxy red tips on some wing feathers that give the waxwing family its name, it is among the most elegantly attired winter visitors to the northern United States.

A single Bohemian Waxwing can consume several hundred berries in a day, sometimes approaching or exceeding its own body weight. When winter berries ferment on the branch, waxwings may consume enough alcohol to become intoxicated. Bohemian Waxwings are well adapted to a fruit-rich diet and can metabolize some alcohol, though not always enough to avoid its effects.

A sought-after winter visitor to the birch and fruit tree stands of northern Minnesota, the Bohemian Waxwing is one of the many boreal specialties awaiting guests on VENT's Winter in Northern Minnesota tour with VENT tour leaders Erik Bruhnke and Kevin Burke.

February 4 – 9, 2027

đź“Ť Northern Minnesota

Winter in Northern MinnesotaIn winter, northern Minnesota becomes a quiet landscape of ice, forest, and rare bird encoun...
08/31/2026

Winter in Northern Minnesota

In winter, northern Minnesota becomes a quiet landscape of ice, forest, and rare bird encounters. Though the days are short, birders have an exceptional chance to see some of North America’s most elusive species in their true element.

Our base is the Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth, ideally situated for exploring the harbor, surrounding forests, and scenic North Shore. Each morning we’ll search spruce, fir, tamarack, bogs, and sedge meadows for Ruffed Grouse, Snowy Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker, Pine Grosbeaks, Redpolls, and the Great Gray Owl of Sax-Zim Bog.

Along Lake Superior’s shoreline, we’ll scan for wintering gulls, Long-tailed Ducks, and rare waterfowl, while deeper conifer forests may produce Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, and American Three-toed Woodpecker. We’ll also watch for Northern Hawk Owl on a roadside snag or Bohemian Waxwings moving through the birches.

Join VENT tour leaders Erik Bruhnke and Kevin Burke, February 4 – 9, 2027.

VENT tour leader Geoff Lockwood has just wrapped up a spectacular Namibia, Botswana & Zambia tour with a fitting finale ...
08/29/2026

VENT tour leader Geoff Lockwood has just wrapped up a spectacular Namibia, Botswana & Zambia tour with a fitting finale on the Zambezi River above Victoria Falls.

A magical boat trip produced four African Finfoots including a confiding juvenile and adult male, a brilliant Half-collared Kingfisher, and a pair of newly arrived Rock Pratincoles. Earlier in the tour, a Pel's Fishing-Owl provided one of the most memorable encounters of the trip. The group was ferried in by mokoro (dugout canoe) to find a completely relaxed individual that allowed everyone to move gradually closer for dream views.

A young female leopard in the Moremi Game Reserve of the Okavango Delta rounded out an extraordinary tour with stunning views of one of Africa's most elusive and beautiful cats.

Photo credits: Geoff Lockwood

đź“Ť Zambezi River, Victoria Falls & Okavango Delta

08/28/2026

A delightful encounter to close out a fabulous Magical Kenya tour — VENT tour leader Andy Whittaker captured this Mount Kenya sentinel chameleon (Kinyongia excubitor) on video, a Vulnerable species endemic to Kenya and known only from the forests of Mount Kenya, the Aberdare Range, and the Nyambene Hills. A restricted-range endemic and a memorable find in Kenya's montane forests.

Video credit: Andy Whittaker

đź“Ť Kenya

High on the rocky slopes of Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, above the treeline where stony terrain reaches toward the sn...
08/25/2026

High on the rocky slopes of Morocco's High Atlas Mountains, above the treeline where stony terrain reaches toward the snowline, the Crimson-winged Finch is a prized highland specialty. This compact, thickset finch breeds chiefly above 2,000 meters on bare slopes and alpine steppe, and its crimson wing patches flashing in flight make every encounter memorable.

Its heavy yellowish bill is well suited to cracking dry seeds in a harsh mountain environment, and outside the breeding season it may gather in flocks and descend to lower elevations in search of food. The North African population is sometimes treated as a distinct species, the African Crimson-winged Finch, separated from its Asian counterpart by thousands of miles and by subtle but consistent differences in plumage. Found mainly in Morocco's Atlas Mountains and in northeastern Algeria, it remains one of the region's most rewarding highland birds to encounter.

The Crimson-winged Finch is one of the specialties awaiting guests on VENT's Morocco tour with Brian Gibbons.

Morocco: Sahara, Atlas Mountains & Atlantic CoastMorocco offers an enchanting blend of history, landscapes, and birdlife...
08/24/2026

Morocco: Sahara, Atlas Mountains & Atlantic Coast

Morocco offers an enchanting blend of history, landscapes, and birdlife, from the snow-dusted Atlas Mountains to the sweeping dunes of the Sahara, with the riches of an ancient culture woven throughout.

Our journey begins in Marrakech, the "Red City," before traveling west to the Atlantic coast, where the wetlands of Souss Massa National Park and the estuaries of Oued Souss provide refuge for Marbled Teal, Squacco Heron, Audouin's Gull, and the critically endangered Northern Bald Ibis. Argan groves in the Souss Valley add swifts, shrikes, and bulbuls to a productive coastal birding experience.

Heading inland, the Tagdilt Track and Erg Chebbi Dunes deliver desert specialists including Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Cream-colored Courser, Thick-billed Lark, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Desert Sparrow, African Desert Warbler, and the regal Pharaoh Eagle-Owl against the vast stillness of the Sahara.

The journey concludes in the High Atlas Mountains, where Crimson-winged Finch, Atlas Wheatear, and Levaillant's Woodpecker await among snow-capped peaks and winding passes.

Join VENT tour leader Brian Gibbons for an experience as rich in culture as it is in birds.

March 13 – 28, 2027

đź“Ť Morocco

Address

2525 Wallingwood Drive, Ste 1003
Austin, TX
78746

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

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