Hillstar Nature

04/04/2026

One of the hardest birds of the Arunachal Pradesh trip was the Satyr Tragopan. We got a call from a friend, late in the day, just after we’d passed them on the road. After a long day of searching, suddenly the bird was in front of us. Thanks to Martin Dellwo for the footage of the bird.

02/09/2026

Have you seen the latest? Still space on Alaska & join us for Ecuador too! https://us20.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=d79e3d1e17786e67b1802ab36&id=71192928e0

01/14/2026

We have 3 tours to Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains in 2026, and & (who shot this vid) just completed guiding the first one. This family of four Tayras we found foraging for food on our final day of the tour was a major trip highlight. Have a listen with the volume up and you’ll also hear calling Lance-tailed Manakin & Broad-winged Hawks sounding off, as we bubble with enthusiasm about seeing these animals doing their thing.

10/03/2025

Great piece by our friend & leader Pat O’Donnell on our upcoming Costa Rica: PACIFIC SPECIALS March 29 - April 9 with Josh Covill too. Spots still open.

Costa Rica is a small place. We'e talking the size of West Virginia or Wales. You'd think a nation that small would be pretty easy to bird, fairly easy to "clean up" after one birding trip. For many places, it'd be normal to reach that conclusion but, while Costa Rica is sma

09/30/2025

Folks are always asking how to find out what's new and what's got space. Our monthly newsletter has got that & more! Book Reviews by Harry Armistead, Team News, info on Pelagics & more.

09/11/2025

Get face to face with some fine feathered beasts this March. We’ve got 2 Costa Rica options with at the helm on both, including our Classic Costa Rica Birder’s Paradise trip & our new Pacific Specials tour too, just posted. There’s spaces on both.
1. Prong-billed Barbet
2. Montezuma Oropendola
3. American Pygmy Kingfisher
4. Yellow-throated Toucan
Photos ©

08/30/2025

is coming up next year in November. There is still time & space to join to sail from Patagonia to the Falklands, South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula & finishing in Tierra del Fuego at Ushuaia.
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6. Landscape at

08/14/2025

The pelagic tomorrow out of Lewes, Delaware is a “go”! Fingers crossed for a state first 😉 Those of you who are signed up, be at the dock at by 9 PM. Those of you that haven’t, you might still be able to hop on.

Cruises Antarctica: The Falklands, South Georgia & the PeninsulaNovember 3 - 23, 2026With George Armistead Birding Down Under: Spectacular Subantarctic IslandsDecember 2 - 18, 2026With George Armistead & Alvaro Jaramillo Pelagic ScheduleAll registrations for pelagics are via the boat operators. If y...

08/11/2025

Chance encounters with Hillstar leaders Phil Chaon & Josh Covill meeting up in Arizona today.

Check the latest episode of today when Phil, George & Alex Harper chew the fat on birding Alaska.

08/05/2025

pelagic coordinator Zach Baer was offshore recently and had this incredible encounter with a Whale Shark near Poorman’s Canyon. If you’d like to get offshore and search for seabirds, whales, and other pelagic wildlife, take a look at the Pelagics section under our “Trips & Tours” drop-down. There’s still a little bit of time to sign up for the August 16 trip from Lewes, Delaware and also for the September 13 trip out of Ocean City Maryland. But time is running short! Sign up today.

06/23/2025

Birds from the North Slope Borough at Utqiagvik.
1) Black Guillermot
2) Pectoral Sandpiper (aka Belly-waggler)
3) Snow Bunting (aka Snow Dumpling)