This is one of the best experiences I’ve booked! Teresa and Miles were so fun and lovely, and very very knowledgeable. I was amazed at how quickly we found all sorts of different birds, and how quickly Teresa and Miles were able to identify them. They gave us so much cool information about the birds, and the awesome binoculars + scope really allowed us to see exquisite details of each bird. It was AMAZING. We even saw hawks and a barn owl! I highly recommend this experience to anyone. If you weren’t interested in birding before, I guarantee you will be after this adventure with Teresa and Miles!
– Michelle, San Bruno, CA (October 2023)
My first guided bird walk with Teresa and Miles Tuffli was in October 2022 at the Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail. At the time I was dealing with debilitating depression and went on the walk at the recommendation of my doctor. I was immediately put at ease by their warm, friendly approach to beginning birders, first with a quick, effective training on how to use binoculars best and a general overview of the location and their style of guiding. They offer quality binoculars, if you don’t have a pair, take a powerful monoscope for everyone’s use and always have field guides at the ready. Within the first hour I was mesmerized by the natural landscape opening to me, one in which Miles and Teresa clearly knew well and could answer a host of questions (and not just about birds–but, plants, insects, the region, backyard feeders, etc). They were attentive to everyone in the group and other members of the public on the same trail. By the end of the walk, I felt invigorated and eager to learn as much as I could about birds in my area.
Since that time, I have taken four more walks with Teresa and Miles, including a “Birding by Ear” and a private walk. I have seen over 150 species of birds, learned how to spot bird activity in a multitude of terrain, and bird by ear (I know ~15 species by ear now). My enthusiasm for seeing birds for the first time has always been encouraged and both seem genuinely excited by the moment, even if they have seen that bird thousands of times. Most importantly, I have learned to slow down, enjoy the soundscape around me and become engaged in the magical, healing power of nature. I cannot recommend Birding for Beginner walks with Miles and Teresa enough!
– Michele, Santa Rosa, CA (May 2023)
Thank you so much for the wonderful morning of birding. It was a real eye-opening experience. You saw and immediately identified both by sight and sound every little dot that crossed our paths, and then (ready with the field guide and scope) educated us on how to identify them ourselves. There were many highlights but the hummingbirds have to be the pinnacle. This is the first time I’ve gone in the field with real experts who not only know the subject but how to communicate it as well. And you not only made this an engaging experience for me, a very interested birder, but simultaneously for Deb who is a novice for whom interest in birds has never really caught on. It was by far the best experience she’s had birding to date. We both had a really good time.
– Mike & Deb, Boulder, CO (May 2023)
I had the most wonderful birding experience with Teresa & Miles! From the moment I arrived they were so incredibly welcoming, kind, and fun to be around. I’m a total beginner and they made the whole experience so approachable and fun! Their enthusiasm for birding is contagious and their knowledge is immense—I learned so much and am excited to keep learning. We saw so many unique birds (including a sleepy barn owl, charming quails, loquacious mockingbirds, stately red-shouldered hawks, a brightly-colored Wilson’s warbler, cute little chickadees, and my “spark bird,” the sweet little oak titmouse). They shared such interesting information about each of them— their markings, songs, beak shape, naming history, mating rituals, molting seasons, and more!—and fielded my many questions. This was my favorite thing I’ve done in a long time and such a lovely way to start the day. Truly, a must-book experience!
– Janet, Petaluma, CA (July 2022)
Teresa and Miles are a delightful couple who will take you on a bird walk that’s educational and fun! They are thoughtful, organized and knowledgeable, and can help both novice birders and those more experienced to find birds by song, habitat and silhouette. Can’t recommend them enough, and I hope that this nature-loving business venture continues to grow for them!
– Adrianne, Sebastopol, CA (July 2021)
Book this tour! No one in our group of four (around age 30) had ever before gone birding, or knew much about it. Now we’re hooked. We ended up spotting over 30 species of birds, including a great blue heron and a barn owl! There were also goats and alpacas to see along the trail. Teresa and Miles were extremely knowledgeable and fun to spend a few hours with.
– Emily & friends, San Francisco, CA (February 2020)
This excursion was the perfect blend of expertise, friendliness and participation. We left with a deep appreciation for the Sonoma ecosystem, from the birds to the trees to the climate. Teresa and Miles went above and beyond, customizing a trip to fit our needs, location and timing. It’s special to be with people who love what they do and want to share their passion and enthusiasm. This excursion was not just about birds; it’s about immersing yourself into Sonoma’s unique environment. Excellent way to start our California trip!
