BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY IN NORTHERN PERU

We get back to the Cordillera Escalera to visit Akonabikh Reserve, where there are an impressive number of 22 hummingbirds present in the reserve such as Great-billed Hermit, Gray-chinned Hermit, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Black-throated Mango, Amethyst Woodstar, etc. Other residents are the stunning Golden-headed Manakin, Gilded Barbet, Opal-crowned Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager, Curl-crested Aracari, Green-backed Trogon, Blue-capped Manakin, Dotted Tanager. Additionally Yellow-tailed Wooly-monkeys are often seen here.

Akonabihk ecotourism project initiative allows you to connect with the experience of the pristine beauty of the rainforest. We will photograph in the garden and feeders as well as explore the surrounding rainforest through the trails.

After our enriching visit to Akonabih and lunch in Tarapoto, we will continue our journey towards Moyobamba with a single stop to photograph the cryptic but awesome Oilbird along the road to end our day in Wakanqui Lodge where we may have the chances for the cooperative Band-bellied Owl, Tropical Screech- Owl and Rufous Nightjar, etc.

Night in Wakanqui Loge.

After an early breakfast in Moyobamba, we will head towards Arena Blanca Reserve to spend our mourning in one of the most successful sites for photography and excellent local coffee. Rufous-breasted Woodquail and Little Tinamou can be easily photographed from a comfortable hide, a large set ot Tanagers can be found on the fruit feeders such as Paradise, Palm, Black-bellied, Yellow-bellied, Masked, Magpie, Golden, Blue-necked & Guira Tanagers. Blue & Black-faced Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper and many others can be photographed from an adequate hide. Finally, flowers and hummingbird feeders attract Wire-crested Thorntail, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Little Woodstar, Violet-fronted Brilliant among others.

Trails and surroundings may reward us with White-browed Purpletuft, Fiery-capped Manakin, Gilded Barbet, Zimmer's Antbird.

Night in Arena Blanca

We will spend two days in Alto Nieva, where we´ll explore the diverse birdlife in the region. This area is known for its high biodiversity and is a haven for bird photographers. We'll traverse lush forests on a short hike seeking for two of the most restricted Antpiittas in Peru, Rusty-tinged Antpitta Ochre-fronted Antpitta at the lodge feeders. We will later spend time at tanager feeders where White-capped Tanager comes often and end the mourning at the excellent hummingbird feeders, well designed for photography, where the spectacular Royal Sunangel is one of the greatest resident; other species that comes are Booted (Peruvian) Racket-tail, Long-tailed Sylph, Greenish Puffleg, Bronzy Inca, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Green-fronted Lancebill  Keep an eye out for dazzling tanagers, charismatic woodpeckers, and other unique residents of the Peruvian rainforest.

As the second day here unfolds, we´ll head our way towards Abra Patricia, a renowned destination for bird enthusiasts. On the way we will search for Tanager, Masked Trogon, Golden-headed Quetzal, Ornate Flycatcher, Metallic-green, Yellow-throated & Black-faced Tanagers, Blue-winged Mountain-tanager and the beautiful Johnson's Tody-Flycatcher.

Huembo is our destination, where our star attraction here is the Marvelous Spatuletail hummingbird, one of the world's most captivating and rare species. With its iridescent plumage and distinctive spatula-like tail feathers, spotting this bird is a true privilege for any birder and to procure photographs for the rest of the afternoon.

At Huembo Lodge, you'll have the opportunity to observe the Marvelous Spatuletail up close as it visits the lodge's feeders. Your expert guide will share insights into the behavior and conservation efforts surrounding this iconic bird.

We´ll start the day at dawn with the very secretive and nocturnal Masked Duck to return to the lodge for breakfast. We will have an extra mourning at the garden and hummingbird feeders at the lodge and after lunch take our way (two hours approx.) to Tarapoto to catch our flight back to Lima or connect our 3-days Birding and Photography Extension seeking the rare and restricted Scarlet-banded Barbet at Cordillera Azul (See more details here).

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