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Small Group Adult Trip to Bolivia:  July 12 to 25, 2009
Brief Trip Description:  Bolivia 2009

Though Lelis Navarrete is the premiere guide for Ecuador, he also leads successful
trips to other parts of South America.   His last several trips to Bolivia have found well
over 300 species.  Lelis, along with Robert Ridgely , found the Jocotoco Antpitta, a bird
new to science.  Besides being a fantastic bird guide, Lelis supports a number of
conservation efforts.  By my estimates and experience, Lelis' skills will allow you the
opportunity to see another 10 to 30 species more per day than other bird guides in
South America.  You have the best bird guide for this trip.

This trip builds on Lelis' experience with the help of one of Nestling Tours' more
experienced trip hosts.  This adult only trip will be hosted by Norm Erthal who has lead
over a dozen international birding trips to nearly as many different countries.  He has
led trips to Costa Rica, Oaxaca Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Ecuador and the
Galapagos Islands, Spain and the Canary Islands, Jamaica, the United Arab
Emirates, Kenya (this year) and soon Panama.  Though Norm has recently retired
from the Colorado Division of Wildlife after 30 years of service, he looks forward to
leading several bird watching trips around the world each year.  Norm has served the
birding community in several capacities by participating in the Colorado Breeding Bird
Atlas, serving as President and Board member of the Denver Field Ornithologists, and
by compiling and publishing the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for seven years. Norm excels
at pulling together small groups of birders on trips focused on bird watching.   

A small trip extension of several days will provide the opportunity for additional birding
along the Upper Coroico Road, Apaapa Reserve Lake Titicaca area and Sorata.  

This trip is filling very quickly and well in advance so please let us know if you are
interested.   A full itinerary is available upon request.
Brief Itinerary

July 11, 2009:  Most flights will begin on July 11 with arrival in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 12.
 Note:  We fly out of La Paz.  See flight notes in full itinerary.
July 12, 2009:  Arrival Santa Cruz in the early morning. Birding the Viru-Viru airport,
short nap and then afternoon birding Lomas de Arena Regional Park.
July 13:  Early morning birding Jardin Botanico and in the afternoon birding transfer to Los
Volcanes.
July 14 and 15: Two full days of birding at the Refugio Los Volcanes Amboro National
Park.
July 16:  Morning birding and birding in transit to Tambo.
July 17:  Full day birding Tambo and Comarapa area.
July 18:  Full day birding La Siberia.
July 19:  Early morning birding La Siberia and birding in transit to Cochabamba.  Some late
afternoon birding in Cochabamba.
July 20:  Birding the Cochabamba-Upper Chapare Road, and Tablas Monte.
July 21:  Birding  Cerro Tunari.
July 22:  Birding the Cochabamba- Upper Chapare Road, Subestacion Miguelito.
July 23: Early morning birding Laguna Alalay and birding in transit to Oruro.
July 24:  Early morning birding at the lakes near Oruro and some birding in transit to La
Paz via Inquisivi.  Some very late night flights out are possible on July 24.
July 25:  Transfer out to International flight from La Paz.  Flights leave from the early
morning to late at night.  OR SEE EXTENSION trip.

Extension Day 1:  July 25:  Birding on way to Chulumai on the Upper Coroico Road.
July 26 and 27:  From Chulumai, birding full day at the nearby Apaapa Reserve.
July 28:  Birding through various habitats as you return to La Paz.
July 29:  Early start for Lake Titicaca and Sorata.
July 30, 2009:  Extension Trip return flights.

