Birding Tour Guyana: The Lost World – Guiana Shield Specials and Sun Parakeet
Go to: Guyana Birding Tours | Birding Tours in the Neotropics | All our birding tours
Birding Tour Guyana: The Lost World – Guiana Shield Specials and Sun Parakeet
January 2025
Guyana conjures up visions of one of the last few truly wild places on Earth that still holds incredible landscapes covered by thousands of miles of untouched rainforest, pristine forest rivers, water lily-covered lakes, rolling grassland and savannas, and magnificent, breathtaking waterfalls. Guyana truly gives visitors the sense of being in the Lost World.
Guianan Cock-of-the-rock is one of the key species that we will search for on this trip.
This relatively small country, found in northeast South America, has become a mandatory destination for adventurous birders as it hosts many species that are hard to find in adjacent South American countries. Some of these species include Capuchinbird, Black Nunbird, Crimson Fruitcrow, Blood-colored and Waved Woodpeckers, Black and Crestless Curassows, Bearded Tachuri, Red-fan Parrot, and Rufous and White-winged Potoos. It also offers great chances for Harpy Eagle, if there are active nests in the area. With the help of our Birding Ecotours leaders and local guides we will do our best to find this most-wanted and massive raptor. In addition, Guyana offers a unique set of species called Guiana Shield specials, including Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Trogon, Guianan Red Cotinga, Guianan Streaked Antwren, and Guianan Puffbird. There are also good chances for some forest species including White-plumed Antbird, Rufous-throated Antbird, and with luck Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo.
The distinctive Black Curassow will be searched for at Atta Rainforest Lodge.
Our 14-day Guyana birding tour is designed to explore the best that this country has to offer to birders in two parts. The first part takes in the coast at Georgetown, looking for the localized Rufous Crab Hawk and Scarlet Ibis. We will then explore the awesome Kaieteur Falls and visit a lek of the gorgeous Guianan Cock-of-the-rock near Surama Eco-Lodge, where we will be based. Next up are the rainforests of Atta Rainforest Lodge with its magnificent canopy walkways which should give us eye-level views of several canopy-dwelling species. The second part of the trip includes long 4×4 drives exploring remote Amerindian communities in search of two localized, Endangered, and most-wanted species, Sun Parakeet and Red Siskin. We will make all possible efforts to provide you with these unique species as well as the localized Rio Branco Antbird and Hoary-throated Spinetail.
Finally, Guyana also offers visitors good chances of encountering interesting wildlife, with sightings of Giant Otter, Giant Anteater, and even Puma and Jaguar are not uncommon in this fantastic country.
We may get lucky with a Puma sighting (photo John Christian).
Itinerary (14 days/13 nights)
Day 1. Arrival in Georgetown and transfer to the hotel
You will arrive at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of the capital city, Georgetown, meet our local representative, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner would be for your own account tonight.
Overnight: Cara Lodge, Georgetown
Day 2. Mudflats birding, Mahaica River boat cruise, and Georgetown Botanical Gardens
Today we will have an early start to head to the Atlantic coast and check the mudflats for the beautiful Scarlet Ibis. We will then continue towards the village of Mahaica, where we will take a boat trip along the Mahaica River. Among our targets will be Guyana’s national bird, the bizarre and distinctive Hoatzin. We will also look for a host of other species, including Rufous Crab Hawk, a localized Guyana special. Other target birds include Black-collared Hawk, Black Hawk-Eagle, Long-winged Harrier, Barred Antshrike, Silvered Antbird, Mangrove, Striped and Little Cuckoos, Green-tailed Jacamar, Blood-colored Woodpecker, White-bellied Piculet, and Mangrove Rail. Depending on the level of the tide we may be able to check the shoreline for waders, including White-rumped and Western Sandpipers, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, and other coastal and typical aquatic species such as White-cheeked Pintail, Tricolored and Little Blue Herons, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Magnificent Frigatebird, Royal, Gull-billed, and Least Terns, and Brown Pelican.
After lunch we will visit the famous Georgetown Botanical Gardens. This parkland area with open grass, scattered trees, bushes, and several ponds is famous for holding a good selection of species, including the localized Blood-colored Woodpecker. In addition we will look for White-bellied Piculet, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, the impressive Toco Toucan, Black-capped Donacobius, Wing-barred Seedeater, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Black-collared Hawk, and a colorful and noisy selection of parrots, including Red-shouldered Macaw, and Orange-winged, Yellow-crowned, Southern Mealy, and Festive Amazons. Flowering trees may support hummingbirds such as Black-throated Mango, and White-chested and Plain-bellied Emeralds.
Overnight: Cara Lodge, Georgetown
The Georgetown Botanical Gardens usually hold a good selection of parrots such as Festive Amazon.
Day 3. Kaieteur Falls – Surama Eco-Lodge
After breakfast at our hotel we will take a chartered flight over unspoiled pristine forest to Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Though Venezuela’s Angel Falls is greater in total height, its filamentous drop occurs in stages, whereas Kaieteur Falls is a single, massive, thundering cascade 330 feet (100 meters) wide, as the Potaro River makes a sheer drop of 750 feet (228 meters), nearly five times the height of Niagara Falls. The spectacle is even more impressive due to its remoteness – it is entirely possible that we will be the only people viewing the falls during our visit. Here we hope to find White-chinned and White-tipped Swifts swirling over the gorge. The other two targets are the astonishingly colorful Guianan Cock-of-the-rock and the most-wanted Orange-breasted Falcon. We should also be able to find the rare and endemic Beebe’s Rocket Frog that lives in water held in the leaves of giant bromeliad plants.
Afterwards our chartered flight will take us to Fairview village, from where we will be transferred to Surama Eco-Lodge in the heart of Guyana’s beautiful rainforest. Arriving at the lodge by 3 p.m., we will settle into our accommodation and should have time to look for some classic and common species around the lodge grounds before it gets dark. When darkness falls, this will be our first opportunity to look for Tawny-bellied Screech Owl and other species of nightjars including Pauraque, White-tailed Nightjar and Short-tailed Nighthawk.
Overnight: Surama Eco-Lodge
Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo at Surama Eco-Lodge (photo Anne Koke).
Days 4-5. Birding Surama Eco-Lodge
We will spend the next two full days exploring the forest interior of Surama Eco-Lodge looking for specials such as Black-faced Hawk, White-bellied Antbird, Cream-colored, Ringed, and Waved Woodpeckers, Guianan Puffbird, Caica Parrot, Spix’s Guan, Little Chachalaca, Red-and-green Macaw, White-crowned Manakin, Black-crested Antshrike, Rufous-bellied, Long-winged, and White-flanked Antwrens, Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant, Cinnamon-throated, and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers and if we are lucky, we may find the elusive Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo.
We will spend the afternoons birding some diverse habitats such as forest edge where we could find species such as Ochre-lored Flatbill, Golden-headed Manakin, White-throated Toucan, Red-fan Parrot, Black-necked Aracari, and perhaps even Pompadour Cotinga and Marail Guan. The open grasslands in the area offer chances for Finsch’s Euphonia, Yellow-bellied and Wing-barred Seedeaters, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Green-tailed Goldenthroat, and Savanna Hawk. With some luck we may find the secretive Ash-throated Crake.
Surama Eco-Lodge is also well known for Harpy Eagle which often nest in the vicinity. We hope to find this majestic and most-wanted species, if there are any active nests in the area.
Overnight: Surama Eco-Lodge
Harpy Eagle photographed near Surama Eco-Lodge in 2023 (photo Ron Allicock).
Day 6. Transfer to Atta Rainforest Lodge
Today we will leave Surama Eco-Lodge and head to Atta Rainforest Lodge. Here, the impressive Guianan rainforests protect a unique ecosystem in the heart of the Guiana Shield, where the high species richness of Amazonian and Guianan flora and fauna make it one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Along the drive we may spot a series of great birds such as Spangled and Pompadour Cotingas, Black-necked Aracari, Red-throated Caracara, Gould’s Toucanet, Blue-throated Piping Guan, Green-backed Trogon, Green Aracari, Black Nunbird, Green-tailed Jacamar, Black-spotted Barbet, Guianan Toucanet, and Black-crowned Tityra, amongst others. We will start looking for our first Crimson Topaz from roads running along blackwater streams in the area.
We will spend three nights at Atta Rainforest Lodge, looking for species such as Black Curassow, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Red-necked Cotinga, Capuchinbird, and Spotted Antpitta, amongst other targets. Canopy flocks may also produce Ash-winged, Todd’s, and Spot-tailed Antwrens, Buff-cheeked and Lemon-chested Greenlets, Olive-green and Guianan Tyrannulets, Zimmer’s Flatbill, Yellow-throated Flycatcher, and Guianan Puffbird. Before arriving at our lodge, we will look for Rufous Potoo and if any birds are at their day roosts, we will be able to enjoy this very rare and elusive bird.
