Outline of Satipo road program:
Day 1. Santa Eulalia Canyon. Night at Huachupampa
We will make a 4 AM start straight for Santa Eulalia Canyon in order to be in position when the rare Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch is more active. There are many west slope specialties here, such as Black-necked Flicker, Oasis Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail, Bronze-tailed Comet, Great Inca-Finch, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Canyon Canastero, Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch, Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch, White-winged Cinclodes, Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Streaked Tit-Spinetail and many others. We will stay at a newly built hotel in Huachopampa at 2900m.
Day 2. Polylepis forest with White-cheeked Cotinga. Highland bogs with Diademed Sandpiper Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes. Drive to San Ramon.
In the early morning we will be at the look out to spot Condors flying out from their overnight cliffs. At the Polylepis forest we have been very successful with White-cheeked Cotinga in the past. Also present are Striated Earthcreeper, Streak-headed Antpitta and maybe we spot White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant found here twice. We will continue over the 4900m pass to the Milloc bog for things like Puna Tinamou (rare), Giant Coot, Gray-breasted and Rufous-bellied Seed-snipes, Puna Snipe, Southern Pochard (twice) and of course all the targets Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, White-bellied Cinclodes, Olivaceous Thornbill, Black-breasted Hillstar, Dark-winged Miner, Junin Canastero, Ground-Tyrants and many more. In the afternoon we shall drive San Ramon for an overnight stay at lower altitude.
Day 3. Alto Pichita Reserve above San Ramon for Creamy-bellied Antwren, Maybe Chestnut-crested Cotinga.Oxapampa, Antenna road in late PM. Cloud forest Screech-Owl
At Alto Pichita above San Ramon one may find Tanager flocks, Cremy-bellied Antwren, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Lanceolated Monklet, Inca Flycatcher, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Blackish Pewee. In the afternoon we shall make a first try for the good birds on the rough Antenna road.
Day 4. Antenna AM. PM. Oxapampa-Satipo road. Night in Mariposa.
Antenna road. Bird pre-dawn for Cloud Forest Screech-Owl Later Olive-tufted Flycatcher, Andean Guan, Scaly-naped Parrot, Black-winged Parrot, Barred Parakeet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca, Pasco (Oxapampa) Rufous Antpitta, Bay Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Lachrymose Tanager, Peruvian Wren, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, etc.
At midmorning we shall drive on the new Oxapampa-Villa Rica road. Remarkably good birding along this road. Birds seen here include: White-capped Tanager, Golden-headed Quetzal, Long-tailed Sylph, Olivaceous Greenlet, Bay Antpitta, Red-throated Caracara, White-winged Becard, Blue and Black Tanager. Around midday we will reach Villa Rica that has a splendid view over Laguna Oconal, which will be explored for Least Grebe, Blackish Rail and Wattled Jacana. We continue in the afternoon to Satipo passing through coffee plantations that provides additional possibilities. Night at Hotel Majestic in Satipo.
Day 5. Satipo road to Apaya.
Targets: Blue-browed Tanager, Russet Antshrike, Lanceolated Monklet, Rufous-sided Crake, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Umbrellabird, Fasciated Tiger-Heron. Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Hairy-crested Antbird (foothill form), Peruvian Piedtail. Afternoon birding mid section of the road to Apaya village with Peruvian Tyrannulet, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Versicolored Barbet, Solitary Eagle, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Crested Quetazal, Torrent Duck, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer. Night camp in Apaya in conjunction to village school.
Day 6. Andamarca valley. Return to Apaya.
Early morning start for Andamarca valley. The climate is warmer and drier here. Many new species to science have been found here in recent years such as Black-spectacled Brush-Finch, a new Thryothorus wren and a new Thornbird. There may be more surprises. Since habitat is so different many species will be added to the list. Possibilities include Andean Ibis, White-winged Black.Tyrant, Black-backed Grosbeak, Golden-billed Saltator and others.
Day 7. High altitude birding for Eye-ringed Thistletail, Millpo Tapaculo and Fire-throated Metaltail.
Bird Carrizales for Fiery-throated Metaltail, Eye-ringed Thistletail, obscura form of Rufous Antpitta, Pardusco, Tchudis and Millpo Tapaculo, Golden-plumed Parakeet etc.
Return to Lima (either overland or birding all day to later take a comfortable nightbus to Lima arriving around 6-7 AM the following day)