A more detailed itinerary can be found below and even more information upon
request.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
A once in a lifetime chance to see the endemic Red-fronted Macaw (above).
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Rufous-faced Antpitta at La Siberia.
Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults:  Itinerary for Bolivia

July 12 and 13, 2009:  Birding Near and Around Santa Cruz, including Viru-Viru
Airport, Lomas de Arena, Jardin Botanico
  • On July 12, 2000 (Sunday):  After arriving early in Santa Cruz, we will begin by
    birding at the Viru-Viru airport.  
  • At some point in time, we will check into the hotel and take a short nap and then
    continue with afternoon birding at Lomas de Arena Regional Park.
  • Some of the many interesting birds we may see include Whistling Heron,
    Rufous-rumped Seedeater, White-bellied Nothura, Golden-collared Macaw,
    Guira Cuckoo, White-eared Puffbird, White-rumped Monjita, Toco Toucan, White
    Woodpecker, Campo Flicker, Chotoy Spinetail, Fawn-breasted Wren, and Red-
    legged Seriema.
  • We may have time for birding at the Jardin Botanica; however, we will likely retire
    early so that we can have a good early start in the morning.

  • On the morning of July 13 (Sunday), we will bird Jardin Botanico.  Jardin
    Botanica hosts a number of interesting hummingbirds, including Cinnamon-
    throated Hermit, Glittering-bellied Emerald, and Gilded Hummingbird.   Other
    birds in the area include Scaly-headed Parrot, Black-banded Woodcreeper, and
    Stripe-backed Antbird.
  • We will continue birding in several different habitats (including semi-humid
    forest, a riparian area on the lower mountain slopes, then perhaps a dryer
    forest) in transit to Los Volcanes and Ambroro National Park.  Given the habitat
    mix and Lelis’ sound judgement, we will likely add a number of other species to
    our trip list.
  • We may arrive in time to hike down the entrance road looking for birds and other
    wildlife.

July 14 and 15:  Birding Refugio Los Volcanes and Ambororo National Park
  • The lodge at the Refugio Los Volcanes is conveniently located in the subtropical
    and temperate forests of Amboró National Park, and will provide us with a base
    from which we will explore the nearby forests and other nearby areas with a
    great diversity of habitat and bird life.
  • The valley where the lodge is located is excellent for parrots, including Mitred
    Parakeets, Blue-crowned Parakeets, Green-cheeked Parakeets, and Yellow-
    chevroned Parakeets.  Some birds found by Lelis in the past at this location
    include Military Macaws, Two-banded Warblers, Huayco Tinamou, King Vulture,
    Sunbittern, Spectacled Owl, Channel-billed Toucan, Crimson-crested
    Woodpecker, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Black-capped Antwren, White-backed
    Fire-Eye, Slaty Gnateater, White-crowned Tapaculo, Marbled-faced Bristle-
    Tyrant, Yungas Manakin, Rufous-bellied Thrush, and Plush-crested Jay.
  • The area also features some very good mixed species flocks that feature a
    diverse group of tanagers including the Black-goggled Tanager, Blue-naped
    Euphonia, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Common Bush-Tanager, Guira Tanager,
    Fawn-breasted Tanager, White-winged Tanager, and Blue-necked Tanagers.
  • Amboró National Park is a large wilderness area of 1.5 million acres that
    straddles the eastern foothills of the Andean Mountains.  With two full days of
    birding, we will be able to explore four very different habitats from this single
    location, including the southern rim of the Amazon Basin (humid tropical
    rainforests), the western edge of the Brazilian shield (subtropical deciduous
    forests), the northern limit of the Chaco (temperate woodlands), and the very
    diverse subtropical and temperate forests of the Andes mountains. This mosaic
    of ecosystems shelters a correspondingly rich diversity of plants and animals,
    including no less than 830 bird species!
  • Over these two days, we will be waking up very early to have breakfast before
    dawn, then will bird until late in the morning when the sun becomes too hot and
    the bird activity dies down. This is a perfect time to enjoy the crystal clear waters
    of the streams found near the lodge and we will even have the opportunity to
    swim in a natural pool that has formed at the base of a small waterfall. We will
    continue birding in the afternoon and into the early evening when we try for some
    nocturnal birds, such as the Spectacled Owl.

