NORTHERN PERU’S CLOUD FOREST ENDEMICS: MYTHICAL OWLET AND STUPENDOUS SPATULETAIL ! JULY 15–26, 2018 The endemic Long-whiskered Owlet from our 2018 trip— Photo: Andrew Whittaker LEADER : ANDREW WHITTAKER LIST COMPILED BY : ANDREW WHITTAKER VICTOR EMANUEL NATURE TOURS , INC . 2525 WALLINGWOOD DRIVE , SUITE 1003 AUSTIN , TEXAS 78746 WWW .VENTBIRD .COM Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics: Mythical Owlet and Stupendous Spatuletail July 15–26, 2018 By Andrew Whittaker WOW! As usual, this fabulous Northern Peru tour rocked. Despite some adverse weather this year (an odd cold front), it lived up to being a showcase as a MEGA Cloud Forest birding destination in the Andes. This year’s lucky group enjoyed an incredible total of 336 species, including a staggering 40 different species of dazzling hummingbird gems equal to a wonderful 40 colorful tanager species. Our extremely impressive Long-whiskered Owlet record continued (for those who managed the hike), seeing this beauty on 9 out of our last 10 trips! Voted top bird of the trip was the stunning Crimson-bellied Woodpecker. Certainly one of the world’s greatest woodpeckers, this huge monster’s fiery-crimson underparts contrast with its black back and huge flashy white wing patches in flight as it glides through the forest and lands on a tree, the sun blazing down and exaggerating its splendid colors. Our number 2 bird was, of course, the mythical, tiny, and cute Long-whiskered Owlet. Nobody will ever be able to forget those drop- dead views of the Owlet or the crippling views of the male Marvelous Spatuletail voted in as 6 th . Both truly are outstanding mega endemics alone worth a trip to this lovely region of Northern Peru! Marvelous Spatuletail male — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 2 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Another exciting trip highlight for me was the success (at last) attracting the antpittas! We enjoyed close studies of two cool endemics, first Chestnut then Rusty-tinged. It was truly a fantastic experience watching these ghosts of the forest emerging and giving stunning views as they scoffed down earthworms! Chestnut Antpitta, an endemic — Photo: Andrew Whittaker The well-kept Cloud Forest trail system at Owlet Lodge (by far the best-kept in all of the Andes and with a new almost flat trail) was brimming with wondrous exotic tropical plant life. There is no better way to experience the shades and colors of the cloud forests, including countless colorful flowering orchids, amazing bromeliads, mosses, and lichens festooning the trees, than by climbing the wonderful Owlet Lodge canopy tower or by slowly walking and exploring along these fantastic trails. On top of the tower the view is breathtaking, as magnificent unbroken cloud forest unravels ridge after ridge as far as the eye can see. Birding these fine trails produced Antpitta Tapaculo, mixed-species tanager flocks, and wonderful Green-and-black Fruiteater, Golden-headed Quetzal, Rufous Spinetail, and the best songster of the Andes, the Sharp’s Wren! Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 3 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 As I have learned to expect on this wonderful trip, we again had an amazing record-breaking 45 colorful species of tanagers! They covered every spectacular color combination imaginable from the much sought after blue and golden yellow of the endemic Yellow-scarfed (wow, what views) to wonderful mouthwatering close Red-hooded, Paradise, Grass-Green, Golden-Eared, Flame- faced, and White-winged. We also have to mention the exceptional close studies of the odd and jay-like White-capped and stunning blazing-red-eyed Hooded Mountain-Tanager seen so beautifully on a lovely ridgetop! A vividly colored Grass-green Tanager on Cecropia by the lodge — Photo: Andrew Whittaker This tour is always a terrific hummingbird bonanza (if you love the tiny gems as I do, then this is the trip for you)! We had no less than an incredible 45 different dazzling species, producing a non-stop iridescent kaleidoscope of colors at several different feeders and at our lodges. These included the holy grail of Neotropical birding and one of the greatest hummingbird gems of all, the critically endangered and endemic Marvelous Spatuletail at Huembo! Around Owlet Lodge itself we enjoyed a daily feeder show of the magnificent dagger-billed Sword-billed Hummingbird, Collared and Bronzy incas, tiny cute White-bellied Woodstar, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, the gorgeous Emerald-bellied Pufflegs and, of course, stunning Long-tailed Sylphs. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 4 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Bronzy Inca at feeders — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Other memorable moments came thick and fast, including magical stellar studies of a flock of White-collared Jays and the spectacular colorful (for a flycatcher) endemic and recently described Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher. Close hummingbird studies at other feeders included the stupendous, gaudy Violet-fronted Brilliant, Booted Racket-tail, and the endearing and miniscule Little Woodstar. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 5 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 The colorful endemic Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher showed well! — Photo: Andrew Whittaker However, it’s impossible not to mention more of the other truly stunning tanager experiences: White-winged, Vermilion, Flame-faced, Grass-green, Blue-winged Mountain, Golden, Metallic- green, Green-and-gold, Yellow-throated, Paradise, Saffron-crowned, Beryl-spangled, and Blue- necked to mention a few! Nocturnal highlights were the nightly visits by a superb tame male Swallow-tailed Nightjar around the lodge catching moths off the wall (an unforgettable display for us lucky folks), and feeding off the ground or the hand rail at such close range! Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 6 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Male Swallow-tailed Nightjar graced Owlet Lodge at night — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Our exploration of lower elevations along the road was also very rewarding and produced great studies of the magnificent Torrent Duck and Sickle-winged Guan, and sought after endemics such as Royal Sunangel, endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, and Bar-winged Wood-Wren. We enjoyed countless mixed species flocks and multiple stupendous male Andean Cocks-of-the-rock, a breathtaking Golden-winged Manakin male, the rarely seen Lanceolated Monklet, Ornate Flycatcher, and multiple gaudy Versicolored Barbets. Cinereous Tinamou (the boss) at the feeding station — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 7 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Next, descending to the picturesque foothills and our visit to the new white-sandy belt private reserve was, as usual, another highlight. Sitting in the wonderful forest blind and being able to observe, at close quarters, a hungry covey of brightly colored Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, both Little and Cinereous tinamous, and Gray-cowled Wood-Rail all coming in to feed so close was a fantastic thrill! This alone was an incredible experience indeed, but topping it, at hummingbird feeders and in the lovely reserve’s flower garden we delighted in point-blank studies of a superb male Wire-crested Thorntail, the rare Many-spotted Hummingbird (two birds fighting), Blue- fronted Lancebill, and a new hummer in the form of a super male Black-throated Brilliant! And, of course, that home grown and roasted coffee was to die for! The stunning Crimson-bellied Woodpecker seen on my last 4 trips here — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 8 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 A magical male Long-tailed Sylph — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Golden-headed Quetzal, one of two species one can see here— Photo: Andrew Whittaker Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 9 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Wire-crested Thorntail male at flowers — Photo: Andrew Whittaker Next up was the lovely Moyobamba Lodge, with Masked Duck en route, our new home for 2 nights where, close by on our way in on the first day, we had an unforgettable visit to the Oilbird cleft where we observed these odd birds well through the scope and also heard their odd calls as they flew around below us. Here our wonderful lodge garden, full of attractive hummingbird plants and many hummingbird feeders, and hummer tower provided great rewards. Highlights of our hummingbird feast, in wonderful light and all so close for great photographic opportunities, included several fabulous male and female Rufous-crested Coquettes, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Black-throated Mango, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Long-billed Starthroat, Black-throated Hermit, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, White-chinned Sapphire, Amethyst Woodstar, and many more. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 10 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Golden-tailed Sapphire male at flower — Photo: Andrew Whittaker The pleasant forested grounds rewarded us with killer views of a superb Band-bellied Owl and male Black-faced Dacnis, as well as enjoying daily encounters with the stunning endemic Black- bellied Tanager. One morning we explored the lodge’s foothill reserve which, as usual, was extremely birdy with a brightly colored pair of Guilded Barbets showing well, Fiery-capped Manakin, and, sadly heard only, the stunning Fiery-throated Fruiteater. Other highlights were the recently described 2013 Inambari Woodcreeper (by your leader); Spot-winged Antbird; Masked, Yellow-crested, and Yellow-backed tanagers; Chestnut-throated Spinetail; finally, stunning Black- and-white Tody-Flycatcher; and great looks at Green-backed Trogons. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours 11 Northern Peru’s Cloud Forest Endemics, 2018 Terrestrial Slipper orchid Phragmipedium boissierianum — Photo: Andrew Whittaker For the botanists and even non-botanists amongst us, our visit to the incredible orchid garden was, as always, a great thrill. This is one of the best in the Neotropics (with over 350 species) with every size, shape, and color imaginable, which left us all with an orchid overdose and many cool photographs and admiration for these spectacular plants, not to mention the wonderful sweet scents from several of these remarkable plants.