DAY 02.- OLLANTAYTAMBO – PEÑAS – ABRA MALAGA – QUILLABAMBA ROAD

After nice early breakfast, we took the car up to the mountains where we had our first bird stop for some endemics and other specialties at 3300m. This área known as Peñas, has good birds just by the road and we were lucky enough to get the birds we were looking for. Then we went higher to the main spot at 4300m. to the famous Abra Malaga Pass, where there is a heavy walk over this 4300m. to reach the other side for the bird specialties found in a small portion of Polylepis forest. This walk to the Polylepis took us around 4 hours since he had to go slow looking for other birds on the way plus the lack of oxigen in the high andes. Once on the place we could get the main target birds that inhabit this special forest plus cool shots from the snow peak known as Veronica. Right after this we moved to the lower part in the other side of the pass, where there is a big paramo área for some other birds until we eventually reach the montane forest much lower down with the interesting Chusquea Bamboo. Great birding in general since we had good weather and birds.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The Endemics White Browed Tit Spinetail, Unstreaked Tit Tyrant, Cusco Brush Finch, Creamy Crested Spinetail, White Tufted Sunbeam and a quick view of Marcapata Spinetail. Some Polylepis specialties like the rare Roral Cinclodes, Ash Breasted Tit Tyrant & Tit Like Dacnis. More birds like Stripe Headed Antpitta, d’Orbignys Chat Tyrant, Puna Tapaculo, Brown Backed Chat Tyrant, Taczanowski’s Ground Tyrant, Andean Lapwing, Black Faced Ibis, Paramo Pipit, Andean Goose, Streak Throated Canastero, Puna Thistletail, Scaled Metaltail, White Browed Conebill, Pearled Treerunner, Rufous Headed Pygmy Tyrant, Scarlet Bellied Mountain Tanager, Three Striped Hemispingus, Mountain Caracara, Plumbeous Sierra Finch, Creamy Winged Cinclodes, Cinereous Conebill, Andean Condor, Citrine Warbler, Chiguanco Thrush, Rufous Breasted Chat Tyrant.

The rare Royal Cinclodes & the endemic Unstreaked Tit Tyrant  

DAY 03.- OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHUPICCHU VISIT

Another early breakfast with some birds around the hotel garden to then move and take the 2 hours train to Aguas Calientes Town where we took the 15 minutes bus to Machupicchu Citadel with a local guide who was giving us the whole Machupicchu details. We spent great time with our local guide learning about Incas Culture and the whole work system done up in the mountains. At the end we tried some birds up there where we saw few since was getting late. Anyways the time before taking the bus to Machupicchu We could get a good number of birds that move by the Hotel.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemic Green and White Hummingbird and others like Common Tody Flycatcher, Silvery Tanager, Andean Guan, Highland Elaenia, Blue and White Swallow, Blue Naped Chlorophonia, Slate Throated Redstart, Yellow Olive Flycatcher, Thick Billed Euphonia, Tropical Parula, Black Backed Grosbeak, White Capped Dipper, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Torrent Duck, Aplomado Falcon, Golden Crowned Flycatcher, Blue Dacnis, Saffron Crowned Tanager, Blue Necked Tanager, Sparkling Violetear, Black Phoebe, Blue Gray Tanager.

The endemic Green and White Hummingbird & Our local guide at Machupicchu

DAY 04.- MACHPICCHU – MANDOR BIRDING – BACK TO CUSCO

Today We supposed to leave early with packed breakfast but we had a rainy morning which was not bad at all, because this light rain kept the main bird road around Machupicchu known as Mandor road without dust since We had a little sun later that day. So at the end we could get nice birds plus one endemic, cool bird morning to then go for a nice lunch and take our train back to Ollantaytambo to finally drive for almost two hours to Cusco where we spend our night. 

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemic Masked Fruiteater and other birds like Barred Becard, Sclater’s Tyrannulet, Ashy Headed Tyrannulet, Mottle Cheecked Tyrannulet, Dull Colored Grassquit, Ocellated Piculet, Blue Banded Toucannet, Slaty Tanager, Gray Breasted Wood Wren, Dusky Green Oropendola, Chesnut Breasted Coronet, Olive Striped Flycatcher, Highland Motmot, Mitred Parakeet, Plum Crowned Parakeet, Brown Capped Vireo, Piratic Flycatcher, Smoke Colored Pewee, White Bellied Woodstar, Peruvian Racket-tail, Torrent Tyrannulet, Fasciated Tiger Heron.

