AMAZONIAN PERU. 1 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Amazonian Peru. Iquitos and its Jungle Lodges

Transcription

1 1 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Amazonian Peru AMAZONIAN PERU Iquitos and its Jungle Lodges Tour Duration: 15 days Over millions of years in the Amazonian rainforest of the Iquitos region the process of evolution has progressed in response to climate change, the rise of the Andes, and the birth of the Amazon river with its multitude of tributaries. The result is an incredible array of habitats and soil types, each with a specialized flora and fauna. Modern research has proven that unique species are restricted to the more rare and distinctive of these Amazonian habitats. Overlooked by early 19th century ornithologists, interest in such fragile and unique ecosystems has occurred only recently with the discovery of several bird species new to science from the white sandy soil forests of Iquitos. These discoveries are just a few examples of the incredibly high biodiversity of the Iquitos region. Its broad position at the shared boundary of the three major biogeographic centre of the South American continent are the cause for world records in numbers of reptiles, amphibians and tree species. With over 600 species of birds recorded from the surroundings of the city of Iquitos, this part of western Amazonia is known to be one Ancient Antwren (Nik Borrow) of the richest areas for birds in the entire vast Amazonian basin. Founded during the rubber and timber boom of the 19th century, this remote Amazonian city is surrounded by the Amazon, Itaya and Nanay rivers. It still has no road connections to the outside world, so access is by air and river only. This is one of the few places on our planet that we visit where roads are virtually nonexistent! Leaving the city far behind, five rainforest lodges will serve as our base for exploration of this diverse environment, the original Explorama Lodge, Explornapo Lodge, the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies (ACTS) adjacent to the canopy walkway, Cumaceba Lodge and finally Muyuna Lodge. From carefully designed trails leading away from the lodges we shall seek some of the Amazon basin s most exciting birds and mammals. Amongst the myriad of possibilities, specialities of the area possible on the tour include the legendary Nocturnal Curassow, Wattled Curassow, Black-faced Hawk, Pavonine Quetzal, the spectacular Blacknecked Red-Cotinga, Redbilled Ground-Cuckoo (very rare), Undulated Antshrike, Reddish-winged Bare-eye, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Band-tailed Oropendola and a rich variety of river island specialists including Zimmer s Woodcreeper. Two major rivers, the Ucayali and Maranon meet to form the majestic Amazon River not far from Iquitos, creating a complex mosaic of riverine habitats. Different-sized islands with vegetation in various stages of succession each host a slightly different avifauna wholly specialized and isolated from the mainland. Starting at Explorama, we will visit an older island for several island specialists as well as Amazonian Umbrellabird and Festive Parrot whilst the lodge s surrounding floodplain forest has the recently described Orange-eyed Flycatcher and noisy Shorttailed Parrots. Moving to ACTS, the incredible canopy walkway, the only one of its kind in the New World tropics, is one of the major attractions and highlights. This aerial bridge links twelve giant trees, stretching five hundred metres (one-third of a mile) through the rainforest canopy. Many of the birds show no fear of the unexpected company of human visitors 35 metres (115 feet) up in the canopy, allowing unparalleled views of mixed flocks with trogons, barbets, puffbirds and tanagers! From the terra firma forests surrounding ACTS we will move to the nearby Explornapo Lodge where we will have easy access to several distinct island and varzea habitats. The lodge is surrounded by upper floodplain forest with Spotted Puffbird and Black-necked Red Cotinga possible just beyond the lodge clearing. Our next lodge, Cumaceba, features rich varzea, home to the near-endemic Black-tailed Antbird as well as Hoatzin, Rufous-sided Crake, Dotbacked Antbird, Johannes s Pygmy-Tyrant and delightful Pygmy Marmosets. To complete our set of Amazonian lodges, we will

