Birding in Manu Reserve Zone 12 Days and 11 Nights

After breakfast, we will be greeted with a varied dawn chorus and Red and White Antpitta should be calling.

We will spend all day birding from the biological station at 2800 meters to our next stop at 1300 meters.

This is a pristine forest on a short bus drive some of the special birds on this stretch which we will look for include: White-rumped Hawk, Trilling Tapaculo, , Andean Guan, a wide variety of Hummingbirds including Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Violet-throated Startfrontlet and Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Purple-backed Thornbill, Scaled Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Mountain Parakeet, Andean Pigmy Owl, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, the endemic Marcapata Spinetail, Andean Parakeet, White-throated Antpitta, Barred and Band-tailed Fruiteaters, White-throated Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Pale-footed Swallow, Mountain Wren, Citrine Warbler and many Tanagers.

Night at Wayquecha Biological Station. B: L: D

Wayquecha Biological Station full day birding

After breakfast, we will depart for long birding day, having the following species: Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Sierran Elaenia, Black-Throated Toody-Tyrant, Golden-Crowned Flycatchers, White-Crowned Tapaculo, Yellow- Throated Tananger, Common Hemisphingus, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Scaly-naped Parrot, Speckle-Faced Parrot, Stripe-Faced Wood-Quail, Black and Chestnut Eagle, White-Throated Hawk, Solitary Eagle, Spotted Barbtail, Golden-Headed Quetzal, Highland Motmot, Strong-Billed Woodcreeper, Black-Streaked Puffbird, Versicolored Barbet, Blue-Banded Toucanet.

During the afternoon we will arrive at Cock of the rock Lodge, we will enjoy the feeder for hummingbirds the Wire-Crested Thorntail, Green Hermit, Green Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Speckle Hummingbird, Many-Spotted Hummingbird, Violet-Fronted Brilliant, Fawn-Breasted Brilliant, Bronzy Inca, Booted Racket-Tail.

At night time we have good chance to see Vermiculated Screech-Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Band-bellied Owl, and Rufous-Banded Owl.

Night at Cock of the Rock Lodge. B: L: D

Wayquecha Biological Station - Cock of the Rock Lodge

Cock of the Rock Lodge is situated in the pristine Cloud Forest of the Mountains of Manu just a few minutes' walk from a spectacular Cock of the Rock Lek (Rupicola Peruviana) furnished with comfortable blinds (hides) which enable us to observe these colorful birds.

There is trail system behind the lodge that enables you to see the under-story of the Cloud Forest first hand and facilitates seeing some species normally not seen from the road such as Chestnut-breasted Wren, Scaled Antpitta, Rufous-breasted and Short-tailed Antthrush's, Slaty Gnateater and the endemic Cerulean-capped Manakin, Yungas Manakin, Fiery-Capped Manakin.

Orchids are abundant with about 80 species recorded around the lodge.

Montane Foliage-gleaner, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Uniform and Variable Antshrikes, Slaty Gnateater, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Scaled Fruiteater, Inca Flycatcher (endemic), Uniform Antshrike, White-throated Spadebill, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Yellow-rumped and Slaty Antwrens, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Peruvian Piedtail (endemic) and lots more.

Nights at Cock of the Rock Lodge. B: L: D.

Cock of the Rock Lodge full day birding

This family-run Lodge has a bird list of around 780 species and others are continually being added to the list.

The lodge is situated in the buffer zone of the Manu National Park at 300 meters, where the last low foothills of the Andes begin to flatten out into the lowland Amazon Basin proper.

There are Butterfly bushes that attract various Hummingbird species including the pretty Rufous-crested Coquette, Festive Coquette, White-Chinned Sapphire, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Blue-tailed Emerald.

In Bonanza Ecological Reserve we have bird watching towers enables us to watch canopy flocks including numerous species of lowland Tanangers and Macaws.

There are many types of habitats including floodplain, bamboo, and varzea forest, Bonanza Lodge is enormous private reserve, there are many species including Black-capped Tinamou, the strange Hoazin, Buckley's Forest Falcon, Blue-headed Macaw, Pheasant Cuckoo, Koepcke's Hermit, Rufous-webbed Brilliant, Bluish fronted Jacamar, White-Throated Jacamar, Purus Jacamar Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Striolated Puffbird, Fine-barred Piculet, Red-billed Scythbill, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Amazonian and Thrush-like Antpitta's, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Mottle-backed Elaenia, Red-billed Tyrranulet, Johannis' Tody-tyrant, Yellow-browed Tody-flycatcher, Ornate Flycatcher, Band-tailed and Round-tailed Manakins, Black-faced Dacnis – the bird list rises up…!! Large stands of Bamboo hold many local and much sought after species, and coupled with the extensive Varzea, Terra Firme, and Mature Transitional Floodplain Forest, this means a mind-boggling variety of bird-life.

Night at the comfortable Bonanza Lodge. B: L: D

Cock of the Rock Lodge – Bonanza Lodge

We will be searching for in the Bamboo include – Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu Antbird (common here), Flammulated Pygmy-tyrant, Bamboo Antshrike, White-cheeked Tody-flycatcher, Large-headed and Dusky-tailed Flatbills, Peruvian Recurvebill, Dusky-cheeked and Brown-rumped Foliage-gleaners, Ihring's and Ornate Antwren, White-lined Antbird, Striated Antbird and more.

We will certainly look for one of the singing Rufous-fronted Antthrush we have located on territory here.