The endemic and uncommon Masked Fruiteater – Spotted by Rashmi  

DAY 05.- CUSCO – HUAMBUTIO – WAYQECHA LODGE

We left Cusco after having nice breakfast to then have 30 minutes driving to our first birding spot where we could get a cool number of birds plus 02 of the endemic birds flying just around us. Right after this we then continued with more driving since this time we were heading to the famous Manu Road and a nice stop at Paucartambo Town where we bought some fruits for the trip and eventually a short lunch stop at the main Manu Gate. Our birding was by the main road and also by the lodge at our arrival were many birds were at the bird feeders placed by the lodge.  

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemics Bearded Mountaineer, Rusty Fronted Canastero and Parodis Hemispingus. Some more birds such as Yellow Billed Pintail, Peruvian Sierra Finch, Plain Colored Seedeater, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Trilling Tapaculo, Greenish Yellow Finch, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Blue Capped Tanager, Black Faced Brush Finch, Lesser Violetear, White Bellied Woodstar, Grass Green Tanager, Amethys Throated Sunangel, Violet Throated Starfrontlet, Great Thrush, Sierran Elaenia, Masked Flowerpiercer, Azaras Spinetail, Red Crested Cotinga, Brown Bellied Swallow.

Red Crested Cotinga & The endemic Bearded Mountaineer

DAY 06.- WAYQECHA LODGE – LOWER PART

This time we birded the lower part of the road reaching 2200m. On the way we had many stops since the car was always with us, different birds along this famous Manu Road with more traffic than usual since the whole way it is under maintenance. So many more cars making a dusty road, anyways we managed to get good birds. On the way we also had nice lunch stop to then keep moving with more energy, late this day we slowly drive back to look for some missing bird species like Mountain Toucan and fruiteater that we finally found them close each other.Then We went for a lovely dinner at the lodge¡¡

BIRDS OF THE DAY.

Slaty Backed Chat Tyrant, Superciliared Hemispingus, Common Chlorospingus, Speckled Hummingbird, Golden Headed Quetzal, Barred Fruiteater, Gray Breasted Mountain Toucan, Chesnut bellied Mountain Tanager, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Yungas Pygmy Owl, Capped Conebill, Montane Woodcreeper, White Throated Tyrannulet, White Crowned Tapaculo, Masked Trogon, Mountain Wren. 

Slaty Backed Chat Tyrant & The pretty Gray Breasted Mountain Toucan

DAY 07.- WAYQUECHA LOWER & HIGHER PART – CANOPY WALK & TRAILS

Our last early breakfast at Wayqecha Station to then move to the lower manu road and search for the bird flocks. This time we got some new birds for Our general bird list, we went back a bit lower than yesterday and got to see extra tanager and a good Cotinga view, after nice morning birds we then went back to the lodge for lunch. The afternoon was spent into the forest and visited a hanging bridge or walkway with very little activity since researchers and student were working by this bird spot, even like this we could managed t osee some extra birds.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

Chesnut Crested Cotinga, White Eared Solitaire, Scaly Naped Parrot, Fawn Breasted Tanager, Rufous Capped Thornbill, Bronzy Inca, Greenish Puffleg, Mountain Cacique, Golden Collared Tanager, Black Throated Tody Tyrant, Fawn Breasted Brilliant, Band Tailed Fruiteater, Long Tailed Sylph, Flame Faced Tanager, Glossy Black Thrush.

Golden Collared Tanager – The uncommon Band Tailed Fruiteater

DAY 08.- WAYQECHA HIGHER PART – BACK TO CUSCO

Chilling morning with very little birding on the way back to Cusco, We had a nice short bird stop at the main gate of Manu Road where we went for a walk around paramo forest and some bird walk by the main road. After this we continued with our Manu driving back to Cusco city where we had a great lunch facing the beautiful Cusco main square then we spent the rest of the day doing some shopping at the local market.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

Rufous Capped Thornbill, Streak Necked Flycatcher, Grass Wren, Puna Ibis and Brown Backed Chat Tyrant.

Having lunch along Manu Road

DAY 09.- CUSCO – PUERTO MALDONADO – TAMBOPATA LODGE

Lovely breakfast in the Hotel to then take the car to the airport and go for 40 minutes flight to Puerto Maldonado where another car will took us for 1 hour to Tambopata River and go for the last 15 minutes on a motor boat to reach the lodge. Once at the lodge we had our lunch surounded by Oropendolas and different bird calls, then we went to visit the tower but could not reach the top since Ranjan had vértigo. But we managed to get some birds around before coming back to the lodge owling.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

Crested Owl, Ocellated Poorwill, Amazonian Pygmy Owl, Tawny Bellied Screech Owl, Anhinga, Black Vulture, Black Tailed Trogon, Palm Tanager, Double Colored Seedeater, Black Fronted Nunbird, Russet Backed Oropendola.