Overnight: Atta Rainforest Lodge
Days 7-8. Atta Rainforest Lodge
We will have two full days to explore the forests around Atta from which we will visit the canopy walkway to look for passing flocks of canopy-dwelling species. Time will be spent looking for Todd’s and Spot-tailed Antwrens, Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant, Guianan Toucanet, Green Aracari, Painted Parakeet, Screaming Piha, Black-headed Parrot, Guianan Puffbird, Guianan Trogon, Dusky Purpletuft, Paradise and Opal-rumped Tanagers, Golden-sided Euphonia, and Black Nunbird. The entire morning will involve birding from the canopy walkway and walking the trails around the lodge. This wonderful area is famous for its variety of colorful cotingas, and if we can locate a few fruiting trees, we will be in for an avian spectacle with possibilities of Pompadour, Purple-breasted, and Guianan Red-necked Cotingas as well as the most-wanted Crimson Fruitcrow. The forest interior is our best bet for Grey-winged Trumpeter, Amazonian Barred and Red-billed Woodcreepers, Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant, Ferruginous-backed Antbird, Waved, Chestnut and Red-necked Woodpeckers, as well as Guiana Spider Monkey and White-faced Saki.
The white-sand forest patches are good habitat to look for Black Manakin, Red-billed Woodcreeper, Guianan Streaked Antwren, Amazonian and Mouse-colored Antshrikes, and Black-chinned, and Grey Antbirds. Other interesting birds to look for here include Rufous-bellied Antwren, Collared Puffbird, White-throated Manakin, Cinnamon-crested Spadebill, Common Scale-backed, White-plumed, Ferruginous-backed and Rufous-throated Antbirds.
At night we will look for the localized White-winged Potoo which is one of the targets for this area as well as Amazonian Pygmy Owl, and Crested and Black-and-white Owls.
Overnight: Atta Rainforest Lodge
Day 9. Atta Lodge to Rock View Lodge – Northern Rupununi
Before leaving the lodge, we will have a final morning’s birding session around the lodge, scanning the treetops looking for Marail Guan, Green Aracari, Guianan Puffbird, Dusky Purpletuft, Black-spotted Barbet, Golden-collared Woodpecker, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Green Oropendola, and Crimson Fruitcrow.
After breakfast we will depart for Rock View Lodge, with our journey taking us across the North Rupununi Savannah. The road skirts numerous gallery forests and wetlands, offering great views of a variety of herons, ducks, Jabiru, Pinnated Bittern, Plumbeous and Grey Seedeaters, Bicolored Wren, Grassland Yellow Finch, Yellowish Pipit, White-fringed Antwren, Crested Bobwhite, Green-rumped Parrotlet, the colorful Orange-backed Troupial, and Double-striped Thick-knee. On the drive we will make several stops to look for Crested Doradito and Bearded Tachuri, two key species on our target list. This is also the best chance of finding Giant Anteater – we have a high success rate of spotting these most-wanted and bizarre animals on our tours. We will then continue our journey to Rock View Lodge, where we hope to arrive early in the afternoon in time for check in and our dinner.
Overnight: Rock View Lodge
Pinnated Bittern is reliable in the Rupununi marshes (photo Paul Newman).
Day 10. Rock View Lodge birding and Rupununi River excursion
The morning will start with a cup of coffee before heading out by boat on the Rupununi River. We will be in small engine-powered boats as we head downstream. Depending on the water level we will visit some of the many oxbow lakes found in the area and focus on seeing the rare Crestless Curassow – our best chances of seeing this bird are along the river banks as the birds come to drink in the morning. We are also likely to find Green-and-rufous and Amazon Kingfishers, Rufescent Tiger Heron, Agami, Boat-billed and Capped Herons, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Pied Plover, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, and Spot-breasted Woodpecker. In addition, we may be lucky enough to see Giant Otter, Capybara, Black Caiman, Spectacled Caiman, and many species of monkeys. Afterwards, we will return for lunch back at the lodge.
In the late afternoon, as the temperature cools down, we will visit a nearby gallery forest to look for White-tailed Nightjar, Spot-tailed Nightjar, and Rufous Nightjar. This is also a good opportunity to see hundreds of Least and Lesser Nighthawks as they feed at dusk.
Overnight: Rock View Lodge
Day 11. Rock View Lodge to Karasabai Village
Moving on, today we head for Karasabai village, a distant border village perched between the northern Rupununi Savannah and Pakaraima Mountains along the Brazilian border. Here we are delighted to have the rare opportunity to see the Endangered Sun Parakeet. In the early 1990s this species was on the brink of extinction due to extreme pressure from the pet trade, at which point local villagers took aggressive action to rehabilitate the population. Down to a mere seven individuals, conservation efforts have battled to regain their former numbers, but signs are hopeful, and the current population census suggests that at least 300 birds are thriving in the area today. Karasabai Village is well off the standard tourist track, offering a government guesthouse with adequate but sparse accommodations for our group. Nonetheless, local hospitality reigns, and when not on the trail looking for Sun Parakeet we’ll have a great opportunity to meet and interact with an Amerindian community that sees very few tourists and is eager to share their stories and learn about a world outside of their own. We will see plenty of other species during the day, but our focus will be on finding and observing this gorgeous parakeet. After seeing the Sun Parakeet we will enjoy a delightful lunch before departing Karasabai village in the afternoon and continue to Manari Ranch near the town of Lethem.
Overnight: Manari Ranch, Lethem
The beautiful and rare Sun Parakeet (photo John Christian).
Day 12. Full day looking for Red Siskin
Today we leave the lodge very early at 3 a.m. in our 4×4 vehicles and drive roughly 55 miles (90 kilometers) southeast of Lethem. The drive will take us about six hours depending on what we see along the way. The ‘road’ is a traffic-less sandy track meandering through the hilly savannas, with many opportunities for spontaneous birdwatching stops. Along the way, we may scan numerous wetland areas for Maguari Stork, Brazilian Teal, White-tailed Hawk, Double-striped Thick-knee, and Bearded Tachuri. We will also pass the Amerindian communities of St. Ignatius and Shulinab, where the traditional homes and lifestyles of Amerindian Guyana are on display and remind us just how different their lives are. We will meet one of our local guides who has been studying the rare and localized Red Siskin, a bird only discovered in Guyana in 2000 and one of the holy grails of South American ornithology.
Red Siskin will be our target southeast of Lethem (photo John Christian).
Apart from the magnificent Red Siskin we will look for Pale-bellied Tyrant-Manakin and Sharp-tailed Ibis – both are most-wanted species, so our efforts will be concentrated on seeing these special birds, although many other species will be seen while searching for these targets. In the surrounding areas we could also find Little Chachalaca, Black-collared Hawk, Amazonian Scrub Flycatcher, Plain-crested Elaenia, Pale-tipped Inezia, Brown-crested and Vermilion Flycatchers, White-naped Xenopsaris, Burnished Buff Tanager, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Glittering-throated Emerald, Ashy-headed Greenlet, Hooded Tanager, and Flavescent Warbler. We will enjoy a delightful lunch at Dadanawa Ranch before making our way back across the savanna to Manari Ranch.
Overnight: Manari Ranch, Lethem
Day 13. Takutu and Ireng Rivers excursion, flight to Georgetown
Another early morning start will see us leaving our delightful base to access the dry scrub and savanna alongside the Takutu and Ireng Rivers. Once again, our 4×4 vehicles will come into play as we must get to an area where two highly restricted and poorly known species occur, namely Hoary-throated Spinetail, and Rio Branco Antbird. We will explore wetlands as well as the dry desert for a variety of species such as Pinnated Bittern, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Masked Duck, Maguari Stork, Double-striped Thick-knee, South American Snipe, Pied-billed and Least Grebes, Crested Bobwhite, Pearl and White-tailed Kites, Savanna Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Brown-throated Parakeet, Red-bellied Macaw, Pale-legged Hornero, Fork-tailed Palm Swift, Sooty-capped Hermit, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-bellied Piculet, Black-crested and Barred Antshrikes, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Yellow-olive and Ochre-lored Flatbills, Vermilion, Short-crested, and Fork-tailed Flycatchers, Yellowish Pipit, and Orange-backed Troupial. With two exceptionally rare birds hopefully under our belts, we will return to our lodge for lunch. After lunch we will head to the Lethem Airport to board our flight to Georgetown.
Overnight: Georgetown
Day 14. Georgetown, your international flight home.
Today you will be escorted to the international airport to connect with your flight home.
Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes must use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling.
Download ItineraryGuyana: The Lost World Tour Tour Report, February 2023
21 JANUARY – 3 FEBRUARY 2023
By Eduardo Ormaeche
DOWNLOAD TRIP REPORT
Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo was a mega sighting during this Guyana birding tour (photo Anne Koke).
Overview
Our 2023 Guyana birding tour took us to explore the heart of the neotropics in search of a special and unique set of birds known as the Guianan shield specials, found only in pristine Guianan rainforest. Over the course of 14 days, we birded the remote Guianan forests, from the magnificent Kaeiteur waterfalls to the canopy walkways of Atta Lodge, and the Esquibbo and Rupuni Rivers, finding many great birds along the way. Standout species from this Guyana birding trip included: Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, Guianan Red Cotinga, Guianan Trogon, Guianan Puffbird, Guianan Warbling Antbird, Guianan Streaked Antwren, Guianan Toucanet, Red-winged Ground Cuckoo, Red-fan Parrot, Little Chachalaca, Crestless and Black Curassows, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Black Nunbird, Green-tailed Jacamar, Pompadour and Spangled Cotingas, Dusky Purpletuft, Black-headed, Dusky and Caica Parrots, Red-and-green, Blue-and-yellow, Red-bellied, and Red-shouldered Macaws, Spotted Antpitta, Spot-tailed Antwren, White-plumed, and Rufous-throated Antbirds and Crimson Fruitcrow.
