Northern Peru
Hi Ovenbird,
Greetings! My name is Pepe Rojas and I just joined Birdforum. I saw your message few days ago and I noticed you had a good amount of info from some folks. I have done this route several times and I would like to add some info that I hope you'll find helpful.
I understand you are trying to be cost effective but not to spend much time waiting for transportation so probably your will be better if you hire a driver to take you to these places. Renting cars in Peru can be rather complicated and the driving is really bad.
Also, look for my notes below your itinerary:
Nov 2. Afternoon flight from Lima. Overnight in Tarapoto.
Check if you can get an earlier flight to Tarapoto and start birding that day in the afternoon. You could start with Cordillera Escalera and/or Koepcke's Center.
Nov 3. AM bird along the Cordillera Escalera (easier with rental car but doable with taxi?), afternoon travel to Moyobamba, with stops along the way (if driving). Overnight at Wakanki Lodge or in Moyobamba.
It shouldn't be difficult to get transportation to Cordillera Escalera. Ask to the hotel clerk where you will staying to get you a reliable taxi. Try to bird the Koepecke's place and the tunnels if you can. Beyond the tunnels area is where you could find Plumbeous Euphonia and Dotted Tanager.
Nov 4. All day Wakanki - hike to see Ash-throated Antwren, other targets = Rufous-crested Coquette, Fiery-capped Manakin, Black-bellied Tanager, Mishana Tyrannulet.
This is a great place and worth it to invest a full day. Besides the great hummingbird feeders (it attracts something like 26 species if I recall right) is a great place to see the Mishana Tyrannulet. I had seen it around the hummingbird feeders few times but it can be somewhere else. Be aware that the hike for the Ash-throated Antwren can be demanding and it will depend of your shape too but there is is a very good chance you can score that bird.
Owling is also good for this area.
Nov 5. Morning birding at Wakanki or Moyobamba surroundings (e.g. Indane wetlands for Masked Duck, crakes). Stop at Afluenta area if possible. PM arrive at Fundo Alto Nieva, stay overnight.
You might want to bird also Morro de Calzada in Moyobamba, where there is a different form of the Striped Manakin (this is the aureopectus subspecies that occurs at foothills and might be a different species)
Afluente is a great spot. There is a place know as Llanteria (llanta means tire in Peru and this place is a workshop where they fixed flat tires, hence the name) The guy who owns the places had a small trail and wanted to develop more in the area.
Nov 6. All day at Fundo Alto Nieva. Many targets, incl. the owlet, Royal Sunangel, Johnson's Tody-Tyrant, White-capped Tanagers, Ochre-fronted, Chestnut, and Rusty-tinged Antpittas, plus more.
It would be great if you could stay there. As Gunnar mentioned in a comment, the price is not so bad and you will be on location for other species like Cinnamon Screech-Owl. Kenny, knows the spots!
Nov 7. Morning birding at Fundo (or nearby areas if have car), afternoon drive to Huembo for Marvelous Spatuletail. Overnight at new Huembo lodge or in cheap hotel in Pomocochas.
The Spatuletail is almost guarantee at the feeders of Huembo as well as other species. Worse case scenario, the manager of Huembo could take you to his property to see it.
Nov 8. Morning/afternoon at Rio Chido/San Lorezno for Pale-billed Antpitta, Russet-mantled Softail, and some other targets. Evening back at Huembo or Pomocochas.
I read some comments about this trail but I had a different experience in the past and scored a couple of very good mixed flocks. For sure, the "main dish" is the Antpitta and the Softail. For this outing your best contact will be the manager at Huembo as well.
Nov 9. Return to Tarapoto for pm. flight to Lima.
The link Larry sent you has a lot of great info for the birding sites:
http://perubirds.org/rutas_San_Lorenzo_Rio_Chido.shtml
Also check at Xeno Canto (
http://www.xeno-canto.org/) for the bird calls.
Anyway, I hope this helps and if you ave any more questions please let me know.
Cheers.
Pepe