Gunnar sings BirdParty in front of 1900 birders. Birding Tours 2025
Published: Mon, 02/24/25
Updated: Tue, 02/25/25
Gunnar performed his song BirdParty on the Flock to Marion cruise. This newsletter also presents upcoming 2025 tours.
Birding RocknRoll with Gunnar and the 2025 tour schedule.
Hi everyone.
I was recently appointed guide on the Flock to Marion Again 2025 cruise to the Subantartic Prince Edward Islands. As I never miss a chance to make a fool of my self, I was honored to sing my song Birdparty in front of the 1900 birders on the ship just after
the photo session with everyone on the top deck. I screwed up on the second verse, but all OK from there. Check out the crowds.
Here is also the original video that I put together during the pandemic, in case you missed that one. What do these prominent birders have in common? They are all Johnnies!
I even made an impromptu little concert for the Swedes onboard in Swedish. If any Swede is reading this, my band Guran Guran turns 40 years this year and are celebrating with a concert at Kafé 44 in Stockholm on April 24 and in Malmö at Grand on Sep 5. The latter will be in connection of Falsterbo Bird Show that starts on this
day.
The cruise was amazing. I had a lot of lifers including Sooty and Light-mantled Albatrosses, and I saw my first Prions ever. Still hundreds of photos of prions to go through to see if I captured any others than Salvin's and Fairy Prions.
Not a great picture as it was quite distant for my small point and shoot camera, but my first Sooty Albatross was magic.
I just visited Sweden and Spain, since my yearly Japan tours did not run this year in lack of clients. Instead I decided to go to the International Bird Tourism Festival in Extremadura, Spain, before I head back to Peru tomorrow. It was a very rewarding festival with many leads, which certainly will make up for the cancelled Japan tour and the loss of income.
Upcoming tours March-September.
March
Sick and tired of the winter and too long to spring? There is a last minute booking for the 5 day North Peru tour starting with a flight to Tarapoto on March 17. There are two
confirmed clients who would not mind additional passengers. You can build a longer trip combining with other programs. If you, for example, add Manu road 5 daysMarch 23-27 and Machu Picchu on March
28 on your own, to connect with a confirmed twitch for Junin Grebeand a day on the coast on March 29-31, itwould be a great 14 day tour.
May
Southern Spain with Iberian Lynx and Alhambra. Since I have the concert in Sweden in the end of April, I am planning a tour in Spain right afterwards to
buffer for the costly flight ticket to Europe. The dates are May 3-8 and I am offering the tour at a reduced price.
Special offer: Get $500 off using the code MORE BIRDS in the checkout section. The offer is valid until March 4. Click this button to book:
Right now there are no bookings, but I will run the trip with a minimum of two people with a surcharge of $500/person (hence the same as the five-people price). From four people there is no surcharge, and consequently a full $500 discount using the discount code above.
If you have already birded southern Spain, and you are interested in
alternative destinations in the Mediterranean area, I can offer other tours. I have lots of experience of many parts in Spain including Extremadura, the Pyrenees, Mallorca and the Canary Islands, as well as Madeira, Cyprus, Crete, Sardinia, Rome, Tuscany and the Cevennes (France).
Let me know what you may be interested in any of these destinations instead. The dates would be the
same.
The best birding and culture in Peru in 12 days.
I have revised the Peru itinerary on the 7WB page to offer a new Birding Machu Picchu program, that includes two days in Lima at the start. It will give a greater possibility to see Andean Condor and a bunch of other endemics in the Santa Eulalia Canyon. It also adds Inca Tern and other
coastal bird on the first day in Lima. This new program will give more birds, avoid the long drive into the Apurimac valley, and avoid long hikes for people that are less fit. It still contains the upmarket hotels in Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo.
The pilot trip starts on May 11.
If you have more time, you can add two more days of culture and birding in
the Sacred Valley. One of these days we return to Abra Malaga for species we may have missed there. We also visit two hummingbird feeder stations during these two days.
On May 18, there is a scheduled 5-day Manu Road trip that our clients that booked the two previous programs. In total, it is 12 days. With these 12 days you will have a very solid Peru trip with some of the best birding there is without missing any cultural treasures. In essence, it is the perfect trip for a couple with birder/non-birder composition, but also perfect for anyone who also value the cultural aspects of traveling along with the best
birding. It also offers excellent photography options with feeder set-ups for close-up pictures of hummingbirds and tanagers.