DAY 10.- TAMBOPATA LODGE – FOREST TRAILS – GADUA BAMBOO – TOWER

Nice morning walk to then go for a nice forest walk into gadua bamboo and terra firme where we could see some interesting birds including the ones that move by the lodge and made our bird list bigger. After nice lunch we move back to the forest again and try for terra firme birds, this time we tried to reach the tower for Canopy Birds but Ranjan could not make it this time so we just kept birding on trails.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

Seppia Capped Flycatcher, White Browed Antbird, Chesnut Tailed Antbird, Buff Throated Woodcreeper, Thrush Like Wren, Short Crested Flycatcher, Purplish Jay, Violaceous Jay, Roadside Hawk, Plumbeous Kite, Goeldi’s Antbird, Yellow Breasted Warbling Antbird, Ochre Bellied Flycatcher, Creamy Bellied Thrush, Black Bellied Thorntail, White Chinned Sapphire, Long Billed Starthroat, Black Billed Thrush, Swallow Winged Puffbird, Yellow Tufted Woodpecker, Bluish Slate Antshrike, Chesnut Crowned Foliage Gleaner, Cuvier’s Toucan, White Winged Becard, Great Antshrike, Red Necked Woodpecker, Great Jacamar, Pavonine Quetzal, Round Tailed Manakin, Dusky Chested Flycatcher, White Fronted Nunbird, Fork Tailed Woodnynph, Paradise Tanager.

Great Jacamar & The uncommon Pavonine Quetzal  

DAY 11.- TAMBOPATA LODGE – MACAW’S CLAY LICK – FOREST TRAILS

This time we started quite early to visit the famous and largest Macaws Clay Lick  where great number of parrots, macaws and parakeets gave us a very good morning with some animal spotting on the way back. After having nice lunch then we had a great forest walk ending with spectacular Harpy Eagle hunting show.   

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The rare Harpy Eagle, Emerald Toucannet, Chesnut eared Aracari, Yellow Billed Nunbird, Crested Oropendola, Collared Plover, Orange Cheecked Parrot, Boat Billed Flycatcher, Speckled Chachalaca, Spix’s Guan, Common Pauraque, Great Black Hawk, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Drab Water Tyrant, Mealy Parrot, Yellow Crowned Parrot, White Eyed Parakeet, Cobalt Winged Parakeet, King Vulture, Scarlet Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, White Banded Swallow, Blue and Yellow Macaw, Dusky Headed Parakeet, Blue Headed Macaw, Blue Headed Parrot, Burrowing Owl.

The Majestic and rare Harpy Eagle – Spotted by Ranjan

DAY 12.- PARADISE LODGE – SANDOVAL LAKE FULL DAY

Early breakfast to then gor for 20 minutes motor boat to the main entrance to the lake where there is a nice board walk that takes you into the forest with cool vegetation and palm trees. Here we also had a cool canoe ride to enjoy the lake and look for the special giant river otter plus some unique water birds, a nice packed lunch taken by the lake. At the end we spent the night in our last jungle lodge facing the Majestic madre de dios river. 

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Silvered Antbird, Amazon Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Paradise Jacamar, Amazonian Motmot, Grayish Mouner, Gray Capped Flycatcher, Rusty Margined Flycatcher, Yellow Rumped Cacique, Gray Cowled Wood Rail, Hoatzin, Violaceous Trogon, Moustached Wren, Plumbeous Antbird, Hauxwell’s Thrush, Rufous Breasted Hermit, Greater Yellow Headed Vulture, Large Billed Tern.

Sunbittern & The Giant River Otter at Lake Sandoval

DAY 13.- PARADISE LODGE – CANOPY WALK – TERRA FIRME

A very cool day with very good canopy birds mixed with terra firme and this time we could get an early canopy Flock plus some other birds by the open garden at the lodge. This time Ranjan decided to do the canopy walk challenging himself then at night we went for some owling getting good views from night time birds like Potoo and Owls.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The uncommon Black Faced Cotinga, Guira Tanager, Yellow Crowned Tyrannulet, Pale Legged Hornero, Streaked Flycatcher, Scaled Pigeon, Green Honeycreeper, Turquoise Tanager, Golden Bellied Euphonia, Gilded Barbet, Black Faced Dacnis, Green and Gold Honeycreeper, Brown Capped Flycatcher, White Shouldered Tanager, Gray Headed Tanager, White Bearded Hermit, Purple Throated Fruitcrow, Short Tailed Nighthawk, Great Potoo, Spectacled Owl, Red Throated Caracara, Dull Capped Attila, Yellow Browed Tody Flycatcher, Inambari Woodcreeper.