– Michael & Sara, North Carolina (September 2019)
Their enthusiasm is simply contagious. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent with them and the bird watching with their help. A day after, and we are still reaching for non-existent binoculars to identify birds we are seeing with the naked eye. 🙂
– Marianne & Mark, Colorado (July 2019)
Teresa and Miles have crafted a lovely experience with care, from the directions they send for how to get to the location and what to bring, to the birding walk itself. Being able to look through their scope allowed us to see a juvenile hawk far up on a tree top, the tufting on the head of the kingfishers at the water treatment pond, and the brilliant orange belly and blue backside of the bluebird – a much more intimate view than afforded by our binoculars. They were familiar with the trail, walking it often, so they knew where to find the birds and had stories of their own sightings that we appreciated. They also shared excellent tips about how to spot and identify birds based on their habitat, shape, and flying style. My partner had never been birding before while I have experience and they gave both of us a great experience. We also enjoyed engaging and interesting conversation with them about their journey into birding and their lives more generally. I would highly recommend this walk for birders new to Sonoma county or anyone looking for a way to drop in, relax and connect with the natural world. The two hour trip length was perfect.
– Sarah, Alameda, CA (July 2019)
If you like nature and have any interest in wildlife, I highly recommend this tour, whether you know anything about birds or not. Our family booked a bird walk with Teresa and Miles, and we absolutely loved it. This was our first time birding and will definitely not be the last. They seriously know their stuff when it comes to birds, and were able to answer basically every single question we threw at them. They were very accommodating of our group and our interests, and made us feel extremely welcome from first contact by being very friendly and nice. Teresa and Miles’ passion for birds was contagious — they REALLY love birds, and by the end of the walk, we did too! We learned a ton about different birds in the area and even saw some raptors, as well as learning some techniques for spotting birds on our own. This was a super fun experience and initiation into what will probably be a new hobby for our family. Highly highly recommend this walk, worth every penny!
– Julia & family, Pleasanton, CA (June 2019)
I’m so glad we went bird-watching with Teresa and Miles. My husband and I are backyard birders, but had no real depth of knowledge. We learned so much on our birding walk and so enjoyed the whole experience with Teresa and Miles. The pace was perfect, the scenery was lovely, and the information expert. Binoculars and a scope were provided, and I don’t know how they could so quickly get that scope on a bird, but it was amazing to see over 25 birds up close and personal. I highly recommend this walk to anyone coming to the area. It’s splendid way to slow down and get to know our feathered friends a little better.
– Kate & Michael, Oregon (June 2019)
WOW!!! I’m so happy I booked this birdwatching excursion for my son and myself with Teresa and Miles. I’m an avid birdwatcher, with intermediate-level skills, and am slowly trying to interest my 10-year-olds (who don’t live with me) in the activity. Teresa and Miles combined advanced-level birding skills with genuine friendliness, warmth, helpfulness, and humor.
My son and I loved the walk. Teresa and Miles brought along a spotting scope, as well as a pair of binoculars that surpassed the pair I’d brought for him, and were able to give us close-up views of some beautiful and exciting birds. They communicated and interacted with my son with ease, encouragement, excitement, and light-heartedness. They were knowledgeable not only about the local birds, but about the butterflies, too. And they were relaxed and flexible, responding with interest and encouragement when my son’s attention strayed occasionally from birds (turning to some nearby goats and alpacas at one point, and to an insect on the ground later on). Their only agenda was to support his enjoyment, appreciation, and understanding of nature.
Watching my son spark to their guidance and instruction was a joy. At the same time, I learned a lot from them and saw far more than I would have seen on my own. Teresa followed up by sending me some great pictures she had taken of some of the birds we’d seen, and by sharing her ebird list of our sightings. I recommend them extremely highly, and will definitely book another excursion with them!”
– David, Oakland, CA (June 2019)
Miles and Teresa were amazing guides. Their knowledge and passion for the local wildlife is infectious and they were so friendly and welcoming we were made to feel at ease from the start. We saw over 30 different species of birds including a nest full of baby hawks, Turkey Vultures and some beautifully coloured and varied smaller species. The walk itself is very easy going on flat and level track so easily accessible for all. It has definitely been a highlight of our vacation in Sonoma County. Well worth adding it to your itinerary. Our thanks to Miles and Teresa for such a wonderful experience.
– Chris & Laura, England (May 2019)
A fabulous birdwatching experience with a warm lovely couple who brilliantly shared their passion for nature and birds in a friendly accessible way. They made us feel welcome and safe from the start. The trail they chose was easy and full of a variety of birds. Our highlights were the red shouldered hawk in its nest and the golden oriole on the very top of a tree against the bright blue sky. The punky ducks in the pond were special too. The pace we walked was perfect enabling us to stop and marvel at birds, butterflies and flying caterpillars. We ambled back looking at many more birds, chatting and really enjoying the company, the birds and being absolutely in the moment. Miles and Teresa were brilliant guides and we would recommend this walk to anyone who loves nature, birds, and peace and quiet. Big thank you for a truly memorable few hours.
– Sue, United Kingdom (May 2019)
We had an amazing experience birding with Teresa & Miles! We thought this experience would be a great occasion to enjoy the outdoors in this beautiful area but did not know anything about birding: Teresa & Miles seamlessly took us by the hand and showed us the beautiful bird activity going on around us. It was a revelation for us! It goes beyond “just” looking at birds, we actually got to learn a lot about them and their diversity. Really cool!
– Frédéric & family, Burlingame, CA and France (May 2019)
