Tarapoto to Chiclayo – 21D/20N
Leader: Detlef Davies
TUES 25 AUGUST (= Day 4 on pre-tour) – PUMARINRI
Arrive Tarapoto. Transfer by minibus to Pumarinri Amazon Lodge, about a 40 minute journey. Transfers from the airport at any pre-arranged time. Local birding or sightseeing for anyone arriving in daylight.
o/n Pumarinri
WED 26 AUGUST – PUMARINRI – TRAILS, BOAT TRIP
Birding on the slopes of the Huallaga River at c.230 metres altitude. Local trails. Boat trip upriver in afternoon, spotlighting by the Lodge in evening for up to 6 species of owls. We should see a multitude of common Peruvian lowland birds,
Possible species: Yellow-rumped Cacique, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Black-fronted Nunbird, Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, Blue-grey, Palm, Turquoise & Paradise Tanagers, honeycreepers, various parrots, White-winged & White-banded Swallows, Drab Water-Tyrant, Black Phoebe, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Green-backed Trogon, Hoatzin, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Pied Lapwing. Evening: Tropical Screech Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Black-banded, Band-bellied & Crested Owls.
o/n Pumarinri
THURS 27 AUGUST – PUMARINRI – PUCAYAQUILLO WATERFALL
All day at Pumarinri. Walk trail to Pucayaquillo Waterfall, good rainforest birding and opportunity to swim in the waterfall pool. Often productive roadside birding too. Afternoon siesta (as most days). Spotlighting around lodge in eve.
Possible birds: Peruvian Warbling, Black-faced, Spot-winged and Chestnut-tailed Antbirds, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner,
Fiery-capped Manakin, White Hawk, Swallow-tailed Kite, Red-necked & Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, White-browed
Purpletuft, White-winged Becard, White-collared Swift, woodcreepers, Fulvous Shrike-tanager, Yellow-crested, Paradise,
Turquoise & Opal-crowned Tanagers, Chestnut-eared & Lettered Aracaris. Evening: owls, Pauraque.
o/n Pumarinri
FRI 28 AUGUST – QUEBRADA UPAQUIHUA & HUALLAGA RIVER
Leave Pumarinri for the day & drive south to village of Buenos Aires. Head north-west from there to some good areas of dry white-sand forest at Quebrada Upaquihua. We will look for drier country birds in this specialised habitat.
Possible birds: Cobalt-winged & Canary-winged Parakeets, Blue-winged Parrotlet, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Great & Barred Antshrikes, Violaceous Jay, White-browed Antbird, Northern Slaty Antshrike, Chestnut Woodpecker, Blue-crowned Trogon, Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant, Band-tailed Manakin, Mishana Tyrannulet, Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Plain-crowned Spinetail, Planalto Hermit., Brown-crested Flycatcher, Stripe-chested Antwren. Return from Puerto Sangama to Pumarinri by boat, landing on sand islands for Large-billed & Yellow-billed Terns, perhaps skimmers, Comb Duck, Pied Lapwing, roosting Sand-coloured Nighthawk & Ladder-tailed Nightjar.
o/n Pumarinri
SAT 29 AUGUST – JUAN GUERRA, TARAPOTO
Leave Pumarinri & drive back in direction of Tarapoto, spend morning at the dry forest at Juan Guerra where the habitat is similar to yesterday. Late lunch at Tucan Suites at edge of town, local birding in afternoon or relax, tour the town, etc.
Possible birds: Troupial, Short-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Blue-crowned Motmot, Stripe-necked Tody-Tyrant, Hook-billed Kite, Rufous Casiornis, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, White-browed Antbird, Green Jay, Lettered Aracari, Speckled Chachalaca, Black-throated Mango, Great Antshrike.
o/n Tucan Suites
SUN 30 AUGUST – THE TUNNEL at CERRO ESCALERA
Day trip north-eastwards from the town to the high forested ridge at Cerro Escalera (c.900 m) and the 100 metre ‘Tunnel’. Higher altitude birds are here such as:
White-tipped Swift, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Yellow-crested, Yellow-bellied, White-winged & Dotted Tanagers, Short-billed & Purple Honeycreepers, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Black-faced Dacnis, Lineated & Red-stained Woodpeckers, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, White Hawk, Blackish Pewee, Dusky-chested and Cliff Flycatchers, Mishana Tyrannulet, Black Antbird, Channel-billed Toucan, Golden-collared Toucanet, Curl-crested Aracari, Golden-headed & Blue-crowned Manakins, common hummers, Koepcke’s Hermit, Gould’s Jewelfront.
