Main Tour – Tarapoto to Chiclayo
D1 SATURDAY 23 MAY – PUMARINRI
Guest arrival at Tarapoto Airport (several flights a day from Lima), transfer to Pumarinri Lodge for 3 nights. Early arrivers can start birding in the vicinity of the Lodge. Common tanagers, euphonias, parrots & parakeets, tyrant flycatchers, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, swallows & swifts, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, herons & egrets by the river, perhaps Fasciated Tiger- Heron. Spotlighting in evening. 7 species of owls possible here. o/n Pumarinri.
D2 SUNDAY 24 MAY – PUMARINRI TO CHAZUTA
Pumarinri eastwards to Chazuta and Curiyacu, a new road which offers good possibilities to see other species. spotlighting in evening (& each night on demand). Possible birds include Olive oropendola, Hook-billed Kite, Western-Streolated Puffbird, Cream-colored Woodpecker, White-browed Purpletuft, Purple-throated & Spangled Cotingas. o/n Pumarinri.
D3 MONDAY 25 MAY – RIVER BOAT FROM PUMARINRI TO SHAPAJA’S DRY FOREST AND RICURICOCHA
Covered boat from Pumarinri west to Shapaja & back. May land on southern bank. Bus takes us to other spots in Shapaja for late afternoon. Riverside birds – herons, egrets, swallows, kingfishers, Hoatzin, Pied Lapwing, Collared Plover; dry forest birds include Channel-billed Toucan, Lettered Aracari, Bluish- fronted Jacamar, Great Antshrike, Band-tailed Manakin, Chattering Gnatwren, Tody-flycatchers, antwrens, Rufous-sided Crake,
Tataupa Tinamou, Grey- necked Wood Rail, Comb Duck, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Plumbeous Kite, Snail Kite. At Juan Guerra – perhaps Plain-crowned Spinetail, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Grey- headed Kite. o/n Pumarinri.
D4 TUESDAY 26 MAY – TUNNEL AT CORDILLERA ESCALERA AND ACONABIKH
Leave Pumarinri and drive north-eastwards into the forested ridge near the Tunnel at 900m (the highest point). Birding in the cloud forest both sides of the Tunnel. Aconabikh for hummers at feeders: Gould’s Jewelfront & Koepcke’s Hermit, perhaps Golden-headed & Blue-backed Manakins. Birds at Tunnel may include Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Green-backed Trogon, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Cliff Flycatcher, Curl-crested Aracari, Plumbeous Euphonia & Black Antbird. o/n Tucan Suites.
D5 WEDNESDAY 27 MAY – PONGO DE CAYNARACHI AND PELEJO
Up to the Tunnel as yesterday, concentrate on sites at lower altitudes. Lowlands, as far as Pongo de Caynararchi and Pelejo area, for Long-billed Woodcreeper, White-eared Jacamar, White-shouldered and Lunulated Antbird, Scarlet-crowned & Lemon-throated Barbets, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Wire-tailed Manakin, Horned Screamer and many others. o/n Tucan Suites.
D6 THURSDAY 28 MAY – QUISCARRUMI BRIDGE, WAQANKI
Leave Tarapoto c.6 am for Moyobamba. Stop at Quiscarrumi Bridge for the Oilbird roost in the ravine below. Morning at Waqanki, just south of Moyobamba. Early walk up Mishquiyacu trail, then look at hummingbird feeders before lunch. Forest birds may include Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Wing-barred Piprites, Blue-crowned Trogon, Fiery-throated Fruit-eater, White-plumed Antbird. Expect 12+ species of hummers at the feeders inluding Rufous-Crested Coquette. Overnight at Hotel Puerto Mirador / Kantu Garden Lodge.
D7 FRIDAY 29 MAY – MOYOBAMBA, MORRO DE CALZADA, RIOJA RICEFIELDS
Birding at Morro de Calzada (very varied selection of birds) for Painted Manakin, Rufous-sided Crake, Red-Shoulderes tanager, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant and Rioja ricefields (west of Moyobamba). Roadside sites for open country birds (e.g km 476) Look for crakes & rails, Donacobius, Pale-eyed Blackbird. Spotlighting for Band-bellied & Stygian Owls. Two nights at Arena Blanca Reserve.
D8 SATURDAY 30 MAY – AGUAS VERDES, LLANTERIA
Wake up early for Aguas Verdes for birding from hides; hope for Little & Cinereous Tinamous & Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail. On the hummingbird garden we hope to see Wire-crested Thorntail. Various stops on the steady climb into the cloud forest including Llanteria. Roadside forest birds – Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Scaled Fruiteater, Ecuadorial Graytail, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Orange-eared, Golden-eared, Saffron-crowned and other tanagers. Overnight at Arena Blanca Reserve.
D9 SUNDAY 31 MAY – FUNDO ALTO NIEVA AND ABRA PATRICIA
Early morning on route to Fundo Alto Nieva to spend some time at hummingbird feeders for the Royal Sunangel, Peruvian Racket-tail, Rufous-vented Whitetip and others. Also antpitta feeders for the Rusty-thinged and Ochre-fronted Antpittas. On the trail Bar-winged Wood-wren and perhaps the rare Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant. Arrive Owlet Lodge (c.2300m) for late lunch. Birding around Lodge in the afternoon. Walk down from c.5 pm for some evening day-birds, then for Long-whiskered Owlet. Nightjars & Potoos possible. Swallow-tailed Nightjar often around the Lodge at dawn. Two nights at Owlet Lodge.
