Wildside Tours’ four-day Dry Tortugas boat trip produced the goods in spades. Leaders Adrian Binns, who legally changed his name to suit his profession, and actor/birding guide Andy Samberg/Chris Brown were wildely funny – and effective guides…we had SO much fun!

This was my third trip to the Dry Tortugas. Unlike all of the others, the boat ‘Makai’ was very comfortable and far more private. The group was small and friendly. The food excellent. The crew worked well together. Adrian worked hard to find every possible bird and to ensure the comfort of all aboard. Thanks for a great trip.

Robert Straub is fluent in Spanish and very knowledge about the area. There were no ‘language problems’ anywhere, making the trip run very smoothly.

My wife and I joined Kevin on his Belize tour March 2019. We both had a wonderful time and experience. My wife, not a photographer, came along and really enjoyed herself. The tour had ecology related info, area history, bird watching and photography. The lodges we stayed in were perfect and the food was even better.

From the tropical Pacific coast, to ancient oak cloud forests, to stark treeless habitat at 11,000 feet, the Wildside Nature Tours Costa Rica birding adventure was a great success. Thanks to our guide – arguably the best birder I ever met and commanding an encyclopedic knowledge of natural history – we tallied 346 species in a little over nine full days of birding!

Thanks, Kevin, for an awesome and amazing week [in Glacier Nation al Park] and for sharing your terrific knowledge and experience with us. Your expert photography knowledge helped me to grow and be a better photographer. Your birding and nature skills have inspired me! Your passion for your work is contagious!

The Puerto Rico trip is a great way to see a unique and memorable set of endemic birds while touring the island. There is opportunity to see very varied terrain while observing a varied group of birds.

Our Wildside trip to Cuba in April 2019 was fantastic. For a long time I wanted to visit Cuba and this trip was one of the best tours I have been on and exceeded my expectations. The trip was so well organized and included some of the most beautiful locations in Cuba. We had a small group and a wonderful guide, Gabriel Lugo who met us in Miami and took care of the details for the whole trip. He is an experienced knowledgable birder and showed a great deal of patience to make sure we all(…)

Winter birding can be challenging but Alex, Chris and Adrian kept our spirits high with their laughter, expertise, and unmistakable talent for spotting target species. This trip would not have been the same without these amazing guides. As always, expectations were exceeded and I can’t wait for my next Wildside adventure!

Thank you again Adrian and Toby for a wonderful trip, and thanks for the excellent report. I read it while sweltering in our heat, so the mention of rain only made me want to return to Scotland. – June 2018

How many ways can we say thank you for this wonderful experience? During this trip we’ve enjoyed so much not only your expert bird identification but also all the side info on many species including mammals. You have a very sharp eyesight and excellent skills in getting us onto the bird. You are patient, keep all situations light with a nice sense of humor and calm demeanor that instills trust from your clients. Suffice it to say that we would not hesitate to travel again with you. – Keny(…)

Your birding expertise and spotting ability are amazing. Thanks so much for your patience, kindness, stories and great attitude, it was a memorable and fun trip.

The 2020 Amazon Riverboat Photography workshop provided all participants a multitude of interesting and challenging photography opportunities. From macro shots of frogs and insects, to shots of nine species of primates, to screen filling birds, like the horned screamers and pterodactyl-like hoatzins, there were not many moments when we were not photographing something. The pros offered continuous suggestions and reminders to help assure we had great images.

The riverboat was large, comf(…)

Thank you Adrian for 3 fabulous weeks of wildlife watching. I expected this to be a birdy trip and it far exceeded my expectations. Your enthusiasm, knowledge and wit made every sighting, bird and mammal, into a lasting memory. I particularly enjoyed spending time sitting and watching the wildlife and waiting for the unexpected to happen. It never disappointed and neither did the entire trip.

The Botswana trip with Adrian Binns was truly a trip of a lifetime.

As a new birder, I learned so much from Adrian’s instruction and loved the camps we stayed at in Botswana. In addition, Adrian and the other folks on the tour were delightful travel companions.

Botswana is a magical place (and we saw many, many elephants in the wild, which I wanted so badly to see). I highly recommend this tour!

