BRAZIL: Latest Report and 2009 Tours.

Safari Brazil August 2009: We'll be visiting Canastra National Park, Caraca, Cipo and Linhares in search of Brazilian Merganser, Banded Cotinga, Swallow-tailed Cotinga and we've a great chance to see Maned Wolf and Giant Anteater too. See below for details.

Images from November's Atlantic Forest Endemics Tour: (from top) Stymphalornis antwren sp. (female); REGUA wetland; Tropical Screech-Owl; Bare-throated Bellbird; Swallow-tailed Cotinga; Atlantic Rainforest (Intervales State Park); Masked Duck (female); Three-toed Jacamar; Frilled Coquette.

Atlantic Forest Endemics Tour November 1 - 15 2008.

We've just completed another very successful Brazil departure focusing on the endemic species of the Atlantic Forests in the east. Our tour featured REGUA, Itatiaia, Ubatuba and Intervales. Travel days were very few and punctuated with stops for key birds like Black-hooded Antwren at Pereque and the as yet undescribed Stymphalornis antwren (possibly "just" Parana Antwren, but a northward range extension nevertheless) near Moji das Cruces. Highlights were too many to list here but Shrike-like Cotinga, Bare-throated Bellbird, Swallow-tailed Cotinga, Cinnamon-vented Piha, Hooded Berryeater, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Black & Gold Cotinga, Itatiaia Thistletail, Frilled Coquette, Spotted Bamboo-Wren, Red-necked Tanager, Atlantic Royal Flycatcher and Long-trained Nightjar are worthy of mention. Read a full tour report here and species list here.

Two new Brazil Tours for 2009.

See our new Mato Grosso departure for June featuring the Pantanal, Cristalino Jungle Lodge and Emas National Park. This tour can be taken as short breaks (each section is priced separately) or combined as a tour duration to suit your requirements. We'll have a great chance to see Giant Anteaters in Emas as we focus on finding the recently rediscovered Cone-billed Tanager and White-winged Nightjar as well as many more Cerrado birds.

During Safari Brazil (August 2009) we'll be in search of Brazilian Merganser in Canastra, Serra Antwren and Swallow-tailed Cotinga at Caraca and Cipo Canastero and Hyacith Visorbearer before moving into Atlantic Rainforest at Linhares. Banded Cotinga, White-winged Cotinga and Striated Softtail will just be a few of our targets here and there's plenty of mammal interest on this tour too with a great opportunity to see Maned Wolf and Giant Anteater.

BRAZIL 2008 / 09.

Images from Brazil 2008: Pantanal Jaguar!
Dawn in Itatiaia NP.

On the feeders at the Hotel do Ype, Itatiaia NP: Green-headed Tanager.

Saffron Toucanet.

White-throated Hummingbird.

Outside the Ype cabins: Surucua Trogon.

Dusky-legged Guan.

Atlantic Forest, Itatiaia NP.

Hotel do Ype, Itatiaia NP.

Brazil Tour News.

We are operating birding tours to Brazil in 2009 covering the Amazon, the Atlantic Forests and the Pantanal. Our November 2009 departure to the North-east is now full but we are arranging a second departure for early 2010 and details will be on the website in the near future.

The "Classic Brazil" departure in September 2009 covers the Atlantic Forests of Itatiaia NP, Pantanal and Chapada dos Guimaraes. Hopefully we'll be successful in locating a few mammals as well although this year's tally of 2 Tayras, a Puma and 2 Jaguars will be hard to repeat!

If it's the Amazon that interests you then look no further than our Carajas tour. With special birds like Black-chested Tyrant, Black-bellied Gnateater, Purple-breasted Cotinga, White-tailed Cotinga and White Bellbird Carajas is a firm favourite. A full list of species recorded on our last two tours to Carajas can be found on the Toucan Birding Tours website.

Finally if you're looking for a break from the winter weather we still have a few places left on our Atlantic Forest tour (1-15 November 2008) featuring REGUA, Itatiaia, Ubatuba and Intervales.

