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Small Group Adult Trip to Peru:  August 2 to 16, 2009 and Machu Picchu Ext.
Peru: August 2 to 16, 2009
with Machu Picchu Extension to August 21

Harry Fuller, as Host, to a Covey of Adults

and Lelis Navarrete as Bird Guide

Though Lelis is the premiere guide for Ecuador, he also leads
successful trips to other parts of South America.   His last several trips
to Peru have found well over 500 species in two weeks and as many as
670 species in three weeks.  

Harry Fuller will be the trip host.  Harry has lead trips to Greece, around
the United Kingdom and in northern California.  This will be Harry's
second trip with Lelis.  Together they will assure excellent
communication between trip participants and assure everyone enjoys
the trip thoroughly.

Besides a two week itinerary with the potential for to see over 500 bird
species, the trip will have a one week extension to Machu Picchu to
enjoy this high mountain area and including the opportunity to extend
the trip list to 620 and perhaps 670 species.

A full itinerary is available upon request and but can also be found on
this web page below.
Brief Itinerary

August 2, 2009:  Flights from Lima to Cuzco  
August 3:   Cuzco area birding, including Huacarpay Lake
August 4:  Birding at Pillahuata and on way to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge
August 5 and August 6: Manu Cloud Forest and Cock-of-the-Rock  Area
August 7: Birding on way to Amazonian Lodge, including Madre de Dios river,
and the road to Atalaya
August 8 to August 10: Amazonia Lodge and Manu Biosphere Reserve
August 11: Birding from Amazonia Lodge in morning and then from canoe to  
Manu Wildlife Center
August 12 to August 15: Manu Wildlife Center, including Macaw clay leek,
the Camungo lake, Camungo tower and trails, the Blanco Lake, and the
Cocha Nuevo bamboo trails
August 16:  Manu to Cuzco and Transition Day
  • If returning home, flight from Manu to Cuzco.  Then flights Cuzco to
    Lima.  Then return flight home that day in some cases depending upon
    flight schedules.
  • Machu Picchu Extension Group:  After flight from Manu, some time will be
    available to relax and/or explore and enjoy Cuzco briefly before heading
    towards Ollantaytambo.  

Extension:  Machu Picchu and More Excellent Bird Watching
Monday, August 17: Birding on train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.  See
ruins and birding at Machu Picchu.
August 18:  Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu:  Birding and ruins.
August 19 and 20:  Road to Abra Malaga and Ollantaytambo Area.  Birding
primarily for two days.
August 21:  Return to Cusco and Lima

A more detailed itinerary can be starting to the left.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Masked Fruiteater.
Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults
Itinerary for Peru in 2009

Flights In:  Flights into Lima and then Cuzco by August 2, 2009
  • After your flight comes into Lima, you may be able to arrange a flight
    to Cuzco that day.  Some travellers will have to fly to Cuzco the next
    day.
  • Other participants may choose to fly to Lima or Cuzco for a few days
    to enjoy these beautiful cities and to adjust to higher altitudes.  
  • Arrange your flight (or contact us to arrange your flight or to get flight
    advice) so that you are in Cuzco on August 2.  We will start the trip
    with lodging that evening and hope to meet many participants for
    dinner that evening.

Monday, August 3:  Huacapay Lakes and Cuzco Area
  • After breakfast,  we will drive to the Huacarpay Lake for birding there
    and in the surrounding dry scrubby habitat. The surrounding habitat
    is good to find the endemic Rusty-fronted Canastero and Bearded
    Mountaineer. Other target species amid a number of others species
    include Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Puna Teal, Andean
    Duck, Puna Ibis, Cinereous Harrier, Plumbeous Rail, Andean
    Lapwing, Andean Gull, Wren-like Rushbird, Rufous-naped Ground-
    Tyrant, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant and Andean Negrito.  After lunch,
    we will continue birding in the Cuzco area for a part of the
    afternoon.  
  • Some participants may choose to take parts of the day to rest and
    relax and adjust to the higher altitude.

