Birding in Guyana

American Birding Association

With a two-night post-trip extension to Karanambu Ranch

February 26 - March 07, 2010

Land program cost starting at $4,595

This program took place in February 2010. Please check current listings for possible future trips.

Itinerary

Day 1: USA – GEORGETOWN, GUYANA

Friday, February 26, 2010

Depart the USA and arrive in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana (direct flights are available from New York JFK). Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

Accommodation: CARA LODGE (view website)

Day 2: GEORGETOWN BOTANIC GARDEN – COASTAL PLAIN

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Visit the extensive Botanic Garden and search for Blood-colored Woodpecker. The gardens also host Gray Hawk, Pearl Kite, Red-bellied Macaw, Red-shouldered Macaw and a host of parrots. Also Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Black-crested Antshrike, Short-tailed Swift, Grayish Saltator, Silver-beaked Tanager, Buff-breasted Wren, Piratic and Ashy-headed Greenlet, as well as Golden-spangled Piculet, White-bellied Piculet, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Pinnated Bittern, Wing-barred Seedeater and Brown-throated Parakeet. Travel along the coast to see Guyana’s national bird, the Hoatzin, and explore the Abary River, with opportunities to see Rufous Crab-hawks and Guianan Piculet. On the return to Georgetown, look for Black-capped Donacobius, Point-tailed Palmcreeper and Moriche Oriole. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: CARA LODGE

Day 3: KAIETEUR FALLS - IWOKRAMA FIELD STATION

Sunday, February 28, 2010

If the tide is out, we travel to the mudflats of the Demerara River for Scarlet Ibis and other shorebirds. Fly to Kaieteur, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. White-chinned and White-tipped Swifts and Orange-breasted Falcon can often be seen over the gorge. The flight continues to Iwokrama and by boat to the Iwokrama Field Station. This afternoon we look for Bronzy Jacamar, Chestnut and Waved Woodpecker, Amazonian Antshrike, Gray Antbird, and Strong-billed Woodcreeper. We may also see Gray-winged Trumpeter, Black-tailed, White-tailed, Violaceous and Collared Trogons, Plain-brown, Wedge-billed, White-chinned, Buff-throated, Chestnut-rumped and Barred Woodcreepers. As the day ends we look for Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Great and Common Potoo, and the rarer Rufous Potoo and White-winged Potoo. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: IWOKRAMA FIELD STATION (view website)

Day 4: IWOKRAMA FIELD STATION

Monday, March 01, 2010

Embark small boats and hear dawn song birds on the river including five species of tinamou, Marbled Wood-Quail, Band-rumped Swift, White-banded and Black-collared Swallows, and Guianan Streaked-Antwren. Harpy Eagle has been seen in the area as we watch for Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, King Vulture, Gray-headed, Double-toothed and Plumbeous Kites, and Black-faced Hawk. Hike to an elevation of 900 feet for a view of the forest canopy below and chances of Green Aracari, White Bellbird or a fly-by of one of five types of eagles. The trail may also reveal Little Chachalaca, Marail Guan, Black Curassow, Squirrel and Black-bellied Cuckoos, Eastern Long-tailed and Reddish Hermits, Blue-crowned Motmot, Guianan White-necked Puffbird, Collared Puffbird, 8 species of antwrens, White-lored Tyrannulet and Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant. On the return trip we look for Caica, Blue-headed, Blue-cheeked and Mealy Parrots, Cocoi Heron, Lined Forest-Falcon and Pied Lapwing. We also visit Fair View, an Amerindian village and take a walk on trails around the Field Station to look for Swallow-winged Puffbird, Black-spotted Barbet, Golden-collared, Yellow-throated, Crimson-crestedand Red-necked Woodpeckers, Guianan Toucanet, 7 species of antbirds, Ringed Antpipit, Black-tailed Tityra and Thrush-like Schiffornis. During our stay at Iwokrama we will also be looking for Black Nunbird, Blue Dacnis, Spangled and Pompadour Cotingas, White-shouldered, Blue-backed and Turquoise Tanagers, Buff-cheeked, Lemon-chested and Tawny-crowned Greenlets, Brown-throated Parakeet, White-crowned and Golden-headed Manakins, Violaceous, White-vented, and Golden-sided Euphonias, Fasciated, Mouse-colored, Dusky-throated, and Cinereous Antshrikes and Guianan Red-Cotinga, Black-necked Aracari, Rufous-capped and Black-faced Antthrush, Gray-crowned and Yellow-margined (Zimmer’s) Flycatcher, Rufous-tailed Flatbill, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Spotted Puffbird and Musician Wren. After dark, we listen for night birds such as Spectacled Owl, Long-tailed Potoo, Zigzag Heron, and Blackish Nightjar. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: IWOKRAMA FIELD STATION