Hummingbird feeders & trail at Aconabikh will produce our first chance of a variety of hummers in one spot. We will continue north to the start of the lowlands in the afternoon where we may find Lemon-throated & Scarlet-crowned Barbets before retracing our route back to Tarapoto.
o/n Tucan Suites
MON 31 AUGUST – TARAPOTO to MOYOBAMBA
Morning birding at Ricuricocha wetlands near Tarapoto. Commanding view over extensive marsh vegetation surrounded by slightly higher ground with dry scrub. Variety of wetland birds are possible including Wattled Jacana, Green Kingfisher, Black-capped Donacobius, Black-bellied whistling Ducks, Comb Ducks, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Rufous-sided Crake, Limpkin, American Purple Gallinule, Wattled Jacana , also a variety of tyrant flycatchers, Pearl Kite, Tataupa Tinamou in the surrounding dry bush, Late morning head west, stopping on route at Oilbird roost site under Quiscarrumi Bridge, then to Moyobamba for lunch. Savanna birding along roadsides & open country in afternoon.
Possible birds: Oilbird, White-eyed Parakeet, Russet-backed Oropendola, Chestnut-bellied Seedfinch, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Black-billed Seedfinch, Masked Duck, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, Rusty-backed Antwren, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Huallaga Tanager, Paint-billed Crake, Russet-crowned Crake, Blackish Rail, tanagers including Burnished Buff, Little & Spot-breasted Woodpeckers. Evening spotlighting for Stygian Owl.
o/n Waqanki or Puerto Mirador
TUES 1 SEPTEMBER – MOYOBAMBA & WAQANKI
Morning walk up forest trail at Mishquiyacu, then back around midday to view from an elevated wood & bamboo structure & see up to 15 species of hummingbirds at close range. Lunch on site, savanna birding in afternoon. Evening spotlighting for nightjars & Band-bellied Owl.
Possible birds: Sooty-headed & Black-capped Tyrannulets, Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Fiery-capped Manakin, Orange-billed Sparrow, Ornate & Foothill Antwrens, Wing-barred Piprites, Ivory-billed Aracari, Varzea Thrush, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Spot-backed & White-plumed Antbirds, Broad-billed Motmot, Lanceolated Monklet, White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-crested Coquette, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Green & Brown Violetears, Long-billed Starthroat, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Fork-tailed Emerald, Great-billed, Black-throated, Rufous-breasted Hermits, Mishana Tyrannulet, Paradise & Yellow-bellied Tanager, Short-tailed Hawk, Band-bellied Owl.
o/n Waqanki or Puerto Mirador
WED 2 SEPTEMBER – MOYOBAMBA / AGUAS VERDES to ABRA PATRICIA
Leave & drive west to Reserva Arena Blanca for tinamous at feeding station & a different selection of hummingbirds at feeders. Then on to Afluente along the uphill rise through extensive & mainly intact forest,
and to Owlet Lodge, Abra Patricia for lunch. Evening walk to look for Long-whiskered Owlet.
Possible birds: Cinereous & Little Tinamou, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Orange-billed Sparrow, Zimmer’s Antbird, Wire-crested Thorntail, Reddish & Green Hermits, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Greenish Puffleg, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Great Thrush, various high altitude tanagers & flowerpiercers, some cloud forest hummingbirds, Long-whiskered Owlet, Common Potoo.
o/n Owlet Lodge
THURS 3 SEPTEMBER – ABRA PATRICIA
The Owlet Lodge at Abra Patricia is the most well-known birding site along this east-west route. We will spend all day here (2,300 metres), birding the trails and roadside on foot from the lodge in morning and late afternoon to evening. Hummingbird feeders will produce a different set of species from the previous feeding stations. Spotlighting at night for Cinnamon Screech Owl & other possible night birds. Dawn is best for Swallow-tailed Nightjar.
