BIRDING IN NORTHERN PERU: The Grand Tour

After an early domestic flight from Lima to Tarapoto, we will head to Bella Vista, where our journey to Plataforma (Flor de Café) begins. We will travel by pickups, as the road may can become muddy when it rains. Although the route used to be a significant challenge, recent improvements have made it very accessible now.

Plataforma is renowned for being the most accessible location to observe the exquisite and highly restricted endemic Scarlet-banded Barbet and for the exciting discovery of a new species within the Myrmoderus genus, the reclusive and isolated Cordillera Azul Antbird (E). Both species are among the most spectacular recent discoveries in the New World, with the Barbet being one of the flagship species of Peruvian biodiversity.

In the afternoon, after lunch, we will search for cloud forest mixed-species flocks and make our first attempt to spot the Scarlet-banded Barbet.

Overnight in Plataforma.

After breakfast, we will embark on an excursion in the surrounding area for the recently discovered endemic Cordillera-azul Antbird, other highlights we see often here Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Foothill schiformnis, Roraiman Flycatcher, White-throated & Yellow-throated Spadebills, etc. The same trail may reward with another new species Yungas Woodcreeper, not yet not described to science .

After lunch, we will begin our journey back to Tarapoto, making stops along the way for additional birding opportunities such as Blackish Pewee, Hoatzin, Limpkin, Rose-fronted Parakeet and the pretty Sulphur-rumped Tyrant-manakin etc.

We will arrive in Tarapoto in the late afternoon.

Night in Tarapoto.

We have a full day to explore Waqanki lodge in Moyobamba where birding in the trails include include: Painted (E), Golden-headed & Fiery-capped Manakins, Fiery throated Fruiteater, Lafresnaye´s, Piculet, Riparian Parrotlet, Foothill Stipplethroat, Zimmer´s Antbird, Wing-barred Piprites, Golden collared Toucanet, RufousNightjar, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail; Stripe-necked & Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrants, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Green-backed Trogon; Rufous & Broad-billed Motmot, among others.

The garden of the lodge is rewarding with Mishana Tyrannulet (E), Black-bellied Tanager (E), Channel-billed Toucan, Lettered Aracari, Red-shouldered & Black-face Tanagers, and Pale-breasted Thrush.

Hummingbird feeders attract the spectacular Rufous-crested Coquette along with Rufous-breasted Hermit, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, among many others.

Nights are productive as well since Foothill, Tropical & Band-bellied Screech-Owl and Stygian Owl are residentes here.

Night in Waqanki

Abra Patricia raises at 2300 meters elevation, it´s the pass that crosses the Andes towards the east side towards the Amazon.

This is one of the most productive and easy to bird road in the Neotropics. Owlet Lodge is a famous and confortable lodge, from easy birding in the garden where White-bellied Woodstar, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Bronzy Inca and Lesser Violetear are residents or birding in the trails with tanager flocks where beauties like Yellow-scarfed Tanager (E), Grass-green Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Black-faced Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Yellow-throated Tanager flocking with the endemic and restricted Jhonson´s Tody-Flycatcher (E).

This cordillera is wonderful for Antpittas since Ochre-fronted Antpitta (E), Rusty-tinged Antpitta (E), and Chestnut Antpittas (E) are being fed very close to the lodge and Leymebamba Antpitta (E) can be seen at the trails.

Bird feeders at Alto nieva, another spot nearby atract White-capped Tanager, Royal Sunangel (E), Peruvian Raquet-tail, Violet-throated Brilliant, Greenish Puffleg, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Collared Inca, Green-fronted Lancebill,  Amethist-throated Sunangel, etc. The trail rewards with the endemic Rufous-vented Tapaculo (E) and the very restricted Bar-winged Wood-wren, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-tyrant, , Inca Jay, Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, etc.

Nights are particularly active with Long-whiskered Owlet, White-throated & Cinnamon Screech Owl, etc.

At mid-afternoon we will head towards our most solid chance for Long-whiskered Owlet.

Night of day 7th in Owlet Lodge

Night of day 8th in Pomacochas

Jaen is located in the Marañon Basin, well known for it´s high endemism and great birding with jems like Chinchipe Spinetail (E), Marañon Crescentchest (E), Marañon Tyrannulet (E), Little Inca-finch (E), Northern (Peruvian) Slaty-antshrike, Red-crested Finch,  Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Tataupa Tinamou, Paint-billed Crake, Ecuatorian Ground-dove, Pacific Parrotlet, Fulvous-faced Scrub-tyrant Mouse-gray flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Speckle-breasted Wren and Gray-breasted Crake are good possibilities here.

After a late breakfast, we will drive towards Huembo Reserve, one of the greatest places and our first try for Marvelous Spatuletail and finally get to Cocachimba in the late afternoon.

Night in Gocta Lodge.

We will start our day in Leymebamba and after an early breakfast, we will drive to Abra Barro Negro, a high mountain pass in the region. This area is excellent for high altitude birds such as Many-striped Canastero, Grass Wren, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Purple-backed Thornbill and excellent specialities such as Coppery Metaltail (E), Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Shinning Sunbeam, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Mountain Velverbreast, Great Sapphirewing, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Chachapoyas (E) , Atuen (E) & Leymebamba Antpitta, a potential new species of White-chinned Thistletail (peruviana), Neblina Tapaculo (E), Utcubamba Tapaculo (E) , Russet-mantled Softtail (E), Yellow-scarfed Tanager (E), Sword-billed Hummingbird, Paramo Pipit, Andean Lapwing, etc.

Later, on the other side of the pass, we will take a break for a picnic lunch surrounded by the stunning mountain landscapes, and continue the journey as we travel towards Balsas, where Buff-bridled Inca-Finch (E) & Gray-winged Inca-Finch (E) , Yellow-faced Parrotlet (E) , Black-necked Woodpecker (E) are regularly found. Additionally later Chestnut-backed Thornbird (E), Gray-winged Inca-Finch (E), Marañon Thrush (E), etc are present.

Night in Celendin.

We will spend the first hours of the day in Jesus, a picturable village and one of the best places for the highly restricted Great Spinetail (E) . Other birds are Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Peruvian Meadowlark, Black-lored Yellowthroat, Buff-bridled Inca-finch (E) among others.

After mid morning we will leave the Andes and head to the dessertic peruvian and stop in Rafan, one of the few remains of Carob-trees wich can reward with Peruvian Plantcutter (E), Coastal Miner (E), Tumbes Tyrannulet (E), Amazilia Hummingbird, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Cinereous Finch (E), Superciliated Wren, Parrot-billed Seedeater, Necklaced Spinetail, etc.

Night in Casa Andina (***sup) - Chiclayo

After breakfast we will head towards Casupe Road where we will inicially look for one of the last habitat for wild populations of White-winged Guan, our highlight here. Other great species here are Guayaquil Woodpecker, Piura Chat-tyrant, Chapman´s Antshrike, Black-capped Sparrow, Ecuadorian Piculet, etc.

We will spend the afternoon at the Chaparri lodge once again where West-peruvian Dove, Short-tailed Woodstar, Pacific Parrotlet, Elegant Crescentchest, Pacific Hornero, Gray-and-white Tyrannulet, Mouse-gray Flycatcher, Baird´s Flycatcher, White-browed Gnatcatcher, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Collared Warbling-finch, etc.

Night in Chaparri Lodge.