For more information on Brazil departures and other tours to the Neotropics please see our website at www.ToucanBirdingTours.com

BRAZIL 2008: Chapada dos Guimaraes 15 - 17 August.

Chapada 2008 (from top): View from the Pousada Penhasco, Penhasco rooms, White-rumped Tanagers, Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-throated Saltator, Cerrado on the Lago Azul Road, Chapada Flycatcher, Streamcreeper habitat and Common Potoo.

Most of the group opted to stay on in Brazil for the Chapada extension. We stayed at the beautiful Pousada Penhasco for its location and stunning views. We birded the Cerrado and forests in the Chapada area recording a wide variety of birds characteristic of the region. These included Tataupa Tinamou, King Vulture, Aplomado Falcon, Red-legged Seriema, Scaled Pigeon,
Blue & Yellow Macaw, Red-shouldered Macaw, Blue-winged Macaw, Red & Green Macaw, Peach-fronted Parakeet, Yellow-faced Parrot, Pheasant Cuckoo, Pavonine Cuckoo, Striped Owl, Common Potoo, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Horned Sungem, White-vented Violet-ear, Blue-crowned Trogon, Brown Jacamar, White-eared Puffbird, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Large-billed Antwren, Rusty-backed Antwren, White-backed Fire-eye, Collared Crescentchest, Band-tailed Manakin, Helmeted Manakin, Fiery-capped Manakin, Crested Black-Tyrant, Sirystes, Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, Chapada Flycatcher, Green-backed Becard, Curl-crested Jay, White-banded Tanager, White-rumped Tanager, Plumbeous Seedeater, Wedge-tailed Grassfinch.

BRAZIL 2008: The Pantanal 12 - 14 August.

Pantanal 2008 (from top): Hyacinth Macaws, Long-tailed Ground-Dove, dinner at Pouso Alegre, Plumbeous Ibis, birding the Pantanal forests, Jabiru and Hotel Mato Grosso on the banks of the Pixaim.

The Pantanal though is justifiably the grand finale to this tour and the world’s largest wetland didn’t disappoint. Right from our first stop with Streamer-tailed Tyrant to the boat trip on the Pixaim where we ended our first day, the birding was simply fantastic. Pantanal birds included Jabiru, Hyacinth Macaw, Red-throated Piping-Guan, Chestnut-bellied Guan, Bare-faced Curassow, Southern Screamer, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Red-legged Seriema, Large-billed Tern, Long-tailed Ground-Dove, Scaled Dove, Hyacinth Macaw, Yellow-collared Macaw, Tropical Screech-Owl, Common Potoo, Band-tailed Nighthawk, Little Nightjar, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Nacunda Nighthawk, Planalto Hermit, Buff-bellied Hermit, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Green & Rufous Kingfisher, American Pygmy-Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Toco Toucan, White-wedged Piculet, Campo Flicker, Green-barred Woodpecker, White Woodpecker, Golden-green Woodpecker, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Planalto Woodcreeper, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Chotoy Spinetail, Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, White-lored Spinetail, Rusty-backed Spinetail, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Greater Thornbird, Grey-crested Cacholote, Mato Grosso Antbird, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike, Rusty-backed Antwren, Large-billed Antwren, Band-tailed Antbird, Helmeted Manakin, Streamer-tailed Tyrant, Rufous Casiornis, Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant, Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Solitary Black Cacique, Rusty-collared Seedeater.

BRAZIL 2008: Carajas 5 - 11 August.

Carajas 2008 (from top): Harpy Eagle, Hyacinth Macaw, Red & Green Macaw, Jatoba Park Hotel and rooms.

