Field Guides Tour Report Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru II 2018 Oct 5, 2018 to Oct 14, 2018 Jesse Fagan For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE. Our hike to the ridge above Abra Malaga couldn't have been more magical. Cerro Veronica in the background and feeding alpaca in the foreground, that is the Andes in Peru. Video grab by guide Jesse Fagan. I hope that you found Peru to be overwhelmingly beautiful. The food, the people, the Andes, the humid forest, Machu Picchu, and, of course, the birds. Indeed, this is my second home, and so I hope you felt welcomed here and decide to return soon. Peru is big (really big!) and there is much, much more to see. The birding was very good and a few highlights stood out for everyone. These included Andean Motmot, Pearled Treerunner, Plumbeous Rail, Versicolored Barbet, and Spectacled Redstart. However, a majority of the group thought seeing Andean Condors, well, in the Andes (!) was pretty darn cool. Black-faced Ibis feeding in plowed fields against Huaypo lake was a memory for a few others. I was glad to see one of my favorite birds stood out, the shocking Bearded Mountaineer (plus, maybe I am just partial to the "bearded" part). But you couldn't beat Andean Cock-of-the-Rock for shock value and the female on a nest was something you don't see everyday. Thanks to our team of drivers, and Lucrecia, our informative and always pleasant local guide. I hope to see you again soon. All the best for a remaining 2018. Jesse aka Motmot (from Lima, Peru) KEYS FOR THIS LIST One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant BIRDS Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 1 Tinamidae (Tinamous) ANDEAN TINAMOU (Nothoprocta pentlandii fulvescens) – One was seen very briefly in the scrubby hillside along Huacarpay Lakes. Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) ANDEAN GOOSE (Oressochen melanopterus) – A pair (or two?) were hanging out near the pass at Abra Malaga. Their white plumage is striking against the creamy browns of the Andean highlands. CRESTED DUCK (Lophonetta specularioides) – A good bird to find. A trio was on the boggy lakes over the pass. Seen 50% of the time on this tour. TORRENT DUCK (Merganetta armata) – 18 were counted on the train ride to Aguas Calientes! PUNA TEAL (Spatula puna) – Seen well at Huacarpay Lakes on the first day. BLUE­WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors) – Sometimes missed on this tour. October is a good month for this species (we don't see it normally in June­ Aug.). I know you all were excited about this one! CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera) – Small numbers on both Huacarpay and Huaypo lakes. WHITE­CHEEKED PINTAIL (Anas bahamensis) – Seen at Huaypo Lake. Another good duck for this tour. YELLOW­BILLED PINTAIL (Anas georgica) – Good numbers on Huaypo. YELLOW­BILLED TEAL (Anas flavirostris) – Fairly common at most wetland sites including along the Urubamba River. RUDDY DUCK (ANDEAN) (Oxyura jamaicensis ferruginea) – The resident Ruddy Duck in South America. Some taxonomic authorities split this taxon. Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows) ANDEAN GUAN (Penelope montagnii) – Seen a few times on the grounds of Inkaterra Hotel. Odontophoridae (New World Quail) STRIPE­FACED WOOD­QUAIL (Odontophorus balliviani) [*] Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags) NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Most days in the Sacred Valley and other wetland sites. Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) FASCIATED TIGER­HERON (Tigrisoma fasciatum) – Always great to see this species. Seen along the Urubamba River; an adult and immature (which show more of the tiger pattern). COCOI HERON (Ardea cocoi) – A first for the tour. Seen at Huacarpay Lake. Usually this species is only found in the Amazonian lowlands. GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – One at Huacarpay Lake (which is the meaning of "Huacarpay") and a couple more at Huaypo. LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) – An adult at Huaypo Lake. CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) – Small numbers at Huacarpay and Huaypo lakes. Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) PUNA IBIS (Plegadis ridgwayi) – Common in the Sacred Valley and at Abra Malaga. BLACK­FACED IBIS (BRANICKII) (Theristicus melanopis branickii) – A lovely species that we found foraging in the fields around Huaypo Lake. Cathartidae (New World Vultures) ANDEAN CONDOR (Vultur gryphus) – Yes! Maybe the best symbol for Big Country Peru; of the Andes. We saw several on multiple days and most memorable on our last day in the Polylepis forest with Veronica as a backdrop. Beautiful. Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) SHARP­SHINNED HAWK (PLAIN­BREASTED) (Accipiter striatus ventralis) – A good bird to see. We had one soaring at San Luis. ROADSIDE HAWK (Rupornis magnirostris) – We called one in while birding the Mandor Valley. VARIABLE HAWK (Geranoaetus polyosoma) – Several seen near the pass; are sometimes split as "Puna" Hawk. BLACK­CHESTED BUZZARD­EAGLE (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) – Seen in Ollantaytambo and again from the Machu Picchu ruins. Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) PLUMBEOUS RAIL (Pardirallus sanguinolentus) – Darn thing. Showed fairly well before we walked away, then it decided to put in a full appearance! COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata) – At both large wetland sites. SLATE­COLORED COOT (Fulica ardesiaca) – Also at both wetland sites. This is a large species of coot with white or yellow bills; sometimes called "Andean" Coot. Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) ANDEAN LAPWING (Vanellus resplendens) – Small numbers around Abra Malaga. Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies) WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) – A new species for the tour. Three birds were seen at Huaypo Lake. LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) – Three were hanging out with the phalaropes. Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers) ANDEAN GULL (Chroicocephalus serranus) – Seen everyday of the tour. Many had their black breeding hoods. Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – Cities and towns. SPOT­WINGED PIGEON (Patagioenas maculosa) – This large native pigeon was seen in the Sacred Valley, like at our hotel in Ollantaytambo. BARE­FACED GROUND­DOVE (Metriopelia ceciliae) – Good numbers in the Inca ruins at Huacarpay Lake where we scoped several. WHITE­TIPPED DOVE (Leptotila verreauxi) – Seen along the tracks in the Mandor Valley. WHITE­THROATED QUAIL­DOVE (Zentrygon frenata) – One flushed up along the tracks in the Mandor Valley. Another two flew across the road down on the east slope of AM. Field Guides Birding Tours • www.fieldguides.com • 800-728-4953 2 EARED DOVE (Zenaida auriculata) – Good numbers in the arid environment around Huacarpay Lake. Strigidae (Owls) PERUVIAN PYGMY­OWL (Glaucidium peruanum) [*] Apodidae (Swifts) CHESTNUT­COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne rutila) – Several seen in the Mandor Valley. WHITE­COLLARED SWIFT (Streptoprocne zonaris) – A pair zipping around the Abra Malaga pass were very high for this species. WHITE­TIPPED SWIFT (Aeronautes montivagus) – Common around Aguas Calientes. ANDEAN SWIFT (Aeronautes andecolus) – Seen several times in the Sacred Valley. Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) SPARKLING VIOLETEAR (Colibri coruscans) – Seen in both semi­arid habitats (like Ollantaytambo) and in more humid forest (like at Aguas Calientes). However, this species is not found in the lowlands. AMETHYST­THROATED SUNANGEL (Heliangelus amethysticollis) – A couple of males were seen down on the east slope of Abra Malaga. SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD (Adelomyia melanogenys) – One at the Inkaterra feeders. GREEN­TAILED TRAINBEARER (Lesbia nuna) – Several were feeding in the garden at Pakaritampu. BLUE­MANTLED THORNBILL (Chalcostigma stanleyi) – One seen feeding on tiny flowers in the puna (Ichu) grassland near Maxima's house. BEARDED MOUNTAINEER (Oreonympha nobilis) – One of my favorites! Always good to see this endemic hummingbird. [E] TYRIAN METALTAIL (SMARAGDINICOLLIS) (Metallura tyrianthina smaragdinicollis) – Good numbers at Penas, below Maxima's house and again on the east slope of AM. SCALED METALTAIL (Metallura aeneocauda) – Awesome looks at a female that aggressively responded to the male song. Seen maybe 40% of the time on this tour. SHINING SUNBEAM (Aglaeactis cupripennis caumatonota) – Several were seen near Maxima's house. Often not around from Jul­Aug, so maybe some local movement? WHITE­TUFTED SUNBEAM (Aglaeactis castelnaudii) – We scoped this endemic several times at Penas in the dry scrub. [E] COLLARED INCA (GOULD'S) (Coeligena torquata omissa) – This flashy hummingbird was visiting the Heliconia flowers at Inkaterra. VIOLET­THROATED STARFRONTLET (Coeligena violifer) – The large hummingbird with the buffy outer tail feathers. Seen on the humid east slope of AM. GREAT SAPPHIREWING (Pterophanes cyanopterus) – Dog­fighting around Maxima's house. CHESTNUT­BREASTED CORONET (Boissonneaua matthewsii) – The Guardian of the Feeders. BOOTED RACKET­TAIL (Ocreatus underwoodii) – A female put in a brief appearance at the Inkaterra feeders before she was runoff by the previous species. GIANT HUMMINGBIRD (Patagona gigas) – Hard to believe this is a hummingbird! We had one nice look at a bird feeding on tree tobacco at Huacarpay Lake. WHITE­BELLIED WOODSTAR (Chaetocercus mulsant) – A female was sneaking into the feeders at Inkaterra. WHITE­BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia chionogaster) – Common in the garden at Pakaritampu. GREEN­AND­WHITE HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia viridicauda)