Central Peru May 24-June 1 We have a client who is interested in getting as many birds as possible for as little money as possible in this short time, why I have suggested doing a tour to the best birding in Central Peru covering Unchog, Junin, Hacienda Armorique, Oxapampa
and Satipo Road. It would connect very well with the above Manu road trip. The Central Peru part will be at very intensive pace. This is only for hard core birders.
June
June 10-15. Most species per dollar you get on Satipo Road in Central Peru. Join us on this short 5-day trip. Many endemics, especially antpittas and Tapaculos.
On June 23-27,there is yet another 5-day Manu Road trip scheduled that needs more clients.
Uganda Shoebill, Gorilla and Chimps in one week. June 28-July 4 (extension runs until July
9)
This trip to Ugandais the ultimate bucket list trip for the serious nature lover. Close encounters with our closest relatives - Gorillas and
Chimpanzees, and one of the most iconic birds - the magnificent Shoebill. It is possible to experience all three, plus a lot of other birds and animals in just one week. The serious birder wants to add another 5 days to sample most of the Albertine Rift's restricted range species.
Talking about Uganda. Recently, I have enjoyed these extremely funny Dad Jokes from this guy - Abbey Tumusiime from Uganda - on TikTok. Since most of you likely don't use
TikTok, check him out on YouTube instead. His delivery is flawless.
One more!
Ok, just one more
He ends many of the videos with the cute "I think this guy is a genius" with a strong African accent. Another post-joke line goes - The system is rigged! I just find these soooo funny...
July
Pantanal July 26-August 1.
If you want to persuade a stubborn non-birder to become interested in birds, the
Pantanal is the best place on earth where such a difficult feat is possible. There are large spectacular birds like Hyacinth Macaw, Jabiru Stork, Sunbittern, Bare-faced Curassows, Red-legged Seriema, Southern Screamer and many more. Then add Jaguar, Ocelot, Capybara, Tapir, Giant Otter, Giant Anteater, Howler Monkeys and some deer into the mix - and the likely reply will be: - "When are we going?"
Book your trip today!
September Taiwan
I am planning a short 6-day Taiwan trip in between Sep 14-19 covering the major part of the 30 endemics on the island. Taiwan's endemics are crackers.
It will be my third trip to Taiwan. I expect that the program will be ready by mid-March.
The rest of the year and 2026
This newsletter has already gone on too long, so I will just mention briefly what is planned at this point. It is always a good idea to check out the calendars on
the webpages Kolibri Expeditions and 7 Wonders Birding to
see what is planned further ahead.
Further afield in 2025, there are India and Cambodia in October and Madagascar in November. In early January 2026, we shall repeat last years successful Philippines trip (exact dates are yet to be defined) and for Japan in February there are already bookings. Kilimanjaro and Serengetihas been postponed to October 2026.Papua New Guinea and Mongolia are in preparation for August 2026.
That is all for now. Hope you enjoyed this
newsletter. I end with one of the best pieces of music I discovered in 2024. Check out mind-blowing Ren from Wales.
Saludos
Gunnar
PS. A participant at the FIO (The Extremadura Birding Festival) suggested I should start a Whatsapp-group for birders who want more continuous news about upcoming birding tours and receive occasional pictures and videos. Want to join? Message me on Whatsapp +51 988 555 938.
Gunnar Engblom is a Swedish birder who lives in Peru since 1998, where he operates birdwatching and nature tours for Kolibri Expeditions. He is a popular guide both for hard core birding groups, as well as for groups who combine photography, nature and/or culture.
He is also a keen runner training to run a marathon in less than 3 hours. Best time so far when 21 years of age in 3:00:32. Second best at 56 years old in 2016 in 3:04:14 on a downhill race in North Carolina. For 2025, and turning 65 years old he is aiming for a sub 3 hour marathon. In May 2024 he did 3:09:43 in Copenhagen Marathon. The best time in a circular marathon since 1982. Perhaps he breaks 3h at Mt Charleston Marathon in Las Vegas on April, 2025.
Gunnar also write and sings Swedish punk/eco-rock songs with humor and ironic twist. In 2016 he put his old band Guran Guran back together.
The song Rinkeby och Tensta has 375 000 views on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/NJ0Nr3OxCVI
(English captions can be activated)
If you like fewer messages and have more interest in the shorter trips around the world with 7 Wonders Birding, just let me know replying to this email, and I will change your subscription.
Connect with Gunnar on social Media as @Kolibrix on Twitter and @BirdingPeru on Instagram. Whatsapp: +51 988 555 938
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