2 2 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Amazonian Peru visit Muyuna Lodge, where we have a very good chance at seeing Wattled Curassow, an endangered bird known from only a few sites in South America. The second mega curassow we hope to see during our travels! The finale of this exciting tour will take place in the newly created Allpahuayo- Mishana Reserve. Protecting the largest concentration of white sand forest so far known in Peruvian Amazonia, newly discovered birds such as Ancient Antwren, Allpahuayo Antbird, Mishana Tyrannulet and Iquitos Gnatcatcher are easily accessible from our comfortable hotel in Iquitos. Almost everyone harbours longings to see the magnificent scenery of the high Andes and, of course, Machupicchu, the evocative ruined city of the Incas. The optional extension will show you both these things and much more. With over 1800 species of 88 families recorded in the country to date, Peru has the richest avifauna in the world and offers some of the most exciting birding in South America. After hot and steamy Amazonia, the cool, birdrich cloudforests, lakes, puna grasslands and snow-capped Andean peaks will come as a total and refreshing contrast. During our travels in the highlands we will visit the Cuzco region on the eastern Black-necked Red-Cotinga (Nik Borrow) edge of the Andes, including the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas, the spectacular Abra Malaga pass and the eyrie-like ruins of Machupicchu. We will see a superb selection of birds amidst some spectacular scenery, including a superb collection of endemic and restricted range species that will likely be new even for veterans of Neotropical birding. Finally, to round off our adventure, we will visit the Pacific coast with its penguins, boobies, pelicans, cormorants and extraordinary Inca Terns. Birdquest has operated tours to Peru since Itinerary Day 1 The tour begins this evening at Lima, where we will stay overnight. Day 2 This morning we will fly to Iquitos, from where fast, covered boats will take us down the Amazon river to Yanamono creek and Explorama Lodge. Travelling down the immense Amazon river, we shall look for Largebilled and Yellow-billed Terns, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, White-winged, White-banded and Southern Rough-wing Swallows, and either of the two species of rarely seen river dolphins. After our first sampling of the Explorama lodges tasty meals, our introduction to Amazonian birds will begin around the lodge clearing where we will likely see White-eyed, Dusky-headed and Cobalt-winged Parakeets, Blue-headed and Short-tailed Parrots, Squirrel Cuckoo, White-necked Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Bluecrowned Trogon, the splendid White-eared Jacamar, Blackfronted Nunbird, Chestnuteared Aracari, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Short-crested, Boat-billed, Social and Greycapped Flycatchers, Thrushlike and Buff-breasted Wrens, Masked Tityra, Magpie, Silverbeaked, Blue-grey and Palm Tanagers, Yellow-rumped Cacique and Russet-backed and Crested Oropendolas. Some late afternoon birding around the lodge should also yield Greater Ani, Tui Parakeet, Glittering-throated Emerald, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Straight-billed and Longbilled Woodcreepers, Pygmy Antwren, Great Kiskadee, White-winged Becard, Redcapped Cardinal, Hooded and Masked Crimson Tanagers, Thick-billed and Purplethroated Euphonias, Greyish Saltator and Orange-backed Troupial. We will also have our first attempt at such specialities as Orange-eyed Flycatcher as well as the more secretive Black-banded Crake or Pale-billed (Bay) Hornero. In the evening we may well see a Tropical Screech-Owl or a Common Potoo just outside our rooms. Day 3 This morning we shall visit one of the nearby river islands with differing aged stands of both young and mature woodlands. Edge growth is inhabited by the lovely Red-and-white Spinetail whilst in taller Cecropia trees we will look for Blue-winged Parrotlets, Brownish Elaenia, Streaked Flycatcher and Bicoloured and Pearly-breasted Conebills. Nearby, mature woodland is inhabited by Lettered Aracari, Plain-breasted Piculet, Spotbreasted Woodpecker, Leaden Antwren, Ash-breasted Antbird and Zimmer s Woodcreeper (a cryptic species whose identification remained unsolved until recent times). Our best chance for seeing the colourful Festive Parrot and the incredible Amazonian Umbrellabird will be from these islands. Our boat journey will then continue down the Amazon, and after passing the dramatic confluence with the Napo river, our boat will take us to the 100,000 hectare forest reserve of Explornapo Lodge, located on the Sucusari river, and the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies (ACTS) near the famous canopy walkway. From here we will bird the forest trails as we walk to ACTS for our three nights there. (The walk would take about 45 minutes if we kept going, but of course there will be plenty to distract us along the way!) Days 4-5 With the sun still a distant orange glow on the horizon, early dawn will find us on the canopy walkway platforms admiring huge emergent trees taking form amidst