July 16 to 18:  Birding Samaipata, Tambo and Comarapa Area and La Siberia
  • On July 16, we will start early.  Based upon whatever will maximize better
    birding, we will either bird at the lodge or we will drive on to another location to
    enjoy early morning birding in a new location with a different habitat.
  • On our way to Tambo, we will stop at Samaipata.  Though difficult to find
    elsewhere in Bolivia, several key species which we are more likely to find here
    include Huayco Tinamous, Tataupa Tinamous, Bare-faced Ground-Dove, Green-
    cheeked Parakeet, Ocellated Piculet, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Streaked
    Xenops Giant Antshrike, Slaty Gnateater, Gray-crested Finch, Ringed Warbling-
    Finch, Black-capped Warbling Finch, and Dull-colored Seedeater.  With Lelis as
    our guide we may see the elusive and very local Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper
    and the White-tipped Plantcutter.  Also, some of the terrific hummingbirds we
    may see include Planalto Hermit, Buff-bellied Hermit, and Slender-tailed
    Woodstar.
  • Following lunch, we will continue towards Tambo with several birding stops
    along the way.  We will pass through dry deciduous forests before eventually
    entering into a zone of arid interandean valleys lying within a rain shadow
    formed by the surrounding mountains.

  • On July 17, we will start early for a full day of birding the Tambo and Comarapa
    area.
  • This remote area has a much warmer and dryer habitat than we have birded so
    far on the trip.  Early morning birding will be rewarded with a cooler start and the
    potential to see some terrific bird species, including Ocellated Piculet, White-
    fronted Woodpecker, Striped Woodpecker, Golden-breasted Woodpecker,
    Cream-backed Woodpecker, and Ochre-cheeked Spinetail.  We will hope to see
    the endemic Bolivian Earthcreeper, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, Cliff Flycatcher,
    Saffron-billed Sparrow, and the striking Ultramarine Grosbeak.  Other interesting
    birds include King Vulture and Large-tailed Dove.
  • In the Andean foothills and the semi-deciduous woodlands and shrub-desert
    near Tambo, we may be rewarded with a view of Andean Condor.  Sometimes a
    number of Condors are seen at one time.
  • As if this was not enough of a reason to bird in this remote area of Bolivia, we
    will also seek out the endemic Red-fronted Macaw. This species is not only one
    of the most spectacular of all macaws, it also ranks as one of the rarest birds in
    South America.
  • We will take lunch, and a break and perhaps a nap, before continuing birding in
    the later afternoon after the whether cools off and the birding picks back up.

  • On July 18, we will bird the La Siberia area.  With such a comforting name, we
    know the birding will be good.  This cloud forest habitat represents the
    southernmost limit of humid-temperate cloud forest in South America. It also
    marks the southern end of the range for numerous species of high-elevation
    forest birds, including the endemic Rufous-faced Antpitta and the Grey-bellied
    Flowerpiercer.  With Lelis as the bird guide, we may have the opportunity to see
    these species.
  • A few incredible hummingbirds in the area include the Violet-throated
    Starfrontlet, the Blue-capped Puffleg, along with the endemic Black-hooded
    Sunbeam.
  • Other local specialties include several difficult to find birds, including the  Black-
    winged Parrot, the Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and the Band-tailed Fruiteater.  
  • We will also look for White-throated Hawk, Mountain Caracara, Light-crowned
    Spinetail, Rusty-vented Canastero, Spot-breasted Thornbird, Andean Tyrant,
    Brown-capped Redstart, Pale-legged Warbler, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush,
    White-browed Conebill, Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Rufous-sided
    Warbling-Finch, Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch, and Fulvous-headed Brush-
    Finch.
  • We will bird along level roads and on trails (with some climbing near Siberia) in
    both the arid zone and in the cloud forest.
Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Bolivia - Continued

July 19 to 22:  Birding from Cochabamba, including the Cochabamba-Upper Chapare Road, Tablas Monte, Cerro Tunari, and
Subestacia Miguelito
  • On July 19, we will leave the hotel early so we can have another early morning bird watching trek at the nearby La Siberia.  
    Hopefully, we will find a few of the cloud forest species which we may have missed the day before.
  • After leaving La Siberia, we will then bird in transit at a few spots on the way to Cochabamba.  Some of the species we may find
    include Wedge-tailed Hillstar hummingbird, Rock Earthcreeper, Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail, Stripe-crowned Spinetail and the
    nearly endemic Citron-headed Yellow-Finch.
  • We will then have an opportunity for some late afternoon birding in Cochabamba.