Carajas is simply a superb Amazonian birding destination. Undoubted highlight was the Harpy Eagle though subsequent attempts to view this bird were unsuccessful so perhaps we were luckier than first thought when we ambled up to the bird on out first try! Black-bellied and Chestnut-belted Gnateaters, Black-chested Tyrant, White-tailed Cotinga and Purple-breasted Cotinga head the cast here. Sharpbill, Spangled Cotinga, Blue-cheeked Jacamar, Great Jacamar and Red-billed Pied-Tanagers are just a few of the “also-rans” at Carajas and once again the local Hyacinth Macaws stole the thunder from their friends in the Pantanal later in the tour.

We stayed in the comfortable Jatoba Park Hotel (air-conditioned) in Carajas this year.

We have now recorded 275 species at Carajas during the 2007 and 2008 tours. A full list will be posted on the Toucan Birding Tours website in due course.

Carajas will feature in the 2009 program. Please see the website for details.

BRAZIL 2008: Brasilia 4 & 5 August.

Spot-backed Puffbird, Brasilia 5 August 2008.

Southern Lapwing, Brasilia 5 August 2008.

Overnight in Brasilia allowed us to visit Brasilia NP and the Cerrado areas just outside the capital. Birds recorded included Planalto Foliage-Gleaner, Spot-backed Puffbird, White-banded Tanager, Variable Antshrike, Rufous-winged Antshrike, White-bellied Warbler and Campo Suiriri.

BRAZIL 1 - 14 August 2008.

Toucan Birding Tours group at REGUA (Photo by Douglas Allchin).

The REGUA wetland, August 2008.

We started our 2008 Brazil departure at REGUA again this year with an introduction to Atlantic Forest birding. Key species located at REGUA on 2nd and 3rd August included Capped Herons, Black & White Hawk-Eagle, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, Reddish-bellied Parakeet, Plain Parakeets, Scaly-headed Parrot, Tropical Screech-Owl, Tawny-browed Owl, Common Potoo, Saw-billed Hermit, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Surucua Trogon, Rufous-capped Motmot, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Spot-billed Toucanet, Blond-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-eared Woodpecker, Thrush-like Woodcreeper, White-throated Woodcreeper, Lesser Woodcreeper, Wing-banded Hornero, Ochre-breasted Foliage-Gleaner, White-eyed Foliage-Gleaner, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Spot-backed Antshrike, Sooretama Slaty-Antshrike, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Unicolored Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Streak-capped Antwren, White-shouldered Fire-eye, White-bibbed Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Slaty Bristlefront, Bare-throated Bellbird, Swallow-tailed Manakin, Pin-tailed Manakin, Russet-winged Spadebill, Grey-hooded Attila, Ochre-faced Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Tody-Flycatcher, Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Grey-hooded Flycatcher, Long-billed Wren, Yellow-legged Thrush, Rufous-crowned Greenlet, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Green-headed Tanager, Red-necked Tanager, Golden-chevroned Tanager, Brazilian Tanager, Olive-green Tanager, Ruby-crowned Tanager, Rufous-headed Tanager, Green-winged Saltator, Black-throated Grosbeak.

REGUA features in our Atlantic Forest tour commencing on 1 November 2008 (still a few places available).

Tour News: NORTH PERU 2009.

NORTHERN PERU – MARVELLOUS SPATULETAIL & INCA-FINCHES.

Dates: 1 – 16 August 2009 (Lima / Lima).

Group size: Limited to 8 participants.

Price: £2335.00 per person (Lima / Lima).

Single room supplement: £190.00.

Includes: All accommodation in hotels and one night in safari-style camp, ground transport, all meals, camping equipment (including sleeping bags), gratuities and services of Toucan BirdingTours leader, camp staff, drivers and cooks.

Not included: International flights (check http://www.klm.com/ and http://www.iberia.com/ for suitable flights), drinks, optional tips to hotel staff and airport departure tax (US$6.00 domestic, US$31.00 international).

Tour Leader: Colin Bushell.

ITINERARY.

Day 1. Arrival and reception at the airport in Lima and transfer to a hotel. Overnight in Lima.