Tuesday, August 4:  Pillahuata and Route to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge
  • After breakfast, we will start bird watching towards Pillahuata along
    the road to Atalaya.  This location is just below the pass at the
    gateway of the Manu Biosphere reserve.
  • Some of the target species during this second day of birding will be
    a number of endemic species, including Rusty-fronted Canastero,
    Bearded Mountaineer, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-
    breasted Mountain-Finch, Cusco Brush-Finch, Dark-faced Brush-
    Finch.  We will also try for Andean Ibis, Trilling Tapaculo, Bolivian
    Tapaculo, and Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher along with a
    number of  other species particularly restricted to these high
    elevation habitats.
  • We will continue our trip to the Cock-of-the-Rock lodge in the
    afternoon.

Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday August 6: Manu Cloud Forest and
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge Area
  • We will spend two days in the San Pedro area at the superb Cock-
    of-the-Rock Lodge, enjoying access to a number of excellent bird
    watching locations in the area and the lodge’s excellent
    hummingbird and fruit feeders.  Birding at and near the lodge is
    excellent.
  • The lodge’s location will allow us reasonably quick access or birds
    to higher and lower elevations, with a broad gamma of species.  
    Endemics include Peruvian Piedtail, Rufous-webbed Brilliant, Buff-
    thighed Puffleg, Cerulean-capped Manakin, Cinnamon-faced
    Tyrannulet, and Fulvous Wren.
  • We will also have a chance to see the spectacular Paradise
    Tanager, and other difficult to find species such as the Brown
    Tinamou, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Stripe-faced Wood-Quail,
    Rufescent Screech-Owl, Subtropical Pygmy-Owl, Rufous-bellied
    Nighthawk, and Lyre-tailed Nightjar.
  • Great hummingbirds can be found such as Wire-crested Thorntail,
    Violet-fronted Brilliant, Gould's Inca, and Violet-throated Starfrontlet.
  • Other beautiful birds in the area include Highland Motmot,
    Versicolored Barbet, and Blue-banded Toucanet.  Other species
    include Ash-browed Spinetail, Rusty-winged Barbtail, Tyrannine
    Woodcreeper, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Upland Antshrike, and
    Foothill Antwren.
  • One real rarity in the area is Yellow-rumped Antwren, and we should
    see Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Slaty Gnateater, Scaled Fruiteater,
    Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Yungas Manakin, Blue-rumped Manakin,
    Bolivian Tyrannulet, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Olive-tufted
    Flycatcher, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Chestnut-breasted Wren,
    Olivaceous Siskin, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Slaty Tanager, Blue-
    naped Chlorophonia, Spotted Tanager, Golden-collared
    Honeycreeper and Plush-capped Finch and many more.

Nestlings Itinerary for Peru in 2009 Continued below.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Red-and-green Macaw.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Many-spotted Hummingbird.
Barred Antshrike by Lelis Navarrete.
Please contact us before
booking your flight, or you may
miss some excellent birding
and/or end up with additional
lodging costs.  That being said,
more time in Cuzco is
recommended.
Photo by Lelis Navarrete.
Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch.
Amazonia Antpitta by Lelis Navarrete.
Versicolored Barbet.
Nestling Tour's Itinerary for Peru in 2009 Continued

Friday, August 7: Birding on way to Amazonian Lodge, including Madre de
Dios river, and the road to Atalaya
  • After an early morning breakfast and birding in the Cock-of-the-Rock
    Lodge area, we will start our descent towards the Madre de Dios
    river.  By bringing a box lunch along, we will have the opportunity to
    take our time and spend most of the day birding along the road
    before getting to Atalaya.
  • On the way from Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge to Amazonia, we will be
    looking for the endemics like White-browed Hermit, Peruvian
    Piedtail, Fine-barred Piculet, and Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher.  
    Other species we have seen along this route include Fasciated
    Tiger-Heron, Torrent Duck, Plain-breasted Hawk, the rare and local
    Blue-headed Macaw, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Lanceolated
    Monklet, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Bamboo
    Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Stripe-chested Antwren,
    Scaly-breasted Wren, and Deep-blue Flowerpiercer.  A few rarities
    which we may find include Red-billed Tyrannulet and Blue-headed
    Macaw.
  • At Atalaya, we will meet an Amazonia Lodge representative who will
    transfer us across the river to the nearby Amazonia lodge.