the backdrop of undisturbed rainforest. During this magical hour the rainforest bird life erupts in song. The clear whistles of Bartlett s Tinamou, the rhythmic hoots of Rufous Motmots and the strident calls of Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper are soon followed by the yelps and croaks of White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans. Small mixed flocks of tanagers and honeycreepers form as the sun s first rays strike the canopy and the low hanging vapour clouds evaporate. It is much more enjoyable to watch colourful canopy gems such as Purple-throated and White-lored Euphonias, Paradise, Green-and-gold, Turquoise, Bay-headed, Opalrumped and Opal-crowned Tanagers, Black-faced, Yellowbellied and Blue Dacnises and Green, Short-billed and Purple Honeycreepers foraging in

3 3 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Amazonian Peru Nocturnal Curassow (Nik Borrow) the same tree crown in which you are standing! These early hours are also the best time to find parrots and we will watch for pairs of Red-andgreen Macaws, Maroon-tailed Parakeets, Sapphire-rumped Parrotlets, Orange-cheeked and Black-headed Parrots, and Orange-winged and Mealy Amazons chattering contact calls as they commute from roost sites to feeding trees. Golden-tailed Sapphires and Black-bellied Thorntails visit nectar-rich flowering trees whilst ripe canopy fruits attract marauding Ivory-billed and Many-banded Aracaris and Purple-throated and Barenecked Fruitcrows. Piratic Flycatchers, Long-tailed Tyrants and even Swallow- Tanagers can be seen adeptly capturing invertebrate prey and with the increase in insect activity we will hope for a canopy flock comprised of such nuclear attendants as White-fronted Nunbird, Lineated Woodcreeper, Moustached and Dugand s Antwrens, White-lored, Slender-footed and Yellowcrowned Tyrannulets, Grey and Forest Elaenias, and Pink-throated Becard to pass near us. We also have a good chance of finding one or two of the more inconspicuous, solitary denizens of the canopy such as Blackbellied Cuckoo, Paradise Jacamar, Golden-collared Toucanet, Lawrence s Thrush (that remarkable mimic), and the diminutive Yellowbrowed Tody-Flycatcher. Our scanning of the surrounding treetops should reward us with Double-toothed Kite, vociferous Red-throated Caracaras, Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Grey-rumped, Pale-rumped and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swifts, Whitenecked Puffbird, the gleaming Spangled Cotinga and, with luck, less frequently observed species such as Blackfaced Hawk, White-browed Purpletuft or Band-tailed and Casqued Oropendolas. After just a few hours the canopy avifauna goes quiet as the hot tropical sun forces the birds slightly lower, beneath leafy cover. We shall consequently descend to bird along an excellent trail system threading through the surrounding terra firme forests. The complexity of the rainforest will be immediately evident. Thick woody lianas looping through strata of various heights, flange-like tree buttresses and palms with odd-looking stilt roots are all part of the enchantment of the rainforest. While we walk patiently and quietly along the trails, our primary cues for finding birds will be sound and movement as we pursue both shy and retiring insectivorous birds and the more colourful frugivores. We will be attentive for the flash of movement caused by a Purplish or Yellow-billed Jacamar spearing an unlucky katydid in flight, or a colourful Black-tailed Trogon sallying out for subcanopy fruits. The rhythmic song of a Pavonine Quetzal will alert us to its presence, although we will be fortunate to find it hidden in the immense greenery. The list of puffbirds is impressive and here in the terra firme we shall seek such inconspicuous species as Collared Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet and Rusty-breasted Nunlet. A diverse assemblage of ovenbirds and woodcreepers inhabit the terra firme and with the careful use of playback we may find Striped Woodhaunter, Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner, Short-tailed and Black-tailed Leaftossers, and Spot-throated and Ocellated Woodcreepers. A sudden harsh scolding note may be the first sign of a thrilling army-ant swarm attended by Plain-brown and White-chinned Woodcreepers, Sooty, Scale-backed, Whiteplumed, Bicoloured and Hairy-crested Antbirds, and Reddish-winged Bare-eye. The very rarely observed king of the aforementioned spectacle is of course the Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo, who, just as the antbirds, voraciously captures plump insects fleeing the raiding ants. Not all antbirds are obligate ant-swarm followers, and here we shall also seek a large list of antbirds found away from