Day 2. Morning flight to Chiclayo. Reception at the airport by our ground staff and rest of morning birding at Bosque Pomac for Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, Necklaced Spinetail, Baird’s Flycatcher, Superciliated Wren, Cinereous Finch and Coastal Miner. This afternoon we will head for Chaparri probably seeing Tumbes Sparrow and Snowy-throated Kingbird on the way. We should see Red-masked Parakeets, White-tailed Jay and our first White-winged Guans before dusk. Overnight in Chaparri.

Day 3. Full day birding Chaparri for Tumbes Tyrant, Elegant Crescentchest, Tumbes Hummingbird, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker and Sulphur-throated Finch. Night birding here can produce Scrub Nightjar, Common Potoo, Striped Owl and Peruvian Screech-Owl. Overnight at Chaparri.

Day 4. Early birding around Chaparri before setting off in search of Pacific Elaenia, White-headed and White-winged Brush-Finches on the way back to Chiclayo. We could stop at some wetlands en route where we’ve seen Great Grebe in the past and Peruvian Thick-knee near the coast.

Day 5. Early departure for Porculla Pass for Piura Chat-Tyrant. Northern Line-cheeked Spinetail, Bay-crowned Brush-Finch and Chapman’s Antshrike. On the way to Jaen we’ll stop for a while to look for Little Inca-Finch. Overnight Hotel Bosque in Jaen.

Day 6. A full day in the Jaen area for Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Spinetail, Northern Slaty-Antshrike, Speckle-breasted Wren and the endemic Buff-bellied Tanager. In the afternoon we’ll drive to Pomacochas.

Day 7. This morning is set aside for one of the special birds of this tour – the Marvellous Spatuletail. Once we have seen the Spatuletail we’ll head towards the cloud forests of Abra Patricia. We’ll spend the rest of the afternoon there and check in to the ECOAN lodge Lechucita Bigotona in the heart of this magnificent birding locality.

Days 8 – 10. Three days to explore the Abra Patricia road: Sickle-winged Guan, Versicolored Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Andean Solitaire, Straw-backed Tanager, White-capped Tanager, Equatorial Graytail, Lanceolated Monklet, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Huallaga Tanager, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Red-billed Parrot, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Speckle-chested Piculet can, Lulu's Tody-Tyrant, Royal Sunangel, Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, Sharpe's Wren, and Rusty-tinged Antpitta, Ochre-fronted Antpitta here. Night birding can be spectacular here (depending on the weather). In the past we’ve seen Andean Potoo, White-throated Screech-Owl, Cinnamon Screech-Owl, Rufous-banded Owl, Band-bellied Owl, Swallow-tailed Nightjar, Lyre-taled Nightjar and even Oilbird on this tour. The mythical Long-whiskered Owlet has been seen in the cloud forests near the pass recently and we’ll be looking for this rare bird during our stay at Abra Patricia. Two nights at the ECOAN lodge, returning to Pomacochas for the evening of day 10.

Day 11. Today we’ll travel from Pomacochas to Leimebamba. We’ll break our journey in search of the endemic Buff-bellied Tanager, Black-necked Woodpecker and Spot-throated Hummingbird. The river valley is a good place to see Torrent Ducks or even Fasciated Tiger-Heron and hopefully the Koepcke’s Screech-Owls will be at their roost. Nearing Leimebamba we’ll spend some time birding in the humid cloud forest patches. This is a good area for Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Mountain Cacique and Golden-headed Quetzal. Overnight in a hotel in Leimebamba.

Day 12. Full morning in the Abra Barro Negro area to explore the paramo and cloud forests for a host of good birds. Our targets will be more Peruvian endemic species like Russet-mantled Softtail and higher elevations for Coppery Metaltail. White-collared Jays and Mountain Caciques form noisy flocks as they pass through the cloud forest. Flocks can be surprisingly good in this fragmented habitat and may include Barred Fruiteater and Yellow-scarfed Tanager. Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucans survive here and Chestnut-crowned Antpitta calls from the dense undergrowth where White-chinned Thistletail sometimes take a little ‘coaxing’ into view, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Plush-cap and Red-crested Cotinga are all possibilities. After a field lunch in the Paramo we’ll descend into the Maranon canyon to Balsas. Descending into the canyon we’ll look for Buff-bridled Inca-Finch and Yellow-faced Parrotlet. Overnight in camp on the banks of the Marañon.