Guianan Cock-of-the-rock was seen well.
We went on special expeditions in the Rupuni savannahs of southern Guyana to find two of the holy grails of South American birding: the Endangered Sun Parakeet and Red Siskin, both of which we saw very well. We also saw other great birds such as Bearded Tachuri and Crested Doradito.
This comprehensive birding tour was designed to cover the main birding hotpots in this amazing and seldom-visited country. Guyana is a must-visit South American birding destination, and this tour was custom-made for avid and adventurous birders, willing to travel in remote forests.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 21st January 2023. Arrival in Georgetown and transfer to Cara Lodge
Some of the tour participants arrived in Georgetown a day early, and others arrived late in the evening of the first day. All participants were met by our crew at the airport and transferred to Cara Lodge to get ready for the following morning’s birding activities.
Day 2, 22nd January 2023. Coastal birding and Georgetown botanical gardens
After breakfast we left Cara Lodge and drove towards the coast and Georgetown Waterfront and Kingston Seawall, our first birding stop, and were excited to find the place full of aquatic and coastal bird species. We scanned the mudflats, where we found species such as Grey and Semipalmated Plovers, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Limpkin, and Cocoi, Tricoloured, Striated, and Little Blue Herons. The coast was covered with Neotropical Cormorants, Magnificent Frigatebirds, Laughing Gulls, and a few Common Terns. We were very excited when we saw a flock of Scarlet Ibis flying in front of us and landing on the mudflat which then posed for photos. We also saw Osprey, Turkey and Black Vultures, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Great and Snowy Egrets and Carib Grackle. We then left this site to check some nearby mangrove habitats where we tried for Mangrove Rail, which gave us excellent views. Here, we also saw Snail Kite, and more Scarlet Ibis flying by.
Scarlet Ibises along the coast at Georgetown (photo Sherry Rhodes).
We continued exploring the coast at Georgetown and at BV Seawall where found our second big target of the morning, the localized Rufous Crab Hawk, and enjoyed excellent scope views. While birding nearby we got great views of Long-winged Harrier and Zone-tailed Hawk. We also had views of Spotted Sandpiper, Southern Lapwing, and other birds, including Brown-throated Parakeet, Grey-breasted Martin, and Yellow Oriole. From here, we continued our adventure in the form of a boat trip on the Mahaica River where one of the targets was the widespread Hoatzin (Guyana’s national bird), which we saw quite well. Additionally, we managed to see Pale-vented Pigeon, Amazon, Green, and Ringed Kingfishers, and the diminutive and most-wanted American Pygmy Kingfisher.
We saw this American Pygmy Kingfisher along the Mahaica River (photo Vernon Campos).
Raptors seen included Laughing Falcon, Great Black Hawk, Snail Kite, Savanna Hawk, Yellow-headed Caracara, Turkey Vulture, and our first Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture of the trip. These were followed by our first Green-tailed Jacamar, the skulking Silvered Antbird, and the handsome Black-capped Donacobius. Other exciting birds seen here included: Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Great and Lesser Kiskadees, Orange-winged Amazon, Red-shouldered Macaw, Brown-throated Parakeet, our first of many Fork-tailed Flycatchers, White-winged Swallow, Blue-black Grassquit, Blue-grey and Palm Tanagers, Yellow Oriole, Carib Grackle, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, as well as a few Wood Storks. We arrived at a local house, where we enjoyed lunch – a tasty and interesting Guyanese cuisine which is more influenced by Indian-Asian food than the rest of Latin America. From the veranda we saw Long-winged Harrier, Little Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, and Fork-tailed Palm Swift (which, until recently, was known as Neotropical Palm Swift by several authorities).
We left the Mahaica River and set off towards the Georgetown Botanical Gardens and on the way we saw Red-breasted Blackbird. The botanical gardens were fairly crowded with locals relaxing over the weekend, but the birding was nevertheless good. We saw Toco Toucan, Red-shouldered Macaw, Cayenne Jay, Violaceous Euphonia, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Southern Mealy, Orange-winged and Yellow-crowned Amazons, Lineated Woodpecker, Silver-beaked Tanager, Wing-barred Seedeater, Tropical Mockingbird, and Grey Kingbird. The water ponds provided Yellow-chinned Spinetail, walking on the floating vegetation, and the cute Pied Water Tyrant. We also had brilliant views of our two major targets here, White-bellied Piculet and Blood-colored Woodpecker.
After an intense day we returned to the lodge, ate supper, and had a good night’s sleep, in anticipation of our next day’s adventure.
Day 3, 23rd January 2023. Flight to Kaieteur Falls Park and then to Surama Lodge
After breakfast we transferred to the domestic airport to catch our scheduled charter flight to the Kaieteur Falls. Sadly, take-off from the airport was delayed for hours by bad weather at the falls. It felt like an eternity had passed and I was thinking that we would not be able to fly to the falls at all, but would have to fly straight to Surama Lodge. However, at the last moment they called us to board the small aircraft (with room for six people) and we took off. It was a bumpy flight but we made it safely to the falls. These underrated falls are a true jewel and a definite wonder of nature, being surrounded by pristine rainforest. The weather was perfect but our time was extremely limited, due to our flight delay. After our arrival in the park we went straight to the falls to see the spectacular views and, of course, to look for Orange-breasted Falcon – which sadly we did not find, no matter how hard we tried. We did however find Golden Rocket Frog, a tiny yellow tree frog which lives within the giant bromeliads. This species is Endangered and endemic to only the Kaieteur plateau and the inaccessible highlands of Guyana.
After some time here, we then focused on our main target, the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock, and were able to find several males displaying at the usual lek site. Additionally, we had good views of Cliff Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Elaenia, Tropical Kingbird and Burnished-buff Tanager.
With our time at Kaieteur Falls running out, we boarded our plane and flew towards Surama Lodge. This flight went much more smoothly than before and we arrived without any delays or inconvenience. We were met at the airfield by the lodge staff, and transferred to Surama Lodge. This is a basic lodge located on the lands of the Surama Amerindian community, and famous for offering chances of seeing the legendary Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo, and often-active Harpy Eagle nests. We were scheduled to spend two full days here to see as much as we could.
Day 4, 24th January 2023. Surama Lodge birding
We had a predawn start with breakfast and explored the grasslands and forest edge around the lodge and then explored the lodge area itself. We got the usual and expected birds, such as Yellow-rumped Cacique, Piratic Flycatcher, Vermilion and Short-crested Flycatchers, Epaulet Oriole, Great Kiskadee, and Blue-grey and Palm Tanagers. We had Black and Greater Yellow-headed Vultures soaring above the clearing, and enjoyed scope views of Scaled Pigeon and Black-tailed Tityra. We heard the calls of Little Tinamou in the distance but unfortunately, we were not able to obtain any visuals.
We approached the forest edge and got good views of the skulking White-bellied Antbird, and had awesome views of Cream-colored Woodpecker, in response to tape. On the forest trails we saw magic bird after magic bird including Green-backed Trogon, Guianan Puffbird, White-throated Toucan, Red-necked and Ringed Woodpeckers, Black-crested Antshrike, Rufous-bellied, White-flanked and Long-winged Antwrens, Plain-brown, Cinnamon-throated and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers, Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant, White-crowned and Golden-headed Manakins, Ochre-lored Flatbill, Spix’s Guan, Little Chachalaca (also called Variable Chachalaca by other authorities), Red-and-green Macaw, and had flyby views of Caica Parrots which sadly did not perch for us. The name Caica comes from the Carib (Haitian) Indian word “caica”, which means “parrot”. In the forest we spotted a Double-toothed Kite, and one of the specials of Guyana, Black-faced Hawk, was seen well.
Black-faced Hawk was amazing to see.
The absolute highlight of the day came near the end of the trail. Even though there were no army-ant swarms, we tried for the elusive and seldom-seen Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo – and before long, we heard the characteristic bill snapping, approaching us from the bush. We held our breaths, motionless, and suddenly, not one, but two, Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoos crossed the trail in front of us twice, giving us all kinds of views (unreal, awesome, amazing, “oh my gosh”, breathtaking, heart-stopping, out of this world views). We could not have been more satisfied and content. On the way back to the lodge for lunch and a short break, we found two Blackish Nightjars at their daytime roosts.
In the afternoon we birded the clearing and the road, where we saw Blue-black Grassquit, Wing-barred and Yellow-bellied Seedeater, Finsch’s Euphonia, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Swallow-winged Puffbird, Savanna Hawk, Green-tailed Goldenthroat, White-collared and Band-rumped Swifts, and White-tipped Dove. We tried for Ash-throated Crake and went to look for a daytime roosting Great Potoo. Before dusk we saw Lesser Nighthawk, and after dusk we looked for Tawny-bellied Screech Owl, which came in and gave us good views. Back at the lodge we got excellent views of Pauraque, White-tailed Nightjar and Short-tailed Nighthawk. Crested Owl was heard but only distantly.
