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InkaNatura News

Did you know that the World record breakers Alan Davies and Ruth Miller recorded 4,341 bird species in 2008 on their global adventure The Biggest Twitch. Now read the book The Biggest Twitch.

Visit www.thebiggesttwitch.com

http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/book

Part of their experience was a trip to the cloud forest of Manu

The program was as follows:

Duration 9 days/8 nights

Private departures only

Itinerary Day one : 29 July 2008
Cusco/Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge

We pick you up by bus from your hotel, after your breakfast, and set off for the cloud forest. We pass over two Andean chains of almost 13,100 feet elevation through a steppe-like landscape, or Puna. On the way we pass stone Chullpas, or burial chambers, of the Pre-Inca Lupaca people and will hope to catch sight of some of the bird species of the high Andes, including the Giant Hummingbird and Mountain Caracara.

We plan on a delicious boxed lunch at the edge of the cloud forest, Ajanaco, which if clear affords views over the cloud forest and the vast sprawling expanse of the lowland rain forest. From here the road suddenly descends the eastern slope of the Andes. We plunge downwards, past remnant patches of elfin forest, through swirling mist and cloud, to emerge in a forest of stunted, evergreen trees, festooned with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and other epiphytes. Nestled in this forest within a 2-minute walk of the road, and within earshot of a rushing mountain stream, lies the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, If there is time available, we will have a chance to briefly began our exploration of the surrounding forest before dinner. (Box Lunch,D)

Day two : 30 July 2008
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge

An additional day to visit the lek and enjoy the scenary
(B, Box Lunch, D)

Day three : 31 July 2008
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge/Amazonia Lodge

We need to get up before sunrise to visit the lek of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. Next, we spend some hours of the morning searching from the road looking for cloud forest birds, and with luck, Common Woolly Monkeys. Then continue by bus for Atalaya. After a 3-4 hour bus ride we reach the Alto Madre de Dios River, where we may have box lunch in Atalaya. From here we switch over to a cargo canoe with a 55 hp or 65 HP outboard motor and continue for 10 minutes on the Alto Madre de Dios River to Amazonia Lodge.

This famous birdwatching destination is situated in the premontane zone at 500 meters or 1640 feet above sea level. Here it is possible to do birding as well as general tropical wildlife observation in a diversity of habitats like bamboo forest, successional flood plain, hill forest and swamp within short walking distances, without using other transportation. Amazonia also maintains a veranda with a view of the garden and wildlife feeders, where it is possible to see several species of hummingbirds. This afternoon we plan a walk around the lodge in successional flood plain, the possibilities include the endemic Fine-barred Piculet, Johanni's Tody-Tyrant and Black-capped Tinamou. Finishing the day in the mini tower in the swamp area it is possible to see Blackish Rail, Rufous-sided Crake, the prehistoric Hoatzin and Black-capped Donacobious. As night falls the various bat populations emerge and the owling possibilities include Black-banded Owl, Tawny-bellied Screch-Owl, Mottled Owl, Long-tailed, Great and Common potoos. Dinner and overnight Amazonia Lodge. (B,Box Lunch,D)

Day four : 01 August 2008
Day five : : 02 August 2008
Day six : 03 August 2008
Day seven : 04 August 2008

Amazonia Lodge Some more days to do some more birding in the area and look for an specie you are looking for.
(B, Box Lunch, D)

Day eight : 05 August 2008 Amazonia Lodge - Cock of the Rock Lodge You may take a small hike on the Lodge trails before beginning the return to Cock of the Rock Lodge (B,Box Lunch,D)

Day Nine : 06 August
Cock of the Rock Lodge/Cusco

After a good night rest today we return o Cusco . (B)

You can see the day by day comments on their web site

Day one : 29 July 2008
Cusco/Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/birdingthemanuroad29thjuly

Day two : 30 July 2008
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/cockoftherocklodge30thjuly

Day three : 31 July 2008
Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge/Amazonia Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/downtoamazonialodge31stjuly

Day four : 01 August 2008
Amazonia Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/amazoniabirding1staugust

Day five : : 02 August 2008
Amazonia Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/bamboobirding2ndaugust

Day six : 03 August 2008
Amazonia Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/longhikethroughtheforest3rdaugust

Day seven : 04 August 2008
Amazonia Lodge

Day eight : 05 August 2008
Amazonia Lodge - Cock of the Rock Lodge
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/backontheroadagain5thaugust

Day Nine : 06 August
Cock of the Rock Lodge/Cusco
http://www.thebiggesttwitch.com/bigyear/backtocusco6thaugust

We invite you to visit our web sites for further information in the Manu programs we offer

www.inkanatura.com
www.manu-wildlife-center.com