Possible birds: Swallow-tailed Nightjar, Barred Becard, Lulu’s Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-breasted Brush-finch, Pearled Tree-runner, Chestnut, Ochre-fronted, Rusty-tinged & Rusty-breasted Antpittas, Long-tailed Antbird, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Grass-Green, Yellow-scarfed, Flame-faced & Silver-backed Tanagers, Green & Black Fruiteater, Sickle-winged Guan, Striped Treehunter, hummingbirds, tanagers etc as yesterday, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Cinnamon Screech Owl.
o/n Owlet Lodge
FRI 4 SEPTEMBER – ABRA PATRICIA
Another full day at Abra Patricia birding more trails, targeting any species not seen yesterday (perhaps Chestnut, Rusty-tinged and Ochre-fronted Antpittas, tapaculos, Chestnut-breasted Wren, White-faced Nunbird, etc., spotlighting for more night birds & mammals.
Possible birds: As yesterday, perhaps White-faced Nunbird, Red-hooded Tanager, other birds missed earlier.
o/n Owlet Lodge
FRI 4 SEPTEMBER – ABRA PATRICIA & afternoon drive to GOCTA
Abra Patricia morning birding, drive to nearby sites for Royal Sunangel, Bar-winged Wood Wren & Yellow-throated Tanager. Depart mid-afternoon & continue west to Pedro Ruiz. Turn south onto minor road to Cocachimba and to Gocta Lodge. Already we are heading for drier forest as we approach the Andes & we may make some stops on route for specialities like Maranon Crescentchest.
Possible birds: Royal Sunangel, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Equatorial Greytail, White-capped, Yellow-throated & Vermilion Tanagers.
o/n Gocta Lodge
SUN 6 SEPTEMBER – RIO CHIDO TRAIL & HUEMBO
Early drive back east to climb Rio Chido Trail above San Lorenzo for some special rarities including Rusty-tinged and Pale-billed Antpittas, It’s quite a steep rocky walk but should be rewarding. Lunch at a Trout Farm, then on to Huembo Reserve for a new variety of hummingbirds including Marvellous Spatuletail.
Possible birds: Pale-billed, Rusty-tinged & Rusty-breasted Antpittas, Slaty-backed & Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrants, Variable Hawk, Rufous-capped Antshrike Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Mountain Velvetbreast, White-capped Tanager, Plain-tailed & Peruvian Wrens, Russet-mantled Soft-tail, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Torrent Duck; Marvellous Spatuletail, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Green & Sparkling Violetears, Bronzy Inca, Green-tailed Trainbearer, White-bellied & Little Woodstars.
o/n Gocta Lodge
MON 7 SEPTEMBER – GOCTA FALLS (the low road)
Walk directly from Lodge to foot of Gocta Falls. All day from c.7 am to 4 pm. Cock-of-the-Rock leks, good for furnarids and tanagers, chance of tapaculos & Black-streaked Puffbird. Evening walk in nearby scrub if time.
Possible birds: Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Maranon Thrush, Andean Solitaire, Smoky Brown Woodpecker, White-bellied Hummingbird, Golden-bellied Grosbeak, Hooded Siskin, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Russet-backed & Crested Oropendolas, Olive-backed & Montane Woodcreepers, Emerald Toucanet, Blackish Tapaculo, Speckle-chested Piculet, Black-streaked Puffbird, Rufous-winged Tyrannulet, Mitred Parakeet, Buff-bellied, Blue-necked, Beryl-spangled & Flame-faced Tanagers, Sparkling & Green Violetears.
o/n Gocta Lodge
TUES 8 SEPTEMBER – ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AT KUELAP & LEYMEBAMBA
Day at Kuelap ruins using access by cable car, an ancient Chachapoyas settlement high above the road, with a local expert historical guide, some birding, good for Sword-billed Hummingbird & Streaked Tuftedcheek. Then drive on south, looking out for Fasciated Tiger Heron, White-capped Dipper, etc., road rises slowly along Utcubamba River, roadside stops for Torrent Duck & other specialities. Spotlighting in Museum gardens in evening, possible Koepcke’s Screech Owl & Band-winged Nightjar.