Day 5: IWOKRAMA FIELD STATION – ATTA RAINFOREST LODGE

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Depart before dawn along the road through the heart of the Iwokrama Forest where there is a chance to see the elusive Jaguar. The road also offers a unique habitat known as Mori Scrub, characterized by an unusually low, sandy forest. This supports Rufous-crowned Elaenia and Red-shouldered Tanager, among others. We also look for Guianan Red-Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Blue-backed Tanagers, Olive-green Tyrannulet, Rufous-winged Ground-cuckoo and Marail Guan. After lunch at the Atta Rainforest Lodge, visit the Iwokrama Canopy Walkway for Caica Parrots, Painted Parakeets, Guianan Toucanet, Pompadour Cotinga, Plumbeous Pigeon, Red-and-green Macaw, and Screaming Piha. Note: We hope to stay here for two nights in a brand new lodge being built onsite, but if it isn’t ready we can still bird here while based in one of the other lodges in the area.(B,L,D)

Accommodation: ATTA RAINFOREST LODGE

Day 6: ATTA RAINFOREST LODGE

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Welcome the dawn chorus from the canopy walkway. Look for Paradise Jacamar, White-necked Puffbird, Yellow-throated Woodpecker, Todd’s Antwren, Black-tailed and Black-crowned Tityras and Dusky Purpletuft. Bird along the jungle trails for White-plumed, Spot-winged and Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Ash-winged and Long-billed Antwren, McConnell’s and Gray-crowned Flycatcher, Plain Xenops and Wedge-billed Woodcreeper. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: ATTA RAINFOREST LODGE

Day 7: ATTA RAINFOREST LODGE – ROCK VIEW LODGE

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Early morning birding provides a chance of seeing Mealy, Orange-winged and Blue-cheeked Parrot, Flame-crested Tanager, Slate-colored, Red-and-black, and Yellow-green Grosbeak, Slender-footed Tyrannulet, Black-capped Becard, Gray-fronted Dove, Ruddy Pigeon, Buff-checked Greenlet, Purple-breasted Cotinga, Golden-winged Parakeet, Black-throated Antshrike, Rufous-throated Sapphire, the recently split Guianan Puffbird and even the rare Crimson Fruitcrow. After breakfast we search for the Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock. Continue to the Rupununi Savannah, where Fork-tailed Flycatchers and Savannah and Black-collared Hawks patrol the grasslands. At dusk, look for Nacunda Nighthawk and White-tailed Nightjar. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: ROCK VIEW LODGE (view website)

Day 8: ROCK VIEW LODGE

Friday, March 05, 2010

With its tropical gardens and flowering trees, our lodge resembles an oasis in the savannah, and attracts many species of birds, particularly nectar feeders and frugivores. Amethyst Woodstar, White-chinned Sapphire, Long-billed Euphonia, Reddish Hermit, Rufous-bellied Antwren, Green-tailed and Yellow-billed Jacamar.We also visit the Amerindian community of Surama, while looking for White-throated Toucans, and White-tailed and Savannah Hawks. Harpy Eagles have also been seen here. In the afternoon, we bird along the river. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: ROCK VIEW LODGE

Day 9: ROCK VIEW LODGE – GEORGETOWN or KARANAMBU RANCH

Saturday, March 06, 2010

After a final morning of birding, we fly back to Georgetown or travel by boat to Karanambu Ranch. Keep an eye out for Jabiru nesting along the river, as well as Crestless Curassow, White-necked Jacobin and Drab Water Tyrant. Karanambu is the home of Diane McTurk, widely known for her work rehabilitating orphaned Giant River Otters. Our birding here will focus on Spotted Puffbird, Striped Woodcreeper, Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin and Golden-spangled Piculet. The area also provides habitat for 8 species of nightjars. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: CARA LODGE or KARANAMBU RANCH (view website)

Day 10: KARANAMBU RANCH

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Explore Karanambu and its varied habitats. Grasslands host Double-striped Thick-knee, Bi-colored Wren, and Bearded Tachuri while forest patches host Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Violaceous Trogon, Blue Ground-Dove, Plain-crowned Spinetail and Great Antshrike. The river is home to Stripe-backed Bittern. We also aim to find South American Snipe, Rufous-throated Sapphire, Yellow Tyrannulet, Cliff Flycatcher and Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, and make a special effort to locate the odd-looking Capuchinbird. (B,L,D)

Accommodation: KARANAMBU RANCH