North Peru 28 Jan- 24 Feb 2014 guided by Roger Ahlman for Zoothera.  

Steve Bird wrote: “A celebration tonight after dinner as we scored with the Long-whiskered-Owlet by Steve Bird. Holy grail of South American birds the mythical and rarely seen Long-whiskered Owlet. We had seen it and were back for dinner by 7.45. The day before we were all in awe of one of the most wanted hummingbirds the Marvelous Spatuletail with 2 males giving fantastic views. We have also seen many superb and rare birds including Royal Sunangels, Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher, fabulous views of the rare Grey-bellied Comet, Grey-winged and Buff-bridled Inca Finches, Yellow-faced Parrotlets, Russet-mantled Softtail, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, a wonderful look at Koepcke's Screech-Owl, Coppery Metailtail, Great Spinetail, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Maranon Thrush, White-eared Solitaire, Rufous-eared Brush-Finch, Buff-bellied Tanager and much more. A few more days and now added the superb Cinnamon Screech-Owl just 10ft away, several superb Fiery-throated Fruiteaters, Scaled Fruiteater, Grey-mantled Wren, Equatorial Graytail, flocks of tanagers and one of the best hummingbird feeders we have been to anywhere, with about 18 species seen well.” 

“Our Peru tour is now complete seeing an amazing 573 species most of which were targets, restricted or rare species including many Northen Peru and Peruvian Endemics. Since my last write up we have added such species as Little Inca Finch, missed by most groups but wonderful views by us. Other notable sightings included Bicolored Hawks, Spotted Rail, Puna Snipe being chased around a field by a dog!, a flock of 120 Pectoral Sandpipers was a very high count, West Peruvian Screech-Owl and White-winged Guans at the fabulous Chaparri Lodge, 55 species of hummingbird, Ecuadorian Piculet, Puira Chat-Tyrant, the gorgeous Tumbes Tyrant, fantastic close Peruvian Plantcutter and rare Rufous Flycatcher, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaners, Tumbes Swallows, and finally finishing our tour with Cactus Canastero, Greyish Miner, Peruvian Sheartail and over 400 Black Skimmers.” 

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