swarms including Fasciated, Undulated, Plain-winged, and Mouse-coloured Antshrikes, Black-faced, Warbling, Yellowbrowed and Spot-winged Antbirds and Rufous-capped and Black-faced Antthrushes. To accomplish seeing either the shy and reclusive Striated Antthrush or the magnificent Ochre-striped Antpitta walking quietly over the forest floor will, however, require every bit of our recentlyhoned forest skills. Although somewhat inconspicuous when quietly foraging, manakins are usually more easily found when displaying and we may witness some of their peculiar antics. The nervous Golden-headed Manakin often displays in subcanopy trees and likewise we shall search for the hidden perches of chirruping Bluebacked Manakins. Additional species we will look for from the canopy walkway and along the terra firme trails are White-throated Tinamou, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Marbled Wood-Quail, Grey-fronted Dove, Great-billed, Straightbilled and Reddish Hermits, Amazonian White-tailed and Black-throated Trogons, Great Jacamar, Chestnutcapped Puffbird, the roaming Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Black-and-white Tody-Tyrant, Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher, Large-headed Flatbill, Brownish Twistwing, Brightrumped Attila, Ruddy-tailed, Whiskered, Variegated and Dusky-chested Flycatchers, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin, Musician Wren, Buff-rumped Warbler, Pectoral Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Slatecoloured Grosbeak and Redrumped Cacique. The primary target of our night birding near our well-placed lodge will be the Nocturnal Curassow, this being one of the few places on the continent where seeing this species is a real possibility. We will be alert for a male in song and with a modicum of luck we will spotlight this coveted species high in a tree on one of our nocturnal excursions. We may also encounter Short-tailed Nighthawk, Northern Tawnybellied Screech-Owl, Longtailed Potoo, Crested Owl or even Night Monkeys during our night birding here. Day 6 After a final morning of birding the forest around ACTS we will return on foot to Explornapo Lodge for a three nights stay. In the late afternoon we will have our first opportunity to explore our new surroundings. Days 7-8 From our new setting we shall explore the surrounding floodplain, the seasonally flooded varzea forest and visit the nearby river islands of various sizes dotting the Napo river. The piercing call of the Screaming Piha, so emblematic of Amazonian rainforest, is a common sound here, whilst above the din

4 4 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Amazonian Peru Ochre-striped Antpitta (Nik Borrow) we shall be attentive for the mellifluous whistle of a smart male Purple-throated Cotinga from the canopy. The variety of tyrant flycatchers in these forests seems endless and within the forest interior we shall seek Ringed Antpipit, Short-tailed and Doublebanded Pygmy-Tyrants, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher and Golden-crowned Spadebill. For years the Orangeeyed Flycatcher escaped recognition until the late Ted Parker noted its distinctive call from these very floodplain forests. Tracking the strident calls of a flock sentinel such as Fulvous Shrike-Tanager may lead us to a subcanopy flock made up of Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Spot-winged Antshrike, Rufous-bellied Euphonia, and Yellowbacked and Flame-crested Tanagers. Occasionally, Red-stained, Yellow-throated and Chestnut and Creamcoloured Woodpeckers get caught up in the excitement of such foraging flocks. Moving through the botanically diverse forest understorey are mixed flocks led by Cinereous and Dusky-throated Antshrikes giving sharp alarm calls heeded by Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner, White-flanked Antwren, and Spix s and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers. The floodplain canopy holds additional flocking species, including core members such as Lemon-throated and Gilded Barbets, Chestnutshouldered Antwren, Zimmer s (split from Yellow-margined) Flycatcher and Wing-barred Piprites. Away from the flocks we may find a Whitechinned Jacamar hawking insects near a tree fall, the impressive Red-necked Woodpecker drumming on venerable rainforest trunks, Buff-throated Foliage-Gleaner and Slate-coloured Antbird in understorey shrubs, or a Grey Antbird calling from a canopy vine tangle. We will also look to add to our manakin quota with Wire-tailed, Bluecrowned and Striped Manakin from the lower and middle growth of these inexhaustible forests. With calm persistence we will attempt to lure terrestrial avian wonders like Banded Antbird or the striking Chestnut-belted Gnateater onto a fallen