Witness Wildlife Through
The Eyes of an Expert Naturalist.

San Diego is home to a wide variety of habitats including coastal tidepools and dunes, sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands, montane pine forests, desert landscapes, grasslands, the list goes on!

Our land-based habitats are packed with diverse plants, numerous insects, birds, and reptiles, and many mysterious mammals. Our coasts are equally impressive with many rocky reef fishes, kelps and invertebrates, as well as sandy bottom species like sharks and rays.

My tours are excellent opportunities to explore these diverse ecosystems and learn about all the amazing flora and fauna that inhabit them. San Diego is the most biodiverse county in the contiguous United States — there's no better place to witness wildlife.

San Diego offers a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, bird watching, whale watching, tide pooling, and exploring local parks and reserves both on land and at sea.

From wildlife and beautiful views to ancient history and current conservation stories, North Star Naturalist tours are designed to help you experience the best of what San Diego's natural landscapes have to offer.

San Diego is one of those rare places where wildlife is abundant and easy to see year-round, but the best time to visit really depends on the kind of wildlife experience you’re looking for. Here’s a breakdown by season:

Spring (March–June) – Wildflowers and Bird Migration

Wildflowers: San Diego’s chaparral and desert habitats bloom spectacularly after winter rains. My seasonal wildflower hikes visit some of the best spots in town to see abundant blossoms.

Birds: Spring is peak migration season. Whether you're looking for seabirds, shorebirds, passerines, or raptors, I can help. Send me a message with what you want to see and we'll find the perfect trail.

Summer (July–September) – Coastal Wildlife and Night Hikes

Leopard Sharks: Hundreds of them gather in the warm, shallow waters of La Jolla Shores in late summer. Snorkeling alongside them is safe and unforgettable. I don't lead snorkeling tours, but I can point you in the right direction.

Tidepools: Summer’s lower surf and early morning low tides makes for some excellent tidepool exploration. When I say early morning, I mean it — low tides in summer occur no later than 6:30 AM.

Night Hikes: Summer is the off season for most daytime hiking due to high temperatures. But nighttime offers respite from the heat, and is also the best time to see most land-based wildlife, including mammals, frogs and toads, tarantulas, scorpions, and snakes.

Fall (October–November) – Bird Migration, Seed Season, and Sunset Low Tides

Bird Migration: September and October bring large numbers of raptors and other migratory species through the Pacific flyway. This is your second chance of the year to see many species that don't stick around.

Seed Season: After the spring and summer blooms, come the fall seed harvests. This is a great time of year to start thinking about your native plant garden, and to get some inspiration on which seeds to sow. Consider joining my Seed Celebrations in November.

Sunset Low Tides: In October, low tides occur at sunset just a few times, making for beautiful backdrops to an awesome adventure. I lead tidepool tours at these times — don't miss them!

Winter (December–February) – Fungi Season, Snowbirds, and Nighttime Tide Pooling

Fungi Season: Winter rains bring many fungi to the entire county, especially our chaparral and montane woodlands. Fungi forays are one of my most popular tours of the year!

Overwintering Birds: Wetlands like San Elijo Lagoon and Sweetwater Marsh teem with ducks, geese, and shorebirds.

Tidepools: Winter also brings nighttime low tides, making for other worldly excursions to the coastline. Armed with headlamps, UV lights, color filters, and a keen eye for spotting creatures, I lead unique after hours tidepool tours that illuminate marine life like you've never seen before.