The prairie chicken tour was fabulous. Gary and I were so happy with Chris’ leader abilities that we would love to go the FL + Dry Tortugas tour with him next April.
– Colorado, April 2018

Our trip has been wonderful. The falcons were amazing, a true wonder of the natural world. Like witnessing a a massive snow storm, except instead of snowflakes, the sky was filled with falcons. The people of Pangti were warm and welcoming and their accommodations entirely satisfactory. Though the falcons were the crown jewels, the rest of the trip was also thrilling, from watching the primates of the gibbon sanctuary to seeing rhinos up close from the back of an elephant. We were well (…)

Adrian – I am still humming with all the adventures we had in East Africa. Just wanted to let you know that our Tanzania-Kenya safari was unbelievable!

No photo of Machu Picchu does justice to it. Seeing it is awe inspiring, and I use that phrase very sparingly. But it was not the highlight of the Birding Machu Picchu trip.

THE highlight was, and always will be, Edison Buenaño. His skill as a guide and his encyclopedic ecological knowledge are unparalleled. This was my eighth trip with Wildside and I never had a guide who wasn’t first rate but Edison is the apex of that very tall pyramid. We saw a wide variety of avian species at every(…)

I had the pleasure of spending ten days with Mandy Talpas in October 2019 birding the three Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Mandy is extremely knowledgeable about locating the elusive Hawaiian endemics and helping her tour participants see the birds. Secretive forest birds respond to her and often come into view. This tour includes pelagic trips which will greatly enhance your chances of seeing all the species mentioned in the description.

Just back from the amazing River of Raptors tour—Robert and Alex were incredible guides.

Watching bats fly out at dusk from the Austin bridge; seeing spinning phalaropes at Hornsby water treatment plant; tracking down target Golden-cheeked Warblers at Balcones NWR; observing up-close Painted Buntings from multiple blinds at South Llano State Park. Austin and surrounding locales hosted a whirlwind of wonderful birds, habitats, and experiences! Guide Alex Lamoreaux provided great leadership and expertise in this highly-rewarding short trip.

As the most novice birder on the trip, I was treated to a wonderful group of helpful participants–leaders, naturalists and fellow travelers. Patience abounded! What a store of information I have gathered, my head swims in colorful birds and other animals. Our stop at riverside villages was enlilghtening.

Adrian – Thanks for a fabulous trip! The chickens really were spectacular, and Colorado is beautiful!

The Wildside Cuba trip was a winner from start to finish. From all the endemics checked off; to our wonderful, hard working Cuban guides; to principal guide, the indomitable Gabriel Lugo; this trip is a must for your Western Hemisphere bucket list.

The Dry Tortugas is one of those “must visit” places for every birder! Wildside Nature Tours offers a fantastic experience, with comfortable living quarters on the boat and delicious, freshly prepared food each day. Adrian Binns and Chris Brown are exceptional guides. True professionals – they made sure that all eyes connected with every bird. Their passion for the birds, and their appreciation of the surrounding beauty of the island, ocean and landscape was contagious. Their enthusiasm enh(…)

You have the best coverage for getting all the Florida specialties, and you allow extra time to ‘get the birds.’

I would recommend Wildside Nature Tours for anyone who wants to explore this area of Alaska and I suggest that you do. The glaciers are grand and amazing (and shrinking), the bears are grand and I was in awe watching them, the whales are majestic and graceful, the scenery is beautiful.

Seldom does a trip touch my heart where I know I will remember all the details. Well there were too many details to remember, but the experience of seeing Alaska touched my heart and the best part was shar(…)

Thank you for making the Dry Tortugas an enjoyable experience. You are a terrific guide, full of information and very caring about your ‘flock’. – April 2017

Adrian, I was so impressed with your enthusiasm for the birds and constant effort to teach us, not to mention your ever-engaging wit.

