Kolibri Expeditions pioneered with trips to North Peru. We are happy that interest and even infrastructure is increasing to bird in the North. In 2002 we explored a new area - Nuevo Salem - for the Orange-throated Tanager and had great success. The community at the site has decided to save the forest and develop an eco-tourism project. Kolibri Expeditions is one of the principal promotors of this proejct. The White-winged Guan, has been very reliable at its usual site at El Limon, but nevertheless will we send out scouts prior to our arrival to ensure the birds whereabouts. You will further be visiting the Marañon Valley with numerous endemic birds, the cloud forests of Abra Patricia, where the Marvelous Spatuletail, Royal Sunangel and Bar-winged Wood-Wren can be found and Afluentes for an array of upper tropical species much like Bombuscaro in Ecuador. We choose to camp only at Salem and Abra Patricia. There is a good hotel only one hour from the Abra Patricia pass (for the MST-program), but we are more coveniently based at Abra Patricia it self
The 10 day program starts on Saturdays from Chiclayo every other week. Get there with the first morning plane from Lima. On day 12 in the program below the tour ends.
Day 1. Chiclayo-Olmos . From the airport of Chiclayo we will head to the Prosopis woodlands nearby, where we find the very rare Peruvian Plantcutter and Rufous-Flycatcher Other birds include Black-faced Ibis (rare), Short-tailed Woodstar, Amazilia Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheertail, Oasis Hummingbird, Scarlet-backed and Golden-olive Woodpeckers, Necklaced Spinetail, Snowy-throated Kingbird (seasonal), Gray-and-White Tyrannulet, Plumbeous-backed Thrush and White-edged Oriole. In the afternoon we will look for Tumbes Hummingbird, Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes Sparrow and Sulphur-throated Finch near Olmos. Finally by nightfall we are checking the mesquite for Striped Owl and Scrub Nightjar. Night at Hotel el Remanso.
Day 2. Olmos-Jaen. We will hike up into the canyon at el Limón to look for White-winged Guan - a species which was considered extinct untill it was refound in 1977. There are many other Tumbes endemics like Tumbes Hummingbird, Tumbes Sparrow, Tumbes Tyrant, Guayaquil and Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Necklaced Spinetail, Elegant Crescent-chest, Red-masked Parakeet, Sulphur-throated Finch, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Gray-and-White Tyrannulet, White-edged Oriole and Short-tailed Woodstar. Foligaegleaner. At mid-morning we will leave for the four hour drive to Jaen, via the Porculla pass. Here the targets include Chapman´s Antshrike, Bay-crowned Brush-Finch Black-cowled Saltator and the rare Piura Chat-Tyrant. Later we head down into the Marañon drainage to Jaen, where we shall stay in the comfortable Hotel Cesar.
Day 3. Jaen-Bagua. Near Jaen we will search for Marañon endemics such as Peruvian Slaty-Antshrike, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Marañon Crescentchest and Chinchipe Spinetail. Further to the north in the Rio Tabaconas area, we shall look for the elusive Marañon Spinetail. In the afternoon we shall drive to Bagua Chica, looking for Little Inca-Finch en route. Night at Hotel Wilson.
Day 4. Bagua-Imazita. Birding along this route can be very good. Some birds seen recently include Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Napo Sabrewing, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Yellow-bellied and Green & Gold Tanagers, Olive-sided, Yellow-breasted (Olive-faced race) and Dusky-chested Flycatcher!!, White-winged Becard, Golden-headed and White-bearded Manakin, Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant, Magpie Tanager, Turquoise Tanagers, Blue and Yellow-bellied, Dacnis, Black-billed Thrush and Russet-back Oropendola. The hotel at Imazita is quite basic, but does have private bath.
Day 5. Nuevo Salem for the Orange-throated Tanager. Kolibri Expeditions was the first company to explore this area, and we were highly rewarded. Orange-throated Tanager, Blackish Pewee, Scaly-breasted Woodpecker, Spangled Cotinga, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Pale-rumped Swift. Other possibilities include Coppery-chested Jacamar, Fiery-throated Fruiteater. The local Awaruna community is putting us up in their village, which also gives this part a very special social experience.
Day 6. Another day at Nuevo Salem.
Day 7. Morning at Nuevo Salem and in the afternoon drive to Bagua with birding en route. Hotel Wilson.
Day 8. Marvellous Spatuletail and Abra Patricia pass. The morning near Florida will be used to try to find the remarkable Marvelous Spatuletail with the help of local contacts. The area may also produce Buff-bellied Tanager, Emerald-bellied Puffleg and an isolated race of Rufous-capped Antshrike. Afterwards we will continue to the legendary Abra Patricia area. Below the pass (2400m) possibilities include Rusty-tinged and Rusty-breasted Antpittas, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Peruvian Rufous-vented Tapaculo, White-collared Jay and the recently described Lulu’s Tody-Tyrant. Further down, the road passes next to a series of low ridges cloaked in stunted forest. This is the type locality for the enigmatic Long-whiskered Owlet, one of the great ornithological mysteries of the continent, and one of the few localities where Ochre-fronted Antpitta has been seen for the first time. The Owlet has still not ever been seen in "natural conditions" i.e. not captured by mistnetting, so we should not keep expectations too high! In this dense habitat we stand better chance of finding Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Royal Sunangel, and Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, whilst noisy flocks of White-capped Tanagers are regularly encountered. Night at excellent Pomacochas Inn
Day 9. All day around at Abra Patricia pass. Camping for owling and antpittas at dusk and dawn or Pomacochas Inn.
Day 10. Morning in the Afluentes areas. We will bird Afluentes more thoroughly now and we may see Black-mandibled Toucan, Equatorial Graytail, Gray-mantled Wren, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Foothill Antwren, the endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, Versicolored Barbet and a wide variety of tanagers including the scarce Vermilion. At mid-morning we will leave for Tarapoto to fly back to Lima in the afternoon.
NOTE: It is possible to add on up to three days in the end and two days in the beginning (Cajamarca). See Kolibri Expeditions North Peru trip for more info
