Classic Northern Peru

13th September – 27th September 2011                              Price: TBA

 

White-winged Guan and the Marvelous Spatuletail, also many recently described species.

 

Day 1: Lima, Chiclayo, Pomac, Tinajones, Chaparri White-winged Guan

We will begin the day by taking an early flight to the city of Chiclayo. After our arrival we will take a private bus to the Historical Sanctuary of Pomac. Pomac is the largest Mesquite forest (Prosopis sp.) in Peru.  Our main objective at this site will be to see endemic species such as Tumbes Swallow, Peruvian Plantcutter, Necklaced Spinetail, Rufous Flycatcher, Cinereous Finch and Coastal Miner. Other Tumbesian endemics that can be seen at this site are the Collared Antshrike, Superciliated Wren, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Pale-legged Hornero, Tumbesian Tyrannulet and Tropical Gnatcatcher. In addition to being renowned for its unique forest habitat, the Sanctuary of Pomac contains a magnificent archaeological site with mud brick pyramids dating to 900-1100AD.

After visiting the Pomac forest we will travel to the Private Reserve of Chaparri, stopping en route at the shore of the Tinajones reservoir where we will search for the rare Black-faced Ibis as well as the Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Greate Greabe and other waterfowl species. We will arrive at Chaparri for lunch after midday. In the afternoon we will explore the area around the reserve looking for specialties such as Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes Hummingbird, Cinereous Finch and the reintroduced White-winged Guan. Other possibilities include the White-headed Brush-Finch, White-tailed Jay, Baird’s Flycatcher, Elegant Crescentchest, Tumbes Sparrow, and the Scarlet-backed Woodpecker. We will spend the night at the Chaparri Reserve where we may see the Peruvian Screech-Owl, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl and the Striped Owl.

Day 2: Chaparri, Olmos

In the morning, depending on weather conditions, we may see numerous hummingbird species bathing in a small stream next to our lodge at Chaparri including the Short-tailed Woodstar, Tumbes Hummingbird, Amazilia Hummingbird, Oasis Hummingbird and the Purple-collared Woodstar. We will spend the rest of the morning exploring the reserve in search of the endemic Tumbes Tyrant, Collared warbling-finch, Sulphur-throated Finch, and the White-edged Oriole. During the last season some groups saw a Spectacled Bear resting in the trees of the valley and we will look forward to another opportunity to spot these beautiful bears. Other mammals that can be seen in Chaparri include the Northern Tamandua, the Sechura Fox and the White-tailed Deer. In the afternoon we will leave the reserve to travel to the town of Olmos where we will spend the night.

Day 3: Olmos, Quebrada Limon, Olmos

Day 3 will be devoted to exploring one of the last areas with an existing wild population of the endemic White-winged Guan – Quebrada Limon. Discovered in 1876 by Polish zoologist Władysław Taczanowski, the species was not seen again for 100 years until it was rediscovered in 1977 by the Peruvian conservationist Gustavo del Solar who started a captive breeding project to reintroduce the species into different valleys such as Chaparri. We may also see other species in this valley including the Starthroat Long-billed, Reed-masked Parakeet, Scarlet-olive and Guayaquil Woodpecker, White-winged and White-headed Brush-finch, Elegant Crescentchest, Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Tumbes Pewee, Vermilion Flycatcher and Peruvian Meadowlark. In the afternoon we will return to Olmos to spend the night.

Day 4: Olmos, Abra Porculla, Jaen

At dawn we’ll leave the arid coastal desert to climb into the lowest pass of the Peruvian Andes, the Abra de Porculla. We will take a small detour from this route to look for the endemic Piura Chat-Tyrant. Other birds we may chance to see include the Andean Tinamou, White-winged and Bay-crowned Brush-finch, Ecuadorian Piculet, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, Chapman’s Antshrike and Black-cowl Saltator. After this brief stop we will cross over to the East side of the Andes and travel directly to the city of Jaen where we will spend the night.

Day 5: Jaen

With the first light of day we will be exploring a nearby valley where we can watch the endemic Marañon Crescentchest and other birds that are endemic to this valley such as the Chinchipe Spinetail, Marañon Spinetail, Buff-bellied Tanager, Marañon Gnatcatcher, Northern Slaty-Antshrike and Marañon Trush. Some distinctive races from the Marañon like the Speckle-breasted Wren and Black-capped Sparrows are present here as well. Other common species include the Gray-chinned Hermit, the Streaked Xenops and the Inca Jay. We will return to Jaen for the night.

Day 6: Jaen, Pomacochas

We will begin our journey to Pomacochas very early in the morning, stopping occasionally to look for specialties such as the Little Inca-finch and the Marañon Crescentchest. The rice fields of the Marañon Valley are good places to look for the Spotted Rail and the Paint-billed Crake.  We will travel through the canyon of the River Uctubamba looking for the Fasciated Tiger-Heron and Torrent Ducks. We will have lunch at a small reserve were we will hike the trails in search of the Marvelous Spatuletail. The reserve also has feeders where you can watch other hummingbirds like the Sparkling Violetear, the Mountain Velvetbreast, the Andean Emerald, the Bronzy Inca, the Little Woodstar and the White-bellied Hummingbird. Other birds that can be observed in the small forest patches that remain in the area include the Golden-headed Quetzal, Versicolored Barbet, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Inca Flycatcher, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, White-capped Tanager, White-collared Jay, Andean Solitaire, Silver-backed and the Straw-backed Tanager. In the afternoon we will continue up to the beautiful mountain forests that surround the Long-whiskered Owlet Lodge at Abra Patricia.

Day 7, 8 and 9: Abra Patricia5792180558_c2cb359b56

We will spend 3 days exploring the extensive trail system of the Long-whiskered Owlet Lodge in Abra Patricia. This location was made famous by the recent discovery of species such as Lulu’s Tody-tyrant, Ochrefronted Antpitta and Chestnut Antpitta. But perhaps the most mysterious and secretive species that inhabits these forests is the Long-whiskered Owlet, discovered by an expedition of Louisiana State University in 1976, which until today has been spotted by only a few people. Other species of Owls that are often more easily seen include the White-Throated Screech Owl and Rufous-banded Owl. We may also observe Andean and Sickle-winged Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzal, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock and Amazonian Umbrellabird. We will be exploring different trails covering altitudes ranging from 2200m to 1000m above sea level in search of the Versicolored Barbet, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Scaled Fruiteater, Black-faced Dacnis, Golden-collared and Purple Honeycreepers and Blue-naped Chlorophonia. Some rare species we may be able to spot include the Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Royal Sunangel, Equatorial Graytail, White-capped and Scaly-naped Parrots. We will pay particular attention to the colorful tanagers of this forest such as Grass-green, White-capped, Paradise, Vermilion, Blue-capped, Orange-eared, Blue-necked, Green-and-gold, Golden, Saffron-crowned, Red -hooded, Flame-faced, Blue-browed, Metallic-green, Beryl-spangled, Blue-and-Black and the Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager.

Day 10: Abra Patricia, LeymebambaRoyal Sunangel

We’ll leave the humid montane forests of Abra Patricia to travel through the arid valley of Uctubamba towards the town of  Leymebamba. While not as abundant as Abra Patricia, the diversity of birds is still impressive along this journey; we will make some stops along the way to see species like the Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Black-necked Woodpecker, Marañon Gnatcatcher, Golden-rumped Euphonia and Streaker Saltator. Along the river it is also possible to see Torrent Ducks, Fasciated Tiger-Herons and White-caped Dippers.

Day 11: Leymebamba, Abra Barro Negro, Leymebamba

Before dawn we will start our ascent to Abra Barro Negro, the summit of a beautiful mountain pass which is positioned between two valleys – Uctubamba and Maranon. Here the altitude of the mountains forms a very effective barrier that retains the moisture from the Amazon region. This day will be devoted to exploring the remnants of montane forest that persists in the rainy side of the Andes. Some birds that we see in these mountain forests are the Andean Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Red-crested Cotinga, Citrine Warbler and Hooded Mountain-Tanager. With a little luck we will be able to see the endemic Russet-mantled Softtail. Approaching the highest part of the road we will see Coppery Metaltail, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Pearle Treerunner, White-chinned Thistletail, Rufous Antpitta, Tufted Tit-Tyrant and different species of tanagers and flowerpiercers. In the afternoon we return to the village of Leymebamba. Leymebamba is famous for its local museum which houses hundreds of mummies found a few years ago on the cliffs surrounding the Lake of the Condors. The feeders at the museum are a good place to see hummingbirds like the Marvelous Spatulatetail, Purple-throated Sunangel, Speckled Hummingbird, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird and the Booted Rackettail.

Day 12: Leymebamba, Balsas, Celendin

This day will begin a long journey across the mountains of Abra Barro Negro. Arriving at the summit of the mountains, an incredible landscape will unfold before our eyes – thousands of feet down the mountain is the great river Marañon. We will leave behind the last humid montane forests as we enter into a very arid area that is home to numerous endemics. Getting to the bottom of the canyon we will make some quick stops to find endemics like the Yellow-cheeked Parrotlet, Peruvian Pigeon, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Marañon Thrush, Gray-winged Inca-Finch, Buff-Bridled Inca-Finch and Buff-bellied Tanager. Other more common birds include the Rufous-capped Antshrike, Baron’s Spinetail, Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant and Yellow-tailed Oriole. We will continue the journey up the opposite slope on the way to Celendín where we will arrive in the evening.

Day 13: Celendin, Cajamarca

Around Celendín and on the road to Cajamarca we make occasional stops to explore the Jalca grasslands in search of Andean species including the White-winged Cinclodes and several species of sierra-finches, canasteros and ground-tyrants. Small fragments of Polylepis forests are a good place to observe Black Metaltail, Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant, Baron’s Spinetail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Striated Earthcreeper, White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant and Rufous-webbed Tyrant. In the evening we will arrive in Cajamarca where we can relax in a comfortable hotel.

Day 14: Cajamarca, San Marcos, Cajamarca

This day will be dedicated to searching for the Great Spinetail in the vicinity of San Marcos. Other species that inhabit this area are the Buff-bridled Inca-finch, Black-necked Woodpecker and the Spot-throated Hummingbird. Traveling back to Cajamarca we will explore a valley to search for the endemic Grey-bellied Comet and other species such as Andean Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Black Metaltail, Baron’s Spinetail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail White-winged Cinclodes, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Torrent Tyrannulet, White-browed Chat-Tyrant, Brown-bellied Swallow, Chiguanco Thrush, Rufous-chested Tanager, Golden-billed Saltator, Buff-bridled Inca-Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and Hooded Siskin. In the afternoon we can relax and enjoy the famous thermal baths of the Incas.

Day 15: Cajamarca, Lima

We will take a morning flight to Lima and you will be able to return to your hotel.