Day 5, 25th January 2023. Transfer to Iwokrama Lodge
Today we left Surama Lodge and drove along the Atta Road to Iwokrama Lodge, where we were scheduled to stay for two nights. The morning started with great sightings in the fruiting trees along the road of Blue-throated Piping Guan. IOC has recently split this species into two species, with Blue-throated Piping Guan (Pipile cumanensis) occurring from eastern Colombia to the Guianas, western Brazil and Peru, and White-throated Piping Guan (Pipile grayi), a new species, occurring from southwestern Brazil, southeastern Peru, eastern Bolivia, and northeastern Paraguay. The split is based on differences in plumage, the color and shape of the wattle, and limited hybridization in zones of contact in south-eastern Peru. In the same tree, we had Little Chachalaca and Spix’s Guan, followed by Green-backed Trogon and White-throated Toucan. We further scored with some specials in the form of Black Nunbird, Black-spotted Barbet, Green Aracari, Guianan Toucanet, and Green-tailed Jacamar. Another fruiting tree gave us brilliant scope views of Pompadour Cotinga (male), together with Spangled Cotinga (male), both in the same frame. As if that was not enough, the cotingas flew away and the tree received a visit from a Black-necked Aracari and Channel-billed Toucan. Suddenly, our attention was captured by a couple of the most-wanted Red-fan Parrots, which showed well in the scope. Then Red-throated Caracara showed up and perched on a dead tree, making their typical cacophony – one of our tour participants was particularly happy to see this forest caracara! We added the usual suspects, such as Blue-grey, Silver-beaked and Palm Tanagers, Crested Oropendola, and a Black-crowned Tityra.
Next, we continued our drive and found a Bat Falcon and then spotted a Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle flying above the forest. Other raptors seen during the heat of the day included the attractive Pearl Kite, Roadside Hawk, Great Black Hawk, and the always-nice-to-see Swallow-tailed Kite. While we were watching these raptors, our driver called us from a distance, where he was with the parked vehicle, but we were too late to see the only Marail Guan of the trip.
We continued driving and then the vehicle broke down which had something to do with the oil filter, so we were forced to wait while the driver fixed the problem. It took some time during the heat of the day, but fortunately we got nice views of King Vulture flying on the thermals, while we waited. After fixing the problem, we continued to Iwokrama Lodge. Our driver then dropped us there and drove back to Georgetown to take proper care of the vehicle. He would come back for us two days later, which was fine because we had planned to explore the tropical lowlands of Iwokrama by foot and boat during the next two days.
In the afternoon we checked the lodge surroundings and took a boat to explore the Essequibo River. We found species like Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, Pied Plover, Neotropic Cormorant, Snail Kite, Amazon and Ringed Kingfishers, White-winged Swallow, Red-capped Cardinal, Muscovy Duck, Large-billed Tern, and Cocoi and Capped Herons. Two good new species were Ladder-tailed Nightjar and Black-collared Swallow.
Day 6, 26th January 2023. Iwokrama Lodge birding
Today we planned to leave the lodge after breakfast to explore the lower and mid sections of the Turtle Mountain, hoping for the localized Red-and-black Grosbeak and other special birds found in the Guianan rainforest. We took two boats to the base of the trail, and during the river trip over we saw some of the species seen the previous days, such as Black-collared Swallow, Osprey, Pale-vented Pigeon, Large-billed Tern, and Wood Stork. One of our boats managed a glimpse of Brazilian Tapir coming out of the water and disappearing into the bush. We started our birding with good views of the secretive Spotted Antpitta. After this sighting we walked up the trail, getting birds like Black Nunbird, Black-necked Aracari, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans, Purple-throated Fruiteater, White-throated Manakin, and Yellow-billed Jacamar. The calls of Screaming Pihas were loud, and we managed to get scope views of one individual, followed by views of Long-tailed, Plain-brown, Wedge-billed, and Buff-throated Woodcreepers. Then, after some hard work, we managed good views of the secretive Rufous-capped Antthrush which initially played hide-and-seek with us before finally giving itself up. We also had enjoyable encounters with Mouse-colored Antshrike, and Long-winged, Grey, and White-flanked Antwrens. There was no sign of the Red-and-black Grosbeak, and we did not venture higher up even though the trail was not very demanding. Before heading down we got a nice Great Jacamar and found a small army-ant swarm which provided Common Scale-backed Antbird, the stunning White-plumed Antbird, and the special Rufous-throated Antbird.
In the afternoon we crossed the river and explored a road which harbored some white-sand forest specials. We managed good views of Cinnamon Attila, Turquoise Tanager, Red-fan Parrot, Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Black Caracara, and a Paradise Jacamar. We tried for Black Manakin, which we heard, but it did not show for us. We then had Blue Dacnis, Red-rumped Cacique, Lineated Woodpecker, and a lovely Bronzy Jacamar. Before the end of the afternoon we saw a flock of the most-wanted Lilac-tailed Parrotlet. This attractive parrot flew in front of us and then perched in a tree top against the sun, where we could not find any angle for a better view. Unfortunately, we could not see any features, and had to settle with just the right shape and call, and silhouettes of them flying.
Day 7, 27th January 2023. Capuchinbird and transfer to Atta Lodge
Our last morning at Iwokrama Lodge came and we went to look for the most-wanted Capuchinbird. We were in a hurry and thus did not stop along the trail to look for other birds, since this was the major target, and the most reliable place to see it. We had a glimpse of Great Tinamou crossing the trail in front of us, and we heard the calls of Cinereous Tinamou. We noticed Black-necked Aracari on our way to our target bird’s territory. It took time and some effort, but the entire group was eventually very satisfied with the good scope views of Capuchinbird in the subcanopy at Iwokrama.
We returned to the lodge, had breakfast, and found our driver, who had come back with a fully fixed vehicle. We said goodbye to Iwokrama and the amazing two days spent here. We wanted to stay longer but there were new hunting grounds ahead of us – the famous and exciting forest at Atta Lodge.
The most-wanted Capuchinbird, seen on our Guyana birding tour.
We arrived at Atta Lodge in the mid-morning when activity was slow, and after our welcome, we checked into our rooms and then met in the lodge clearing. The first bird we noticed was Grey-breasted Sabrewing coming to the lodge feeder. Hummingbird feeders in the Guianan and Amazon rainforest are less active, with less species diversity, compared to the busy feeders made famous in other parts of the neotropics. Our driver called us when he got a tip from another driver about a large Green Anaconda laying in the marshy grasses on the side of the road. We of course jumped into the vehicle and soon found the fine specimen of this mythical animal and a lifer for all tour participants.
We then birded the whole afternoon, finding birds like Black-faced Hawk, near the lodge clearing, as well as Black-spotted Barbet, Black Nunbird, Green and Black-necked Aracaris, Guianan Toucanet, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucanets, Golden-collared Woodpecker, Blue-cheeked Parrot, Spangled Cotinga, Green Oropendola, and Little Chachalaca. Further along the road we found Bronzy Jacamar, Black Manakin, Bat Falcon, Blue-headed Parrot, and Cinnamon-throated and Buff-throated Woodcreepers. We waited until dusk and called White-winged Potoo, which came in and showed nicely for us. This is one of the hardest potoos to find and Atta is always a good place to see it. We also tried for Black-banded Owl, which showed up well. It kept relatively high up in the trees and not as close as the photographers would have liked, but the sighting was great. We happily went to bed in anticipation of another busy and full day to come.
The huge Green Anaconda seen along the Atta Road.
Day 8, 28th January 2023. Birding the canopy walkway and Atta Lodge
Our mission for the morning was to bird from the canopy walkway, trying to get the best views possible of the many forest canopy dwellers. We walked the trail up to the base of the tower and started looking for birds. The first new bird for the trip, and a big site target, was the Guianan Trogon. We also saw Red-and-green Macaw, the localized Spot-tailed Antwren, a second Pompadour Cotinga, and another Spangled Cotinga. These were followed by Black-crowned Tityra, Blue Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper, White-shouldered Tanager, Swallow-tailed and Plumbeous Kites, and Red-necked Woodpecker. The activity slowed as it got hot, so we walked down the canopy walkway back to the lodge. Then we explored the trails and forest clearings for the remainder of the morning, adding species like Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant, Guianan Warbling Antbird, Black-chinned, Common Scale-backed, Rufous-throated, and White-plumed Antbirds, and the splendid Guianan Red Cotinga. Of course, the star of the understory species today was the Ferruginous-backed Antbird which gave us a terrific show on the forest floor. Together with the antbirds, we had Brown-bellied Stipplethroat, Dusky-throated and Cinereous Antshrikes, and White-flanked and Long-winged Antwrens.
Later we managed to feast our eyes on Grey-winged Trumpeter, one of the most-wanted neotropical families. It was good not only to see this bird but also to be able to witness some of its behaviour. We had a couple of encounters with this species during our days at Atta Lodge, which seems to be the best place in the world to find this bird. It is one of only three trumpeters worldwide and therefore of particular importance for bird family collectors.
After lunch we found a diminutive and splendid Dusky Purpletuft around the lodge clearing and enjoyed prolonged views. The afternoon brought some great species, as we birded around the clearing and along the main road. We started with good views of Amazonian Pygmy Owl around the lodge clearing, followed by Spotted Puffbird off from the main road. Others birds included species such as Crane Hawk, King Vulture, Black-headed Parrot, White Hawk, Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin, Yellow-throated Flycatcher, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Dusky Parrot, Waved Woodpecker, Painted Parakeet, Bay-headed Tanager, and Black Curassow. We were informed during our stay at Atta that unfortunately the Rufous Potoo perch had not been found again after the previous tree fell during a storm and that new sites had not yet been discovered by the local guides. During our two days at Atta we took every opportunity to look for the Crimson Topaz on the black water streams by the river, but no matter how hard we tried, we could not find it. The lodge clearing gave us the only Crimson Fruitcrow of the whole trip, but sadly not everyone saw it, although some of the group managed exquisite scope views of this most-wanted and range-restricted species.