Southeastern specialty Black Faced Cotinga – Guira Tanager

DAY 14.- PARADISE LODGE – CANOPY WALK – BACK TO LIMA

Another early walk to the Canopy Walk to increase the bird numbers and this time we caught the uncommon but expected Patagonia Cold Winds affecting the extreme southeastern Peru and jungle. Windy day affecting bird activity so no much t osee this morning up on trees so we changed our direction to a local farm where we could get some extra new birds for the day. Right after this we took the boat back to Puerto Maldonado where we went for our last jungle lunch at a very nice local restaurant to then flight back to Lima.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

Bar Breasted Piculet, Vermilion Flycatcher, Yellow Browed Sparrow, Southern Rough Winged Swallow, Chesnut Fronted Macaw and a quick view of Plain Crowned Spinetail.

DAY 15.- CASA ANDINA HOTEL LIMA – FULL DAY SANTA EULALIA ROAD

We left Lima downtown at 4:30 am to go straight to the famous Santa Eulalia road and catch all the specialties found along this dirt bumpy road, this time we just visited the low part since the lima traffic was so heavy due to Holiday. Long day with very few birds but good ones¡¡

BIRD OF THE DAY:

The endemics Rusty Bellied Brush Finch, Bronze Tailed Comet, Black Metaltail, Rusty Fronted Tit Spinetail, Great Inca Finch, Black Necked Woodpecker and some other cool birds like White Browed Chat Tyrant, Mourning Sierra Finch, Yellow Billed tit Tyrant, Pacific Pygmy Owl, Black Crested Tit Tyrant, Tufted Tit Tyrant, Golden Grosbeak, Scrub Blackbird, West Pperuvian Dove, Peruvian Sheartail, Purple Collared Woodstar, Black Chested Buzzard Eagle.

Endemics Rusty Bellied Brush Finch & Rusty Crowned Tit Spinetail

DAY 16.- CASA ANDINA HOTEL LIMA – VILLA MARSHES & PUCUSANA FISHING PORT

Relaxed and easy birding at 02 of the closest birding áreas along the Pacific Coast where you can easily get good sea birds mixed with coastal marshes variety.After having breakfast at the Hotel we then drove for the main highway for 40 minutes to end up in a nice wáter spot where we had a nice bird walk around this wetland to get our last new bird list and right after this visit we went for another 40 minutes car to visit a cool fishing spot village where we had a nice boat trip around rocky islands where we spotted good sea birds, Penguins and some sea lions.

BIRDS OF THE DAY:

The endemic Sea Sided Cinclodes and some other cool birds like Humbolt Penguin, Red Legged Cormorant, Inca Tern, Guanay Cormorant, Peruvian Pelican, Kelp Gull, Peruvian Booby, Blackish Oystercatcher, Ruddy Turnstone, Belcher’s Gull, Franklin’s Gull, Gray Gull, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowleg, Short Billed Dowitcher, Killdeer, Baird’s Sandpiper, Chesnut Throated Seedeater, Peruvian Thick-Knee, Peruvian Meadowlark, Harri’s Hawk, Shiny Cowbird, Long Tailed Mockingbird, Yellow Hooded Blackbird, Black Necked Stilt, Whimbrel, American Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Chilean Flamingo, Spotted Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, lesser Yellowleg, Least Sandpiper, Goove Billed Ani, Scarlet Fronted Parakeet.

The endemic Sea Sided Cinclodes & the pretty Inca Tern

ANIMAL SPOTTING LIST ALONG THESE DAYS 

• Whip Snake or Race Runner – Manu Road
• Chinchilla – Machupicchu Citadel
• Capibara – Tambopata
• Red Howler Monkey – Tambopata
• Spectacled Caiman – Tambopata
• Toppin’s Titi Monkey – Tambopata
• Red Amazon Squirrel – Tambopata
• Yellow Headed Side Necked Turtle – Tambopata
• Galdiator Frog – Tambopata
• Gian River Otter – Tambopata

  Thanks to this nice couple for choosing and trusting South Birding Peru – Picture taken at the wooden tower in Tambopata – Paradise Lodge