Tropical Birding - Trip Report Peru: Manu and Machu Picchu August- September 2019 A Tropical Birding set departure tour PERU: Manu and Machu Picchu 24thAugust –11thSeptember 2019 TOUR LEADER: Jose Illanes REPORT: Jose Illanes All photos are taken by Jose during the trip Inca Tern from Pucusana I’ve been leading this awesome Southern Peru trip since 2005, and it was a pleasure to come back one more time. This lovely and friendly country not only brought us hundreds of bird species, but also during our nearly three week trip, we had the chance to learn a little bit about the culture, enjoy the amazing landscapes, and had some really cool mammals as well. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.1 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Peru: Manu and Machu Picchu August- September 2019 Giant Otter at Cocha Blanca lake in Manu August 26: We all had arrived in Lima the day before, and only stayed briefly before taking a short flight to Cusco. Our friendly driver Omar picked us up and soon we were headed off towards Huacarpay Lake. Everyone was eager to get their first Peruvian bird, but at 11,000 feet elevation, you need to take it easy on the first day. After our field breakfast, we walked around the edge of this small lake, where we encountered Yellow-billed Teal, Slate-colored Coot, Andean Gull, Andean Duck, Yellow-billed Pintail, and we also had an unusual austral migrant Chilean Flamingo. White-tufted Grebe, Cinnamon Teal, and some outstanding Puna Teal were also swimming around in this popular hotspot. In the reedbeds fringing the lake, we also managed to get Wren-like Rushbird, an odd place compared to the habitat preferred by other members of this bird family. Other birds in the area included Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Andean Lapwing, Puna Ibis, and Plumbeous Rail which gave wonderful views in the open. We also birded along the edge of the road that goes around the lake, where there are small patches of dry scrub, and we encountered Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Band-tailed Seedeater, Bare-faced Ground-Dove, Hooded Siskin, Mourning Sierra-Finch, Chiguango Thrush, and the photogenic White-bowed Chat-Tyran. Overhead we also had soaring Variable Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, and Cinereous Harrier. We had a picnic lunch by a nice lookout with great views of the high Andes landscape, where we saw a pair of the endemic Rusty-fronted Canastero. For rest of the afternoon, we birded near the village of Huambutio, where we saw our first Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Golden-billed Saltator, Cinereous Conebill, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, and a nice male Green-tailed Trainbearer feeding on small wild tobacco bushes. We head back towards Cusco City, where we still had chance to walk around the main plaza near our hotel before dinner and the checklist. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.2 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Peru: Manu and Machu Picchu August- September 2019 Puna Teal from Huacarpay Lake August 27: We had an early breakfast in the hotel in Cusco before starting our long drive over the Andes. Along the way, we stopped in several places to find some target species. One stop was just below Huancarani village, where we chased down Giant Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Streak-fronted Thornbird, Black-backed Grosbeak and three great endemics: Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain- Finch and the localized Bearded Mountaineer which was feeding on flowering bushes. It was amazing to get all these species in such a small patch of scrubby habitat. A while late, after driving along a newly paved road, we also picked up a few new high Andes species like Andean Flicker, Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, Andean Ibis and a cotton-white Andean Goose standing by a little pond. Eventually, we arrived in Acjanaco Pass around lunch time. As Omar was setting up our lunch table, we birded in the surrounding area, where we picked up White-throated Tyrannulet, Puna Tapaculo, Grass Wren, Rufous-breasted and Brown-backed Chat-Tyrants, and the elegant Moustached Flowerpiercer, which was feeding from a vine covered with flowers. Before getting to our lodge, we birded along the dirt road through beautiful temperate forest, giving us the chance to get our first Andean Guan, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, and Red-crested Cotinga perched on a tree top. A Sword-billed Hummingbird was attracted by a pygmy-owl imitation, along with a Yungas Pygmy-Owl, which was very exciting for all of us. After short drive, we encountered a frenzied feeding flock where we had superb views of Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Black-faced Brushfinch, Puna Thistletail, White-crested and Sierran Elaenias, Drab, Three-striped, and the jumpy Superciliaried Hemispingus, Spectacled Redstart, and Rust-and-yellow Tanager. We even got to see and photograph the shy and skulky Golden-collared Tanager which was also accompanying the party. Finally, we