Day 9, 29th January 2023. Transfer to Rock View
We continued birding and had our last attempts at Crimson Topaz, without success, although we did see our first Red-rumped Agouti of the trip around Atta Lodge. We left the lodge after getting the usual species and headed towards our next port of call, a family place called Rock View, strategically located as a base from which to explore the Rupuni River and nearby savannas. We wondered how much the birding in this amazing forest might change when the roadworks near Atta are finished. After arriving at Rock View and being cordially welcomed by the family host, we birded the grasslands near the lodge. It was obvious that we were in a different ecosystem, out of the lush forest and into the hot and dry savannas, with the smells of recent fires in the lodge vicinity hanging in the air.
The birding in the afternoon provided Ruddy Ground Dove, Buff-necked Ibis, Pale-breasted Thrush, Grassland Yellow Finch, and Glittering-throated Emerald. Crested Bobwhite were only flushed but we had good enough views to include on our list, and we had great views of Aplomado Falcon.
Day 10, 30th January 2023. Rupununi River and Rock View
This exciting day started with a second boat trip to explore the famous Rupununi River, where we saw some classic aquatic species, already seen on the trip. Some of the highlights of the cruise included Anhinga, Large-billed Tern, Muscovy Duck, Wood Stork, Limpkin, Jabiru, Boat-billed Heron, and Osprey. We also saw Pale-vented Pigeon, American Yellow Warbler, Ringed, Amazon and Green Kingfishers, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, and Southern Rough-winged Swallow. Of course, our most important target, and the reason we were here, was the scarce and shy Crestless Curassow which we managed super views of on the river banks. Sadly, we did not see Giant (River) Otters this time. We took a short walk along a trail near the river and found Black-crested Antshrike, Green-backed Trogon, and Amazonian Black Tyrant, which is a rare bird in Guyana and was a lifer for our local guide, who has been birding in the country for years.
In the afternoon we birded some grassland and wetlands near Rock View, where we added Azure Gallinule, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers, Wattled Jacana, White-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Brown-throated Parakeet, and Red-and-green Macaw. Scanning the palm trees, we were able to find the smaller Red-bellied Macaw, which completed our set of all the possible macaw species on this trip. In addition, we saw Yellow-chinned Spinetail, White-naped Xenopsaris, Bicolored Wren, Red-breasted Blackbird, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, Tropical Kingbird, and Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet (Nesotriccus incomtus), a new split from Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, before returning to Rock View for a good night’s rest.
One of the main targets for the trip was Sun Parakeet.
Day 11, 31st January 2023. Sun Parakeet and transfer to Manari Ranch
We left Rock View before dawn to drive to Karasabai, near the border with Brazil, to search for one of the most-wanted psittacids in the neotropics, Sun Parakeet. This species is Endangered and numbers are declining due to many years of habitat loss and the pet trade – it is a sad fact that there are now more individuals living in cages around the world than in their natural habitat. It is only found in southern Guyana, the adjacent state of Roraima, in northern Brazil, and small portions of Suriname and French Guyana. We went directly to their feeding site in Guyana before they cross the river into Brazil to roost. We arrived and, with the help of local contacts, we searched the area until we saw our first Sun Parakeet. Bingo! I made sure everyone had seen the bird well, before trying to approach for better views and to take photos.
With one of the two main targets for the second part of the trip successfully ticked, we were a lot more relaxed. While birding the area, we also saw species such as White-tailed Hawk, Buff-necked Ibis, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Crested Caracara, Crested Bobwhite, Glittering-throated Hummingbird, Southern White-fringed Antwren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Pale-eyed Pygmy Tyrant, Plumbeous Seedeater, and Long-billed Starthroat.
After a successful morning, we started driving to Manari Ranch, which was to be our base for the next couple of days. On the way to Manari Ranch we made stops to look for some special grassland species, and we were lucky to find all our targets, including Double-striped Thick-knee, Pinnated Bittern, Crested Doradito and the most-wanted Bearded Tachuri. We all had great views of these species before we arrived at our lodge and settled down for a good rest.
Day 12, 1st February 2023. Red Siskin
Another predawn start, but this time we split the group into two 4×4 vehicles to deal with the bad roads on the way to the Red Siskin habitat. The search for this special bird required a full morning, including a long drive with not many new birds to be seen. This bird has great ornithological importance. It is native to northern Colombia, northern Venezuela, and Guyana, and considered an Endangered species (Critically Endangered in Venezuela). It is extinct in Trinidad and there are no recent records of a small population in the extreme northeast of Colombia, with the population in Guyana discovered in the early 2000s. The world population is believed to range between 600-2,500 pairs. The main reasons for its decline, like the Sun Parakeet, is the pet trade and habitat loss. Fortunately, the population in southern Guyana seems to be doing well and is benefitting from research by enthusiastic volunteers from local communities. They are also playing a role in the conservation of the species by developing ecotourism in the area. With the help of Leeroy, the best-known of the Red Siskin trackers and head of his community conservation program, we explored the dry foothills in search of this avian gem.
Red Siskin was a success on our Guyana birding tour (photo John Christian).
It took longer than usual but we managed to get a view of a single Red Siskin – not the best view but certainly enough to count. Leeroy went to check a further area while we waited, hoping that the bird we saw would come back to its usual roosting tree or drink from a small freshwater spring. Finally Leeroy called us and we had good views of a much closer bird. We had done it! We stopped in Leeroy’s village for lunch at his house and then continued the trip towards Manari Ranch.
Day 13, 2nd February 2023. Ireng River forest and flight back to Georgetown
We made a final predawn start to explore some gallery forest adjacent to the Ireng River in southern Guyana. This place is good for two Critically Endangered species, Rio Branco Antbird (named after the southwest Brazilian state of Rio Branco) and the Hoary-throated Spinetail, both found only in Guyana and Brazil. We were driving across nice unbroken savanna habitat at dawn when suddenly one of our vehicles stopped to point out a Giant Anteater on its early morning walk in the grasslands. We normally see this amazing animal on our Brazil and Paraguay birding tours, and sometimes in Colombia as well, but it was nice to see it for the first time in Guyana.
We arrived at our target species’ habitat and quickly found Rio Branco Antbird. Unfortunately, the spinetail was not responding, and no matter how hard and how many times we tried, using different strategies, it always got away from us. We all heard it, and only I and a local guide, venturing through the tangled branches and vines and getting down on the floor, managed to get a full view of a single Hoary-throated Spinetail. It was busy with its own agenda and did not care about us. One of the participants caught a glimpse, but nobody else managed to see the whole bird. During our search, we added some additional new species, such as Buff-breasted Wren, Pale-legged Hornero, Orange-backed Troupial, Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant (one of the smallest passerines in the world), Chestnut-vented Conebill and Chivi Vireo.
On the way to back to Manari Lodge, we managed to find Burrowing Owl, Yellowish Pipit, Grassland Sparrow and a Maguari Stork, amongst the other usual suspects. We transferred to Letham airport, where we said goodbye to our marvellous land crew, and then waited for our flight which was, once again, delayed.
We arrived in Georgetown and took the hour-long drive back to Cara Lodge, where we said our farewells. We each got our own supper, because everyone had different international flights scheduled for that day or very early the next day.
Although there were no large cats nor Harpy Eagle seen this time, this trip stands out as one of our greatest South American adventures. The experience of the Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo will surely remain in our memories for a very long time.
Day 14, 3rd February 2023. Transfer to the airport and international flight home
The participants who had not left the previous night transferred to the airport early this morning to catch their international flights home which ended a fabulous 14 days in Guyana.
Bird List – Following IOC (12.3)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen.
