Sandoval Lake and Macaw Clay Lick

Morning flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado – where upon arrival we will drive to the Tambopata River Port. and travel to– Sandoval Lake Lodge. This typically forty-five-minute boat trip may take longer as we stop along the river to view wildlife. It’s approximately another forty five minute walking to get from the river port entrance to the Sandoval lake, but again may take longer as we be look for some interesting species such as Black-Faced Cotinga, leks of Band-Tailed Manakin, and also found here is a very rare species of macaw in the Mauritia palms called Red-Shouldered Macaw. If lucky we may also see Long-Billed Woodcreeper, the always amazing Point-Tailed Palmcreeper, and Agami Heron. Sandoval Lake Lodge is a great place with different forest habitats including flood plain forest and terra firme. This combination makes for an excellent area for wildlife, and along with the lake, good place to see Otters, Monkeys, Caimans and other mammals. On arrival to the lake we will paddle across it to get the Lodge. Numerous specie can be seen on the way like egrets, Capped Heron, Cocoi Heron, Large and Yellow-billed Tern, Black Skimmer, Horned Screamer, Gray-Cowled wood-Rail, Sunbittern, Wattled Jacana, Greater Ani, the spectacular Hoatzin, and Blue-throated Piping Guan, Later in a catamaran we’ll search for the resident family of Giant River Otters (seen by 90% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as Black Caiman, Squirrel Monkey, Red Howler Monkey, Brown Capuchin Monkey, etc. If we lucky in the evening the very interesting Bicolored-Spined Porcupine, and a Southern Tamandua may show themselves.The lakeside resident Hoatzin, and the less frequent Horned Screamer are regular sightings. Macaws, Toucans and raptors can all be seen. Overnight at Sandoval Lake Lodge. Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

For the next two days we will focus on bamboo and flood plain forest specialists. We will look for Red-billed Scythebill, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Brown-rumped Foliage Gleaner, Large- headed Flatbill, Dusky- tailed Flatbill, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner, Flammulated Bamboo-tyrant, Dot- winged and Ornate Antwren, White-lined Antbird, Rufous capped Nunlet, Pheasant Cuckoo and Striped Cuckoo. One day in the afternoon we’ll focus on the terra firme forest for an opportunity to see the Brazil Nut tree in its natural habitat.
Razor-billed Curassow, Blue-throated Piping Guan, Spix’s Guan, Great Tinamou, Lemon-Throated Barbet, Curl-Crested Aracari, Semicollared Puffbird, Collared Puffbird, Blue-Crowned Trogon, Amazonian or Blue-Crowned Motmot, Scale-Breasted Woodpecker, Ringed Woodpecker, Red-Necked Woodpecker, Plain-Brown Woodcreeper, are all strong possibilities. After dinner we will provide the opportunity to look for Tawny-Bellied Screech-Owl, spectacled Owl, and others nocturnal species. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Back to Puerto Maldonado and transfer to Tambopata River and enjoy the world’s largest known Macaw Clay Lick at Chuncho (this is the best clay lick to now visit as the Colorado clay lick is almost gone although it used, to be the largest) where hundreds of parrots and macaws of up to 15 species congregate daily. We can expect to see ten to twelve of the following members of the parrot family: Red-and-green, Blue and Yellow, Scarlet, Red-bellied, Chestnut-fronted and Blue-headed Macaws; Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazons; Blue-headed, Orange-cheeked and White-bellied Parrots; Dusky-headed, White-eyed, Cobalt-winged and Tui Parakeets and Dusky-billed Parrotlets. Here we will also explore the terra firme rainforest along a 4 mile Castana Trail, and the trail that goes to the old oxbow Lake, passing through floodplain forest with ponds and streams forming during the rainy season. The terra firme forest trails on the other hand are tall and rarely or never floods. Both of these trails represent the most specious habitats for birds. Too many possibilities to list, but this is habitat for Starred Wood Quail, Pale-winged Trumpeter, several Trogons, Foliage-gleaners, Black-tailed Leaftosser, many Woodcreepers, Antbirds, Flycatchers, Manakins, and much more. Mixed species flocks are especially diverse with understory flocks led by Dusky-throated Antshrike and Red-crowned Ant-Tanagers. They often contain 30-40 species (or more!) including: Plain winged Antshrike, Bluish Slate Antshrike, White eyed Antwren, Plain breasted Antwren, Thrush-like Antpitta, White-winged Shrike-Tanager, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, and Spix’s Woodcreeper. The flood plain trail to the old oxbow lake crosses some permanently flooded old ponds inhabited by Rufescent Tiger-heron, Pygmy and Green-and-rufous Kingfishers, and Sunbittern. After long hikes we can continue to bird within the confines to the lodge. Species possible in the lodge clearing include: some canopy flocks, Squirrel Cuckoo, Masked Crimson Tanager, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Speckled Chachalaca and Yellow-tufted Woodpecker. We will bird the transitional forests by the river side. These were bamboo forests until they flowered and died out a few years back. Now they are akin to riparian forests but will eventually grow into terra firme as they are not affected by yearly floods. Here we will spot Buff-throated Saltator, Grayish Saltator, Crested and Russet-backed Oropendolas, Piratic Flycatatcher, Large-Headed Flatbill, Fiery-Capped Manakin, Red-Billed Scythebill, and others. While we are birding these spots we will have extraordinary views of the Tambopata river making its way down from the highlands.

Transfer to the airport. Meals: Breakfast.