  • On July 20, we will get up and drive a short distance to begin birding several spots along the Cochabamba-Upper Chapare
    Road as we drive towards Tablas Monte.  The road goes through superb elfin, temperate, and subtropical yungas forests on
    the northeastern Andean slopes. This stretch of road is considered by many to be one of the best birding sites in South
    America.  Four endemics, Black-hooded Sunbeam hummingbird, Black-throated Thistletail, Rufous-faced Antpitta, and Grey-
    bellied Flowerpiercer can be found here.  Several other near endemics, which we would be fortunate to find, include Stripe-
    faced Wood-Quail, Black-winged Parrot, Hazel-fronted Pygmy-Tyrant, and Slaty Tanager.  This is also one of the best sites in
    Bolivia to find Hooded Tinamou, Hooded Mountain Toucan, White-throated Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and Band-tailed
    Fruiteater.  With Lelis as your bird guide, you are bound to see several real gems.
  • Other birds we will hope to see include Brown Tinamou, Sickle-winged Guan, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Versicolored Barbet,
    Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Red-necked Woodpecker, Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner, Light-crowned Spinetail,
    Barred Fruiteater, Yungas Manakin, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Buff-banded Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Rufous-
    bellied Bush-Tyrant, White-eared Solitaire, Andean Solitaire, Three-striped Hemispingus, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Saffron-
    crowned Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Moustached Flower-piercer, Deep-blue Florwerpiercer, and Dusky-
    green Oropendola.

  • On July 21, we will enjoy a bird watching trek at Cerro Tunari, enjoying different avifauna as we explore some very different
    habitats.  The first part of the morning will be spent traveling up the lower slopes of Cerro Tunari where we hope to get good
    looks at Andean Tinamou, Torrent Duck, and Red-backed Hawk.  We will also have a chance at some great hummingbirds,
    including Red-tailed Coronet, Andean Hillstar, Great Sapphirewing, and Giant Hummingbird.  Other birds in this mountain area
    include Grey-hooded Parakeet, Olive-crowned Crescent-Chest, White-capped Dipper, Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer, Plain-
    breasted Earthcreeper, Rock Earthcreeper, and the endemic Bolivian Blackbird.
  • By mid-day, mountain-top birding in puna grassland will likely be reward with some views of Maquis Canastero, Grey-breasted
    Seedsnipe, White-winged Diuca Finch, Short-tailed Finch, several Ground Tyrants species, and Yellow-Finches.
  • As we become weary of the high altitude, we will move back down the slope to bird an excellent patch of Polylepis woodland . At
    our last stop we will make a great effort to see rare Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, the endemic Cochabamba Mountain Finch,
    and the endemic Bolivian Warbling Finch.  We may also see Rufous-bellied Saltator, and Giant Conebill.

  • On July 22, we will bird the lower elevations of the Cochabamba- Upper Chapare Road along the Subestacion Miguelito.  The
    forest along this route is a better location to find Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, White-throated Quail-
    Dove, Crested Quetzal,  Black-winged Parrot, Buff-browed Foliage-Gleaner, Yellow-rumped Antwren, Leimebamba Antpitta,
    Yungas Pygmy Tyrant, Unadorned Flycatcher, Yellow and Slaty Tanager, Blue-banded Toucanet, Upland Antshrike, White-
    throated Antpitta, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Bolivian Tyrannulet, and the rare Straw-backed Tanager.

CONTINUED ABOVE IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN BELOW THE RED-FRONTED MACAWS.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Olive-crowned Crescent-Chest near La-Siberia -
Comarapa.
Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Bolivia

......continued from the left hand column ...