Day 13. We’ll bird the Balsas area for Maranon Thrush and Peruvian Pigeon before leaving for Celendin. As we climb out of the canyon we’ll stop at Hacienda Limon we’ll look for Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Yellow-tailed Oriole and Grey-winged Inca-Finch. We’ll bird a small patch of scrub as we near Celendin for Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Black-crested Warbler, Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant and Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant. Overnight in our hotel in Celendin.

Day 14. We’ll leave early this morning for Cajamarca where the Conquistadors massacred many Incas and imprisoned their king Atahualpa. We have seen the rare White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant in the past on many occasions and we’ll look for the cajamarcae race of Rufous Antpitta as well. Throughout the day we'll have the chance of a wide variety of species including Rainbow Starfrontlet, Many-striped Canastero and we have had good fortune with Striated Earthcreeper here in the past. Closer to Cajamarca we’ll look for Black Metaltail. Overnight in our hotel in Cajamarca.

Day 15. An early start this morning as we take the journey to the San Marcos area for Great Spinetail. Another bird that has only recently been rediscovered, this big Furnariid lives in a large valley with cactus-clad slopes. We’ll return to Cajamarca again this afternoon with some more birding in a river valley close to the city where we discovered a regular site for Grey-bellied Comet during a 2002 North Peru tour. Overnight in a hotel in Cajamarca.

Day 16. Morning flight to Lima and connect with international flights home.

Tour News: BRAZIL Atlantic Forest & Pantanal 2009.

Latest tour news: BRAZIL 2009 (full details on http://www.toucanbirdingtours.com/ in due course)

CLASSIC BRAZIL – Atlantic Forests, The Pantanal & Cerrado.

Dates: 19 September – 2 October 2009 (from Rio de Janeiro).

Group size: Limited to 8 participants.

Price: £2790.00 from Rio de Janeiro.

Single room supplement: £310.00.

Includes: All transportation and transfers with the group in Brazil, accommodation from day 1 to the night of day 14, all meals from dinner day 1 to breakfast day 15, services of Toucan Birding Tours leader and local guides, gratuities to local guides, drivers.

Not included: International airfare, airport departure tax, beverages with meals, drinks (water will be available on the bus), and gratuities to hotel staff, phone calls, and items of a personal nature.

Tour Leader: Colin Bushell.

ITINERARY.

Day 1. Arrival at Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG) where we’ll be met and taken to Guapi Assu Bird Lodge (REGUA).

Days 2 -3. Two full days at REGUA (Guapi Assu): Spot-billed Toucanet, Spot-breasted Antvireo, Star-throated Antwren, Scaled Antbird, Black-cheeked Gnateater, Blue (Swallow-tailed) Manakin, Eye-ringed Tody Flycatcher, Yellow-lored Tody Flycatcher, Grey-hooded Attila, Red-necked, Golden-chevroned, Green-headed Tanager, Black-throated Grosbeak, Bare-throated Bellbird, Mantled Hawk, Greenish Schiffornis, Pin-tailed Manakin, Rufous-breasted Leaftosser, Giant Antshrike, Large-tailed Antshrike, Crescent-chested Puffbird, Surucua Trogon and Russet-winged Spadebill could all be seen during our stay here. Excursions away from the reserve may produce Black-and-Gold Cotinga or Three-toed Jacamar and we’ll be hoping to locate an Elegant Mourner on the reserve, as Guapi Assu is undoubtedly one of the best sites for this scarce species in the Neotropics. All nights at the Guapi Assu Bird Lodge (REGUA).

