DAY 02.- SAN RAMON – ALTO PICHITA RESERVE

Early start to go back to this nice road covered with coffee plantation but nice forest along the road. We went with our picnic lunch to be taken on the way this way we could have more time at the birding área. The área gave us good birds but few of them we could really photograph, we spent almost the whole day birding the way down at this cool road.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The Endemic Green and White Hummingbird and some more birds like Versicolored Barbet, Ocellated Piculet, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Black and White Becard, Streak Necked Flycatcher, Rufous Tailed Tyrant, Spotted Tanager, Yellow Bellied Seedeater, Buff Browed Foliage Gleaner, Yellow Bellied Tanager, Lineated Woodpecker, Bluish Fronted Jacamar, Yellow Crested Tanager, Chesnut Backed Antshrike, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Chesnut Eared Aracari, Chivi Vireo, Yellow Breasted Flycatcher, Purple Throated Euphonia, Blue Headed Parrot, Squirel Cuckoo, Dusky Green Oropendola, Spotted Barbtail, Silvery Tanager, Golden Naped Tanager, Gray Breasted Wood Wren, Western Wood Pewee, Blue Tailed Emerald, Yellow Browed Sparrow, White Eared Solitaire, Tropical Parula, Blue Dacnis, Green Jay, Blue Tailed Emerald, Speckle Hummingbird, Peruvian Racket Tail, White Collared Swift, Andean Cock of the Rock, Blak and Chesnut Eagle.

Endemic Green and White Hummingbird & the special Peruvian Tyrannulet

DAY 03.- SAN RAMON – LA MERCED – HACIENDA ARMORIQUE

We left San Ramon after early breakfast to then drive to Hacienda Armorique, located at 1300m from La Merced Distrit. On the way to this nice Local Lodge we had many morning bird stops and We could get some new birds for my guests.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemic Ceruleam Capped Manakin, Yellow Breasted Warbling Antbird, Sharp Shinned Hawk, Higland Motmot, Blackish Antbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Swallow Tanager, Inambari Woodcreeper, Yellow Tufted Woodpecker, Chivi Vireo, Golden Rumped Euphonia, Social Flycatcher, Southern Emerald Toucanet, Giant Cowbird, Band Bellied Owl, Round Tailed Manakin, Swallow Tailed Kite, Squirrel Cuckoo, Cabanis Spinetail, Blue Black Grassquit.

DAY 04.- HACIENDA ARMORIQUE FULL DAY

We spent the whole day into this nice protected forest with many birds but only few were photographed. Anyways Jantina was also with us and she enjoyed the birds with her nice binoculars, with her we saw many birds without taking pictures, which she enjoyed better. At the end of the day we tried for some Owling but we did not have much luck since they were calling but could not see them.

BIRDS OF THE DAY: White Crowned Manakin, Winged Barred Piprites, Marble Faced Bristle Tyrant, Long Tailed sylph, Orange Bellied Euphonia, Streak Headed Antbird, variable Antshrike, Chesnut Tailed Antbird, Buff Browed Foliage Gleaner, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Rufous Capped Nunlet, White Browed Antbird, Scale Crested Pygmy Tyrant, plumbeous Crowned Tyrannulet, Streak Necked Flycatcher, Golden Tanager.

Inambari Woodcreeper & White Crowned Manakin

DAY 05.- HACIENDA ARMORIQUE FULL DAY

Rainy morning this time that did not let Us move early to our birding spot so We left late after early lunch in order to have more time birding the forest.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The Endemic Creamy Bellied Antwren and others like Ocellated Poorwill, Golden Olive Woodpecker, green Honeycreeper, Slaty Antwren, Russet Crowned Warbler, Versicolored Barbet.

Lanceolated Monklet & the endemic Ceruleam Capped Manakin

DAY 06.- HACIENDA ARMORIQUE – COMAS

A long driving day to Comas, small town found at the beggining of the famous Satipo Road in the Junin Department. This time our birding started on the way down to Comas Town where we could see some birds before we arrive to our local hostal.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The Endemic Creamy Crested Spinetail and others like Ochre Naped Ground Tyrant, Black Faced Ibis, Shining Sunbeam, Mountain Velvetbreast, Slaty Brush Finch, Greater Yellowlegs, Gray Breasted Seednipe, Common Miner, Andean Gull, Andean Duck, Andean Coot, Yellow Billed Teal, Cinereous Conebill, White Browed Chat Tyrant, Black Throated Flowerpiercer, Chiguanco Thrush.

The endemic Creamy Crested Spinetail & Black Faced Ibis

DAY 07.- COMAS – SATIPO ROAD HIGHER PART – TOLDOPAMPA

Early start to then go for our Satipo Road Adventure and get some of the target birds along this fanous birding road. On the way we could enjoy nice local people who were attracted to Us since they do not see many tourist at this part of Peru.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemics Eye Ringed Thisthletail, Fire Throated Metaltail and Junin Antpitta. Others like Tit Like Dacnis, Tufted Tit Tyant, Tacznowsky’s Ground Tyrant, Mountain Caracara, Streak Throated Canastero, Brown Bellied Swallow, Red Crested Cotinga, Plain Colored Seedeater, Andean Goose, Creamy Winged Cinclodes.