arrived at Wayquecha www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.3 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Peru: Manu and Machu Picchu August- September 2019 Lodge just before dusk. Some up us did optional night birding where we saw a Swallow-tailed Nightjar and a couple of very responsive White-throated Screech-Owls to cap off a great day. Creamy-crested Spinetail (Peruvian endemic) from near Huancarani village August 28: After breakfast, we birded the lodge grounds, where hummingbird feeders attracted a few lovely species like Long-tailed Sylph, Tyrian Metaltail, Collared (Gould’s) Inca, and Amethyst-throated Sunangel. Birding along the road above the lodge, we found a couple of nice mixed feeding flocks with White-banded Tyrannulet, Pale-legged Warbler, Pearled Treerunner, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Fulvous and Mountain Wrens, Azara’s Spinetail, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Grass-green Tanager, and Black-capped Hemispingus. A beautiful male Masked Trogon was perched by the side of the road and a Rufous Antpitta gave us a very quick look at it, but Band-tailed Fruiteater and the colorful Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan showed better. In addition to birds, we even spotted a resting Linnaeus's Two-toed Sloth, which was a big surprise for me, as usually you get them at much lower elevations. Farther down from the road near Pillahuata, our driver Omar knew a good spot to get the endemic Red and white Antpitta, and it came out after spending some time looking for it. We continued birding our way down the famous Manu road, seeing awesome birds everywhere. By a small waterfall, a Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant sang from an exposed perch. Other stops got us species like Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Capped Conebill, Common Chlorospingus, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Olive-backed and Montane Woodcreepers, Saffron-crowned, Blue-capped, and Beryl-spangled Tanagers, and Golden-crowned and Inca Flycatchers. As it was getting late, we were trying to get to the lodge, but kept having to stop for more birds like Andean Motmot and Blue- www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.4 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Peru: Manu and Machu Picchu August- September 2019 banded Toucanet. Eventually we arrived at Cock of the Rock Lodge, where we were warmly welcomed by lodge staff. Golden-collared Tanager from Acjanaco August 29: This section of the Manu road is always a favorite for everyone - the climate is very pleasant (not too hot and not too cold) and there are tons of colorful birds. This morning, before anything else, we wanted to see the gaudy Peruvian national bird, Andean Cock of the Rock. So, after a short drive, we enjoyed seeing the colorful males doing their crazy displays to get some attention from the females. We saw at least twelve males, and some gave nice photo opportunities. When the excitement died down and the males went off to feed, we also found other species like Three-striped Warbler, Slaty Antwren, Black-billed Treehunter, Smoke- colored Pewee and even a skulky White-crowned Tapaculo, which gave us good views. We headed back to the lodge for breakfast, where we also enjoyed seeing hummingbirds and other birds that were coming to the feeders. Many-spotted Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Sparkling Violetear, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Bronzy Inca, Green Hermit, and the elegant Booted Racket-tail delighted us with their presence. The verbena flowers also brought in the striking Wire-crested Thorntail and the endemic Peruvian Piedtail as well. The fruit feeders attracted the bright Golden and Silver-beaked Tanagers, Russet-backed Oropendola, Orange- bellied Euphonia, and even some mammals like Brown Capuchin, Brown Agouti, Bolivian Dwarf Squirrel and the odd Tayra. Another feeder behind cabins also had for the Bronze-green Euphonia and the attractive Versicolored Barbet, one of my favorite birds. Some of the Melastome trees around the lodge were fruiting and attracted a horde of hungry birds including Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Blue-necked, Bay-headed, Orange- eared, Golden-eared, and multicolored Paradise Tanagers. For the rest of the day we birded near the lodge and along the road, adding species like Andean Solitaire, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, White-backed Fire-eye, Yungas Manakin, Moustached Wren, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Slaty Gnateater, Yellow-throated Chlorospingus, Black-eared Hemispingus, Two-banded Warbler, White-winged Tanager, Crested Quetzal, and a soaring Solitary Eagle as well. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.5 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Peru: Manu and Machu Picchu August- September 2019 Versicolored Barbet at Cock of the Rock Lodge August 30: After an early breakfast at the lodge, we loaded up our luggage in the van and drove down the Manu road to some bamboo forest.