Possible birds: Band-tailed Pigeon, Mountain Caracara, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Rufous-breasted & White-browed Chat-Tyrant, White-banded Tyrannulet, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, Rufous-naped Brush-Finch, Buff-browed Foliage-Gleaner, Red-crested Cotinga, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, other hummingbirds. Along river & at Leymebamba: Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Torrent Duck, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Torrent Tyrannulet, White-capped Dipper, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Spectacled Redstart, Amazon Kingfisher, Scarlet-fronted & Mitred Parakeets, Hepatic Tanager, Black-necked Woodpecker, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Band-winged Nightjar, Koepcke’s Screech Owl.
o/n Casa Mallqui, Leymebamba
WED 9 SEPTEMBER – ABRA BARRO NEGRO & UPPER MARANON VALLEY
Day trip to Abra Barro Negro, the high pass rising to 3600 metres, roadside stops for high altitude specialities. Low elfin forest habitat is good for Moustached Flowerpiercer, Rusty-mantled Tit-Spinetail, White-chinned Thistletail & Great Sapphirewing, also Many-striped Canastero & Bar-winged Cinclodes in the high grasslands. Then we descend the Maranon River at Balsas in the hot, dry Maranon valley. Entirely different birds down here, Red-crested Cardinal, Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Buff-bridled Inca Finch, Black-necked Woodpecker. Back
to Leymebamba at dusk.
Possible birds: Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Moustached Flowerpiercer, White-chinned Thistletail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Rufous Antpitta, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian & Coppery Metaltails, Great Sapphirewing, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Plain-coloured Seedeater, Black-necked Woodpecker, Buff-bridled Inca Finch, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Bare-faced Ground-Dove, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Aplomado Falcon, Fasciated Wren, Yellow-faced Parrotlet.
o/n Casa Mallqui, Leymebamba
THURS 10 SEPTEMBER – RIO ATUEN VALLEY, MUSEUM, back to GOCTA
Morning along the Rio Atuen valley, close to Leymebamba for Andean Condor, Golden-headed Quetzal, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, etc. Visit Mummies Museum after lunch. Back to Gocta late afternoon.
Possible birds: Andean Condor, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Booted Racket-tail, Purple-throated Sunangel, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Blue-capped & Blue & Yellow Tanagers, Russet-mantled Soft-tail, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Torrent Duck.
o/n Gocta Lodge
FRI 11 SEPTEMBER – GOCTA FALLS (the high road)
Another visit to the Falls today along a much higher route, starting with a drive up to San Pablo with box lunch, walk through varied habitat to viewpoint and on to centre point of Falls.
Possible birds: Yellow-bellied and Black & White Seedeaters, Maranon Thrush, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Azara’s Spinetail, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Montane Woodcreeper, White-tipped Swift, Golden-winged & Lulu’s Tody-Tyrants, Flavescent Flycatcher, tanagers, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Rusty-winged Barbtail, White-eared Solitaire.
o/n Gocta Lodge
SAT 12 SEPTEMBER – GOCTA to JAEN via BAGUA GRANDE & CORRAL QUEMADO
Leave Gocta, head back to Pedro Ruiz & go west along the highway beside the Utcubamba River to Jaen. Stops on route for some dry scrub specialities including. Check in to hotel El Bosque, a quality town hotel & have lunch there. Afternoon in riverside and marsh habitat along Bellavista road north of Jaen.
Possible birds: Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Savanna Hawk, Long-tailed Mockingbird, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Vermilion Flycatcher, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Little Inca Finch, Collared Antshrike, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Red-crested Finch, Peruvian Pigeon, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Greater Ani, Paint-billed Crake, Spotted Rail, Lesser Nighthawk.
o/n Hotel El Bosque, Jaen
SUN 13 SEPTEMBER – TAMBORAPA, JAEN to TUCUME via ABRA PORCUYA
Morning trip north to Tamborapa, dry bush & scrub habitat. Roadside marsh for crakes & rails. Lunch in Jaen, then depart for Tucume via the pass at Porcuya. Evening birding / spotlighting.
