TOUR FOCUS
PHOTOGRAPHY
SCHEDULED TOURS
2025 :: June 13 - June 18
TRIP LEADERS
Jennifer Leigh Warner
TOUR COST
From: $3,599 (See details)
Cost is per person, double occupancy from San Diego, CA (SAN)
GROUP SIZE
3-5 Participants
Highlights of CALIFORNIA: Southern California Summer Wildlife Photography Adventure
Hands-on photo instruction for wildlife and landscape photography with Nikon Professional Jennifer Leigh Warner
Explore the coastal wildlife habitats of Southern California and photograph the native wildlife that summer in this region.
Photograph one of California’s only mainland California Sea Lion Rookeries during pupping season.
Photograph nesting birds, including Brandt’s Cormorants, Caspian Terns, California gulls and more.
Description of CALIFORNIA: Southern California Summer Wildlife Photography Adventure
Southern California has some of the richest biodiversity in the country. With the Mediterranean climate, summertime along the California coast is comfortable all day long. From San Diego to Orange County there is no shortage of birds and wildlife to photograph. June is pupping season for California Sea Lions and La Jolla is one of the best places in the world to see newborn sea lion pups gathered together. With the beautiful weather, the rich wildlife viewing opportunities and the gorgeous scenery to photograph, what are you waiting for?
Length of Tour
6-Days/5-Nights
Brief Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in San Diego
Day 2 Photograph in La Jolla both morning and evening sessions.
Day 3 – Morning at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, evening in Dana Point
Day 4 – Morning at Laguna Beach, evening hike in Laguna Canyon
Day 5 – Morning at The San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, evening whale watching tour.
Day 6 – Photograph at a Burrowing Owl colony before heading home
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in San Diego and check into the hotel.
We will head out to La Jolla Cove for an evening photo session before the sunsets.
Afterwards we will have a welcome dinner.
Day 2 – We will arrive in La Jolla Cove early in the morning to photograph newborn California Sea Lion pups. Most California Sea Lion pups are born on June 15th, so our chance to see newborn pups is very high.
Before heading into town for lunch we will walk along the coast to photograph Harbor Seals at Children’s Pool beach and nesting Brandt’s Cormorants.
In the afternoon we will make our way back along the coast looking for Brown Pelicans, Black Oystercatchers, Hummingbirds, Osprey and California Ground Squirrels.
Day 3 – We will start our day at the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Habitats include southern California coastal sage scrub, riparian and coastal wetland communities and is a critical migrating waterfowl habitat and nesting sites for sensitive bird species including the endangered Ridgeway.
After lunch we will head up the coast to Dana Point, for some evening sunset pictures along the beach.
Day 4 – We will start our day in the beautiful seaside town of Laguna Beach. We will hike along the world famous beaches, photographing shorebirds, seascapes, flowers and spend time photographing the tide pools. We will even explore a secret pirate tower.
For lunch we will head into the town of Laguna Beach, known for world-class art and culture. We will make a brief stop at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, where sick and injured seals and sea lions are rehabilitated.
After lunch we will hike through the canyons of Laguna Canyon Coastal trails. Here we will see incredible vistas, birds and perhaps a bobcat along the trails.
Day 5 – Today we will photograph at the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is a hidden gem in the heart of busy Orange County. It encompasses more than 300 acres of coastal freshwater wetlands. Here we will find American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Tree Swallows, Killdeer, Hummingbirds, White Pelicans and nesting Caspian Terns.
After lunch we will head over to the town of Newport Beach where we will board a whale watching boat. This is the best time of year for seeing Humpback Whales and Blue Whales, but we will also be on the lookout for Common Dolphin and Sea Lions.
Day 6 – On the last day we will head out early looking for burrowing owls before heading to the Ontario airport for afternoon departures.
