Bird photography in Peru: Lima

We shall concentrate our bird photography to the Villa wetlands, Pucusana and some parks in Lima. Some of these areas have hides (update: used to have hides - perhaps they will be re-installed shortly), while at other sites the birds are quite accustomed to human presence.

Special target birds for photography. Inca Tern, Peruvian Thickknee,  Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Peruvian Booby, Peruvian Pelican, Vermilion Flycatcher, Peruvian Meadowlark, Amazilia Hummingbird and many others.

Also check these trips. Many of the these can be conditioned for suiting bird photographers better.  Just give us a shout.

Half day trips.

Perfect tours if you are short of time, want to do other activities in Lima as well, or perhaps have a plane to catch and some time to kill. 

• El Olivar Park and Pantanos de Villa
  Good introduction to the birds of LIma
• La Punta and Pozo Arenillas
  Good introduction to the birds in Lima. The trip can be run almost anytime. A short trip to do very close to the airport. Perfect  for a short trip to kill time. Especially good for North American waders, gulls and terns - September-April is the best time migrating birds, but it is always something to see.
• Palomino Islets and La Poza Arenilla en La Punta
  Visit South American Sealions, Humboldt Penguin and the Palomino guano islands off La Punta, Callao with a good bird guide.
• Ventanilla Lagoons - a few hours to kill near airport
  Great wetland area just north of the airport. Combine with La Punta.

Pantanos de Villa is a large wetland in the Chorrillos district in the southern part of Lima. Here many species of waterbirds can be photographed including White-cheeked Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Andean Coot, Great Grebe, American Oystercatcher, Killdeer, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird and many more.  We also often see Black Skimmers here in large numbers. In the Southern hemisphere summer there are thousands of Franklin’s Gulls present.

Pucusana is a scenic port some 60k south of Lima. This is a good place to photograph Inca Tern and Red-legged Cormorant.  Other possibilities here include Blackish Oystercatcher and Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes.  Close to Pucusana there is a good site for Peruvian Thickknee.

Lima parks are good for species like Amazilia Hummingbird, Croaking Ground-Dove, West Peruvian Dove, Vermilion Flycatcher, Saffron Finch, Harris Hawk and others.

Adding a second day of bird photography in Lima can include localities such as Ventanilla and the Callao port, for more shots of Inca Tern and waterbirds.