Manu National Park, Andes to Amazon Birding Tour

After an early morning departure from Cusco we’ll make our way towards Manu Road to access Wayqecha Biological Station. Since the drive is long and weaves through many habitats not found at the station we’ll stop frequently to see what birds we can spot. Our first stop will be Huacarpay Lake, south of Cusco, where we’ll look for highlights such as the Puna Teal and the endemic Bearded Mountaineer. As the road takes us high over the mountains we’ll look for highland specialists such as the Mountain Caracara and the endemic Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch. We’ll have a relaxing lunch break in the mountains, where we can enjoy the view of the inter-Andean valley and the ecological gradient from the puna grassland to the elfin forest. As we move on into the stunted elfin forest we’ll look for Shining Sunbeams and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanagers. We’ll arrive at Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station and Birding Lodge, on the east slope of the Andes, late in the afternoon.

Early in the morning we’ll visit the canopy walkway, which allows visitors to rise over 40 meters above the forest floor. Aside from the amazing views and fascinating insight into a hidden ecosystem, we’ll also look for birds up top such as the Mountain Cacique and the Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher. After lunch we’ll leave Wayqecha for the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge. At the lower cloud forest, we may encounter the Solitary Eagle, Inca Jay, Crested Quetzal, and Highland Motmot. Also look for mixed flocks with Yungas Manakins and Tropical Parulas among others. Continuing down the 1,500-meter elevation change of Manu Road we’ll look for Cinnamon Flycatchers, Blue-banded Toucanets. We will end the day at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, checking the hummingbird feeders for Many-spotted Hummingbirds.
Level of Difficulty: Moderate to difficult.

We’ll start the day early by visiting an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek, as this will be a great opportunity for photos and observation of such a charming bird. After watching their unique display, we’ll bird along the road toward the lodge, which will be good for spotting Tanagers and others birds. We’ll return to the lodge for breakfast, where we can watch for Hummingbirds and Tanagers at the feeder stations. Next on the agenda is to head further along Manu Road to Villa Carmen Biological Station, where we will spend the night. Villa Carmen is nearly one thousand meters lower than the lodge, so once again the drive down will give us excellent chances to spot new species. As the road drops lower and lower we’ll emerge into more open areas and agricultural communities where we’ll look for King Vultures and hopefully endemic Black-backed TodyTyrants. In the evening, listen for Owls and Pauraques calling right around the station, Level of difficulty: Moderate to difficult

The trails at Villa Carmen are a combination of second-growth forest, local native Bamboo (Guadua), primary forest, and successional forest. Together these provide an incredible array of habitats for birds. Walking along the trails you may be able to see Wedge-billed Woodcreepers Antshrikes. Right around the station, we’ll be looking for species such as the Crested Oropendola, and the Yellow-rumped Cacique. Around the fish pond and the marsh vegetation we’ll look for the Sunbittern, Rufescent Tiger-Heron. We will also explore bamboo patches and try to pick up bamboo specialists such as the Bamboo Antshrike, Manu and Striated Antbird and the Large-headed Flatbill. Level of difficulty: Moderate

In the morning, we’ll do some birding in the foothills of Villa Carmen, looking for Blue-headed Macaws, Military Macaws, Bluish-fronted Jacamars, Chestnut-capped Puffbirds, and Finebarred Piculets. In the afternoon, we’ll be looking up to the sky and in the trees to spot Black Hawk-eagles, Zone-tailed Hawks, White Hawks, Whitecollared Swifts, Fork-tailed Palm Swifts, White-winged Swallows, Orange-fronted Plushcrowns, Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers, White-lored Tyrannulets, and Band-tailed and Fiery-capped Manakins. We’ll end with some night birding near the station to look for Tawny-bellied Screech-Owls, Tropical Screech Owls, Black-banded Owls, Common Potoos and Pauraques. Level of difficulty: Moderate to difficult