This trip to Kenya was an AMAZING experience of a lifetime! Couldn’t believe we could see over 450 birds in so short a time. Seeing all three types of giraffes, 2 species of zebras, elephants, blk and wh rhinos, wildebeests, etc. in their natural setting was wonderful. And that lake of flamingos! WOW! The drama of the gnu and the crocodiles was truly an experience one could only have in Africa.
Adrian was the best of leaders and his Kenyan birding helpers were fabulous. We loved the (…)

The pace of the tour was fine, went to many good birding places including new ones for us, loved all the time we got to spend at raptor counts and marveled at the locations where we saw them; Chalchihuecan early in the AM, Cardel, Chichi, and west of Chichi later in the afternoon. We were privileged to go to the banding station. And the trip was flexible enough that we went to Cantona, where history combined with birds. The food was excellent. – Veracruz ‘River of Raptors”

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise and leadership. Jim and I thoroughly enjoyed our time with you and Toby in beautiful Scotland.

I want to thank you for helping make our Dry Tortugas so enjoyable. We had a great time and the birding was impressive.

You really want to see tropical birds but don’t like to constantly change hotels? Can’t or don’t want to do a lot of jungle hiking? Not familiar with the tropical bird groups? The riverboat base with skiff rides along the water edges give an up-close look at a wide variety of birds, monkeys, sloths, and river dolphins. The few walks are not difficult and can be optional. Partner not a birder or a photography buff? As space allows, they can learn photography tips on one trip and go looking a(…)

Loved the beautiful birds we saw on this trip! It is difficult to pick just one as a favorite. The pine marten was an amazing sight and who could forget the regurgitations of the Northern Hawk Owl who was so accommodating to stay in the same area all four days for all to enjoy? Adrian, Alex and Chris were wonderful guides who worked HARD to find all the birds who cooperated. As usual, a couple species were elusive, but that just gives us an opportunity to visit the area again in the fut(…)

Chris and Mandy were fantastic guides! They were attentive to our needs throughout the tour, working tirelessly to get all of us on the birds even in difficult forest conditions, as well as sharing their expertise on the fascinating evolution and current struggles of Hawaii’s endemic species to survive in spite of introduced species and diseases. The pelagic trip was absolutely amazing, the accommodations were all lovely, the meals delicious, and we wound up with an impressive list of 89 s(…)

Thanks for a really wonderful trip to Spain. Adrian put together a great itinerary and Yeray was an excellent local guide. I really enjoyed Adrian’s sense of humor and easy-going approach to the trip. There was a great sense of camaraderie amongst our group that I believe you fostered. I would definitely do another birding trip with you. I had a spectacular time.

The spectacle of thousands and thousands of raptors streaming and kettling overhead cannot be described in words. Every birder should experience this in Veracruz at least once in their lifetime. – Veracruz 2013

This was the most productive photo tour I have ever experienced, Kevin! Thanks!

Wow! This trip was a stunner, and I am highly recommending it to everyone I know. I hope to take many more trips with you, Adrian. Having spent a month in Morocco almost 40 years ago I was thrilled to return with you. You are a terrific guide; you know Morocco, its birds, customs, people, places, language and cuisine. The enjoyment you provided surpassed my highest expectations. It was fun to see you greeting old friends there with hugs, and your comfort and ease were infectious to particip(…)

Wildside Nature Tours are THE best, we enjoyed Belize so much, the locations chosen for this 25th anniversary trip allowed more time at a particular location which we really enjoyed. You are as busy as you choose to be and still get the field opportunities offered. Belize was our second Wildside trip, what we have found was we arrived as strangers on both trips and left as family. Each day was filled with history, culture and Kevin’s team know how to find those AWESOME shots. You can s(…)

Fantastic photographic adventure! Wolves, fox, coyotes, buffalo beyond imagination, eagles (Bald and Golden), panoramic views, you name it — we saw it and the leaders provided it.

Tour leader Kevin is the consummate host and trail guide plus we had Lee Hoy who must be the greatest Olympus Camera technician. I was impressed at how much better my photography became as the week progressed. Night seminars about composition techniques and histogram usage were excellent.

Home now, laund(…)

I first met Edison Buenaño in person at Biggest Week in American Birding in 2012. I have now birded with him several times in the U.S. and South America. Edison’s combination of keen eyes, gifted ears, and great leadership skills make Edison one of the best birding guides I have ever met. He is patient with his customers and is not condescending in any way. I would not hesitate to recommend Edison as a guide to any person or group. He has earned both my trust and admiration.