trunk or even spot a Thrush-like Antpitta vocalizing in the thick growth of a light-gap or at the forest edge. If we are fortunate enough to find an antswarm in the varzea, this time it could be accompanied by either Lunulated Antbird or Blackspotted Bare-eye. With luck, we will see the striking Blacknecked Red-Cotinga near the lodge, however in recent years these shy birds have become more difficult. Our first early morning foray to the accessible river islands of the Napo river will be exciting as we discover their distinctive avifauna. These newly exposed islands have predominantly younger successional scrub grading into Gynerium cane and taller Cecropia woodland, the favoured habitat of Lesser Hornero, White-bellied, Dark-breasted and Parker s Spinetails, Castelnau s Antshrike, and the striking Black-and-white Antbird. As we approach the shore we will look for Shiny Cowbirds and Yellow-hooded Blackbirds noisily vacating their roosts, Chestnut-bellied, Lined and Caquetá Seedeaters and Oriole Blackbirds singing from grassy margins, and smart White-headed Marsh- Tyrants sitting on low perches over the water s edge. Passing through Tessaria scrub, we will look for Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Orangeheaded Tanager and Yellowbrowed Sparrow. Stands of young Tessaria are preferred by Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant and Riverside Tyrant, and grassy edges echo with the vocalizations of the Blackcapped Donacobius. There is usually a roost of Sandcoloured Nighthawk near one of the islands. Another of our morning birding trails through varzea forest leads to an oxbow lake where understorey thickets and flooded areas are inhabited by White-shouldered, Plumbeous, Silvered and Dot-backed Antbirds, Yellowcrowned Elaenia, Johannes s Tody-Tyrant and Buff-breasted Wren. In trees overhead we may find the retiring Slatecoloured Hawk, Amazonian Violaceous Trogon, Duskycapped, Olive-faced (split from Yellow-breasted) and Grey-crowned Flycatchers, Little and Lineated Woodpeckers, Hauxwell s Thrush, and Buff-throated Saltator. Depending on water levels, we will explore a nearby whitewater tributary of the Napo, which will no doubt result in more splendid bird sightings. Moving slowly along the river we will look for Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Agami Heron, Great Black- Hawk, American Pygmy and Green-and-rufous Kingfishers, Pied and Spotted Puffbirds, Black-chinned Antbird, Plum-throated Cotinga and the localized Velvet-fronted Grackle. At clearings near the lodge we may find Grey-necked Wood- Rail, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Fork-tailed Woodnymph and with luck admire garrulous Blue-and-yellow Macaws in flight. Other possibilities quite likely during our birding at Explornapo are Speckled Chachalaca, Crane and Short-tailed Hawks, Pale-vented, Plumbeous and Ruddy Pigeons, Pheasant Cuckoo, Ferruginous Pygmy- Owl, Pauraque, Shorttailed Swift, Pale-tailed Barbthroat, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, White-necked Thrush, the skulking Coraya Wren and Collared Gnatwren. Day 9 After a final morning of birding at Explornapo Lodge we will head upstream on the Amazon river, eventually arriving at Cumaceba Lodge, where we will spend one night. In addition to previously mentioned species, likely species we will encounter on our river journey are Neotropic Cormorant, Snowy and Great Egrets, Little Blue, Capped and White-necked Herons, Black, Turkey, Greater Yellow-headed and King Vultures, Osprey, Roadside Hawk, Yellow-headed and Black Caracaras, Plumbeous and Swallow-tailed Kites, Black Skimmer, Spotted Sandpiper and Collared Plover, Smooth-billed Ani, Neotropical Palm-Swift, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers and Tropical Kingbird. Cumaceba Lodge features rich varzea surrounding an old oxbow lake and a nearby river island. These extensive floodplain habitats should yield Muscovy Duck, Striated Heron, Black-crowned Night- Heron, Black-collared Hawk, Hook-billed Kite, Laughing Falcon, Purple Gallinule, Wattled Jacana, Hoatzin, Little Cuckoo, Ladder-tailed Nightjar (at its daytime roost), Swallowwing, Sulphury Flycatcher, White-eyed Attila and Lesser