Day 4. Early birding at REGUA's wetland for Giant Snipe and Masked Duck. After breakfast we’ll leave for Itatiaia National Park, arriving in time for some birding near the hotel. Overnight in Itatiaia.

Days 5 & 6. Itatiaia for Black & Gold Cotinga, Rufous-tailed Antbird, Brazilian Antthrush, Rufous-backed Antvireo, Black-capped Piprites, Black-breasted Plovercrest, Itatiaia Spinetail, Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant, Velvety-black Tyrant, Serra do Mar Tyrant-Manakin, Serra do Mar Tyrannulet, Brown-breasted Bamboo-Tyrant, Araucaria Tit-Spinetail, Brassy-breasted and Diademed Tanager, Great Pampa-Finch, Mouse-coloured Tapaculo, Slaty-breasted Wood-Rail, White-bearded Antshrike, Fork-tailed Bamboo-Tyrant, Giant, and Tufted Antshrikes, Cryptic Antthrush, White-bibbed, Ferruginous, Bertoni's and Ochre-rumped Antbirds, Saffron Toucanet, Channel- billed Toucan, White-browed and Green-barred Woodpeckers, Dusky-legged Guan, Rufous-tailed and Grey-hooded Attilas, Golden-chevroned, Green-headed, Magpie, Chestnut-headed and Rufous-headed Tanagers and Planalto Woodcreeper. Tawny-browed Owl can often be found after dark on a trail near our hotel. Hummingbird feeders will be observed to see the incredible show of gems visiting them including Black Jacobin, Frilled Coquette, Violet-capped Woodnymph, Brazilian Ruby, Glittering-throated and Vesicolored Emerald and Scaly-throated Hermit. All nights in Itatiaia.

Day 7. We’ll leave Itatiaia today transferring to Rio de Janeiro airport for our flight to Cuiaba in Mato Grosso. Overnight Cuiaba.

Day 8. Cuiaba - Southern Screamer, Brazilian Teal, Muscovy Duck, Jabirus, Roseate Spoonbill, Plumbeous Ibis, White Woodpeckers, Hyacinth Macaw, Chotoy and Yellow-chinned Spinetails, Scarlet-headed Blackbird and Tropical Screech-Owl or Great Horned Owl in the evening.

Day 9. Morning birding near the lodge for Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Grey-crested Cachalote. Greater Rheas, Maguari Stork, Sunbittern, Green-backed Becard, Blue-crowned Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Pale-crested Woodpecker, Planalto Woodcreeper, Rufous Casiornis, Planalto Slaty-Antshrike and Chestnut-vented Conebill.

Days 10 & 11. Using our comfortable lodge as a base for the next two nights we’ll explore gallery forest on foot and take a boat ride along the Rio Pixaim. Black-collared Hawk, Sungrebe, Rusty-backed Spinetail, Mato Grosso Antbird, Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Helmeted Manakin, Red-billed Scythebill, Large-billed Antwren, Fawn-breasted Wren, Band-tailed Antbird or maybe an American Pygmy-Kingfisher. Toco Toucan, Rufous Cachalote, Golden-collard Macaw, Black-hooded Parakeet, Green & Rufous Kingfisher whilst Giant Otters are a distinct possibility here (we have seen them on our previous three visits).

Day 12. Pantanal - Chapada dos Guimaraes for Blue-winged and Red & Green Macaws as well as Great Dusky Swift, Biscutate Swift, etc. Overnight in Chapada.

Day 13. A full day to explore the Cerrado and woodlands near Chapada for White-eared Puffbird, Curl-crested Jay, Grey Monjita, Rufous-winged Antshrike, White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers, Black-throated Saltator, Coal-crested Finch, Blue Finch, Collared Crescentchest, Horned Sungem, Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant, Cinnamon-throated Hermit, Yellow-ridged Toucan, Lettered Aracari, Blue-crowned Motmot, Ochre-cheeked Spinetail, Plain Antvireo, Southern Antpipit, Sirystes, Fiery-capped and Band-tailed Manakins, Planalto Tyrannulet, White-lined, Guira & Grey-headed Tanagers, Pectoral Sparrow and Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper. Overnight in Chapada.