This is my second tour with Alex and will be far from my last. He is such a gentle, even-keeled young man besides being an excellent birder, guide and group leader. It was a relaxed and fun trip. We saw almost every bird we targeted and some. He was so patient in his explanations and making sure everyone was catered too. Thanks

This trip was a spectacular exploration of an amazing unique habitat. Mind-boggling non-stop variety of waders, raptors, caiman, capybara and jaguars! A memorable moment included paddling alongside remarkable Giant Otters crunching fish as they fed and communicating with eerie ear-splitting screams. – Pantanal 2010

Birding in Spain with Adrian was a truly spectacular trip. We saw an extraordinary number of migratory and resident birds, admired gorgeous landscapes, and ate the most delicious food at every single meal! From wetlands and waterbirds at Donana, and raptors soaring the cliffs of Monfrague, to bustards at Belchite, and the amazing Wallcreeper at the Pyrenees, we experienced new sights and adventures each day. Such a wonderful trip!

Thank you for a tremendous custom trip you put together and led us on throughout Kenya and Tanzania this past month. From beginning to end it was a spectacular success due in principle to your masterful planning, professional work ethic and calm, deliberate and patient demeanor. – Feb 2017

The India tour, with great views of birds, mammals, and iconic palaces as well as Rajasthan culture was easily the most memorable of some dozen overseas trips we have taken in the past few years.
– India, 2008

I traveled with Gabriel on the 5 day 4 night Puerto Rico tour and was delighted by his professionalism as both a guide and tour leader and was very impressed by his birding skills. Gabriel showed great care in making sure all members of our group got good views of a select group of endemics. He is a very capable photographer and was quite patient and helpful in providing assistance to me with my photography. Gabriel’s ability to handle all aspects of our trip while keeping a watchful eye(…)

This was a trip of a lifetime and Adrian Binns is a remarkable leader — who includes culture, and his knowledge of the life history of mammals, birds, and other wildlife we see. You can’t truly immerse yourself in a county if you don’t get to know the culture and the people along with the wildlife and their interesting behaviors. He also is a good listener if you have concerns. The places we stayed at were wonderful, different and fascinating. Adrian’s love and knowledge of Africa r(…)

Spain provided fantastic birding, culture, and food. We arrived a day early to visit Seville, a wonderfully walkable city with great architecture and parks. Donana wetlands teemed with ducks, waders, and shorebirds. We were mesmerized by vultures and eagles at the rocky cliffs. It was great fun to look for bustards in flowing grasslands. Scenery was stunning in the Pyrenees mountains; it was amazing to watch the Wallcreeper cling to crags high in a vertical cliff. We ate the most mouth-wate(…)

Thanks for making this a wonderful trip! Your skill, knowledge, patience and good humor are stellar 🙂 – Florida April 2017

The trip was really something, getting around to all the chicken leks…and finding all the great birds. Thanks for making my 700th ABA bird (Gunnison Sage-Grouse) special with the champagne celebration.

Robert Straub is the best guide I have ever worked with. He really enjoys showing ‘his’ birds and ‘his’ chosen place to others. – Veracruz ABA tour 2009

Kevin, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the Amazon trip and your expertise in photography, birds, and the tropics in general. Truly, I don’t know how you had the time in your life to acquire your depth of knowledge; didn’t you ever sleep? In any event, keep doing what you are doing–I think you were born to lead eco-trips!

Our small crew thoroughly enjoyed each hour of every day and weren’t shy about saying so. I know they loved their Wildsides experience in Belize.

Naturally, the hawk flights were the highlight of the trip but we enjoyed everything else as well; the morning bird walks, the boat rides, the museum in Xalapa, the food, and the very nice camaraderie between the participants and the guides. Robert is certainly a class act! He did his best to make sure all involved were happy with everything and, of course, he is an excellent birder.

I also want to offer high praise in regards to Alex. He is as gifted a birder as I have been with as (…)

An excellent trip! There is a good possibility of seeing all endemics, plus many other birds. The guide is terrific, the lodging and meals are great, the van is comfortable. We visited many different habitats with different birds. A nice way to see much of Puerto Rico.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Adrian in Spain. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. We appreciate your patience and sense of humor especially. We had great birds and great times – thanks to you.