The Endemics Eye Ringed Thisthletail & Fire Throated Metaltail
Photos: Paul Van Giersbergen

DAY 08.- COMAS – SATIPO ROAD – PUENTE CARRIZALES

Another day at Satipo Road with few birds but good ones, this time we tried different birds and got some new ones for my guests bird list.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemics Striated Earthcreeper, Junin Canastero and Peruvian Wren. Some more birds like Scarlet Bellied Mountain Tanager, White Banded Tyrannulet, Violet Throated Starfrontlet, Blue Backed Conebill, White Throated Tyrannulet, Citrine Warbler, Slaty Brush Finch, White Capped Dipper, Torrent Duck, Rufous Breasted Chat Tyrant.

02 Endemic Birds Junin Canastero & Junin Antpitta (Photo: Paul Van)

DAY 09.- COMAS – HUANCAYO – PARIAHUANCA ROAD

In General the Central andes birds give you hard time because of two reasons, one is the specialties at these places are birds that inhabit dense forest like chusquea bamboo or they are just small like tapaculos, the second reason is the distance from point to point, if you do not have the proper vehicle like 4by4. In our case we had a nice van but was a bit slow for the bumpy roads in some places, anyways we did our best to reach the bird spots on time and find the birds we were looking for. From Comas to Pariahuanca Road is another long driving that takes at least 5 hours to reach the proper bird spot, but was worth it.
BIRDS OF THE DAY: The endemics Black Spectacled Brush Finch, Creamy Crested Spinetail and Junin Canastero (much better view). Some other birds like Rust and Yellow Tanager, Sierran Elaenia, Red Crested Cotinga, Andean Gull, Plain Colored Seedeater, White Browed Chat
Tyrant, Black Throated Flowerpiercer.

The endemic & range restricted Black Spectacled Brush finch

DAY 10.- PARIAHUANCA ROAD

Another very nice road with very interesting birds and landscape, Pariahuanca road is another acces to the famous Mantaro Valley. This road is one of the two spots known for the range restricted endemic Brush Finch. Along this road you can also get some other specialties like tapaculos and some Polylepis birds, since the área has nice patches of this little forest. But of course this extra birds will make you work hard to get them.
BIRDS OF THE DAY:
The endemics Rusty Fronted Canastero and Black Spectacled Brush Finch (better view). Other birds like Brown Backed Chat Tyrant, Red Crested Cotinga, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Purple Backed Thornbill, Stripe Headed Anpitta and Jalca Tapaculo singing around.

Moustached Flowerpiercer & Red Crested Cotinga

DAY 11.- HUANCAYO – HUANUCO – CARPISH TUNNEL

Early departure from Huancayo City in order to go for a long ride and get to Carpish Tunnel in the afternoon. Once at this nice bird spot with good patches of Chusquea Bamboo and sub tropical forest, We went for an afternoon walk to get some new birds.
BIRDS OF THE DAY:
The Endemic Peruvian Wren and others birds like Black Capped Hemispingus, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Rufous Headed Pygmy Tyrant, Violet Throated Starfrontlet, Amethys Throated sunangel.

The Endemic Peruvian Wren & Streaked Tuftedcheek

DAY 12.- HUANUCO – BOSQUE UNCHOG FULL DAY

Early breakfast to go for 2 hours ride to the famous and unique Bosque Unchog. A nice place located at 3700m, with a great variety and endemic birds, we had a very good day with many good birds and flocks plus nice day.
BIRDS OF THE DAY: The endemics Brown Flanked Tanager, Bay Vented Cotinga, Pardusco, Coppery Metaltail and Rufous Backed Inca Finch. Some other cool birds were Many Striped Canastero, Line Fronted Canastero, White Chinned Thistletail, Chesnut Bellied Mountain Tanager, Ochraceous Breasted Flycatcher, Three Striped Hemispingus, Peruvian Meadowlark, Fasciated Wren, Dusky Capped Flycatcher, Hooded Siskin, Golden Grosbeak and Andean Tinamou.

02 Endemics Bay Vented Cotinga & Rufous Backed Inca Finch.
(Photos: Paul Van)

DAY 13.- HUANUCO – CARPISH TUNNEL FULL DAY

This time we visit Carpish tunnel and we had a nice day with some rain at mid-day. The whole we spent it walking along the nice Trail next to the Tunnel with huge plantations flowers, we could get some good mix species Flock and photograph some new birds for the day.
BIRDS OF THE DAY:
The endemic Tschudi`s Tapaculo, Yellow Scarfed Tanager & Bay Antpitta. Some more birds like Plushcap, Streaked Tuftedcheeck, Barred Fruiteater, Mountain Wren, Collared Inca, Blue and Black Tanager, Buff Breasted Mountain Tanager, Rufous Spinetail, Smoky Bush Tyrant, White
Collared Jay, Andean Guan, Rufous Headed Pygmy Tyrant.