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following the IUCN Red List:
CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Tinamous (Tinamidae) |
|
Great Tinamou |
Tinamus major |
Cinereous Tinamou (H) |
Crypturellus cinereus |
Little Tinamou (H) |
Crypturellus soui |
|
|
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) |
|
Muscovy Duck |
Cairina moschata |
|
|
Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans (Cracidae) |
|
Little Chachalaca |
Ortalis motmot |
Spix’s Guan |
Penelope jacquacu |
Blue-throated Piping Guan |
Pipile cumanensis |
Crestless Curassow |
Mitu tomentosum |
Black Curassow – VU |
Crax alector |
|
|
New World Quail (Odontophoridae) |
|
Crested Bobwhite |
Colinus cristatus |
|
|
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) |
|
Least Nighthawk |
Chordeiles pusillus |
Lesser Nighthawk |
Chordeiles acutipennis |
Short-tailed Nighthawk |
Lurocalis semitorquatus |
Blackish Nightjar |
Nyctipolus nigrescens |
Pauraque |
Nyctidromus albicollis |
White-tailed Nightjar |
Hydropsalis cayennensis |
Ladder-tailed Nightjar |
Hydropsalis climacocerca |
|
|
Potoos (Nyctibiidae) |
|
Great Potoo |
Nyctibius grandis |
White-winged Potoo |
Nyctibius leucopterus |
|
|
Swifts (Apodidae) |
|
White-collared Swift |
Streptoprocne zonaris |
Band-rumped Swift |
Chaetura spinicaudus |
Neotropical Palm Swift |
Tachornis squamata |
|
|
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) |
|
White-necked Jacobin |
Florisuga mellivora |
Reddish Hermit |
Phaethornis ruber |
Black-eared Fairy |
Heliothryx auritus |
Green-tailed Goldenthroat |
Polytmus theresiae |
Long-billed Starthroat |
Heliomaster longirostris |
Grey-breasted Sabrewing |
Campylopterus largipennis |
Glittering-throated Emerald |
Chionomesa fimbriata |
|
|
Cuckoos (Cuculidae) |
|
Greater Ani |
Crotophaga major |
Smooth-billed Ani |
Crotophaga ani |
Rufous-winged Ground Cuckoo |
Neomorphus rufipennis |
Little Cuckoo |
Coccycua minuta |
|
|
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) |
|
Rock Dove (Introduced) |
Columba livia |
Scaled Pigeon |
Patagioenas speciosa |
Pale-vented Pigeon |
Patagioenas cayennensis |
Ruddy Pigeon – VU |
Patagioenas subvinacea |
Common Ground Dove |
Columbina passerina |
Plain-breasted Ground Dove |
Columbina minuta |
Ruddy Ground Dove |
Columbina talpacoti |
White-tipped Dove |
Leptotila verreauxi |
Eared Dove |
Zenaida auriculata |
|
|
Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) |
|
Ash-throated Crake |
Mustelirallus albicollis |
Mangrove Rail |
Rallus longirostris |
Azure Gallinule |
Porphyrio flavirostris |
Grey-breasted Crake (H) |
Laterallus exilis |
|
|
Trumpeters (Psophiidae) |
|
Grey-winged Trumpeter |
Psophia crepitans |
|
|
Limpkin (Aramidae) |
|
Limpkin |
Aramus guarauna |
|
|
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae) |
|
Double-striped Thick-knee |
Burhinus bistriatus |
|
|
Plovers (Charadriidae) |
|
Southern Lapwing |
Vanellus chilensis |
Grey Plover |
Pluvialis squatarola |
Semipalmated Plover |
Charadrius semipalmatus |
Pied Plover |
Hoploxypterus cayanus |
|
|
Jacanas (Jacanidae) |
|
Wattled Jacana |
Jacana jacana |
|
|
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) |
|
Hudsonian Whimbrel |
Numenius hudsonicus |
Semipalmated Sandpiper |
Calidris pusilla |
Spotted Sandpiper |
Actitis macularius |
Solitary Sandpiper |
Tringa solitaria |
Greater Yellowlegs |
Tringa melanoleuca |
|
|
Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) |
|
Laughing Gull |
Leucophaeus atricilla |
Common Tern |
Sterna hirundo |
Large-billed Tern |
Phaetusa simplex |
|
|
Storks (Ciconiidae) |
|
Wood Stork |
Mycteria americana |
Maguari Stork |
Ciconia maguari |
Jabiru |
Jabiru mycteria |
|
|
Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) |
|
Magnificent Frigatebird |
Fregata magnificens |
|
|
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae) |
|
Anhinga |
Anhinga anhinga |
|
|
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) |
|
Neotropic Cormorant |
Nannopterum brasilianum |
|
|
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) |
|
Buff-necked Ibis |
Theristicus caudatus |
Green Ibis |
Mesembrinibis cayennensis |
Scarlet Ibis |
Eudocimus ruber |
Roseate Spoonbill |
Platalea ajaja |
|
|
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) |
|
Boat-billed Heron |
Cochlearius cochlearius |
Pinnated Bittern |
Botaurus pinnatus |
Yellow-crowned Night Heron |
Nyctanassa violacea |
Striated Heron |
Butorides striata |
Western Cattle Egret |
Bubulcus ibis |
Cocoi Heron |
Ardea cocoi |
Great Egret |
Ardea alba |
Tricolored Heron |
Egretta tricolor |
Little Blue Heron |
Egretta caerulea |
Snowy Egret |
Egretta thula |
|
|
Hoatzin (Opisthocomidae) |
|
Hoatzin |
Opisthocomus hoazin |
|
|
New World Vultures (Cathartidae) |
|
King Vulture |
Sarcoramphus papa |
Black Vulture |
Coragyps atratus |
Turkey Vulture |
Cathartes aura |
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture |
Cathartes burrovianus |
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture |
Cathartes melambrotus |
|
|
Ospreys (Pandionidae) |
|
Western Osprey |
Pandion haliaetus |
|
|
Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) |
|
Pearl Kite |
Gampsonyx swainsonii |
Swallow-tailed Kite |
Elanoides forficatus |
Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle |
Spizaetus melanoleucus |
Double-toothed Kite |
Harpagus bidentatus |
Long-winged Harrier |
Circus buffoni |
Plumbeous Kite |
Ictinia plumbea |
Black-collared Hawk |
Busarellus nigricollis |
Snail Kite |
Rostrhamus sociabilis |
Crane Hawk |
Geranospiza caerulescens |
Rufous Crab Hawk |
Buteogallus aequinoctialis |
Savanna Hawk |
Buteogallus meridionalis |
Great Black Hawk |
Buteogallus urubitinga |
Roadside Hawk |
Rupornis magnirostris |
White-tailed Hawk |
Geranoaetus albicaudatus |
White Hawk |
Pseudastur albicollis |
Black-faced Hawk |
Leucopternis melanops |
Grey-lined Hawk |
Buteo nitidus |
Zone-tailed Hawk |
Buteo albonotatus |
|
|
Owls (Strigidae) |
|
Burrowing Owl |
Athene cunicularia |
Amazonian Pygmy Owl |
Glaucidium hardyi |
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl |
Glaucidium brasilianum |
Tropical Screech Owl |
Megascops choliba |
Tawny-bellied Screech Owl |
Megascops watsonii |
Crested Owl |
Lophostrix cristata |
Black-banded Owl |
Strix huhula |
|
|
Trogons (Trogonidae) |
|
Green-backed Trogon |
Trogon viridis |
Guianan Trogon |
Trogon violaceus |
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) |
|
Amazon Kingfisher |
Chloroceryle amazona |
American Pygmy Kingfisher |
Chloroceryle aenea |
Green Kingfisher |
Chloroceryle americana |
Ringed Kingfisher |
Megaceryle torquata |
|
|
Jacamars (Galbulidae) |
|
Yellow-billed Jacamar |
Galbula albirostris |
Rufous-tailed Jacamar |
Galbula ruficauda |
Green-tailed Jacamar |
Galbula galbula |
Bronzy Jacamar |
Galbula leucogastra |
Paradise Jacamar |
Galbula dea |
Great Jacamar |
Jacamerops aureus |
|
|
Puffbirds (Bucconidae) |
|
Guianan Puffbird |
Notharchus macrorhynchos |
Spotted Puffbird |
Bucco tamatia |
Black Nunbird |
Monasa atra |
Swallow-winged Puffbird |
Chelidoptera tenebrosa |
|
|
New World Barbets (Capitonidae) |
|
Black-spotted Barbet |
Capito niger |
|
|
Toucans (Ramphastidae) |
|
Green Aracari |
Pteroglossus viridis |
Black-necked Aracari |
Pteroglossus aracari |
Guianan Toucanet |
Selenidera piperivora |
Channel-billed Toucan – VU |
Ramphastos vitellinus |
Toco Toucan |
Ramphastos toco |
White-throated Toucan |
Ramphastos tucanus |
|
|
Woodpeckers (Picidae) |
|
White-bellied Piculet – VU |
Picumnus spilogaster |
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker |
Melanerpes cruentatus |
Blood-colored Woodpecker |
Veniliornis sanguineus |
Golden-collared Woodpecker |
Veniliornis cassini |
Waved Woodpecker |
Celeus undatus |
Cream-colored Woodpecker |
Celeus flavus |
Ringed Woodpecker |
Celeus torquatus |
Lineated Woodpecker |
Dryocopus lineatus |
Red-necked Woodpecker |
Campephilus rubricollis |
Crimson-crested Woodpecker |
Campephilus melanoleucos |
|
|
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) |
|
Black Caracara |
Daptrius ater |
Red-throated Caracara |
Ibycter americanus |
Crested Caracara |
Caracara plancus |
Yellow-headed Caracara |
Milvago chimachima |
Laughing Falcon |
Herpetotheres cachinnans |
Barred Forest Falcon (H) |
Micrastur ruficollis |
Lined Forest Falcon (H) |
Micrastur gilvicollis |
Aplomado Falcon |
Falco femoralis |
Bat Falcon |
Falco rufigularis |
Peregrine Falcon |
Falco peregrinus |
|
|
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae) |
|
Lilac-tailed Parrotlet |
Touit batavicus |
Caica Parrot |
Pyrilia caica |
Dusky Parrot |
Pionus fuscus |
Blue-headed Parrot |
Pionus menstruus |
Blue-cheeked Amazon |
Amazona dufresniana |
Southern Mealy Amazon |
Amazona farinosa |
Orange-winged Amazon |
Amazona amazonica |
Green-rumped Parrotlet |
Forpus passerinus |
Black-headed Parrot |
Pionites melanocephalus |
Red-fan Parrot |
Deroptyus accipitrinus |
Painted Parakeet |
Pyrrhura picta |
Brown-throated Parakeet |
Eupsittula pertinax |
Sun Parakeet – EN |
Aratinga solstitialis |
Red-bellied Macaw |
Orthopsittaca manilatus |
Blue-and-yellow Macaw |
Ara ararauna |
Red-and-green Macaw |
Ara chloropterus |
Red-shouldered Macaw |
Diopsittaca nobilis |
|
|
Ovenbirds (Furnariidae) |
|
Long-tailed Woodcreeper |
Deconychura longicauda |
Plain-brown Woodcreeper |
Dendrocincla fuliginosa |
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper |
Glyphorynchus spirurus |
Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper |
Dendrexetastes rufigula |
Buff-throated Woodcreeper |
Xiphorhynchus guttatus |
Straight-billed Woodcreeper |
Dendroplex picus |
Plain Xenops |
