Abra Malaga and Polylepis Forest 1 or 2 Days

Day 1:

Leaving Cusco. Very early for a 3-hour drive to Abra Malaga so we’ll have the better part of the day to work the humid temperate forest on the way up to the Polylepis woodland. We’ll explore the whole morning in this unique habitat. The birds we may see include, the endemic, White-browed Tit-spinetail (endemic), Junín Canastero (endemic), and some near endemics like Royal Cinclodes, Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant, among others like, Line-fronted Canastero, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Giant Conebill, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Andean Tapaculo, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Condor, Thick-billed Siskin, a variety of Ground-tyrants and Sierra-Finches. After a picnic lunch we’ll concentrate on some local endemics on the west side, including Creamy-crested Spinetail, (endemic) Rusty-fronted Canastero, (endemic) White-tufted Sunbeam (endemic) and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-finch (endemic). We return to and Overnight in Ollantaytambo Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Another early start, we will head of for a large patch of Chusquea bamboo on the other side of the pass where we may see Cuzco Brushfinch (endemic), Parodi’s Hemispingus (endemic) Marcapata Spinetail (endemic), Inca Wren (endemic), and other local birds are, Puna Thistletail, Drab, Three-striped, Black-eared and Black-capped Himispingus, Golden-collared Tanager, White-throated Tyrannulet, White-banded Tyrannulet, Andean Ibis, Unstreaked Tit-tyrant (endemic), White-rumped Hawk, Sierran Elaenia, Diademed Tapaculo, Trilling Tapaculo plus a lot more. Urubamba Antpitta, Rufous and Undulated Antpitta’s are here too. Close to evening start making our way back to Cusco.

Because birds and people together forever …….