I had a "senior moment"!
That is what Byron Swift said when he realized had mixed up the months, only one day before the planned departure for Central Peru was to start on June 24. He had meant July all along, but in all the documentation it said June. So the trip has been delayed one month.
But hey, so much better, because now you may have a chance to join this one running on July 24-29. This trip is
explained in my recent Best Bird of Peru post - highlighting the Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager. We have two clients already.
Unfortunately, I will only be available myself in the afternoon of July 29, when we will look for Peruvian
Diving-Petrel and Rufescent Flycatcher which recently attained species status. Instead, our amazing young guide Juan Julca will lead the group, and get all those endemics out for you. Price is set at $1620 with somewhat upgraded hotels, and deluxe 180º sleeping bus service to Huanuco on the evening of the 24th. Should you want a sinlge room, it is only $80. Write me urgently, if you want to join!
Our recent Birding Sandwich in Central Peru
On our recent 9 day Central Peru Birding Sandwich that just concluded, we had brilliant views of Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager. In spite of a very rainy start, and for the season an unusual low pressure over
Peru, we had a great trip with 362 species in 9 days (https://ebird.org/tripreport/388254), and the major part of the targeted endemics. I am sure the Birding Sandwich idea is a winner.
If you wonder what a birding sandwich is, it can easiest be explained as 5 days off from work Mo-Fr, sandwiched between two weekends, giving you 9 days of intense birding. Breakfast and lunch, will consist of snacks, fruit and
sandwiches in the car, and a cocked meal at night, in order to maximise our time in the field.
The concept is explained in detail in another recent newsletter. Let us know if you want us to
organize another Central Peru Birding Sandwich.
Birding Sandwich Manu road and Cuzco.
In the last newsletter, I expanded the idea of Birding Sandwich to also introduce a 9 day trip which covers all the endemics of SE Peru near Cuzco and the Manu Road (and even more complete if including an
extra day to the Apurimac endemics).
The notice for the pilot trip in July was a bit short why I now have changed the start date to August 23. The price is particularly good, because we have chosen alternative less expensive lodging many nights. Let us know if you want to take part in this pilot trip.
We shall respect the list price from minimum 3 people rather than the usual 5. If there are only two people the surcharge is only $450/person.
New Tour.
Birding Petra and Jordan August 25
Birding Petra and Jordan:
Now is the BEST time to visit the Petra world heritage site and one of the new 7 Wonders, when the tourists are shunning the entire Middle East because of the regional conflicts.
Jordan, however, is not in conflict with anyone, and the
country is considered safe. 7WB has for a long time had Jordan as a very short extension to our Egypt trip, but it is worth expanding the tour to almost six full days, especially since the birds of Israel are likely not on the birders' radar right now.
Although late August is not an ideal time, and a few weeks before the migration onset, it will still be very interesting for the regional birds. Most clients will be coming on this tour because of the chance of seeing Petra without
the huge crowds, and the birding will still be good with several of the resident species of birds new to you, if you have not visited this region before.
The tour includes desert birding in Dana, Azraq Wetlands, Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, Ajloun, Yarmouk Forest Reserves, and the Dead Sea.
Cultural highlights apart from Petra itself include the Roman Theatre and the Citadel in downtown Amman, the crusaders' castles and fortresses at Shoubak and
Azraq, the Byzantine and Roman mosaics in Madaba, and the baptism site of Jesus Christ on the Jordan River.
The birding will be in the early morning and afternoons, and cultural visits mostly during the heat of the day, except at Petra, where we will make some early morning hikes to some of the most exclusive archeological sites while also looking for birds.