Xenops minutus |
Pale-legged Hornero |
Furnarius leucopus |
Yellow-chinned Spinetail |
Certhiaxis cinnamomeus |
Hoary-throated Spinetail – CR |
Synallaxis kollari |
|
|
Antbirds (Thamnophilidae) |
|
Brown-bellied Stipplethroat |
Epinecrophylla gutturalis |
Guianan Streaked Antwren |
Myrmotherula surinamensis |
White-flanked Antwren |
Myrmotherula axillaris |
Long-winged Antwren |
Myrmotherula longipennis |
Grey Antwren |
Myrmotherula menetriesii |
Southern White-fringed Antwren |
Formicivora grisea |
Rufous-bellied Antwren |
Isleria guttata |
Dusky-throated Antshrike (H) |
Thamnomanes ardesiacus |
Cinereous Antshrike |
Thamnomanes caesius |
Spot-tailed Antwren |
Herpsilochmus sticturus |
Northern Mouse-colored Antshrike |
Thamnophilus incomtus |
Northern Slaty Antshrike |
Thamnophilus punctatus |
Black-crested Antshrike |
Sakesphorus canadensis |
White-plumed Antbird |
Pithys albifrons |
Rufous-throated Antbird |
Gymnopithys rufigula |
Common Scale-backed Antbird |
Willisornis poecilinotus |
Guianan Warbling Antbird |
Hypocnemis cantator |
Rio Branco Antbird – CR |
Cercomacra carbonaria |
Ferruginous-backed Antbird |
Myrmoderus ferrugineus |
Black-chinned Antbird |
Hypocnemoides melanopogon |
Silvered Antbird |
Sclateria naevia |
White-bellied Antbird |
Myrmeciza longipes |
|
|
Antthrushes (Formicariidae) |
|
Rufous-capped Antthrush |
Formicarius colma |
|
|
Antpittas (Grallariidae) |
|
Spotted Antpitta |
Hylopezus macularius |
|
|
Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura (Tyrannidae) |
|
Yellow-bellied Elaenia |
Elaenia flavogaster |
Plain-crested Elaenia |
Elaenia cristata |
Lesser Elaenia |
Elaenia chiriquensis |
Rufous-crowned Elaenia |
Elaenia ruficeps |
Mouse-colored Tyrannulet |
Phaeomyias murina |
Bearded Tachuri |
Polystictus pectoralis |
Crested Doradito |
Pseudocolopteryx sclateri |
Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant |
Myiornis ecaudatus |
Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant |
Lophotriccus galeatus |
Pale-eyed Pygmy Tyrant |
Atalotriccus pilaris |
Ochre-lored Flatbill |
Tolmomyias flaviventris |
Cliff Flycatcher |
Hirundinea ferruginea |
Vermilion Flycatcher |
Pyrocephalus obscurus |
Amazonian Black Tyrant |
Knipolegus poecilocercus |
Pied Water Tyrant |
Fluvicola pica |
White-headed Marsh Tyrant |
Arundinicola leucocephala |
Piratic Flycatcher |
Legatus leucophaius |
Rusty-margined Flycatcher |
Myiozetetes cayanensis |
Great Kiskadee |
Pitangus sulphuratus |
Lesser Kiskadee |
Philohydor lictor |
Yellow-throated Flycatcher |
Conopias parvus |
Streaked Flycatcher |
Myiodynastes maculatus |
Tropical Kingbird |
Tyrannus melancholicus |
Fork-tailed Flycatcher |
Tyrannus savana |
Grey Kingbird |
Tyrannus dominicensis |
Short-crested Flycatcher |
Myiarchus ferox |
Cinnamon Attila |
Attila cinnamomeus |
|
|
Cotingas (Cotingidae) |
|
Guianan Cock-of-the-rock |
Rupicola rupicola |
Guianan Red Cotinga |
Phoenicircus carnifex |
Crimson Fruitcrow |
Haematoderus militaris |
Purple-throated Fruitcrow |
Querula purpurata |
Capuchinbird |
Perissocephalus tricolor |
Screaming Piha |
Lipaugus vociferans |
Spangled Cotinga |
Cotinga cayana |
Pompadour Cotinga |
Xipholena punicea |
|
|
Manakins (Pipridae) |
|
Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin |
Neopelma chrysocephalum |
White-throated Manakin |
Corapipo gutturalis |
Black Manakin |
Xenopipo atronitens |
White-crowned Manakin |
Pseudopipra pipra |
Golden-headed Manakin |
Ceratopipra erythrocephala |
|
|
Tityras, Becards, Sharpbill (Tityridae) |
|
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher |
Terenotriccus erythrurus |
Black-crowned Tityra |
Tityra inquisitor |
Black-tailed Tityra |
Tityra cayana |
Dusky Purpletuft |
Iodopleura fusca |
White-naped Xenopsaris |
Xenopsaris albinucha |
|
|
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae) |
|
Rufous-browed Peppershrike |
Cyclarhis gujanensis |
Chivi Vireo |
Vireo chivi |
|
|
Crows, Jays (Corvidae) |
|
Cayenne Jay |
Cyanocorax cayanus |
|
|
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) |
|
White-winged Swallow |
Tachycineta albiventer |
White-banded Swallow |
Atticora fasciata |
Black-collared Swallow |
Pygochelidon melanoleuca |
Southern Rough-winged Swallow |
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis |
Grey-breasted Martin |
Progne chalybea |
Barn Swallow |
Hirundo rustica |
|
|
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobiidae) |
|
Black-capped Donacobius |
Donacobius atricapilla |
|
|
Wrens (Troglodytidae) |
|
Bicolored Wren |
Campylorhynchus griseus |
Buff-breasted Wren |
Cantorchilus leucotis |
House Wren |
Troglodytes aedon |
|
|
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilidae) |
|
Tropical Gnatcatcher |
Polioptila plumbea |
|
|
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Mimidae) |
|
Tropical Mockingbird |
Mimus gilvus |
|
|
Thrushes (Turdidae) |
|
Pale-breasted Thrush |
Turdus leucomelas |
|
|
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) |
|
Yellowish Pipit |
Anthus chii |
|
|
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae) |
|
Red Siskin – EN |
Spinus cucullatus |
Finsch’s Euphonia |
Euphonia finschi |
Violaceous Euphonia |
Euphonia violacea |
|
|
New World Sparrows (Passerellidae) |
|
Grassland Sparrow |
Ammodramus humeralis |
|
|
Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds (Icteridae) |
|
Eastern Meadowlark |
Sturnella magna |
Red-breasted Blackbird |
Leistes militaris |
Crested Oropendola |
Psarocolius decumanus |
Green Oropendola |
Psarocolius viridis |
Yellow-rumped Cacique |
Cacicus cela |
Red-rumped Cacique |
Cacicus haemorrhous |
Yellow Oriole |
Icterus nigrogularis |
Orange-backed Troupial |
Icterus croconotus |
Epaulet Oriole |
Icterus cayanensis |
Giant Cowbird |
Molothrus oryzivorus |
Shiny Cowbird |
Molothrus bonariensis |
Carib Grackle |
Quiscalus lugubris |
Yellow-hooded Blackbird |
Chrysomus icterocephalus |
|
|
New World Warblers (Parulidae) |
|
American Yellow Warbler |
Setophaga aestiva |
|
|
Cardinals & Allies (Cardinalidae) |
|
Amazonian Grosbeak |
Cyanoloxia rothschildii |
|
|
Tanagers & Allies (Thraupidae) |
|
Purple Honeycreeper |
Cyanerpes caeruleus |
Blue Dacnis |
Dacnis cayana |
Blue-black Grassquit |
Volatinia jacarina |
White-shouldered Tanager |
Loriotus luctuosus |
Silver-beaked Tanager |
Ramphocelus carbo |
Wing-barred Seedeater |
Sporophila americana |
Yellow-bellied Seedeater |
Sporophila nigricollis |
Plumbeous Seedeater |
Sporophila plumbea |
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater |
Sporophila castaneiventris |
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater |
Sporophila minuta |
Chestnut-vented Conebill |
Conirostrum speciosum |
Grassland Yellow Finch |
Sicalis luteola |
Red-capped Cardinal |
Paroaria gularis |
Spotted Tanager |
Ixothraupis punctata |
Blue-grey Tanager |
Thraupis episcopus |
Palm Tanager |
Thraupis palmarum |
Burnished-buff Tanager |
Stilpnia cayana |
Bay-headed Tanager |
Tangara gyrola |
Turquoise Tanager |
Tangara Mexicana |
Species Seen |
301 |
Total heard only |
6 |
Total recorded |
307 |
Mammal List
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Anteaters (Myrmecophagidae) |
|
Giant Anteater – VU |
Myrmecophaga tridactyla |
|
|
Two-toed Sloths (Megalonychidae) |
|
Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth |
Choloepus hoffmanni |
|
|
Agoutis and Acouchis (Dasyproctidae) |
|
Red-rumped Agouti |
Dasyprocta leporina |
|
|
Howler and Prehensile-tailed Monkeys (Atelidae) |
|
Guianan Red Howler Monkey |
Alouatta macconnelli |
Guianan Spider Monkey – VU |
Ateles paniscus |
|
|
Bulldog Bats (Noctilionidae) |
|
Lesser Bulldog Bat |
Noctilio albiventris |
Greater Bulldog Bat |
Noctilio leporinus |
|
|
Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae) |
|
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat |
Tadarida brasiliensis |
|
|
Tapirs (Tapiridae) |
|
Lowland Tapir – VU |
Tapirus terrestris |
|
|
Deer (Cervidae) |
|
Red Brocket – DD |
Mazama americana |
Species Seen |
10 |
Reptile List
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Alligators and Caimans (Alligatoridae) |
|
Common Caiman |
Caiman crocodilus |
Black Caiman |
Melanosuchus niger |
|
|
Boas (Boidae) |
|
Garden Tree Boa |
Corallus hortulana |
Green Anaconda |
Eunectes murinus |
|
|
Whiptails and Tegus (Teiidae) |
|
Amazon Racerunner |
Ameiva ameiva |
Gold Tegu |
Tupinambis teguixin |
|
|
Tortoises (Testudinidae) |
|
Brazilian Giant Tortoise – VU |
Chelonoidis denticulatus |
Species Seen |
7 |
Amphibian list
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Cryptic forest frogs (Aromobatidae) |
|
Golden Rocket Frog – EN |
Anomaloglossus beebei |
Species Seen |
1 |
DOWNLOAD TRIP REPORT
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
GUYANA GENERAL INFORMATION
Guyana possesses an impressive country list of 788 bird species with a significant number of these species being endemics, or near-endemics shared with neighboring northwest Brazil, Suriname, and French Guyana. Our set departure tour is focused on finding many of these endemics and specials, while also uncovering the exciting wildlife and untouched landscapes of this remote country. We are also able to put together custom and private Guyana birding tours. Some of the exceptional birds we hope to find on our bird tours of Guyana include Capuchinbird, Black and Crestless Curassows, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Red Siskin, Sun Parakeet, Black Nunbird, Crimson Fruitcrow, Spotted Antpitta, Harpy Eagle, Red-fan Parrot, Guianan Trogon, Guianan Toucanet, Guianan Red Cotinga, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Pompadour Cotinga, Red-and-black Grosbeak, and many more!