Possible birds: Collared Antshrike, Red-crested Finch, Tataupa Tinamou, Maranon Crescentchest, Little Inca Finch, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Maranon and Chinchipe Spinetails; Fasciated Wren, Purple-collared Woodstar, Three-banded and Grey & Gold Warblers, Chapman’s Antshrike, Piura Chat-Tyrant, White-headed Brush-Finch, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Lesser Goldfinch, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Amazilia Hummingbird, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Short-eared Owl, Scrub Nightjar.
o/n Los Horcones de Tucume
MON 14 SEPTEMBER – BOSQUE DE POMAC
All day in the Bosque de Pomac area & visit the Pyramids. We are now west of the Andes and within range of many new species, restricted to this dry area. Examples are Optional afternoon visit to the Museo Tumbes Reales in Lambayeque.
Possible birds: Pacific Parrotlet, Grey & White Tyrannulet, Baird’s Flycatcher, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Peruvian Plantcutter, Tumbes Sparrow, Cinereous Finch, Superciliated Wren, Scarlet-backed and Lineated Woodpeckers, Necklaced Spinetail, Cinereous Conebill, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant.
o/n Los Horcones de Tucume
TUES 15 SEPTEMBER – PUERTO ETEN & CHICLAYO
MAIN TOUR ENDS
Leave Tucume and head for the coast via the town of Chiclayo. Explore the coastal lagoons, sand dunes and marshes between Pimentel & Puerto Eten. Sea-watching from top of Morro de Eten and seabird colonies on cliffs. Return to Chiclayo in the afternoon for flight back to Lima or to hotel for flight the following morning.
Possible birds: Cinnamon Teal, herons & egrets, Kelp, Grey & Grey-hooded Gulls, Wren-like Rushbird, Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant, Yellowish Pipit, Burrowing Owl, Peruvian Thick-knee, Tawny-throated Dotterel, shorebirds, Coastal Miner, Peruvian & Blue-footed Boobies, Neotropic, Guanay & Red-legged Cormorants, Waved Albatross, skuas & shearwaters, Inca, Peruvian & Elegant Terns, Harris’s & Savanna Hawks.
EXTENSION STARTS
Evening transfer to Chaparri Lodge, a rustic but comfortable lodge in the hillside scrub.
o/n Chaparri Lodge
WED 16 SEPTEMBER – CHAPARRI RESERVE
All day birding trails around the Lodge – area is extensive and hilly dry forest & scrub. Site of captive breeding program for the endangered White-winged Guan. Local guide.
Possible birds: White-winged Guan, White-tailed Jay, Tumbes Tyrant, Elegant Crescentchest, Pacific Elaenia, Grey & White Tyrannulet, Baird’s Flycatcher, White-edged Oriole, Collared Warbling-Finch, Andean Tinamou, Short-tailed Woodstar, Tumbes Sparrow, Tumbes Hummingbird, Red-masked Parakeet, Pacific Parrotlet, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Cinereous Finch, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant.
o/n Chaparri Lodge
THURS 17 SEPTEMBER – CHAPARRI AREA & CASUPE
Morning drive to Casupe at higher altitude; other trails around Chaparri, Possibility of mammals including Collared Peccary, Sechuran Fox and even Spectacled Bear.
Possible birds: as yesterday, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Andean Condor, Rufous-necked & Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaners, Ecuadorian Trogon, Chapman’s Antshrike, Grey & Gold and Three-banded Warblers, Pacific Elaenia, Grey-breasted Flycatcher, Black-cowled Saltator, Snowy-throated Kingbird, Peruvian Sheartail & others.
o/n Chaparri Lodge
FRI 18 SEPTEMBER – CHAPARRI – CHICLAYO
EXTENSION ENDS
Leave Chaparri for Chiclayo via Tinajones Reservoir. End of Extension – transfer to Chiclayo airport in afternoon for 5.15 pm flight or to hotel for flight next morning.
Possible birds: Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-billed & White-cheeked Pintail, herons & egrets, Wood Stork, Black-faced Ibis, Comb Duck, Andean Coot, Great & Pied-billed Grebes, Andean Gull, shorebirds like Baird’s Sandpiper, Collared & Wilson’s Plover; Chestnut-collared Swallow.
APPROX ALTITUDES in metres
- Tarapoto – 250
- Pumarinri – 230
- Moyobamba – 1000
- Abra Patricia – 2300
- Gocta Lodge – 1800
- Leymebamba – 2300
- Abra Barro Negro – 3500
- Chiclayo – 30
- Chaparri – 200
- Casupe – 1000
