Guyana - A Timeless Paradise Naturetrek Tour Report 3rd – 17th February 2020 Kaieteur Falls Hoatzin Guianan Cock-of-the-rock Giant Anteater Report by Wally Prince Images courtesy of Wally Prince Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Guyana – A Timeless Paradise Tour participants: Wally Prince (leader) with three Naturetrek clients Summary The tour into the heart of biodiversity-rich Guyana began with a visit to the mighty Kaieteur Falls on a chartered flight bestowed with perfectly clear skies, allowing the group to clearly view and appreciate the vast greenery of almost unbroken forest landscapes for 100s of miles – a ‘sea of broccoli’. We enjoyed spectacular views of Kaieteur Falls both from the air and exploring on foot. The tour continued with great success as we worked our way south through pristine, untouched rainforest before reaching the more open savanna. Each day held wonderful wildlife moments and we met some amazing people along the way. This small group returned home with many incredible wildlife memories made. Iconic mammal sightings on the tour included a spectacular young Jaguar crossing a trail, groups of Giant River Otter and two separate Giant Anteater sightings with six species of primate encountered. Guianan Cock-of-the- rock, Hoatzin, Spangled and Pompadour Cotinga, Great Horned Owl, Scarlet Ibis and Blood-colored Woodpecker were just a few of the iconic birds we all enjoyed. A total of 237 bird species were seen, 17 mammals and a great range of reptiles and amphibians with highlights including two species of Crocodilian, Golden Rocket Frog – a stunning species endemic to Kaieteur Falls, and Amazon Pigmy Gecko. Day 1 Monday 3rd February London to Guyana The group departed on a morning British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Port of Spain for an onward connecting Caribbean Airlines flight to Georgetown. The group were met at the airport by tour leader Wally and driver Colin. The group were transferred a short distance to Cara Lodge for a tasty evening meal and a good night’s sleep before the adventure ahead. Day 2 Tuesday 4th February Kaieteur Falls After a good nights’ rest and a hearty breakfast, the group left for Ogle Airstrip for their chartered flight to the incredible Kaieteur Falls. Around the falls, the group were privileged with sightings of numerous swifts, Golden Rocket Frog, Guinan Cock- of-the-rock and a female Bearded Saki. An afternoon trail-walk at Iwokrama River Lodge produced notable species such as Capuchin Birds and Spotted Antpitta. After dinner, the group departed for a nocturnal river excursion. Sightings included Garden Tree Boa, Ladder-tailed Nightjar and an immensely impressive four-metre Black Caiman. © Naturetrek December 20 1 Guyana – A Timeless Paradise Tour Report Day 3 Wednesday 5th February Turtle Mountain After an early breakfast the group departed for Turtle Mountain with a huge variety of birdlife seen. We arrived back at Iwokrama River Lodge for a late lunch, and later in the afternoon another wildlife excursion produced many species before the group headed back to the lodge for dinner. Day 4 Thursday 6th February Atta Lodge A morning wildlife walk around the lodge before breakfast produced a number of interesting species. After breakfast, we departed for Atta Lodge. The drive produced sightings of Black Currasow, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, beautiful mixed flocks of tanagers, and Red-rumped Agouti. A lovely walk on the Canopy Walkway at Atta Lodge provided many species of birds with a mammal highlight being a family of Red Howler Monkeys across the valley, lit in the perfect golden evening sunset. Day 5 - 6 Friday 7th February – Saturday 8th February Atta Lodge Amongst many wildlife sightings of these two days, the undoubted highlight was the group enjoying the incredibly rare and special moment of a young Jaguar quite literally crossing their path, only 20 metres from the group! Day 6 Sunday 9th February Suruma Once again, the group had a world-class wildlife experience with three cock Guianan Cock-of-the-rock lekking in open forest, which was later followed by an aggressive display of branch dropping from a Black Spider Monkey troupe. Day 7 Monday 10th February Surama Today the group enjoyed a wonderful walk up Suruma Mountain. In the afternoon the group explored Burro- Burro River with numerous wildlife sightings. Day 8 Tuesday 11th February Karanambu A large number of spectacular birds were found in the morning including Great Potoo, White-tailed Hawk, Great Black Hawk, Savanna Hawk, White-naped Xenopsaris, Pied Water Tyrant, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Vermilion 2 © Naturetrek Guyana – A Timeless Paradise Tour Report Flycatcher, Jabiru Stork, and many other species. The afternoon produced