ENDEMIC QUEST: Tumbesian, Pacific, Marañónic & Andean Slopes

Early domestic flight from Lima to Chiclayo, we will head to a one of the few remains of Carob-trees, the Bosque de Pomac. The birds we can spot here is Peruvian Pantcutter (E), Tumbes Swallow (E), Cinereous Finch (E), Tumbes Chat-tyrant (E), Tumbes Swallow (E), Coastal Miner (E), Rufous Flycatcher (E), Peruvian Pygmy-owl, Pacific Parrotlet, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Mouse-gray Tyrannulet, Short-tailed Field-tyrant & Baird's Flycatcher and we can additionally spot the Sechuran Fox.

After lunch, we will spend some time in Tinajones where Comb Duck, White-cheeked Pintail, Paint-billed Grebe, Little-blue Heron or Black-faced Ibis or Andean Ibis are regularly seen. Finally we will spend the rest of the afternoon in the famous Chaparri Reserve where the emblematic and critically endangered White-winged Guan (E), once considered exctinct.

Night in Chaparri.

After an early birding around Chaparri, we will head towards the Pacific coast where we will spend the rest of the morning at the shore in the Pacific where we have good chances for the endangered Peruvian Tern (NE),  Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, Gray-hooded Gull, Gray Gull, Belcher´s Gull, Kelp Gull, Elegant Tern, Peruvian Pipit (NE), etc.

The wetland offers Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Plumbeous Rail, Peruvian Thicknee, among others.

Dinner and Night in a basic lodging in Motupe.

Jaen is located in the Marañon Basin, well known for it´s high endemism and great birding with jems like Little Inca-finch (E), Chinchipe Spinetail (E), Marañon Crescentchest (NE), Marañon Tyrannulet (NE), Marañon Spinetail (E), Marañon Sparrow (NE). Additionally Tataupa Tinamou, Paint-billed Crake, Ecuadorian Ground Dove, Ochre-bellied Dove, Cordilleran Parakeet, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Fulvous-faced Scrub-tyrant, Cryptic Becard, are good possibilities here.

After lunch, we will drive towards the Eastern Andes to a hummingbird feeding spot where the wonderful Marvelous Spatuletail (E) is resident in its garden with other hummingbirds like Andean Emerald, Lesser Violetear, Bronzy Inca, Long-tailed Sylph and others may come too.

Dinner and night in basic lodging in Pomacochas.

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 Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Bronzy Inca, White-bellied Woodstar, etc are residents. Mixed flocks use to bring beauties like Yellow-scarfed Tanager (E), Grass-green Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Black-faced Tanager, Green-throated Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager.

Jhonson´s Tody-Flycatcher (E) is regularly found in the trails with Rufous-headed Pygmy-tyrant,

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  Royal Sunangel (E), Rufous-booted Raquet-tail (E), White-capped Tanager, Violet-throated Brilliant, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Collared Inca, Green-fronted Lancebill,  etc. The trail rewards with the endemic Rufous-vented Tapaculo (E) and the very restricted Bar-winged Wood-wren, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-tyrant, Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, etc.

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

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 Arena Blanca Reserve

After breakfast, with the beautiful views of the spectacular Gocta Waterfall, we will have our third chance for the wonderful Marvelous Spatuletail (E) one of the highlights of the tour which is resident in the garden with other hummingbirds like Little Woodstar, Andean Emerald, Lesser Violetear, Bronzy Inca, Long-tailed Sylph and others may come too.

After that we will drive through the beautiful Utubamba Valley  where Peruvian Pigeon (E) , Marañon Thrush (E), Spot throated-Hummingbird (NE), Black-necked Woodpecker (E), Cordilleran Parakeet, Buff-bellied Tanager, Fasciated Tiger-heron and Torrent Duck.

Night in Casona Leymebamba.

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 Grass Wren, Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Purple-backed Thornbill and excellent specialities such as Mountain Velverbreast, Great Sapphirewing, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Chachapoyas Antpitta (E), Atuen Antpitta (E), Neblina Tapaculo (E). This area present another chance for the endemics Utcubamba Tapaculo (E) , Russet-mantled Softtail (E), Yellow-scarfed Tanager (E), 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) etc are present.

Night in Celendin.

We will spend the first hours of the day near Cajamarca, in 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.

END OF SERVICIES

We recomend to continue our recomended birding extension of our SCARLET-BANDED BARBET Tour.