Photo Gallery
Photos by Rich Hoyer
Our tour begins with a bus ride the the dry intermontane valleys on our way to the Manu cloud forests.
On the way we make a few opportunisitc birding and stretch stops, such as for the local Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch
We’ll know we’re on the wet slope of the moutains when slopes are covered in lush elfin forests and flowers such as this Oreocallis grandifloris, a hummingbird favorite.
The Barred Fruiteater of the high elevation cloud forests can be very inconspicuous.
The delightful Cinnamon Flycatcher, on the other hand, is a hard-to-miss species.
In the middle of a wilderness and far from any tourists services, we stop for delicious picnic lunches along the roadside.
Arriving at the middle elevations, we check into our cabins at the Cock of the Rock Lodge.
Simple on the outside, our cabins are very clean, comfortable, and roomy within.
Very close to the lodge is a viewing platform for displaying Andean Cocks-of-the-rock, one visible here as an orange-red speck left of center.
Other good birds that may be seen in this area include the Lanceolated Monklet…
…the gorgeous Versicolored Barbet…
…or the stalking Double-toothed Kite.
If we’re lucky, a roosting Swallow-tailed Nightjar will be on territory, otherwise we’ll make a nocturnal foray for it and possibly an owl or two.
Dropping down in elevation, we reach the Upper Madre de Dios River, the uppermost navigable stretch of this Amazon River tributary.
Once here we bid farewell to our wonderfully competent driver and assistant and make the rest of our journey by boat.
Our first stop on the river is Amazonia Lodge, a former ranch at the very base of the Andean foothill forest.
Ascending the first short ridge and climbing the observation tower offers a chance of some exciting birds as well as a view of the lodge below.
Most of the trails are flat, passing through a variety of forest types.
Patches of bamboo here and also at our next lodges harbor several species that are bound to this habitat type.
There’s a small pond home to a family of Hoatzins, one of the most peculiar birds in the world.
The Amazona Basin is rich in critters other than just birds, and we’ll stop to admire and identify whatever crosses our path…
…such as this stunning silk moth caterpillar…
…or this Orea Banner, one of many gorgeous butterflies in the area.
We continue by boat downstream to our next lodges, out beyond the last ridges.
Here we are in primary rainforest much of the time, searching out mixed flocks, rare raptors, and skulking understory birds
The Spotted Puffbird is one of the rare understory inhabitants that sits so quietly, you’re just as likely to walk right past one.
Our well-ventilated cabins are a nice place relax after a long morning of birding.
We’ll visit at least a couple canopy towers, built solidly in giant, emergent silk-cotton trees.
From here one has the opportunity to spot birds that rarely or never dome out of the treetops.
A Dark-billled Cuckoo, possibly a migrant, from one of the platforms.
We’ll also get paddled about one or more of the area’s oxbow lakes, offering access to yet one more distinctive habitat.
Padding our list here will be the likes of Black-capped Donacobius…
…the strange and noisy Horned Screamer…
…the quiet and furtive Sungrebe…
…or perhaps Spectacled Caiman, a small alligatorid.
Not to be missed is the salt lick, requiring an early morning start, catered with breakfast.
From within a blind we have a great view of the dirt banks.
Each day is different, changing by the minute. At this moment, the banks are dominated by Mealy, Blue-headed, and Orange-cheeked Parrots.
If we’re lucky, the Red-and-green Macaws will come down and take over.
At the end of our tour, we’ll continue boating downstream to exit the region by highway, but we’ll stop for good things, such as roosts of Sand-colored Nighthawks.
Once on land, we’ll continue on to Cusco but may get to make the opportunistic stop for birds such as this Red-bellied Macaw at a nest.