Day 3 - Chaparri Lodge

After a good night’s sleep we were ready to go birding at 6 but it was still dark so had to settle for a coffee instead. A West Peruvian Screech-Owl was heard but didn’t wish to be seen so we headed off around the grounds for a short walk and saw Baird’s Flycatcher, Collared Antshrike, White-tailed Jay, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker and a rather neat Grey-and-Gold Warbler.

Scarlet-backed Woodpecker

After breakfast we went for a longer wander on the trails. Although this was the dry side of Peru the weather was overcast and there was a light drizzle but at least it kept the heat down and the bird activity up.

Amazilia Hummingbird

Grey-and-White Tyrannulet

Among the commoner birds we found Amazilia Hummingbird, White-edged Oriole, Red-masked Parakeet, Collared Warbling-Finch and Grey-and-White Tyrannulet. There were even a few mammals seen with Guayaquil Squirrel, Collared Peccary and White-tailed Deer to add to the inquisitive Sechura Fox that hung around the kitchen looking for scraps. 

Guayaquil Squirrel

Collared Peccary

Sechura Fox

White-tailed Deer

A little later we passed a rehabilitation centre which housed a couple of Spectacled Bears. Hopefully they’ll be released back into the wild soon. At least these ones didn’t have a taste for marmalade sandwiches!

Spectacled Bear

The birding was excellent and a little further out we encountered more specialities such as Necklaced Spinetail, Tumbes Tyrant and the exquisite Elegant Crescentchest.

Elegant Crescentchest

However the star bird is White-winged Guan which was once thought to be extinct but later found here which is why this protected area was set up; we saw several.

White-winged Guan

Other locally distributed birds included White-headed Brushfinch, Tumbes Hummingbird, Tumbes Sparrow and Pacific Parrotlet. Most of these birds only live in this arid area of Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador. 

Tumbes Hummingbird

White-headed Brushfinch

We also saw some restored rock art which dated back to the time of the Incas.

Golden Grosbeak

White-tailed Jay

We went back to the lodge late morning for a rest photographing birds at the feeder like Golden Grosbeak and White-tailed Jay and a look at a young Boa. 

Boa

In the afternoon we returned to the reservoir but this time parked further away and walked down towards the shore line. The flock of Black-faced Ibis was still present and at least five Ospreys were sat around the water’s edge along with three Cocoi Herons. 

Black-faced Ibis

In the water there were plenty of ducks with the dominant species being White-cheeked Pintail with a few Cinnamon Teal and Blue-winged Teal while several flocks of Comb Duck flew over. 

Comb Duck

Amongst the egrets were two pink American Spoonbills and several Wood Storks. On the walk back we ran into two small wader flocks, firstly Semipalmated Sandpiper then Baird’s Sandpiper. 

Baird’s Sandpiper

We returned to the approach track towards dusk where flocks of Lesser Nighthawks were flying around and a Striped Cuckoo was seen.

Striped Cuckoo