July 23 and 24:  High Altitude Birding:  Includes Laguna Alalay, Oruro, Lake
Uru, and More Birding as We Ascend to La Paz (including Inquisivi)
  • On July 23, we will start with a short drive to Laguna Alalay.  We will hope
    to see White-tufted Grebe, Silvery Grebe, Yellow-billed Pintail, Rosy-
    billed Pochard, Puna Teal, Red Shoveler, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Gull,
    and Puna Ibis.  Nearby we will also look for Cinereous Harrier, Wren-like
    Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Grey-bellied Shrike-Tyrant,
    Cinereous Ground-Tyrant, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Short-billed Pipit,
    Blue-and-yellow Tanager, and Greenish Yellow-Finch.
  • As we begin our travels to Oruro, we will make several birding stops
    along the way.  Road conditions will require a slow but study ascent of
    the mountain, as we enjoy the Bolivian altiplano.   Throughout the day
    we will be looking for a number of species of tinamous, raptors, ground
    tyrants, miners, canasteros, and earthcreepers.  We should arrive at our
    hotel in Oruro around sundown.

  • On July 24, we will begin early and bird the lakes near Oruru.  If the water
    levels are suitable, we’ll spend the morning birding Lake Uru-Uru in
    search of Flamingos (3 different species), Andean Avocet, White-tufted
    Grebe, Andean Goose, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, Andean Negrito,
    Bare-faced Dove, Andean Flicker, Slender-billed Miner, and Wren-like
    Rushbird.
  • Once activity dies down around Uru-Uru, we will stop to bird in puna
    scrub and at a few small lakes as we continue our ascent to La Paz at
    12,500 feet.  Having slowly worked our way up in elevation, we should
    be ready for the high altitude of La Paz.

July 25:  Transition Day:  Fly Home or Extend to July 30

Note:  Extension description detail below the Cliff Parakeets.
Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Bolivia

Proposed Extension Itinerary:  Chulamani and Lake
Titicaca, including Upper Coroico Road, Apaapa
Reserve, and Sorata

Please contact us to discuss the logistics, pricing and interest level in the
extension.  

  • We will spend a day going up to Chulamani via the very birdy Upper
    Coroico Road.  Likely species include Black-throated Thistletail, Rufous-
    bellied Seedsnipe, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Scaled Metaltail, Pearled
    Trerunner, Plain-breasted Earthcreeper, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Light-
    crowned Spinetail, Streak-throated Canastero, Line-fronted Canastero,
    Scribble-tailed Canastero, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater,
    Bolivian Diademed Tapaculo, White-crowned Tapaculo, Black-billed
    Shrike-Tyrant, Bolivian Tyrannulet, White-collared Jay, White-eared
    Solitaire, Three-striped Hemispingus, Golden-collared Tanager, Scarlet-
    bellied Mountain-Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Short-
    tailed Finch, Moustached Flowerpiercer, and Rusty Flowerpiercer.
  • We will then spend a few days (or a day and a morning) at the Apaapa
    Reserve.  Likely species include Hooded Tinamou, Brown Tinamou,
    Sickle-winged Guan,  Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, White-rumped Hawk,
    Barred Parakeet, Black-winged Parrot (Black-eared), Plum-crowned
    Parrot, Montane Foliage-Gleaner, Trilling Tapaculo, Sclater’s
    Tyrannulet, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant,
    Band-tailed Fruiteater, the extremely rare and local Scimitar-winged
    Piha, Pale-footed Swallow, White-eared Solitaire, and Slaty Tanager
    among many others.
  • Birding on the return trip will also be productive.
  • Then one day for Lake Titicaca and Sorata.  With a few key endemic
    species like the flightless Short-winged Grebe and Berlepch’s
    Canastero, this will be a very good day.  We will also hope to find Ornate
    Tinamou, Short-billed Pipit, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Yellow-winged
    Blackbird, and Giant Coot.
  • Flights out the next day is warranted.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Another beautiful endemic species, Cliff Parakeets.  
Another nice photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Please contact us
before booking your
flight or you may miss
some excellent birding.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Don't want to miss the Andean Avocet
at Uro Uro Lake.
Sunbittern by Lelis Navarrete.
Bolivia:  July 12 to 25, 2009
       with Extension to July 30

Norm Erthal, as Host, to a Covey of Adults

Lelis Navarrete, Leader & Bird Guide
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Black-hooded Sunbeam.