OWLS OF THE WORLD TRIP

NORTHERN PERU

including Long-whiskered Owlet

Guide: Eduardo Ormaeche

(modifications available, especially focussing on 7-10 day trips just for Long-whiskeredOwlet)

Black-banded owl copyright Nanako Hamamoto

This trip is designed to find as many of Peru’s owls as possible. Owl lovers will enjoy traveling across this magnificent country to see most of the classic Neotropical owls as well other much more localized and elusive species like the now famous but enigmatic Long-whiskered Owlet, not just a newly-discovered species, but a new genus!

We will see a great deal of other birds as a by-product of owling – in the early mornings (after pre-dawn owling) we’ll often do more general birding before resting during the heat of the day in preparation for owling at night. We may also try to find some owls at their day-time roosts.

The main (16 day) trip will take us to Northern Peru where we will first explore the Pacific coast to look Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Burrowing Owl, West Peruvian Screech-Owl and Striped Owl. Later, we will explore the eastern slope of the imposing Andes along the Marañon basin. Here, we will look for the distinct form of Megascops roboratus and the endemic Koepcke Screech-Owl. The new Ecoan Lodge located in the Abra Patricia mountain pass will be our base during the next 3 days to maximize our chances of seeing the rare

Burrowing Owl copyright Oz Horine

Long-whiskered Owlet which has been seen around the lodge. This area is also excellent for White-throated Screech-Owl, Cinammon Screech-Owl, Rufous-banded Owl, Andean Pygmy-Owl and other nightbirds like the seldom-seen Andean Potoo.

We shall explore the upper tropical and Amazon forest near Tarapoto where we will look for Black-banded Owl, Band-bellied Owl, Tropical Screech-Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl.

Finally we will fly to the heart of the Amazon where we will look for Crested Owl, Spectacled Owl and Rufous Potoo.

DETAILED ITINERARY

01. Day Arrival to Lima. Transfer to our hotel in Lima

02. Day We will spend the morning south of Lima looking for Burrowing Owl but as well as other birds such as the endemic Coastal Miner, Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes, Peruvian Thick-Knee and many classic coastal birds like Humboldt Penguin and the superb Inca Tern. After midday, we will return to Lima for our afternoon flight to the city of Chiclayo in northern Peru. Once in Chiclayo, we will drive to Salas where we will stay at Los Faiques Lodge, a charming place that harbors West Peruvian Screech-Owl and Peruvian Pygmy-Owl. Here, we can also enjoy one of the most delicious Peruvian cuisines of the whole trip.

03. Day Today we will drive to Olmos and immediately start exploring the area, looking for Striped Owl. Later, we will move to Quebrada Limon, where we will camp. Here we will have more chances at Striped Owl as well as Scrub Nightjar. Night Camping

04. Day We will look for the endemic and endangered White-winged Guan, which still occurs in the wild here in this tiny area. Later, we will move to the town of Jaen where we will rest at the comfortable hotel El Bosque. After dusk we will look the Megascops roboratus, which is sometimes known as Marañon Screech-Owl.

05. Day In the morning, we may locate very interesting species such as the endemic Little Inca-Finch, and some Marañon specialists like Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Slaty-Antshrike, Marañon Gnatcatcher, Chinchipe Spinetail, Marañon Wren and others.

Later, we will continue our journey along the Utcubamba River which is one of the most important tributaries of the Marañon; here we will look for the endemic Koepcke Screech-Owl. On the way to our lodge we may see Torrent Duck and Fasciated Tiger-Heron. Overnight El Chillo Lodge

06-09 Day Xenoglaux loweryi was finally actually seen by birders only in May 2008 - around the lodge - and since then a few other ornithologists have recorded it. We will spend three nights in the area and focus entirely on finding this mega-important species.

Peruvian Pygmy Owl copyright Oz Horine

 

Other night birds around the lodge include Rufous-banded Owl, White-throated Screech-Owl, Andean Pygmy-Owl, Cinammon Screech-Owl, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk and Andean Potoo.

During our stay in Abra Patricia we may see a host of other incredible birds such as the localized endemic MARVELOUS SPATULETAIL, Ochre-fronted Antpitta, Royal Sunangel, Masked Trogon, Golden-headed Quetzal, Cinammon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Chestnut Antpitta, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Yellow-billed Cacique, White-capped Tanager, Saffron-crowned, Flame-faced, Grass-green and Yellow-scarfed Tanagers and many more.

10. Day We will have an early start, continuing onwards to Moyobamba. Once in Moyobamba, we will drive to the Alto Mayo port and then take a boat to sail the river for about 45 minutes. Here we will explore a pristine renacal varzea forest where we will have our best chance to see Black-banded Owl as well as Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Spectacled Owl, and Common Potoo. Overnight Camping.

Peruvian Screech Owl copyright Oz Horine

11-12 Day After breakfast, we will return to Moyobamba and then proceed to the Tarapoto area. The new Pumarinri lodge is located along the Huallaga River and near the town of Shazuta about 2 hours from Tarapoto. This is one the best locations to find Band-bellied Owl and Tropical Screech-Owl, both of which occur around the lodge gardens.

We also have our first opportunity to look for the elusive Crested Owl which is difficult here, but we will enjoy other stunning birds like Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Fiery-capped Manakin, Blue-headed Parrot, Flammulated Tody-Tyrant, Mouse-colored Antshrike, White-browed Purpletuft, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Collared Trogon, Violaceous Trogon and more.

13 Day After a last morning at Pumarinri Lodge, we will return to Tarapoto to take our afternoon flight to Iquitos on the mighty Amazon River. Overnight in Iquitos.

14-15 Day We will spend two full days exploring the Alpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve where we may find recently-described birds such as Iquitos Gnatcatcher, Ancient Antwren, Alpahuayo Antbird, Mishana Tyrannulet and many more. During our two nights here in the Amazonian lowlands, we will look for the impressive Crested Owl and Spectacled Owl. We will try also for Rufous Potoo. Overnight at Biological Station.

16 Day Flight back to Lima