Anhinga, Band-tailed Nighthawk, Boat- billed Heron and Giant River Otter. Day 9 Wednesday 12th February Karanambu Before breakfast the group went in search of Giant Anteater… with success! We watched an individual crossing a foraging field. After breakfast we walked to the Capuchin Bird trail, whereby we startled a small group of peccaries. In the afternoon, the group went searching on the savannas which amazingly resulted in a ‘lifer’ for the guides - a Least Bittern! On the way back to the lodge, spotlighting for Nighthawk and Nightjar concluded the day, with some fine specimens being seen. Day 9 Thursday 13th February Karanambu Before breakfast the group again went in search of Giant Anteater… with success! We watched an individual crossing a field. An afternoon at Semoni Pond produced Giant River Otter, Bearded Saki and Brown Capuchin, along with many bird species. Day 10 Friday 14th February Karanambu On an early morning walk along the Capuchinbird trail the group were serenaded by the Capuchinbird’s unbelievable call. The group saw a number of ant-feeding specialists such as antshrikes and flycatchers who were no doubt taking advantage of the cooler morning temperatures to feed on slower-moving ants. After breakfast, we departed for Lethem, stopping for lunch at the Eco-Hotel before travelling onwards to Georgetown. Day 11 Saturday 15th February Mahaica River Before breakfast the group departed for birding and wildlife spotting on the Mahaica River. We were surprised to quickly spot three Giant River Otter (very uncommon on the coast). We saw many of the species we were targeting for the Mahaica; Hoatzin, Little Cuckoo, Blood-colored Woodpecker, Long-winged Harrier, and several other species, including two sightings of Red Howler Monkey, of which one of the troupes did a spectacular howling performance. Heading back to Georgetown after breakfast, we were able to find one of the main mangrove-specific species: Rufous Crab Hawk. Our wildlife finale took us to Ogle Mudflats in search of wading birds; Scarlet Ibis, yellowlegs, terns, herons and egrets, followed by birding in the botanical gardens where we found White-bellied Piculet, Blood-colored Woodpeckers, Festive Parrot, Toco Toucan and West Indian Manatees. What a great day! © Naturetrek 3 Guyana – A Timeless Paradise Tour Report All of the group extended their holiday on a set extension arranged by Naturetrek, at the wonderful Asa Wright Centre in Trinidad, just a short flight from Guyana. 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Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and be the first to hear about the launch of new tours, offers and exciting sightings and photos from our recently returned holidays. 4 © Naturetrek Guyana – A Timeless Paradise Tour Report Species Lists Birds (=recorded but not counted; H = heard only) Common name Scientific name trip 1 Undulated Tinamou Crypturellus undulatus H 2 Varriegated Tinamou Crypturellus variegatus H 3 Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata ✓ 4 Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus ✓ 5 Little Chachalaca Ortalis motmot ✓ 6 Spix's Guan Penelope jacquacu ✓ 7 Marail Guan Penelope marail ✓ 8 Black Curassow Crax alector ✓ 9 Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens ✓ 10 Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus ✓ 11 Anhinga Anhinga anhinga ✓ 12 Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea ✓ 13 Tricoloured Heron Egretta tricolor ✓ 14 Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi ✓ 15 Snowy Egret Egretta thula ✓ 16 Great Egret Ardea alba ✓ 17 Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus ✓ 18 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ✓ 19 Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea ✓ 20 Striated Heron Butorides striata ✓ 21 Boat-billed Heron Cachlearius cochlearius ✓ 22 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ✓ 23 Rufescent Tiger Heron Trigrisoma lineatum ✓ 24 Scarlet Ibis Eudocimus ruber ✓ 25 Green Ibis Mesembrinibis cayennensis ✓ 26 Limpkin Aramus guaranuna ✓ 27 Least Bittern Lxobrychus exilis ✓ 28 Maguari Stork Ciconia maguari ✓ 29 Wood Stork Mycteria americana ✓ 30 Jabiru Jabiru mycteria ✓ 31 Black Vulture Coragyps atratus ✓ 32 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura ✓ 33 Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus ✓ 34 Greater Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes melambrotus ✓ 35 King Vulture Sarcoramohus papa ✓ 36 Osprey Pandion haliaetus ✓ 37 Grey-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis ✓ 38 Pearl Kite Gampsonyx swainsonii ✓ 39 White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus ✓ 40 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus ✓ 41 Snail Kite Rastrhamus sociabilis ✓ 42 Long-winged Harrier Circus buffoni ✓ 43 Grey-lined