The Endemic Yellow Scarfed Tanager & The nice looking bird Plushcap

DAY 14.- HUANUCO – PANAO DISTRICT – MONTE POTRERO – PANAO ANTPITTA

Early breakfast to then go for 2 hourds ride to Silla Punta, a farming área where the local village people started to protect the forest and bilt a Little hostal for nature lovers. Here there is a very nice walk through montane forest over 3000m where you can get nice birds and landscape.
BIRDS OF THE DAY:
The endemic Panao Antpitta and others like Line Cheecked Spinetail, Black and White Seedeater, Green Tailed Trainbearer, Mountain Velvetbreast, Undulated Antpitta, Mountain Cacique, Lesser Violetear, Andean Tinamou, Rufous Browed Peppershrike.

The endemic Panao Antpitta & the uncommon Undulated Antpitta

DAY 15.- HUANUCO – JUNIN

After nice early breakfast in our Huanuco Lodge we started heading to Junin Lake, 5 hours driving through the central highway to ended up at Ondores, nice Little town right by Junin Lake where we started our birding and photo day.
BIRDS OF THE DAY:
The endemics Black Breasted Hillstart, Dark Winged Miner and Junin Rail(Endemic Sub-specie from Black Rail). Some more birds like Cordilleran Canastero, Andean Negrito, Andean Lapwing, Streak Backed Canastero, Ornate Tinamou, Ash Breasted Sierra Finch, Puna Teal,
Andean Coot, Common Miner, Baird’s Sandpiper, Black Billed Shrike Tyrant, Black Winged Ground Dove, White Tufted Grebe, Chilean Flamingo, Black Siskin, Great Horned Owl.

The Endemic Subspecie Known as Junin Rail & The Endemic Dark Winged Miner

DAY 16.- JUNIN LAKE – JUNIN GREBE – MARCAPOMACOCHA – SANTA EULALIA ROAD

Nice breakfast facing the amazing view of the second biggest lake and then a boat trip in order to search for the endemic grebe.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemic Junin Grebe and some more like Silvery Grebe, Many Colored Rush Tyrant, Wren Like Rushbird and the rare Diademed Sanpiper Plover.

The Endemic Junin Grebe & the Uncommon Diademed Sandpiper Plover Photos by: Paul Van Giersbergen

DAY 17.- SANTA EULALIA ROAD – HIGHER PART

We spent the night at one of the many Little towns along the Central Highway, a town called San Mateo. This was in order to go for the high altitud specialties first and once getting the targets we could slowly bird down the road.
BIRDS OF THE DAY: The endemic White Bellied Cinclodes, Rusty Crowned Tit Spinetail, Rusty Bellied Brush Finch & Black Metaltail. More birds like Mourning Sierra Finch, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Giant Hummingbird, Glacier Finch, Gray Breasted Seedsnipe, Shining Sunbeam,
Andean Condor.

The endemics White Bellied Cinclodes (Photo: Paul Van) & Black Breasted Hillstar

DAY 18.- SANTA EULALIA LOWER PART

This time we started from Santa Eulalia Town and slowly drove up at this birdy and busy road.
BIRDS OF THE DAY:
The endemics Thick Billed Miner, Great Inca Finch, Bronze Tailed Comet and Black Necked Woodpecker. Some other birds such as Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, West Peruvian Dove, Scrub Blackbird, Croacking Ground Dove, Pacific Pygmy Owl, Peruvian Sheartail, Oasis Hummingbird, Variable Hawk, Black Chested Buzzard Eagle, Purple Collared Woodstar, Andean Swift, Black Crested Tit Tyrant, Mountain Parakeet, Yellow Billed Tit Tyrant, Streak Throated Bush Tyrant, Greenish Yellow Finch, Great Horned Owl, Blue and Yellow Tanager.

The Endemics Great Inca Finch (Photo: Paul Van) & Bronze Tailed Comet

DAY 19.- SANTA EULALIA – AIRPORT

Our last morning birding the particular Santa Eulalia road and this time We went to look for a rare endemic and shy bird Rufous Breasted Warbling Finch and We could not get it. We tried hard moving at the bird spot but NADA. The good thing was that, the área had some birds that gave us the chance to shoot them closer and have better views.

The endemic Black Necked Woodpecker & The nice looking Black Crested Tit Tyrant

I just want to thanks to Mr. Paul Van & Mrs. Jantina Benders for coming and trusting South Birding Peru. Giving us the chance to show them the beauty and birds of our magical Peru.

Nice picture taken at Armorique forest over 1000m. The beginning of our bird trip with Baldo (oficial Driver) & Martin (Armorique’s Owner and this time giving us a short ride to the upper part of his private forest on his old but very good Car).