Tour Reviews
Looking for lodging in Newburyport?
Open World Explorers recommends ...
(historic downtown Newburyport)
get 30% lodging discount with a booked tour
Open World Explorer Birding Hotspots
*Costs are per person; Youth 10-15yo are 50% off
For private tour add $40 per ticket
| Hotspot | Location | Available | Duration | Cost* | Minimum | Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plum Island | Newburyport, MA | Year-round | 2 Hours | $99 | 1 | Book Now |
| Coastal NH | Portsmouth, NH | Year-round | 2 Hours | $79 | 1 | Book Now |
| Marginal Way | Ogunquit, ME | November to March | 2 Hours | $89 | 1 | Book Now |
| Biddeford Pool | Biddeford, ME | September to mid-June | 2 Hours | $89 | 2 | Book Now |
| Mt. Auburn Cemetery | Cambridge, MA | March to October | 2 Hours | $109 | 2 | Book Now |
| Boreal White Mountains | Bretton Woods, NH | June to July | 4 Hours | $219 | 2 | Book Now |
| Middlesex Fells | Medford, MA | March to October | 2 Hours | $99 | 2 | Book Now |
| Mt. Washington Valley | North Conway, NH | April to October | 2 Hours | $79 | 2 | Book Now |
| Birds and Blooms | To Be Determined | May to June | 3-4 Hours | $40 | 3 | Book Now |
Birding Tour Cancellation Policy
Birding tours are at the discretion and mercy of Mother Nature. Tours will begin and continue in conditions of misting, drizzle, and light rain ... more than light rain will cancel or truncate an event. Tours may also be cancelled or truncated under conditions where winds are of sufficient strength to move tree branches and sway trunks. Under these windy conditions, birding by ear can be significantly impaired and reduce the birding experience. Events cancelled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances by OWE will be fully refunded, including any deposits collected. Events truncated due to weather or unforeseen circumstances by OWE will be prorated to the next lowest half-hour from the time of tour termination. (Example: A tour begins at 9:20am and is terminated early at 10:50am. The next lowest half-hour is 10:20am, so the client is prorated at 1 hour for the tour. Determinations of cancellations, truncations, and charges are made by OWE and final.)
Birding
Group Birdwalk ($350 - $400)
Guided and customized for your group, bird walks are great for libraries, birding clubs, historic societies, hotels and resorts, and corporate events. Private groups with over five individuals can get a group rate of $450 (June-April) or $500 (May) for 2-hrs guided birdwalk. A travel add-on may be applied for distances greater than 30 miles. I can provide up to 7 sets of binoculars, 2 spotting scopes, and field guides, so guests can get the best experience.
[Non-profit organizations can deduct $100 from listed price.]
Plum Island - A US Top 100 year-round birding hotspot, this is a must visit for any birder. Ocean, sandy beaches, mudflats, and dune woodlands support migrant and overwintering shorebirds. eBird Recorded Species = 350+
Biddeford Pool- We will be birdwatching at the stunningly beautiful Biddeford Pool in Maine for exciting migrant and coastal birds. I will lead you to birding hotspots and view points for locating, observing, and identifying the diverse birds in the area. I will let you identify the birds yourself, or provide identification tips or answers depending on your preference. Identification by birdsong and call lessons is also offered.
Coastal NH - The NH coastal zone offers fine birding year-round in diverse habitats, including inland estuaries, coastal beach and dune systems, saltmarsh, and the rocky intertidal zone. Ocean viewing may produce coastal/pelagic seabirds and migrant traps make for great land birding. eBird Recorded Species = 300+
Marginal Way - A real gem tucked among the many rocky coves in south coastal Maine. A great place to work on your water bird identification. This most reliable southern Maine location for Harlequin Ducks in Winter. Also found are seaducks, loons, grebes, alcids, gannets and more. eBird Recorded Species = 150+
Boreal White Mountains - This tour is for serious and focused birding, primarily in pursuit of Bicknell's Thrush and other boreal (high-elevation, spruce-fir forest) birds. Time on this 4-hour tour is emphasized toward viewing Bicknell's Thrush. Moderate trail hiking is required. Call 603.767.7895 to ask about non-hiking options for driving into the boreal zone instead) eBird Recorded Species = 100+
Mt. Washington Valley - Fantastic birding Spring through Fall ... winter finches can be pretty good too. An exceptional diversity of migrant songbirds call MWV home for breeding. The regular tour visits a lowland, floodplain silver maple forest on the banks of the Saco River. Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Bank Swallow and more nest here. Option for this trip to go to other nearby locations for different habitat and other target species.
Birds and Blooms Hike - June 4, 2022. This hike will follow the Guinea Pond and Flat Mountain Pond Trs. (leaving from Bennett St. in Whiteface Intervale). This trip will go for approximately 3 hours (starting at 8AM sharp) and cover intermediate terrain. How far? Don't know, don't care. The focus is on the birdwatching, bird identification (visual and audal), and plant identification.