Saturday, August 8 to Monday, August 10: Amazonia Lodge and Manu
Biosphere Reserve
  • We will spend three more days visiting the famous Amazonia Lodge
    in the Peruvian Amazonian Rain Forest.  This lodge has one of the
    richest bird lists of any given site within the Amazon region and is
    home to a number of sought after species.  Almost 600 species  
    have been recorded in this one place.
  • The endemics here include Koepcke's Hermit, Scarlet-hooded
    Barbet, White-lined Antbird,  Black-capped Tinamou, Black-and-
    white Hawk-Eagle, Orange-breasted Falcon, Blackish Rail, Blue-
    headed Macaw, Pavonine Cuckoo, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Gould's
    Jewelfront, Brown-mandibled Aracari, Bar-breasted Piculet,
    Cabanis’ Spinetail, Bamboo Antshrike, Goeldi's Antbird,
    McConnell's Flycatcher, Johannes' Tody-Tyrant, Golden-bellied
    Warbler, and Olive (Carmiol’s) Tanager.
  • One of these days, we will head back across the Madre de Dios
    river in search of several birds of special interest, including
    endemics like White-browed Hermit, Peruvian Piedtail, Fine-barred
    Piculet, and Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher.  Other interesting
    species at this location include Bamboo Antshrike, Scarlet-hooded
    Barbet, and Blue-headed Macaw.
  • These and other locations at and near the lodge will make this
    some of the most productive birding on the trip.

Nestlings Itinerary for Peru in 2009 continued to the
right and at the top of the page below the Chestnut-
breasted Mountain-Finch.
Nestling Tour's Itinerary for Peru in 2009 Continued

Tuesday, August 11: Birding from Amazonia Lodge in morning and then from canoe
to Manu Wildlife Center
  • After an early morning bird watching at the Amazonia lodge, we will take our
    dugout canoe ride to the Manu Wildlife Center some 4 hours downstream.  
  • This will be our best chance at a number of birds more likely to be found in
    riparian areas.

Wednesday, August 12 to Saturday, August 15: Manu Wildlife Center
  • The Manu Wildlife Center will provide a comfortable lodge as a base while we
    visit different habitats around the area.  We will have access to a number of good
    locations just outside the Manu Biosphere Reserve, and most of these areas
    bordering the reserve are very pristine.  Some of the sites we will be visiting are
    the spectacular Macaw clay lick, the Camungo Lake, Camungo Tower and its
    grid of trails, the Blanco Lake and the Cocha Nuevo Bamboo trails.  These and
    other sites will allow the group an often once in a lifetime opportunity to find rare,
    local, hard-to-find endemics and other beautiful birds that inhabit these forested
    areas.
  • Some of the birds worth looking for here include Orinoco Goose, White-browed
    Hawk, Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon, Starred Wood-Quail, Pheasant Cuckoo,
    Amazonian Pygmy-Owl, Crested Owl, Sand-colored Nighthawk, Ocellated
    Poorwill, Silky-tailed Nightjar, Pavonine Quetzal, Purus Jacamar, White-throated
    Jacamar, Paradise Jacamar, Semicollared Puffbird, Brown-mandibled Araçari,
    Curl-crested Araçari, Ringed Woodpecker, Bar-bellied Woodcreeper, Cinnamon-
    rumped Foliage-gleaner, Bluish-slate Antshrike, Sclater's Antwren, Banded
    Antbird, Band-tailed Antbird, White-lined Antbird, the endemic Rufous-fronted
    Antthrush, Amazonian Antpitta, Fiery-capped Manakin, Musician Wren, Red-billed
    Pied Tanager, Yellow-backed Tanager, White-winged Shrike-Tanager and
    Yellow-crested Tanager.
  • We will visit the clay lick which can be filled with hundreds of Macaws, Parakeets
    and Parrots.  Our visit might (and likely will) produce good looks at Red-and-
    green Macaw, White-eyed Parakeet, Tui Parakeet, White-bellied Parrot, Orange-
    cheeked Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned Parrot, and Mealy Parrot.
  • One day we will dedicate most of our time and effort to look for some of the
    Bamboo specialists.  We will look for Rufous-breasted Piculet, Rufous-headed
    Woodpecker, Peruvian Recurvebill, Brown-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Red-billed
    Scythebill, Ihering's Antwren, Striated Antbird, Manu Antbird, Sepia-capped
    Flycatcher, and Slate-colored Seedeater.  The handsome endemic, White-
    cheeked Tody-Tyrant, would be a fine highlight for the day.