Day 14. This morning we’ll take the short journey back to Cuiaba for our flights to Rio de Janeiro (GIG) or Sao Paulo (GRU) to connect with homebound international departures.

Tour News: PANAMA April 2009.

Latest tour news: Panama April 2009 (full details will be posted on http://www.toucanbirdingtours.com/ in due course).

PANAMA - Canal Zone & Chiriqui Highlands with Darien Pre-tour Extension.

Dates: 17 – 26 April 2009 (Darien Extension 12 - 17 April 2009).

Tour Leader: Colin Bushell.

Flights for this tour: KLM have departures from Amsterdam (with connections from UK regional airports) appropriate for this tour. See http://www.klm.com/

Group size: Limited to 8 participants.

Price: £2310.00 (Panama City / Panama City).

Single room supplement: £410.00.


ITINERARY.

Day 1. Arrival at Tocumen Airport near Panama City and transfer to our hotel.

Day 2. Pipeline Road for Blue Cotinga, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Green Shrike-Vireo, Black-breasted Puffbird, Pheasant Cuckoo, Great Jacamar, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Black-striped Woodcreeper, Scaly-throated Leaftosser, Streak-chested Antpitta, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Spotted Antbird, etc, etc.
Afternoon in the Gamboa area for White-bellied Antbird and Rosy Thrush-Tanager and the Ammo Dump ponds for White-throated Crake, Panama Flycatcher and Yellow-tailed Oriole can be seen.
Night birds in this area include Common Potoo, Great Potoo, Mottled Owl, Spectacled Owl and Choco Screech-Owl.

Day 3. The Summit Ponds for Boat-billed Herons, Lance-tailed Manakin, Golden-collared Manakin, Rufous-breasted Wren, Golden-fronted Greenlet and Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant. Afternoon at thePlantation Trail for Checker-throated Antwrens, Blue-crowned Manakin, White-whiskered Puffbird and Black-chested Jay.

Day 4. Achiote Road for Spot-crowned Barbet, Pied Puffbird, White-headed Wren, etc, etc.

Day 5. Cerro Azul and Cerro Jefe in search of the endemic Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker, Tarcacuna Bush-Tanager, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteers, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Violet-headed Hummingbird and Violet-capped Hummingbird.

Day 6. Transfer to the airport for the flight to David in Chiriqui. On arrival we’ll make the journey to the Volcan Baru foothills at Finca Lerida for Three-wattled Bellbird. Later we’ll ascend to our lodge and after check-in we’ll watch some of the hummingbirds nearby that may include White-throated Mountain-Gem, Magnificent Hummingbird, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird and Violet Sabrewing.

Day 7. Today we’ll set out to find Resplendent Quetzal and we’ll undoubtedly find many other quality birds like Yellow-thighed Finch, Large-footed Finch, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Spotted Barbtail, Spectacled Foliage-Gleaner and Ruddy Treerunner. Black Guan, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Prong-billed Barbet and Zeledonia are all possibilities here too. We may well find Dusky Nightjar after dark here too.

Day 8. This morning we’ll visit Finca Hartman near Santa Clara for Turquoise Cotinga, Fiery-billed Aracari, White-crested Coquette and White-tailed Emerald.

Day 9. Return to David via Cerro Punta where Blue-throated Toucanet, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Black-and-Yellow Silky-Flycatcher and Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher can all be seen. We’ll look for Veraguan Mango as we descend to the western lowlands reaching David in time for our late afternoon flight to Panama City. Overnight Panama City.

Day 10. Morning birding at the Metropolitan Nature Park before our transfer to the airport for flights home.

Darien Pre-Tour.

