Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival
in Guyana
On arrival at Cheddi Jagan airport in Guyana, we transfer to our hotel
in Georgetown. Our route to our hotel and the hotel grounds will introduce
us to many familiar birds – Cattle, Great and Snowy Egrets, perhaps
Southern and Yellow-headed Caracaras, Southern Lapwing, Pale-vented
Pigeon, Orange-winged Parrot, Brown-throated Parakeet, Tropical Kingbird,
Southern House-Wren and Gray-breasted Martin.
Overnight Georgetown.
Day 2 - Botanical Garden/Iwokrama Field Station
This morning, we have an early start where we greet sunrise at the Georgetown
Botanical Gardens, a marvelous area of palms, mature trees, waterways
covered in lotus blossoms, and many choice birds, from Snail Kites, Limpkins
and Donacobius to many parrots and macaws including both Red-bellied
and Red-shouldered Macaws, Black-crested Antshrike, White-bellied and
Golden-spangled Piculets, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, and perhaps the
star bird of the gardens – Blood-coloured Woodpecker, a very scarce
endemic limited to coastal Guyana and Suriname.
We then transfer to the Ogle Airstrip for a flight to the Iwokrama Airstrip,
and from there to the Iwokrama Field Stationin the immense Iwokrama Forest
Preserve for a two night stay. A night drive could turn up White-winged
Potoo as well as Pauraque, an owl or two, and a fair chance at a Jaguar.
Overnight at Iwokrama Field Station
Day 3 - Iwokrama Forest Reserve
We spend all day birding this fantastic area. Our tally at the end of
the day should be quite impressive; possibilities include Black-tailed,
Amazonian Violaceous and White-tailed Trogons, Paradise Jacamar, Black-spotted
Barbet, Green Oropendola, Red-rumped Cacique, the splendid Guyanan Red
Cotinga, the extremely rare Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Reddish Hermit,
Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Spotted Antpitta, and
White-plumed and Rufous-throated Antbirds. Both Howler and Spider Monkeys
are frequently encountered, and there is always a chance for Harpy Eagle.
Iwokrama Lodge is situated along the Essequibo River, where Cocoi and
Capped Herons, Black Skimmer, Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns, and
Anhinga can be found. An evening boat ride boat ride should reveal several
Black Cayman and white Ghost Bats, as well as Ladder-tailed Nightjars. Overnight
at Iwokrama Field Station
Day 4 - Iwokrama Canopy Walkway, Surama Village
We head off early through the Forest Reserve, stopping at the Mori Scrub,
an area of sandy forest that has a unique suite of species including
Black Manakin and Rufous-crowned Eleania, and carrying on to the superb
metal canopy walkway, a series of suspension bridges and decks up to
30 m in height and 154 m in length. In this area are some especially
choice species, from Harpy Eagle to Jaguar and Puma. We have the opportunity
to see several canopy specialists such as the diminutive Dusky Purpletuft,
Purple-breasted and Spangled Cotingas, Todd’s and Guianan Streaked
Antwrens, Guyanan Puffbird, Dusky and Caica Parrots, and a variety of
woodcreepers, woodpeckers, honeycreepers, tityras, toucans, aracaris
and more. Trails to and from the walkway support a rich diversity of
tinamous, foliage-gleaners, antshrikes, grosbeaks and other goodies.
Later in the day we carry on to the Macushi village of Surama, where
the open savanna supports the local Finsch’s Euphonia, Straight-billed
Woodcreeper and White-winged Becard. We arrive at our Eco-Lodge at Surama
to be greeted by elders of the Macushi and treated to a fine traditional
meal before retiring to our “benabs” – thatched sleeping
shelters. Overnight at Surama Guest House
Day 5 - Surama, transfer to Annai and Rock View Lodge
We awake to the sounds of the dawn chorus, perhaps a Great Potoo growling
close to our benab. We have an early morning walk along the trail across
the savanna and into the forest to the Buro Burro River. We could find
an array of new species here: Black-banded Woodcreeper, Golden-sided
Euphonia, Red-and-green Macaw, Red-fan, Caica and Blue-headed Parrots,
Scale-backed, White-plumed, Ferruginous-backed and Dusky Antbirds, and
Lesser and Plain-crested Elaenias.
We then continue to the village of Annai, the Rupununi Savanna’s
northernmost community and to our accommodations at Rock View Lodge.
As we travel through the forest and savanna, we will look out for such
interesting and spectacular species as Pompadour Cotinga, Painted and
Golden-winged Parakeets, Green Aracari and Swallow-wing. There is always
the possibility of a Jaguar crossing the trails or Howler Monkeys in
overhead trees.
At Rock View Lodge, a walk around the grounds could turn up Buff-necked
Ibis, Great Black Hawk, Double-toothed Kite, Golden-headed and White-crowned
Manakins, Yellow-crowned Elaenia, and Wedge-capped (Weeping) Capuchin
monkeys.
Overnight at Rock View Lodge.
Day 6 - Wowetta/Rock View Lodge
We take an early morning walk into nearby rocky forested hill, and look for Spotted
Puffbird, Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, White-bellied Antbird, Green-tailed Jacamar,
Blue-backed Manakin, White-fringed Antwren, Blue-tailed Emerald, Little Cuckoo,
Roraiman (Two-banded) Warbler and the superb Pectoral Sparrow.