D10 MONDAY 1 JUNE – ABRA PATRICIA
Further afield, roadside stops to east & back. Trails & roadside stops, Look for high altitude tanagers like Yellow-scarfed & Grass-green; mountain tanagers, brush- finches, flowerpiercers, tapaculos, perhaps the rare White-faced Nunbird; Spotlighting for Cinnamon Screech Owl, perhaps Rufous-banded Owl. o/n Owlet Lodge.
D11 TUESDAY 2 JUNE – ABRA PATRICIA TO GOCTA
Birding Abra Patricia in morning, then travel to Gocta for 4 nights. Go as far as the Trout Farm (for lunch) & check for Maroon-belted Chat-Tyrant (now split from Slaty-backed); also Torrent Duck. Spend the afternoon at Refugio del Colibrí Espátula for the Marvelous Saptualetail, Little and Purple-collared Woodstar, Gray-chinned Hermit. Overnight Gocta Lodge (4 nights).
D12 WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE – HUAYLLA BELEN
All day up Huaylla Belen for cloud forest birds, especially bamboo specialists like Plushcap, Hemispingus (including Rufous-browed), Russet-mantled Soft- tail, Plain-tailed Wren and others – Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Red-crested Cotinga. Also good for Antpittas (Pale-billed, Chachapoyas, Chestnut-crowned). o/n Gocta Lodge
D13 THURSDAY 4 JUNE – HUAYLLA BELEN
That place offer lower altitudes, it can be a day for clean up and explore other places at lower altitudes in the area. At the afternoon return to Cochachimba and listen in the evenings for the elusive Buff-fronted Owl, try waterfall trail near the Lodge. o/n Gocta Lodge.
D14 FRIDAY 5 JUNE – GOCTA AND PEDRO RUIZ AREA
Lower trail to the Falls & trails leading from it; depending on what we still want to see, e.g White-capped Dipper, Black-streaked Puffbird, Golden- collared Honeycreeper, Speckle-chested Piculet, Marañon Thrush, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Buff- bellied & Blue-browed Tanagers, it can be a Clean up day. o/n Gocta Lodge
D15 SATURDAY 6 JUNE – KUELAP FORTRESS AND UTCUBAMBA VALLEY
Visit the ruins where is possible to have some species. After the ruins birdwatching at Utcubamba Valley. At the ruins possible Line-cheeked Spinetail, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Swordbill Hummingbird and some flocks of tanagers, hemispingus, etc. Later at Utcubamba Valley Marañon Thrush, Peruvian Pigeon, Bull-bellied Tanager, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Torrent Duck, Peruvian Meadowlark, Cordilleran Parakeet, Tumbes Pewee and others. o/n Gocta Lodge
D16 SUNDAY 7 JUNE – GOCTA WESTWARDS TO JAEN VIA PEDRO RUÍZ
Birding sites at Bagua Grande, Corral Quemado and near the Marañon River on route. Roadside quarry for dry scrub birds such as Little Inca Finch, Marañon Crescentchest, Short-tailed Field Tyrant. Later around the town of Jaen. If time in the evening, a short drive to the river valley not far east of Jaen for open country & marshland birds. Spotted Rail & Paint-billed Crake possible. o/n Hotel El Bosque, Jaen.
D17 MONDAY 8 JUNE – JAEN TO TAMBORAPA
Day trip to Tamborapa on the road north from Jaen & along La Coipa Road, dry forest & roadside birding. Look for Maranon & Chinchipe Spinetails, Northern Slaty Antshrike among others. Tuk-tuks into the city square in the evening for a meal at Lactobac restaurant. o/n Hotel El Bosque.
D18 TUESDAY 9 JUNE – JAEN TO OLMOS, SPENDING THE DAY AT ABRA PATRICIA
Today we cross the Andes at one of its lower passes. Birding at Limon de Porcuya in the Andes (where we cross at relatively low altitude) and drive up to Abra de Porcuya (2137m) for morning birding. Andean Condor & other raptors likely on route. Possible birds at Abra de Porcuya – Piura Chat-Tyrant, Chapman’s Antshrike, Grey-breasted Flycatcher, Three-banded Warbler, White-winged & White-headed Brushfinches, Black-cowled Saltator. Descend the west side of the Andes, much drier habitat generally, some stops for birding. Arrive in Olmos in the afternoon. o/n Hotel Maracuya (2 nights).
D19 WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE – OLMOS SORROUNDINGS – QUEBRADA EL LIMON
Birding all day in at the trails around Quebrada el Limon. Possible birds – White-winged Guan, Tumbes Hummingbird, Short-tailed Woodstar, Elegant Crescentchest, Tumbes Chat-Tyrant, Ecuadorian Trogon, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Gray-and-gold Warbler, Whooping Motmot, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Plumbeous-backed Thrush. Second night at Hotel Maracuya.
D20 THURSDAY 11 JUNE – BOSQUE DE POMAC AND COASTAL DRY FORESTS
Leave Olmos very early & head down the Pan American highway towards Chiclayo. Birding on route at Bosque de Pomac for Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, Necklaced Spinetail, Collared Antshrike, Cinereous Finch and more. o/n Chiclayo
D21 FRIDAY 12 JUNE – COAST AT PUERTO ETEN & MORRO ROCK
Birding the coast west of Chiclayo for a variety of gulls, terns, waders, wildfowl, grebes, coastal specialities like Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Peruvian Thick-knee & perhaps Least Seedsnipe. Morro Rock for Inca Terns, colonies of cormorants, Blue-footed & Peruvian Boobies, even Waved Albatross is possible from here.
End of main tour. To Chiclayo airport for flight back to Lima, and home.