Sunday, August 16:  Manu to Cuzco and Transition Day
  • After breakfast, we will start our way back to Cuzco with boat ride to Boca Manu
    airstrip.  From here, we catch our flight to Cuzco.
  • Returning Home:  Cuzco to Lima flights are in the afternoon at 3:10 PM (as
    scheduled at this time).  Some participants, who are returning home, may be
    able to get of Lima that evening.   Contact us to arrange additional lodging or to
    discuss flight plans.
  • Machu Picchu Extension Group:  After lunch and leaving our friends who are
    returning home, the extension group will head to Ollantaytambo.  Ssee details
    below.

See Extension Trip Itinerary below.
Post-Trip Extension to Machu Picchu and More Bird Watching

Monday, August 17:  Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
  • After breakfast, we leave to the Ollantaytambo train station.  Shortly after we begin the
    beautiful journey by train towards Machu Picchu.  The ride will be very relaxing and
    enjoyable with awesome landscape.  We should get some looks at the handsome
    and daring Torrent Duck and an occasional White-capped Dipper.  
  • Upon arrival, we will check into a local hotel and take an immediate bus ride to the
    Machu Picchu ruins.

Tuesday, August 18:  Machu Picchu and back to Ollaitaitambo
  • After an early breakfast, we will have a 6:00 AM bus ride back up to the entrance gate
    of the Machu Picchu ruins.  We will again visit the ruins; however, our return plans
    will include much more bird watching, as we will start walking down the road
    towards Aguas Calientes.
  • After visiting the ruins, we will spend the rest of this morning leisurely walking down
    this road while birding and looking for four main target species and endemics:  
    Green-and-white Hummingbird, Inca Flycatcher, Masked Fruiteater and  Inca Wren.  
    Other terrific species we have found include Torrent Duck, White-tipped Swift,
    Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Variable Antshrike, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Sclater's
    Tyrannulet, Highland Elaenia, White-eared Solitaire, Capped Conebill, Rust-and-
    yellow Tanager, Silver-backed Tanager and Tricolored Brush-Finch and many others.
  • After getting back to Aguas Calientes, we will have lunch and get organized to take
    our train back to the Ollantaytambo Valley.

Wednesday,  August 19 and Thursday, August 20:  Road to Abra Malaga
  • For one day and the following morning, we will be visiting a number of birding stops
    along the road to Abra Malaga.  This really high elevation pass includes a number of
    habitats, including highland grassland, polylepis forest, elfin forest, temperate forest,
    and cloud forest on the eastern flank of the Andes.  We should also find some good
    birds in the dry scrubby habitat close to Ollantaytambo.
  • Some of the endemics here include White-tufted Sunbeam, Buff-thighed Puffleg,
    White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Marcapata Spinetail, Red-and-white Antpitta, Inca
    Flycatcher, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Peruvian Chat-Tyrant, Inca Wren, Parodi's
    Hemispingus, Cusco Brush-Finch, and Dark-faced Brush-Finch aswell as Andean
    Guan, Imperial Snipe, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Purple-backed Thornbill, the extremely
    rare and local Royal Cinclodes, Streak-throated Canastero, Line-fronted Canastero,
    Stripe-headed Antpitta, the very rare and localized Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant,
    Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Maroon-chested Chat-Tyrant, White-eared
    Solitaire, White-collared Jay, Orange-browed Hemispingus, Drab Hemispingus,
    Three-striped Hemispingus, Golden-collared Tanager and Thick-billed Siskin to
    mention a few.

Friday, August 21:  Cuzco to Lima and International Flights Back Home
  • After a morning walk and a little more bird watching likely close to Ollantaytambo, we
    well have breakfast before starting back to Cuzco.  We will allow enough time for you
    to organize your bags and pack for the return trip home before our drive to Cuzco.
  • We might have some spare time to enjoy the city and to visit the artisan markets, but
    many participants will want to catch the mid-afternoon flight to Lima.
  • Some participants may want to add a few additional days for exploring Cuzco and
    Lima before heading back home.