Dates: 12 – 17 April 2009.

Tour Leader: Colin Bushell with assistance from local guides.

Group size: Limited to 8 participants.

Price: £1095.00 (Panama City / Panama City).

Single room supplement: £165.00.

Includes: Accommodation, meals, transfer on arrival in Panama with group, travel to Darien returning on day 6 to join main tour, services of Toucan Birding Tours leader and local guides, gratuities to local guides, drivers.

Not included: International flights to Panama, airport departure taxes, beverages with meals, drinks, gratuities to hotel staff, phone calls, laundry, items of a personal nature.

Day 1. Arrival at Tocumen Airport near Panama City and transfer to our hotel.

Day 2. This morning we’ll take our flight (approx. 1 hour) to Cana in the Darien lowlands. Dusky-backed Jacamar, Viridian Dacnis, Dusky-faced Tanagers, White-fronted Nunbird, Grey-cheeked Nunlet, Great Green Macaw, Black-tipped Cotinga, etc, etc. Overnight in the rustic (but comfortable) Cana Field Station.

Day 3. With a light daypack we’ll make our way up the slope of Mount Pirre, taking the 5 – 6 hour hike (including birding stops) to the cloud forest camp. Tody Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, White-ruffed Manakin or even Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo may be seen. Our camp will consist of two-man tents beneath a thatch-covered structure and is readily prepared by camp staff.

Day 4. After breakfast we’ll begin our exploration of Pirre in search of its endemics. Rufous-cheeked Hummingbirds, Pirre Bush-Tanager, Pirre Warbler, Great Curassow, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, Varied Solitaire, Beautiful Treerunner, etc, etc. Overnight in cloud forest camp.

Day 5. A leisurely descent from Pirre to Cana searching for birds as we go. The rest of the day will be spent around Cana and today we’ll hope to see Barred Puffbird, Golden-headed Manakin, Yellow-green Tyrannulet and Black-crowned Antpitta.

Day 6. Early morning near Cana (depending on the time of our flight) before our flight back to Panama City. We’ll meet with the rest of the group starting the main tour in our hotel tonight.

Tour News: S. ECUADOR 2009.

Southern Ecuador 4 - 17 January 2009.

Leader: Colin Bushell.

ITINERARY. (Full details on http://www.toucanbirdingtours.com/ soon).

Day 1. Arrival in Quito. Overnight Hotel Sebastian.

Days 2 & 3. Early flight from Quito – Cuenca (where we’ll spend the first night).

El Cajas National Park.

Birding transfer in the late morning of day 3 to Loja, where we’ll spend the night.

Day 4. Cajanuma area within the limits of the Podocarpus National Park. We’ll be in search of some of the birds of humid cloud forests here including Bearded Guan.

Afternoon transfer to Copalinga Lodge.

Days 5 & 6. Two full days in the Bombuscaro area of the Podocarpus National Park.
Bombuscaro is noted for two species in particular, the White-breasted Parakeet and Coppery-chested Jacamar. We have a good chance of seeing Blue-rumped Manakin here too. All nights Copalinga Lodge.

Day 7. This morning we’ll spend some time birding the Bombuscaro before transferring to Tapichalaca where we’ll spend 3 nights.

Days 8 & 9. Tapichalaca is famous for the recently described Jocotoco Antpitta and our chances of seeing this rare bird have been enhanced with the wardens feeding the antpittas with worms.

Day 10. After an early morning birding session at Tapichalaca we’ll depart for Buenaventura.

Days 11 & 12. The forested hills of Buenaventura are now a reserve and protect a mixed avifauna of Choco and Tumbesian birds protecting the El Oro Parakeet, Club-winged Manakin and Long-wattled Umbrellabird.

Day 13. Early birding at Buenaventura before our birding transfer back to Loja where we’ll stay the night.

Day 14. Early flight back to Quito.



Price: £2250.00 (Quito / Quito).

Single room supplement: £175.00.