Lots of Great Birds from the AMAZON BASIN to the HIGH ANDES, and the incredible MACHU PICCHU INCA RUINS!

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1 BIRD TREKS SOUTHEAST PERU Lots of Great Birds from the AMAZON BASIN to the HIGH ANDES, and the incredible MACHU PICCHU INCA RUINS! Dates We'll visit Tuesday, 2 September through Sunday, 21 Sep 2014: 20 days & 19 nights Manu Biosphere Reserve boasts more than 1000 species of birds and the greatest biodiversity on the planet. We will take in as much of this enormous conservation area as we can, from the high Andean puna grasslands, through the cloud forest, down to the Amazon rainforest. In a series of steps from Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge to Amazonia Lodge, and finally to the renowned Manu Wildlife Center, we will be exposed to all of the habitats that give Manu its incredible reputation. The Blanquillo Macaw Lick lies downriver from Manu Wildlife Center. This clay bank attracts hundreds of parrots and a flock of Red-and-green Macaws every morning. No trip to Peru would be complete without a train ride to the amazing Machu Picchu Inca Ruins. As a World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu is perhaps the best known archeological site in the world. We spend two days at Machu Picchu, site of extraordinarily restored Inca ruins and home to several endemic birds. - - Mickey Cashman, Peru tour participant [Target species are on page 2] Robert M. Schutsky ~ 216 Spring Lane ~ Peach Bottom, PA USA ~ Fax ~ info@birdtreks.com ~

2 Birds likely to be seen include hummingbirds, tanagers & furnarids too numerous to list, plus... Horned Screamer Manu Antbird White-rumped Hawk Amazonian Antpitta Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Red-and-white Antpitta Large-billed Tern Rufous-fronted Antthrush Macaws--SEVEN species Black-throated Tody-Tyrant Orange-cheeked Parrot Flammulated Bamboo-Tyrant Hoatzin Inca Flycatcher Bearded Mountaineer Yungas Manakin Golden-headed Quetzal Cerulean-capped Manakin Purus Jacamar Band-tailed Manakin Bluish-fronted Jacamar Plum-throated Cotinga Amazonia Lodge Crimson-mantled Woodpecker Red-crested Cotinga Rusty-fronted Canastero Barred Fruiteater Red-billed Scythebill Bare-necked Fruitcrow Bamboo Antshrike Andean Cock-of-the-rock Ornate Antwren Black-capped Donacobius - - photos by Joe Schelling, Stripe-chested Antwren Inca Wren Peru tour participant Some of the more difficult species that we will make a special effort to find are... Black-capped Tinamou Amazonian Parrotlet Lyre-tailed Nightjar Collared Puffbird Striolated Puffbird Rufous-capped Nunlet Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan Streak-fronted Thornbird Marcapata Spinetail Peruvian Recurvebill White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher Masked Fruiteater Parodi s Hemispingus * * * * * * A gorgeous butterfly PERU MACHU PICCHU, the ANDES & the AMAZON! 2-21 September 2014 Day Agenda 1 Fly to Lima, Peru's capital, where we will spend the night. 2 After the early morning flight to Cuzco, we will head south to the Huacarpay Lakes. Besides searching for Puna Ibis, Bearded Mountaineer, Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, and other area specialties, the high elevation scrub will yield excellent opportunities for birds such as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Giant Hummingbird, and Streak-fronted Thornbird. Overnight in Ollantaytambo. 2 [Day 3 begins on page 3]

3 3 Depart Ollantaytambo early in the morning for the 2.5-hour train journey to Machu Picchu. From the train we will see Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper on the Urubamba River. Arriving at the ruins, birding takes a back seat as we are given a guided tour of this mystical archaeological complex. White-tipped Swifts will be flying overhead. After lunch we ll look for Inca Wren, which is quite common in the bamboo around the ruins, and then descend into the Urubamba gorge for late afternoon birding. Night in Aguas Calientes. 4 We ll spend all morning birding the railway track along the Urubamba River. In the remnant cloud forest we will be looking specifically for Sclater s and Bolivian Tyrannulets, Silver-backed Tanager, Pale-eyed Thrush, Oleaginous Hemispingus, and Capped Conebill. Mixed flocks contain many species of tanagers, and the endemic Green-and-white Hummingbird is common here. After a late lunch, we return on the tourist train to the historic town of Ollantaytambo to spend the night. 5 After breakfast we have all day to bird the humid temperate forest. Starting at a large patch of Chusquea bamboo, we should see Parodi's Hemispingus and Puna Thistletail, both endemic to Peru. Other possibilities throughout the day include Drab, Threestriped, Black-eared, and Black-capped Himispingi, Golden-collared and other tanagers, White-throated and White-banded Tyrannulets, Andean Ibis, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, White-rumped Hawk, Sierran Elaenia, Marcapata Spinetail and Inca Wren (latter two are endemic), plus a lot more. We'll return to the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the evening. 6 We ll devote the whole morning to exploring the unique Polylepis woodland at Abra Malaga. Possibilities include Line-fronted Canastero, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant and White-browed Tit-Spinetail (both endemic), Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Giant Conebill, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Andean Tapaculo, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Condor, Thick-billed Siskin, Junin Canastero (endemic), and many more. On the valley floor we ll find a variety of ground-tyrants and sierra-finches. After a picnic lunch we ll concentrate on some local endemics on the west side, including Creamy-crested Spinetail, Rusty-fronted Canastero, White-tufted Sunbeam, and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch. In the early evening we will return to Urubamba for our third night there. 7 Leaving from Ollanta in our expedition bus, we will head for Ajcanacu Pass. After spending some time searching for alpine species, we will descend into the Amazon Basin. We will make various stops in search of the mixed species flocks of tanagers and furnarids for which the Andean forests are famous. We should see such extremely local endemics as Marcapata and Creamy-crested Spinetails, Puna Thistletail, Red-and-white Antpitta, and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch along the way. Night at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge. 8-9 From Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge we will have two full days to explore the middle elevations of the Manu Road. One of the highlights will be viewing the unique mating dance of the Andean Cock-of-the-rock on their lek, an easy five-minute walk from the lodge. Other possibilities here include Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, Black-streaked Puffbird, Blue-banded Toucanet, Slaty Gnateater, Cerulean-capped Manakin, and Chestnut-breasted Wren. Yungas Manakin and numerous tanagers, 3

