Abancay, Cuzco & Machu-Picchu, Peru: November 30–December 9, 2008

This Peru tour may be combined with our Santa Marta Mountains, Colombia Venture from November 21–28. Alternatively you may wish to arrive in Lima the day before in order to rest before our early start on Day 2.

Day 1: (Sunday, November 30)Fly to Lima 
The flights from the US usually arrive in Lima late in the evening. We will then transfer to our hotel for the night. Night near the Lima Airport

Day 2: (Monday, December 1)Lomas de Lachay 
This morning we will visit the Lomas de Lachay, an area of low coastal hills that are covered in a unique 'fog vegetation' (i.e. the sparse plant life obtains its moisture almost entirely from condensation in this almost rainless landscape). Bare desert en route to the Lomas is home to the endemic Coastal Miner, whereas higher up in the hills we may find Grayish Miner and the endemic Thick-billed Miner. At times Least Seedsnipe, Tawny-throated Dotterel and Yellowish Pipit nest in this area, while other birds we may find on the green slopes of the Lomas are Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Variable Hawk, Croaking Ground-Dove, Oasis and Amazilia Hummingbirds, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Peruvian Meadowlark. If we are fortunate we will even find the rare and nomadic Raimondi's Yellow-Finch in this area. A short distance away is a desolate desert canyon, where among the sparse cacti and large boulders we shall look for the endemic Cactus Canastero, and in more open areas we shall keep an eye out for the small desert race nanodes of the Burrowing Owl. On the return journey we shall diligently search recently plowed fields for the cryptic Peruvian Thick-knee and the diminutive Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, while in hedges and brushy areas we may find Parrot-billed and Chestnut-throated Seedeaters. A brief visit to the Pacific Ocean shore will enable us to watch the numerous seabirds that feed in the nutritious waters of the cold Humboldt current, including the huge Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, Guanay Cormorant and Band-tailed, Grey and Kelp Gulls. Hotel in Lima

Day 3: (Tuesday, December 2)Abancay 
To avoid a long drive, we will take the early morning flight from Lima to Cusco, before driving towards Abancay. We'll stop with a picnic lunch and some birding. If time permits we'll take our look for the endemic and still undescribed to science "Ampay" Tapaculo. Hotel de Turistas in Abancay

Day 4: (Wednesday, December 3)Apurimac Canyon 
We'll have a pre -dawn start to a locality in the dry Apurimac Canyon. Here we'll search for the as yet undescribed species of Screech Owl, tentatively known as Apurimac Screech Owl. Here too is the slow voiced race of Peruvian Pygmy Owl, which will surely turn out to be a separate species too. As the light comes up and with a field breakfast, we'll take a look at Pale-tailed Canastero and maybe White-eared Puffbird before heading off to our next locality near the high pass above Abancay where we recently discovered the endemic Apurimac Spinetail, which is common here. Here also is the endemic Apurimac Brush Finch, "Ampay Tapaculo", Streak-backed and Rusty-fronted Canastero. After lunch we'll head for the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Night in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Day 5: (Thursday, December 4)Sacred Valley 
We'll have a very early start this morning. After a substantial field breakfast we'll have all day to work the humid temperate forest. Starting at a large patch of Chusquea bamboo we should see Parodi's Hemispingus (endemic) and Puna Thistletail (endemic). Other possibilities throughout the day include: Drab, Three-striped, Black-eared and Black-capped "Hemispingi", Golden-collared and other Tanagers, White-throated and White-banded Tyrannulets, Andean Ibis, Unstreaked Tit-tyrant (endemic), White-rumped Hawk, Sierran Elaenia, Marcapata Spinetail (endemic), Inca Wren ( endemic), plus a lot more. Rufous and Undulated Antpittas are here too. In the afternoon we'll look for Cuzco Brush Finch (endemic). Night in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Day 6: (Friday, December 5)Abra Malaga 
We'll head for the Polylepis woodland at Abra Malaga. We'll devote the whole morning to explore this unique habitat. Possibilities include Line-fronted Canastero, Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant (endemic), White-browed Tit-Spinetail (endemic), Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Giant Conebill, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Andean Tapaculo, Tit-like Dances, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Condor, Thick-billed Siskin, Junin Canastero (endemic) and more. Our major target bird here will be the Royal Cinclodes, which we discovered here in the 80's. On the valley floor we'll check 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, (endemic) Rusty-fronted Canastero, (endemic) White-tufted Sunbeam (endemic) and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-finch (endemic). Night in the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Day 7: (Saturday, December 6)Machu-Picchu 
We leave early in the morning for the 2.5 hour train journey to Machu-Picchu. From the train we will certainly see Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dipper on the Urubamba River and get closer looks as we leave the train. Arriving at the ruins, birding takes a back seat for once as we are taken on a guided tour of this mystical archeological complex. White-tipped Swifts will be flying overhead. After lunch we will 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

Day 8: (Sunday, December 7)Urubamba River 
All morning birding the railway track along the Urubamba River. In the remnant cloud forest we will be looking specifically for Sclaters and Bolivian Tyrranulets, Silver-backed Tanager, Pale-eyed Thrush, masked Fruiteater (endemic), Black-streaked Puffbird, Oleaginous Hemispingus and Capped Conebill. Mixed flocks contain many species of Tanager 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 Cusco. Night in Cusco

Day 9: (Monday, December 8)Huacarpay Lakes 
The Huacarpay Lakes are a magnet for waterbirds in this high, dry county. Here we will see a variety of high Andean waterfowl including Puna, Speckled and Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Duck and other wetland associated birds. White-winged Grebe and Andean coot will be here too. Depending on the time of year migrant North American shorebirds (waders) may be present. We will be specifically on the lookout for Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Puna Ibis and Andean White-winged Negrito. Birds of Prey we may see include Aplomado Falcon, Cinereous Harrier, Red-backed Hawk and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. In the arid scrub around the lake we'll look for the endemic Rufous-fronted Canastero and also Streak-fronted Thornbird. We should find the pretty, endemic Bearded Mountaineer feeding in the tree tobacco (Nicotiana sp.) with Giant Hummingbird and Trainbearers. Peruvian, Ash-breasted and Mourning Sierra-Finches will be here with Greenish Yellow-finch and Blue and Yellow Tanager. Night in Cusco

Day 10: (Tuesday, December 9)Cusco and Lima 
We'll take the morning flight to Lima for our last day of birding. As our international flights leave late in the evening, we'll make the most of our day by visiting the nearby Pantanos de Villa (Villa Marshes) for Great Grebe, May-colored Rush-Tyrant, Peruvian Thick-knee and much more. We'll also have the chance to have the use of a hotel in Lima to clean up prior to our flights tonight.