Birding Expedi
tions in Peru
Rufous Antpitta
Scarled-bellied Mountain tanager
Millpo Tapaculo
White-bellied Cinclodes
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Golden-collared Tanager
Trip
Basics
The Satipo Road,
leading from the lowlands around the town of Satipo up to the altiplano of
Concepcion, is one of Peru's newest and most exciting birding areas. From
antbirds of the lowlands to tapaculos of the tree line and condors of the
puna, this will be a spectacular journey. In terms of species/dollar, this
is probably our best trip, and they're not just any ordinary birds!
Days: 8
Combines With: Incaspiza Clean-up
(15 Days)
Traveling Conditions: Almost entirely camping and field-cooked
food. Roads are mostly moderate, but a few days are rough. There may be a few hours of night driving on one day, and the first and
last days are fairly long drives (but on paved roads).
Itinerary
Day 1
We'll leave Lima and make the drive to Satipo this
day. Although this is mostly a day aimed at getting to our destination, we
will make a stop at Ticlio Pass to see the threatened endemic
White-bellied Cinclodes and possibly some other high-altitude specialties
like Diademed Sandpiper-Plover or Andean Ibis. We'll spend the night in a
comfortable hotel in Satipo.
Day 2
The lower section of the Satipo Road has patches of lowland forest where
interesting birds can be found, although the habitat is not as pristine as
the upper part of the road. We will hope for Bluish-fronted Jacamar,
Mottle-backed Elaenia, White-browed Antbird and possibly Red-billed
Tyrannulet. Along the river we'll look for Fasciated Tiger-Heron and
Sunbittern. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at the bottom edge of the
better habitat, and set up camp in a forested valley at 1200 m. We should
find a variety of tanagers, including many Swallow-Tanagers and, if we get
some good flocks, Black-goggled, Beryl-spangled, Green-and-gold, Turquoise
Tanagers, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer and Black-faced and Blue Dacnises are
among the possibilities. As dusk falls, we'll listen for the haunting call
of the Brown Tinamou and look for the spectacular Lyre-tailed Nightjar
flying around our camping area.
Day 3
We'll walk in the area of our campsite in the morning, where possibilities
are many-fold, including Hairy-crested Antbird (foothills race), Blackish
Antbird, Hazel-fronted Pygmy-Tyrant, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper,
Golden-bellied Warbler, Dusky-green Oropendola and Chestnut-backed
Antshrike. Amazonia Umbrellabirds and Andean Cock-of-the-rocks also
frequent the area. Peruvian Piedtail and Rufous-webbed Brilliant are among
the hummingbird possibilities. When activity slows down, we'll move up to
some excellent forest around 1400 m which always seems to have some good
flocks. These generally including several stunning Versicoloured Barbets,
and other birds could be Slaty Antwren, Saffron-crowned and Blue-browed
Tanagers, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Plain Xenops, Chestnut-crowned
Gnateater or Grey-mantled Wren. We'll camp at a river crossing just above
this productive forest patch.
Day 4
Another morning in the area could produce Yellow-throated Tanager and
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager as well as some neat hummers like Booted
Racket-tail and Chestnut-breasted Coronet. We'll then move further up the
road, stopping in good habitat along the way. We will start to get some
true cloud-forest species in the afternoon, such as Blue-banded Toucanet,
Streaked Tuftedcheek and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager. We'll camp
around 2600 m.
Day 5
Now in extensive cloud-forest, the birding promises to be spectacular this
day, including Band-tailed Fruiteater, Black-capped and Drab
Hemispinguses, Collared Inca, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Golden-headed
Quetzal and Large-footed Tapaculo. There is also a potentially new species
of antpitta in the area that has yet to be seen, but has a distinctive
call. We'll move up towards the elfin forest areas in the afternoon,
looking for Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Slaty Brush-Finch and
Coppery-naped Puffleg on the way to our campsite around 3300 m.
Day 6
We'll be at the tree line for morning bird activity, where the main target
will be Eye-ringed Thistletail. Although this species is difficult, the
still-undescribed "Millpo" Tapaculo is easily found, and another
possibly new tapaculo is also common but skulking in bamboo in the area,
and Fire-throated Metaltail can be found fairly readily. We'll move up
into the puna after searching the area thoroughly, where we could find
White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Junin Canastero,
Paramo Pipit and White-winged Diuca-Finch. Andean Condors occur in the
area, and we have an excellent chance to see one during this day. We'll
drive on to Punto for the night, where we'll sleep in the community
building.
Day 7
In the early morning, we'll walk down into the scrub and bamboo below
Punto, where the birding will be excellent. In the upper areas, we will
look for Stripe-headed Antpitta and Striated Earthcreeper. As we enter the
bushy slopes, we'll start to look for the recently described and striking
Black-spectacled Brush-Finch as well as Rust-and-yellow Tanager. Great
Sapphirewing and Giant Hummingbirds are sure to impress, and boldly
patterned Mountain Caracaras are frequently seen. Creamy-crested
Spinetails are common.
|
As we reach bamboo, our main target will be a new taxon of Thryothorus wren, and we'll also hope for the skulking Rufous Antpitta and Plush-capped Finch before we enjoy a lunch in the beautiful Otuto valley. We'll walk back up to Punto in the afternoon and drive to Comas for a night in a hotel, looking for Andean Ibis on the way. |
Day 8
We'll need most of the day to drive to Lima, but we'll make a few birding
stops, hopefully including a sighting of the impressive Giant Coot or
endemics Black Metaltail and Canyon Canastero. Hotel is not included this
night.
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