4 including the amazing Paradise Tanager, are common on the lodge grounds. A short drive back up Manu Road will give us a chance for specialties such as Inca and Ochraceous-breasted Flycatchers, White-eared Solitaire, and White-collared Jay, while a night excursion is likely to produce the spectacular Lyre-tailed Nightjar. A total of three nights at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge. 10 After a predawn breakfast we will descend through the upper tropical zone searching for birds such as Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Bamboo Antshrike, Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher, and Golden-bellied Warbler, as we begin to encounter more and more antbirds and flycatchers. Our first of three nights at Amazonia Lodge We will spend two full days at this converted tea hacienda. Situated at the transition between Andean foothills and lowland forest, Amazonia Lodge has a bird list of more than 530 species. From the prehistoric Hoatzin to enigmatic species such as Blackish Rail and Buckley's Forest-Falcon, these transition forests offer some of the world's best birding. Even the grounds are exciting, as hummingbirds constantly visit the bushes surrounding the lodge. Rufous-crested Coquette and Golden-tailed Sapphire are regulars, while the rare and beautiful Wire-crested Thorntail may reward the patient observer, as it has on two of our previous tours. We spend a total of three nights at Amazonia Lodge. 13 This morning we will board motorized canoes for our seven-hour journey down the Alto Madre de Dios River to the world-renowned Manu Wildlife Center. On the river we should see Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Orinoco Goose, Pied Lapwing, and many raptors, parrots, and macaws. First of five nights at Manu Wildlife Center We will have four full days to explore the lowland Amazonian forest around the Center. With terra firma, floodplain forest, and bamboo habitat, more than 530 species have been recorded at Manu Wildlife Center. Birds such as Manu Antbird and Rufous-fronted Antthrush are found only in this area. One morning we will travel downriver to the Blanquillo Macaw Lick to observe hundreds of parrots and macaws as they make their daily visit. Along oxbow lakes we will search for Little Cuckoo, Purus Jacamar, Black-faced Cotinga, and Pale-eyed Blackbird, and hope to see the Giant Otters that make these lakes their home. Several areas of extensive Guadua bamboo growth will give us opportunities to search for specialties including Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Peruvian Recurvebill, Striated Antbird, and White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant, among many others. 18 We will pry ourselves away from the lush Amazonian rainforest this morning for a pleasurable journey downriver to Puerto Maldonado where we will have a fine dinner and spend the night. 19 We ll have just an hour or two for a bit more birding, then take our commercial flight through Cuzco to Lima. If time allows we ll bird the very productive Villa Marshes and the Pacific Coast, then prepare for our late night international flights, reaching home tomorrow, the 21st of September. * * * * * * 4 [Final details are on page 5]

5 Leader Bird Treks Southeast Peru Tour will be led by one of the expert guides of Manu Expeditions, with the assistance of a Bird Treks leader, if the number of participants warrants a second guide. All of the Manu Expeditions leaders are highly experienced with the identification and vocalizations of the birds of Peru. They love to show you the birds and habitats of this spectacular country. Price The tour fee is approximately $5995 from Lima, based upon double occupancy and a minimum of five participants. The tour fee may vary a bit according to the price of the domestic flights. Single accommodations can be arranged for an approximate extra payment of $895. Includes Expert guide service, all boat rides, all ground and air transportation within Peru, all entrance fees, ALL meals and lodging for the entire tour, beginning in Lima on the evening of September 2nd. ALL tips are included in the tour fee, except for anything extra that you may wish to give to your boat crews and tour leader(s). Does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature, or international airfare and departure tax. Upon request BIRD TREKS will help you obtain the best possible airfare and coordinate arrivals into Lima. Extra Services We offer the services of our exclusive Bird Treks travel agent, Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 28 years of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact her through Bailey Travel at , or you can her at lori@baileytravel.com. By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans. There may be a fee for these services. Deposit A $1400 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance is due on or about 2 June Send your deposit SOON so that we can secure the least expensive air fare to Lima and reserve your spot on this exciting tour. Refund and Cancellation Policy With written notice more than 90 days prior to the first day of the tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 service fee. With days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice. You will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement for your spot on the tour. No partial refund can be given once the tour begins. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment. Contact Allianz Global Assistance (formerly Access America) and mention BIRD TREKS ACCAM # F You can easily apply via the Internet at or by phone at The primitive-looking Hoatzin. - - Donald Pirie 5