Some of the scarcer forest species we will be on the lookout for that we have seen here previously include: Cinereous Tinamou, Great Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Undulated Tinamou, Black-Capped Tinamou, Razor-billed Currasow, Pale-winged Trumpeter, Sunbittern, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Rufous–Capped Nunlet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Collared Puffbird, Rufous-Vented Ground-Cuckoo, Ruddy Spinetail, Plain Softail, Plain-Crowned Spinetail, Striped Woodhaunter, Banded Antbird, Ash-throated Gnateater, White-throated Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Purple Throated Fruitcrown, Bright-Rumped Attila, White –Winged Becard, Black Capped Becard, Pink-Throated Becard, Golden Collared Toucanet, Plum-Throated Cotinga, Black-faced Cotinga, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Royal Flycatcher, Musician Wren, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak to name but a few.

We will have the possibility of night birding here: Mottled Owl, Black-banded Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, Great, Long-tailed and Common Potoo.

Here we will visit the large Tapir Clay lick (Camouflaged House-blind) located in the primary forest, apart from attracting Tapirs, Peccaries, Deers and maybe a Jaguar, also attracts Guans, Currasows, Chachalacas and monkey species.

We will be reluctant to leave this very birdy place, but yet more awaits us in the Amazon lowlands.

Night will be spent at Bonanza Lodge. B: L: D

Bonanza Lodge full day Birding

After breakfast, we will embark on a two-hour boat trip down the Madre de Dios River to the confluence with the Manu River.

After registering at the Limonal checkpoint, we will walk the Aguaje Trail (Mauritia flexuosa), where we can expect to see numerous Antwrens, Antshrikes, Antbirds, Toucans, and more.

This day includes extensive boat travel to reach Jaguar Ecolodge.

Along the Rio Manu, we may encounter various raptors and scavengers, including the Harpy Eagle, Crested Eagle, Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, and Black Hawk-Eagle, often seen hunting or with prey.

Other riverside birds include the Orinoco Goose, Jabiru, Horned Screamer, Southern Lapwing, Black Skimmer, Sand-Colored Night-Hawk, Brown-Breasted Martin, Amazonian Swift, and Short-Tailed Swift.

Bonanza Lodge - Jaguar ecolodge (reserve zone)

The visit to an oxbow lake is planned, the mirror-like lake offers amazing sight to many birds' species, including the Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) Easy chance to see Agami Heron, Zigzag Heron, Green Ibis, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Green and Rufous Kingfisher, Ivory-Billed Aracari, Curl-Crested Aracari, Hoazin, Gray-Necked Wood-Rail, Long-Tailed Tyrant, Black-Tailed Tityra, Masked Tityra, with good luck we can find the Anaconda (Eunectes marinus).

During the afternoon birding activities will be on the other side of Rio Manu, on the Varzea Forest, Huicungo trail is great to find mixed flocks, Semicollared Puffbird, Great Jacamar, Screaming Piha, Cinereous Mourner, Short-Tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Long–Crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Grayish Mourner, Brazilian Tinamou, Bare-Necked Fruitcrown, Spangled Cotinga White-Necked Thrush, Varzea Schiffornis, Thrush-Like Schiffornis, Wing-Barred Manakin, Blue-Crowned Manakin, Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin and other will surprise us.

Night at Casa Matsiguenka Lodge. B: L: D

Jaguar Ecolodge full day Birding

In the early morning, we will depart to visit the Macaw Clay Lick, located a half-hour walk from the lodge.

There are strategic hides for observation, and in good weather, we may see Red-and-Green Macaws, Blue-and-Yellow Macaws, Scarlet Macaws, Blue-Headed Parrots, Orange-Cheeked Parrots, Cobalt-Winged Parakeets, Tui Parakeets, Rose-Fronted Parakeets, Amazonian Parrotlets, and the large Blue-Throated Piping Guan.

Other species may include the Spix's Guan, Ruddy Ground-Dove, and Gray-Fronted Dove.

As the day warms, we will return to the lodge.

After lunch, we will depart for the Pakitza Checkpoint, about an hour by boat.

Here, we will explore extensive bamboo stands, providing opportunities to observe species we may have missed on previous days.

Night at Jaguar Ecolodge.

B: L: D

Jaguar Ecolodge full day Birding

In the early morning, we will depart by boat from Jaguar Ecolodge to Tambo Blanquillo Lodge, a private reserve in the Manu Biosphere Reserve known for being the largest macaw clay lick in the Amazon. Given the early hour, there are excellent chances to encounter a Jaguar (Panthera onca), as well as capibaras, tapirs swimming across the Manu River and sloths in the riverside bushes, basking in the sunlight.

Jaguar Ecolodge – Tambo Blanquillo

In the early morning, we will visit the Macaw Clay Lick (known as Collpa) and observe the spectacle of hundreds of parrots and macaws from our comfortable blinds.

Here, we may see the stunning Orange-cheeked Parrot, numerous Blue-headed Parrots, as well as Mealy and Yellow-crowned Parrots.

Smaller visitors include White-eyed, Cobalt-winged, and Dusky-cheeked Parrotlets.

Tambo Blanquillo – Puerto Maldonado

We will begin with birding in the early morning around Puerto Maldonado and along the road to Cusco.

During these few hours, we expect to encounter many new species, including seedeaters, Red-breasted Blackbird, and White-tailed Kite.

Other species we will be on the lookout for include White-throated Jacamar, Black-banded Crake, Grassland Sparrow, Gray-breasted Crake, Black-faced Tanager, Barred Antshrike, Southern Crested Caracara, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Small-billed Tinamou, and Rusty-margined and Sulphury Flycatchers.

The Point-tailed Palmcreeper is also common in this area.

Puerto Maldonado – Return to Cusco or lima