Just wanted you to know what a WONDERFUL time we had with you in India – a TERRIFIC guide, wonderful participants, great birds and SPECTACULAR TIGERS. Yes, ours was a great trip; I was so impressed with your enthusiasm for the birds and constant effort to teach us, not to mention your ever-engaging wit.
– Northern India 06

I just returned from this excellent birding tour. Glenn Crawford is one of the very best bird guides I have traveled with; his eyes and ears are amazingly attuned to birds, and he is very skilled (and patient) in describing a bird’s location in dense tropical foliage. He is personable and quite attuned to the individual needs of participants. The two lodges where we stayed are wonderful, with friendly staff, excellent food, and terrific accommodations. People considering the tour should kno(…)

There was no way we were going to Alaska on our own (for both knowing all the little tidbits and for safety… i.e. bears). I was more than impressed with Kevin’s care, interest, knowledge, patience, and enthusiasm.

What can I say? It was a trip of a lifetime. Even now, three weeks later, I have scenes of Africa in my night dreams and day dreams. – Tanzania, March 2009

The Dry Tortugas had been on our bucket list and this trip allowed us to check it off in style. The boat was roomy and comfortable easily housing the eleven participants. The crew was friendly and accommodating, and the food was excellent (which is typical of Wildside tours). We enjoyed pelagic birding both to and from the islands and excellent birding on the islands. Adrian, our tour guide made sure everyone got on the birds. And he looked at hundreds of Brown Noddys to find the one Black (…)

Thank you for another wonderful trip filled with stunning scenery, magnificent cultural landmarks, delicious food, and of course great wildlife.

Superb trip! Let’s start with the snowy scenery — just gorgeous. And then the birds. We saw many we had never seen before, and never could have expected to see otherwise. Adrian or Alex or Chris would spot a tiny dot at the top of a tree and say, “That’s a ….” and we’d pull over and, sure enough, they’d be right. They were generous with their exhaustive knowledge, and we learned a lot. Their friendliness and good natures made the trip so much fun in so many ways. We came home exhau(…)

The Pantanal wildlife is spectacular. You couldn’t ask for better photo ops of jaguars and an ocelot. We had over 250 bird species with good views on almost all of them. Adrian Binns and our local guide, Fisher, were very knowledgeable and helpful in spotting and identifying the birds. Adrian is the only guide that called before a trip to make sure it was what I was looking for. At the airport, Fisher made sure everyone was checked in before he left. Highly recommended.

I can’t begin to offer enough praise for Glenn. He was extraordinary on all counts. He was one of the most skilled birders I’ve had the pleasure of birding with, and his people skills were off the charts. It was a pleasure and an honor to have the chance to meet and spend time in the field with him. He’s an amazing guy!

Edison loves the birds of South America (his home turf) like the Sword-billed Hummingbird loves a trumpet flower! He’s a walking encyclopedia of field marks and call notes – an expert on neotropical birds and conservation, and equally as passionate about sharing his knowledge with the rest of us. He’s also excellent company in the field and seems to know half the people in Latin America on a first name basis. Can’t wait to go birding with Edison again!

Joel and I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful trip to the Tortugas. We appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us and making the trip so enjoyable. It was truly a memorable trip!

This was my sixth Wildside trip. All have been fantastic! This is my second trip with Alex as my guide. Alex is very knowledgeable and very well prepared. The highlight birds for me were the Ridgway’s rails, the THREE Ruffs and the 25 YES 25 California Condors and most were feeding only 100 yards away! The Pelagic trip was a real bonus seeing the Tufted Puffin and two Blue Whales. Looking forward to the two trips I’ve already booked for 2020.

Mammals and birds were everywhere. The crater was amazing as were the sheer number of wildebeest in the Serengeti. You certainly put us right in the middle of migration. This safari far exceeded my expectations. Thank you! – Feb 2015

Thanks again for another wonderful birding trip. I really enjoyed the islands and the hidden corners of Scotland. Your good humor and friendship add so much to the trip.

Robert Straub is the best guide that I have ever worked with. He really enjoys showing ‘his’ birds and ‘his’ chosen place to others.

Thank you sooo much for the Dry Tortugas tour. It was everything I was hoping it would be and more.