We’ll head out early to the Atalaya Mirador in the hopes of catching the morning flight of the Military Macaws. Once we reach the top we’ll see commanding views of the Madre de Dios river, the tropical lowlands, and the foothills of the Andes. We’ll bird over a 250 meter elevation gradient alongside the river and road. On the riverbanks look for egrets, herons swallows or possibly even a Sand-colored Nighthawk. Along the road look for a variety of antbirds, woodpeckers, puffbirds, tanagers, and honeycreepers as well as others such as Bat Falcons, King Vultures, and Great and Common Pootoos. Remember to also look carefully around the scrubby vegetation. Level of difficulty: Moderate

Continue this morning via boat from Manu Wildlife Center along the Madre de Dios River to Los Amigos, with a visit to Tambo Blanquillo’s spectacular macaw clay lick. This area is an early and daily meeting point of several families of Orange-cheeked parrot (Pyrilia barrabandi), Blue-headed parrot (Pionus menstruus), Mealy parrot (Amazona farinosa) and more small parakeets . A little later in the Blue-headed Macaw, Photo by Holly Wissler 5 morning, Red and Green macaws (Ara chloropterus), Scarlet macaws (Ara macao), and the Piping guan (Pipile cumanensis) arrive to the clay lick. While in transit to Los Amigos, look for: Cocoi and Capped Herons, Collared Plovers, Pied Lapwings, Sand-Colored Nighthawks, and Amazon and Ringed Kingfishers along the shore. Upon arrival to the station, ascend 280 steps from the river to higher ground before checking into your cabin. Enjoy dinner followed by a presentation given by the station’s Science Coordinator. Level of difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Starting early, we will travel to oxbow lake to look for: Black-tailed Trogon, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Boat-billed Flycatcher, and the White-browed Antbird. Once we reach the lake we’ll paddle around in small canoe looking for a variety of lowland lakeside species. Keep your eyes peeled for: Hoatzins, Sungrebes, Herons and Pale-eyed Blackbirds. Watch above for birds such as Plumbeous Kites, Scarlet Macaws, Red-bellied Macaws, and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers flying over. After we return to station for lunch we’ll head out to explore the bamboo forests in the nearby vicinity. This dense habitat will give us the chance to spot many bamboo specialists, including the Bamboo Antshrike, Striated Antbird, Ihering´s Antwren, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner, Whitecheeked Tody-Flycatcher, Flammulated Pygmy-Tyrant, Long-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, and many others. When we finish up we’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful sunset at the station, with amazing views of the river, lowland rainforest, and the Andes.

Today begins with birding around Brazil Nut trees in the local terra firme (upland forest that doesn’t flood). This habitat is great for species such as: Pavonine Quetzal, Pale-winged Trumpeter and the Fiery-capped Manakin. Eventually we’ll reach Pozo Don Pedro, a palm swamp filled with moriche palms (Mauritia flexuosa). This habitat, locally known as aguajal, will give us great opportunities to spot residents such as Blueand-yellow Macaws and large families of Hoatzins. As we return to the station we’ll look out 6 for mixed flocks, hoping to spot some target species like the White winged Shrike-Tanager, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Red-necked Woodpecker, Golden-collared Toucanet, and the Broad-billed Motmot. After lunch at the station we’ll explore the local trails for any birds we may have missed before. We’ll look for regular visitors to the gardens such Lettered Aracaris, Paradise Tanagers, Black-faced Dacnis, and Green-backed Trogons. Lastly we’ll scan mixed flocks for new birds.

Today will begin with an early departure whil leaving by boat for Puerto Maldonado. As we navigate the river we’ll look for anything we may have missed coming down, such as Jabirus, White-winged and White-banded Swallows, Black Skimmers, Gray Hawks, Red-and-green Macaws, and White-tailed Kites. As we leave the river and continue along the highway we’ll look for anything we can spot on the way to
the airport such as Red-breasted Blackbirds and Southern Lapwings. Once we reach Puerto Maldonado we’ll make sure you get on your return flight to Cusco or Lima.