After breakfast, we travel to Wowetta village, for a hike along the aptly named
Cock-of-the-Rock trail. We will take our time along this fairly flat trail, looking
for Great Tinamou, Gray-winged Trumpeter, Bat Falcon, Eastern Long-tailed Hermit,
Amazonian Violaceous and Black-throated Trogons, Black Nunbird, Yellow-throated
Woodpecker, Mouse-coloured Antshrike, Gray and Ferruginous-backed Antbirds, White-crested
Spadebill, Helmeted Pygmy-Tyrant, noisy Screaming Pihas, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager,
and with luck many Guyanan Cocks-of-the-Rock – a spectacular sight! These
brilliantly plumaged birds, decked out in orange, black and white, gather at
leks, and display to impress any female that happens to be close by. Whilst we
may not witness a full display, nevertheless, the sight of these exquisite birds
is unforgettable.
Later in the day, we bird the surrounding savanna, looking for open country raptors,
Wedge-tailed Grassfinch, Double-striped Thick-knee and possibly Jabiru. Overnight
at Rock View Lodge.
Day 7 - Rupununi River/Karanambu Ranch
Today we transfer to Ginep Landing and the Rupununi River, where we embark for
travel upstream to the Karanambu Ranch. We pass by large expanses of unbroken
forest as we journey south upstream, watching for Black-collared Hawk, kingfishers,
herons, maybe Capybara or even Giant Otter, before arriving at Karanambu and
being greeted by Diane McTurk and her remarkable rehabilitation facilities for
orphaned Giant Otters – and we may indeed be greeted by one of her orphans!
Overnight at Karanambu Ranch.
Day 8 - Karanambu Ranch
Karanumbu Ranch is situated in an area of rainforest and savanna, and as such
has an interesting assortment of wildlife, from Giant Anteaters to Capuchinbirds.
We spend our time here searching forested trails, open savannas and the rivers
and backwaters close to the ranch. Waterbirds could include Boat-billed Heron,
Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers, the superb Agami Heron,
and Wattled Jacanas walking on the amazing Amazonian Water-Lillies. Forest trails
could produce Crestless Curassow, White-tailed Trogon, Black-chinned Antbird
and Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, and grasslands could turn up Bearded Tachuri,
Bicolored Wren and White-tailed Goldenthroat. Night rides can be productive,
especially for nighthawks such as Band-tailed and Least, and White-tailed Nightjar.
Overnight at Karanambu Ranch.
Day 9 - Karanambu Ranch/Kaieteur Falls/Shanklands Rainforest Resort
We fly to Kaieteur Falls, stopping to admire this amazing spectacle, where the
Potaro River plunges 741 feet in the single longest drop of any waterfall in
the world. We walk around this interesting area, with its unique flora of heaths
and giant ground bromeliads (with its golden frog). Guyanan Cocks-of-the-Rock
occur here, as do the striking White-tipped Swift, which nests behind the waterfall,
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Orange-breasted Falcon, Sunbittern, Red-shouldered
Tanager, and noisy Coraya Wrens.
We then continue our flight to Baganara Island, where we transfer to Shanklands
Rainforest Resort, arriving for supper and some evening birding. In the evening,
Short-tailed Nighthawks hunt insects in the clearings, and at night Tawny-bellied
Screech-Owls call close to our cabins.
Overnight at Shanklands Rainforest Resort.
Day 10 - Shanklands Rainforest Resort/Georgetown
We spend the morning birding the forest and open areas around the resort. We
have possibilities of several species that we may have missed up to now, perhaps
Green Ibis, Spix’s Guan, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Spotted and Painted
Tody-Flycatchers, Cinereous Becard, Black-faced Dacnis, Yellow-rumped Caciques
with attendant Shiny and Giant Cowbirds and Piratic Flycatchers, Cayenne Jay
and Epaulet Oriole. We then transfer back to Georgetown for a celebratory evening
meal.
Overnight Georgetown
Day 11 - Departure
We head for the airport for our departure flights home.
What
to Expect
You can expect some
early morning, before breakfast excursions as well as a couple of very
early breakfasts (about
4.30 AM) so we can be in the field for dawn. Everywhere in the tropics it is
desirable to be in good habitat by daybreak when bird activity and song are at
their peak. We concentrate on “edge” birding until the light is good
enough to enter forest trails. Often we return to our lodge around noon for lunch
and a siesta. We bird in the cool of the late afternoon. We also have both night
drives as we travel along roads in the Iwokrama Forest Preserve, and night boat
rides at the Kurunambu Ranch.
Our tour includes in-country air flights and several boat trips as we travel
from one destination to the next. On days that we drive, we travel short distances
in order to maximize our time in the field. Most birding will be from quiet roads,
wide trails, boats and the marvelous canopy walkway at Iwokrama. The trails we
walk are mostly flat and easy to moderate, with some short steep sections. You
can expect hot weather, sometimes humid, with a mixture of sun and cloud and
occasional rain. Stout, waterproof footwear is an advantage and a light rain
jacket and waterproof hat are recommended. A small umbrella is also very useful.
Mosquitoes and other biting insects should not be a problem on this tour, but
it is advisable to bring insect repellant and powdered sulphur to repel chiggers.
Accommodations vary from rustic to modern; all will be comfortable. Our visit
to the Macushi village of Surama will be a fascinating experience. Most meals
will be taken at the lodges; on some days we will have picnic lunches prepared
for us in order to maximize our time in the field and allow a more flexible schedule.
In the evening, after dinner, we will discuss the day’s events and sightings
and list the birds and other wildlife seen and prepare for the next day's itinerary.