Robert Straub is a tour leader who is enthusiastic and patient (and who seems to enjoy himself, too).

I just returned from your fantastic trip to Arizona. I had 70 life birds including Elegant Trogan, Montezuma Quail and Five Stripe Sparrow!!! Chris and Steve were great guides. I plan on going to your Maine and Northern California trips next year. Thanks for another great birding trip!

I just returned from the Tetons very enthusiastic about the leader, Kevin Loughlin. Not only does Kevin run a terrific workshop, he’s a wonderful photographer and a charming man. during the workshop he was always teaching and helping all the attendees. Although he was not familiar with the Olympus OMD, he solved all of my issues because he knows photography so well!

Thank you for all your efforts in arranging this wonderful trip, finding us all the target birds and for my surprise birthday celebration. – Morocco April 2017

Adrian, thank you for a wonderful Kenyan adventure. Your superb birding skills, knowledge, and your patience and good humor make traveling with you a delight. Assante sana!

Adrian was an amazing guide, knowing virtually every bird we heard and saw. In addition to knowing them on sight or sound, he planned special stops to find individual birds that would not be available anywhere else.

In addition to identification, Adrian was also a font of knowledge about the animals we saw (birds and otherwise); I learned about more than just birds on the trip.

The lodges we stayed at were all great, giving us the opportunity to see wildlife in public spaces in the b(…)

Trinidad is a place like no other. There is the magic of seeing so many birds of different species and many very close. Time to practice those action shots. I learned so much about my camera and shooting from the photographer Roger Neckles. His enthusiasm was contagious. He knows where to go to find the birds. The background scenery is also special in your photos. Roger tries very hard to fulfill your every need. I requested to see the Gold and Blue Macaw not dreaming I would see one on my (…)

Gabriel’s birding tour was one of the best birding tours we’ve ever taken. Based on the excellent reviews we found online, we booked a private half-day tour and the price was very reasonable. Gabriel is a well known birding expert in Puerto Rico and he knew all the best locations for spotting PR endemics and other sought after species. He is very professional, friendly, and a good driver. He picked us up at the hotel in a nice, clean car and had an excellent spotting scope. The tour tu(…)

Gabriel is a super knowledgable and talented guide. He knows exactly where to look for each of the Puerto Rican endemics and more. He takes great care of everyone in the group. Can’t recommend him highly enough!

I would recommend Wildside Nature Tours for anyone who wants to explore this area of Alaska and I suggest that you do. The glaciers are grand and amazing (and shrinking), the bears are grand and I was in awe watching them, the whales are majestic and graceful, the scenery is beautiful.

Seldom does a trip touch my heart where I know I will remember all the details. Well there were too many details to remember, but the experience of seeing Alaska touched my heart and the best part was shar(…)

This was so much more than a birding tour of Morocco; it was truly a cultural experience.

Chickens close on the leks were the most unique N. American birding experience we have ever had, even after birding for about 40 years.

This trip to Southern California was my seventh Wildside trip. This trip was, as all of my trips with Wildside, fabulous! This was also my third trip with Alex Lamoreaux as guide. Alex is a superb all around birding, flora and fauna expert. As a bonus he has a great knack for picking great dinner spots. My wife and I have been on five North American tours and two international tours, with two more trips with Wildside to come this year. Treat yourself to one of their many trips – you won’t b(…)

Thanks again Adrian for another great trip (#13 I think) of birding in a wonderful location. You’re a great guide, but you’re also an outstanding teacher. I know Kenya is one of your favorite destinations, and it was so enjoyable to see things through your eyes.
Best birding activity – at Lake Baringo with Francis, five owl species, and on the boat ride, the Fish Eagles, Little Bittern and Allen’s Gallinule.
Best animal-bird interaction – the Red-billed Oxpecker going into the Rhino’s ear(…)

I’ve been lucky enough to go birding with Edison in a variety of places, and it’s always a blast. His skill at finding and identifying birds, his enthusiasm for every bird, and his personal warmth and sense of humor all combine to make him a great leader in the field.

One of my favorite tours! Good mix of birds and mammals. Fantastic photographic opportunities. Great food and lodging. Wildside does it right!