5 5 Birdquest Detailed Tour Itinerary: Amazonian Peru Kiskadee. Productive trails through varzea and riverine forest hold Cinereous and Undulated Tinamous, Blue Ground-Dove, Collared Trogon, Olivaceous and Striped Woodcreepers, Plaincrowned Spinetail, Great, Amazonian and Barred Antshrikes, Black-throated Antbird, Southern Beardless- Tyrannulet, Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Olivaceous Flatbill, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Cinnamon Attila, Black-tailed Tityra, Varzea Schiffornis, Grey-headed Tanager, Lesser Seed-Finch and Solitary Cacique. Once thought to be endemic to Peru, and only recently found in neighbouring Brazil, the localized Black-tailed Antbird is relatively common here. The fascinating Pygmy Marmoset, the New World s smallest primate, is also found here and we will make a special effort to locate a family group. By taking a short walk after dinner we will try to locate a Spectacled Owl by its reverberating call or the ominous sounding Great Potoo. Day 10 After spending the morning birding at Cumaceba Lodge, we will continue up the Amazon on a three hour boat journey to the Yanayacu river and Muyuna Lodge for a two nights stay. Day 11 At Muyuna we will seek out the rare and threatened Wattled Curassow in an area of várzea forest with the help of our local guide. This is the most accessible site in the entire Amazon basin to see this species, which is classified as Endangered due to hunting pressure on its very small population. The only other sites for the curassow are found in Bolivia and Brazil where the birds either require a long hike or can be difficult to see. This will also be our first opportunity to see several species of the south bank of the Amazon which we will not have visited until now. These south bank birds include Blue-cheeked Jacamar, Rufous-chested Puffbird and Saturnine Antshrike. Additional new species could include Boatbilled and Zigzag Herons, Blue-chinned Sapphire, Rose-fronted Parakeet, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Rufous-capped Nunlet, Pointtailed Palmcreeper, Slenderbilled Xenops, Amazonian Antshrike and Grey-chested Greenlet. We will also have a second opportunity for such species as Sungrebe, Shorttailed and Festive Parrots, and Spectacled Owl. Day 12 After some final birding at Muyuna Lodge we will transfer to the city of Iquitos and our comfortable air-conditioned hotel for a three nights stay. Open country birds of widespread distribution that we may see around the city include Pearl Kite, Ruddy Ground-Dove, House Wren, Brown-chested and Grey-breasted Martins, Vermillion Flycatcher, Blackbilled Thrush, Blue-black Grassquit, Red-breasted Blackbird and Shiny and Giant Cowbirds. Days The white sandy soil forests not far from Iquitos made recent ornithological headlines when local conservationist José Pepe Alvarez brought several undescribed bird species to light. Thanks to his efforts the Allpahuayo- Mishana Reserve was recently created to protect this distinctive forest community. We will have two full days here in search of Ancient Antwren, Allpahuayo Antbird, Mishana Tyrannulet and the recently-described, canopydwelling Iquitos Gnatcatcher. Here the flora is adapted to growing on very poor soils, and its herpetofauna and avifauna are likewise specialized. Although these forests can be defined by their silence, a bit of persistence and luck will reward us with additional species of special occurrence including Brown-banded Puffbird, Pompadour Cotinga, Pearly Antshrike, Northern Chestnut-tailed (or Zimmer s) Antbird, Cinnamon Tyrant- Manakin, Orange-crowned Manakin, Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Zimmer s Tody-Tyrant, Fuscous Campina Flycatcher, Cinnamon-crested Spadebill, Citron-bellied Attila and Yellow-throated Flycatcher. More widespread species include Dusky-billed Parrotlet, Canary-winged Parakeet, Gould s Jewelfront, White-chested Puffbird, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Scalybreasted Woodpecker, Plainthroated Antwren, Whitecrowned and White-bearded Manakins, Rufous-tailed Flatbill, Greyish Mourner, Thrush-like Schiffornis, Dusky-capped Greenlet, Southern Nightingale- Wren and Red-legged Honeycreeper. Day 15 We will take a flight to Lima where the tour ends. Accommodation & Road Transport: The hotels in Lima and Iquitos, and Cumaceba and Muyuna Lodges, are of good to medium standard. The Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies and Explornapo are fairly simple but comfortable jungle lodges with excellent food and attentive staff. Bathroom facilities at these two lodges are shared with latrine type toilets which are all kept very clean. All lodges lack electricity and lighting is by kerosene lanterns. Showers lack hot water but the water is not cold and feels refreshing after a day in the rainforest. We hardly travel on roads on the tour, but where we do use roads the transport is by small coach or minibus and the roads are mostly good. Walking: The walking effort is easy or moderate. Climate: Most days in the Iquitos region will be rather warm and humid, with a mixture of sunshine and overcast conditions. At least some rain should be expected, from brief showers to sometimes extended periods of heavy rain. Bird Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile.