'EASY' NORTHERN PERU ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrive - Lima - Chiclayo - 1st September
Arrival into the international airport in Lima and connection to city of Chiclayo. We will enjoy a box lunch en-route to Chaparri Lodge. On our way out we will stop at the Tinajones reservoir to look at wetland birds.that could include Great Grebe, Comb Duck, Black-faced Ibis, Savanna Hawk, Peruvian Thick-knee, Short-tailed Woodstar and Short-tailed Field-Tyrant amongst others. We then head to Chiclayo and on the way to the lodge we usually see flocks of the rare Sulphur-throated Finches, which are restricted to the Tumbesian region of SW Ecuador and NW Peru. Overnight at Chaparri Lodge..
Day 2 Chaparri Lodge
The private reserve of Chaparri is located on the western slope and has extensive mesquite forest as well as some tropical deciduous forest, arid lowland scrub, riparian thickets and streams. It is one of the best places to see Tumbes Tyrant and Sulphur-throated Finch, whilst Ochre-bellied Dove is also possible here. Tumbes Hummingbird is often coming to bathe just by the dining area, whilst Tumbes Tyrant and Rufous Flycatcher are also present. There are a number of other Tumbesian specialties & range-restricted species present including Tumbes Sparrow and Cinereous Finch. The star bird here is White-winged Guan and we will make a concerted effort to find this rare bird. A fine supporting cast also includes Lineated and Scalet-backed Woodpeckers, Pacific Parrotlet, Purple-collared and Short-tailed Woodstars, Amazilia Hummingbird, Long-billed Starthroat, Collared Antshrike, Baird's and Sooty-crowned Flycatchers, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Elegant Crescentchest, White-tailed Jay, White-headed Brush-Finch and Parrot-billed Seedeater. A little further afield we can find Scrub (Anthony's) Nightjar, Grey-chinned Hermit, Pacific Elaenia, Grey-breasted Flycatcher and Black-capped Sparrow. At night we can look for West Peruvian Screech-Owl and Scrub Nightjar. Night at Chaparri.
Day 3 Bosque de Pomac - Olmos
We will have the morning birding and depart for Olmos after lunch. Along the way we will stop at Bosque de Pomac forest for the endemic Peruvian Plantcutter, Tumbes Tyrant and Rufous Flycatcher. Another specialty of this area is Tumbes Swallow, along with Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Ecuadorian Piculet, Short-tailed Woodstar, Necklaced Spinetail, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, White-edged Oriole, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Grey-and-white Tyrannulet, Snowy-throated Kingbird and Superciliated Wren amongst others. Leaving here we'll make a few more roadside stops and could bump into Pale-browed Tinamou, Plumbeous Rail, Solitary Eagle, Red-masked Parakeet, Sooty-crowned Flycatcher, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant and Golden Grosbeak, Other possibilities include Peruvian Thick-knee, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Scarlet-backed and Guayaquil Woodpeckers, Ecuadorian Piculet, Ecuadorian Trogon, Short-tailed Woodstar, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Collared Antshrike, Baird's Flycatcher, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Coastal Miner, Necklaced Spinetail, Fasciated Wren, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Tumbesian and Grey-and-white Tyrannulets, White-edged Oriole and Cinereous Finch amongst many others. After this we continue to Olmos for the night.
Day 4 Abra Porculla - Jaen
It's going to be an early start to Abra Porculla this morning, but there's a great selection of endemics and specialities to look for. Possibilities include Pale-browed Tinamou, Guayaquil and Scarlet-backed Woodpeckers, Ecuadorian Trogon, White-edged Oriole, Peruvian Sheartail, Short-tailed Woodstar, Chapman's Antshrike, the endemic Piura Chat-Tyrant, Rufous-necked and Henna Hooded Foliage-Gleaners, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Chapman’s Antshrike, Tumbes Pewee, Three-banded Warbler, White-winged, Grey-browed and Bay-crowned Brush-Finches, Black-cowled Saltator and Three-banded Warbler.
After lunch we will move on to the tropical deciduous forest and arid lowland scrub of Jaen. We will be looking for Striped Cuckoo, Green Jay, Necklaced Spinetail (chinchipensis race sometimes split as Chinchipe Spinetail), Ecuadorian Ground Dove, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet, Dull-colored Grassquit, Red-crested Finch, Tataupa Tinamou, Northern Slaty Antshrike (leucogaster), Collared Antshrike (shumbae), the enmdemic Little Inca-Finch, endemic Maranon Spinetail, Speckled-breasted Wren (sclateri), Maranon Crescentchest, and Streaked Saltator (peruviana) to name just a few. Once we are finished here we will head down to Olmos for the night. Overnight Hotel El Bosque.
Day 5 Jaen- Huembo Lodge
We will head over to Huembo Lodge in Pomacochas for the spectacular endemic Marvelous Spatuletail. Other targets here include Bronzy Inca, Andean Emerald, Little and White-bellied Woodstars, Buff-breasted and Silver-backed Tanagers, the endemic Speckled –chested Piculet and Rufous-capped Antshrike. Once we are finished here, we will head to our base for the next 5 nights, the wonderful Owlet Lodge. This evening we will look for Cinnamon Screech-Owl and Stygian Owl.
Days 6 - 9 Owlet Lodge - Abra Patricia
We will spend 4 full days in the amazing cloud forest habitat around Abra Patricia. The main target is the endemic Long-whiskered Owlet, which is very possible to see now. So we'll have several nights in which to score this much-wanted bird and we could also find White-throated Screech-Owl and Rufous-banded Owl. Walking the trails of the lodge we could find Green-and-Black Fruiteater, the endemics Chestnut, Ochre-fronted and Rusty-tinged Antpittas, Rufous Spinetail, the endemic Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, White-face Nunbird, Variable and Uniform Antshrikes, Stripe-headed Antbird and Chestnut-crested Cotinga. Flocks of tanagers occur here such as Grass-green, Flame-faced, Golden-naped, Blue-and-Black,as well as the endemic Yellow-scarfed Tanager, and even Slaty Finch. We will also spend time visiting 3 different areas with feeders where possibilities include the endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, Greenish and Emerald-bellied Pufflegs, Royal Sunangel, Long-tailed Sylph, Sword-billed hummingbird, Rufous-vented Whitetip, as well as Scaled Fruiteater, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Inca Flycatcher, Bar-winged Wood Wren, White-capped, Vermillion, Blue-browed, Metallic-green, Golden-eared, Golden and Swallow Tanagers. Nights at Owlet Lodge.
We have the full day day birding the lush cloudforests of Cordillera de Colan amidst the higher parts of the Abra Patricia area for some extremely localised species found only in a few small sites in northern Peru and southern Ecuador such as Royal Sunangel, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant and the extremely localised Bar-winged Wood-Wren, as well as Ochre-fronted Antpitta, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, White-capped Tanager, White-eared Solitaire and a number of other more widespread species typical for this altitude.
The whole area holds a list of over 420 species so the possibilities are plenty including Green-tailed Trainbearer, Smoke-coloured Pewee, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Sparkling Violetear and Sierran Elaenia. At Abra Patricia we look for the spectacular Royal Sunangel dressed in royal blue, and then the recently described Lulu's Tody-Tyrant, plus Emerald-bellied Puffleg, White-eared Solitaire and Peruvian Wren are just a few more possibilities, along with. Bar-winged Wood-Wren, White-capped, Silver-backed and Yellow-scarfed Tanagers, and several species of antpittas that include Ochre-fronted, Chestnut and Rusty-tinged. As we search forest trails, mossy trees and bamboo thickets we can hope for a wealth of interesting species that may include Blue-browed, Yellow-throated, Rufous-crested and Grass-green Tanagers, Bronzy Inca, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, Long-tailed Antbird, Rufous-vented Tapaculo, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Inca Flycatcher, Rufous-tailed Tyrant, Chestnut-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Sharpe's Wren and with a lot of luck White-chested Swift or a Barred Antthrush. This evening we will make another attempt at Long-whiskered Owlet if still needed, and there's also a possibility of Cinnamon Screech-Owl and Swallow-tailed Nightjar sometimes around the lodge buildings.
We will spend at least one early morning birding the forest trails behind the lodge where we hope for White-throated Quail-Dove, Black-throated Toucanet, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Chestnut and Ochre-fronted Antpittas, Variable Antshrike, Olive-tufted Flycatcher, Trilling and Rufous-vented Tapaculo and with luck also White-faced Nunbird or something rarer! We shall also drive to a slightly lower elevation for roadside birding in search of flocks that can have species such as Speckle-chested Piculet, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Versicolored Barbet, Ash-throated Antwren, Equatorial Graytail, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Grey-mantled Wren, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Yellow-throated, Huallaga and Blue-browed Tanagers and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow.
More regular species in the area include Sickle-winged Guan, Black-mandibled Toucan, White-eyed Parakeet, Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Little Woodpecker, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Buff-thighed Puffleg, White-bellied Woodstar, Lined Antshrike, Blackish Antbird, Rufous-rumped and Yellow-breasted Antwren, Golden-winged Manakin, Olive-chested Flycatcher, Plumbeous-crowned, Ecuadorian and Peruvian Tyrannulets, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Pale-eyed Thrush, Olivaceous Greenlet, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Ash-throated, Yellow-throated and Grey-hooded Bush-Tanagers, Paradise, Spotted, Magpie, Orange-eared, Golden, Green-and-gold, Flame-faced, Spotted and Metallic-green Tanagers, Bronze-green Euphonia, Yellow-rumped Cacique and both Crested and Russet-backed Oropendolas. More skulkers await us and with luck we might see Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Equadorian Piedtail, White-crowned Tapaculo and Vermilion Tanager. Nights at Owlet Lodge.
Days 10 - 11 Aguas Verdes - Wacanqui Lodge
We will make an early start to Aguas Verdes and visit a feeding station where species such as Little and Cinereous Tinamous, Grey-cowled Wood-Rail, Rufous-breasted Wood Quail, Orange-billed Sparrow and several hummers including Wire-crested Thorntail & Blue-fronted Lancebill can be seen. We aim to arrive for lunch at our next base of Wacanqui Lodge, just outside Moyobamba and in the afternoon we will bird the grounds and surrounding area. The hummingbird feeders here are fantastic with over 15 species regularly recorded, among them crowd pleasers like Rufous-crested Coquette, Black-throated Mango, Black-throated Hermit, White-chinned Sapphire, Wire-crested Thorntail, Amethyst Woodstar and Blue-fronted Lancebill, and even the endemic Black-bellied Tanager calls in and we may also see the localised Zimmer’s Antbird here too. Also, Mishana Tyrannulet is often around the feeders and we shall at least hear Russet-crowned Crakes as well.
We will have a full morning walking the trails of the lodge, where the possibilities include Foothill Antwren, White-plumed Antbird, endemic Mishana Tyrannulet, the recently described endemic Painted Manakin, Fiery-throated Fruiteater and Orange-billed Sparrow amongst others. At night in the grounds we will try for Tropical Screech Owl, Rufous & Spot-tailed Nightjars, whilst both Band-bellied & Black-banded Owls are in the same area. Overnight Wacanqui Lodge
Day 12 Waqanki - Tarapoto
We can spend the morning at Waqanki and surrounding area looking for any species we still need. The forest here holds a wealth of species and we have an exciting day on the trails above the lodge planned. Amongst many possibilities we could see Tataupa Tinamou, White Hawk, Speckled Chachalaca, Band-bellied & Stygian Owls, Blue-crowned Trogon, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Golden-collared Toucanet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Gilded Barbet, Rufous-crested Coquette, Reddish & Great-billed Hermits, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Zimmer’s, Spot-backed, White-browed, White-plumed, Hairy-crested, Brownish-headed, Fasciated, Peruvian Warbling and Spot-winged Antbirds, Short-tailed Antthrush, Plain-winged Antshrike, Lined, Plain-winged, Foothill, Yellow-breasted, Stripe-chested and Rusty-backed Antwrens, the endangered Ash-throated Wren, Scaled, Fiery-throated and with luck Scarlet-breasted Fruiteaters, Lanceolated Monklet, Fiery-capped Manakin, Stripe-necked, Pearly-vented, White-eyed and Buff-throated Tody-Tyrants, Tschudi's Woodcreeper, Chestnut-throated and Cinereous-breasted Spinetails, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet, the local form of Mishana Tyrannulet which is likely to be split as a new species, Roraiman Flycatcher, Grey-tailed Piha, the newly described Varzea Thrush, Short-tailed & White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrants and Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch.
After lunch we drive towards Tarapoto and along the way we can stop at a cave to view a colony of Oilbirds. The rest of the drive will see us making numeorus roadside stops for species such as Blackish Pewee, Cliff Flycatcher, Golden-collared Toucanet, Gilded Barbet, Dotted & Masked Tanagers, Black-face Dacnis, Plumbous Euphonia and so much more. Overnight in Tarapoto.
Day 13 Tarapoto - Konavi
We will make an early start to Konavi, a private protected area with trails and feeders where we will spent the rest of the day. The possibilities include Black-faced and White-plumed Antbirds, Blue-backed, Blue-crowned and Golden-headed Manakins, the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit. Amethyst Woodstar, Gould’s Jewelfront, Golden-green and Masked Tanagers. Overnight in Tarapoto.
Day 14 Huallaga River - End of Tour - 14th September
Today we head towards the Huallaga River and walk along the road and bird along a trail where the possibilities include Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Northern Slaty Antshrike (huallagae), White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant, Rufous Cassiornis, Rufous-winged Antwren, Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin, Stripe-Necked Tody-Tyrant, Ashy-headed Greenlet and Oriole Blackbird amongst many other possibilities. We will then drive back to Tarapoto for lunch and after this head over to the airport for the flight to Lima and our international connections.
PLEASE ASK ABOUT OUR POST-TOUR EXTENSION: Visiting Pucusana, Lomas de Lachay, Santa Eulalia, Marcapomacocha and Lake Junin from 15th - 20th September