ARRIVAL INFORMATION
Our tour will start in the city of Georgetown, at Georgetown Guyana Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) which can be reached by flights from most major airports from the US (New York and Miami) and UK (with a connection in Barbados). You may wish to consult your travel agent to book the most convenient flight, but please contact us if you need any guidance. Your tour leader will be waiting for you at Georgetown Airport with the Birding Ecotours logo displayed, and will then transfer you to your hotel. Please remember to keep your luggage tags, as they are required to exit the terminal at the Georgetown Airport. Please be aware that most international flights arrive in Georgetown around midnight. For this reason, many participants prefer to arrive a day earlier than the official tour starting date.
When filling out the customs declaration form, or when asked for the address you are staying at, please use the hotel address below:
Cara Lodge, 294 Quamina St, Georgetown, Guyana. Telephone: +592 225 5301
PASSPORT AND VISAS
To enter Guyana, you will need a valid passport that will not expire within 90 days of your arrival in Guyana. However, some international flights require a passport that is valid for at least six months from your departure to Guyana. It would be best to follow the latter to be on the safe side. Visas are not required for citizens of the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. Citizens of any other country should check with their local Guyana consulate about any requirements needed to enter Guyana.
It is always a good idea to make a copy of your passport and keep it somewhere separate from your actual passport. Having a spare copy will make securing a new passport easier in case you should lose your passport while on tour.
MEDICAL AND TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE
As referenced in our standard Terms and Conditions, we strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive trip cancellation insurance to protect against unexpected events that might cause delays and interruptions to travel. This insurance should also cover illness, medical issues, accidents, repatriation, loss of luggage or any valuable items, etc.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS
Please make sure you are suitably covered with comprehensive medical insurance in the instance of any emergency while on any of our Guyana birding tours. Without insurance, the cost of medical care is likely to be very high. As detailed in Birding Ecotours’ general Terms and Conditions, when signing up for this tour, we require you to notify us of any medical conditions that we should be aware of. The sort of things we should know about include, but are not to be limited to, any walking/mobility issues, diabetes, epilepsy, food and medicinal allergies, heart conditions, and long-term illnesses etc.
Some of the places we travel to are very remote and will not have many nearby medical facilities. In the case of medical treatment being required, this might necessitate flying back to the capital – the costs for these arrangements can be expensive (requiring extra flights etc.).
HEALTH
Please consult your local travel clinic or doctor regarding vaccine requirements before your tour to Guyana. We recommend doing this about two months prior to the tour start date so that any vaccine courses can be completed in time. There are no vaccination requirements to enter Guyana, although some are recommended. Yellow fever vaccination proof may be required if you come from a country with a proven risk of yellow fever. Please refer to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website here for further information on vaccines and how to stay healthy in Guyana.
Everyone visiting Guyana should be up to date with standard vaccinations and boosters, like Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio and yellow fever. Most people should be vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Polio, Tetanus, and Typhoid. Some people should be vaccinated for Cholera, Hepatitis B, and Rabies.
Malaria is low-risk throughout most of Guyana. Other insects can cause Dengue (especially during the rainy months), Zika, Chikungunya, and Leishmaniasis, which are recorded in the country, and although not very common, are all worth being aware of. Insect repellent with a high DEET content is highly recommended for most of the areas we visit in Guyana (DEET works against both ticks and mosquitoes).
Most people visiting Guyana do not experience any problems at all. But we of course strongly recommend you take note of the advice given by the CDC, a travel clinic, or your family doctor.
Again, please let us know about any medical conditions you may have, such as diabetes, asthma, allergies, heart conditions, or knee problems, also including phobias or anything you think we should know about in order to take care of you so that you can have an enjoyable and stress-free trip.
INSECTS
Mosquitoes and other insects are present throughout the trip. We recommend that you wear loose-fitting long pants and long-sleeved shirts and keep insect repellent handy. Spraying your feet, socks, shoes, and the lower portion of your pants with insect repellent will help reduce chigger bites. Chiggers are burrowing mites that are frequently encountered in southern USA, although residents of the UK and other countries may not be familiar with them. They are relatively harmless but can be a real nuisance and are abundant in the cattle pastures of Guyana. Spraying your trousers, socks, shoes, and waistline with a repellent containing Deet (N, N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a good deterrent. Applying anti-itch cream is about all you can do for them once the redness and itching begins, although a swim in saltwater may also calm these effects.
SAFETY IN THE BUSH
While in the field remember that, although rarely encountered, there may be venomous snakes around, not to mention numerous ants, wasps, and bees etc.
Do not walk in sandals into the forest or secondary growth, especially at night, and take a flashlight along at night if you cannot easily see where you are stepping. We strongly recommend you do not walk away from the group or walk off forest trails.
It is strongly recommended to not walk by yourself at Atta and Iwokrama, especially at night, or at dawn or dusk, as Jaguars and Pumas (which are not easy to spot) are more active at those times.
FOOD AND WATER
We normally have all our meals at the lodges and hotels where we stay. If you have any dietary requirements or food allergies, please let us know when you book the tour, so we can advise whether it will be suitable for you and make sure we can notify the people who will be preparing meals ahead of time.
Guyana is not a gourmet destination and most of the meals are “homemade dishes” which include meat (beef, chicken or pork), rice, manioc or cassava and vegetables. In the city people can choose international food, but in the more rural and remote locations of Guyana where we spend most of the time, the food is simple but still tasty and unpretentious. There is a strong Indian influence in Guyana cuisine.
Tap water is not safe to drink in Guyana. Please only drink bottled water and filtered water provided by the lodges or by your tour guide. We provide all bottled water in the vehicle, however the more expensive bottled water in restaurants and in your rooms, is for your own account, but all lodges provide water containers that are safe to drink from. Please bring a reusable water bottle to help us reduce the amount of plastic waste generated during the tour.
Drinks, including soft drinks, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, and beer are not included in the tour price. Please note that some lodges and restaurants might charge you a fee if you open your own bottle of wine, if it is not purchased in the restaurant.
Coffee and tea are commonly found across the country but are usually not of the taste/standard familiar in the West, so if you have preferences for hot drinks, it would be worth bringing your own supply with you. Note that getting fresh milk is not possible on most of the tour, but powdered milk or UHT should be possible in most places.
CURRENCY AND MONEY
Guyana uses the Guyanese dollar (G$) with notes representing G$20, G$50, G$100, G$500, G$1,000, and G$5,000. The exchange rate of the Guyanese dollar to the American dollar is roughly 1 USD = 200 GYD (September 2023).
We recommend carrying US dollars, although please do not bring US dollar bills that are damaged in any way (broken tips and edges, ink marks, pieces of tape, etc.). Most institutions and people do not accept US dollars that show this kind of damage. We recommend you bring US dollars or draw cash at the airport ATMs, as we cannot spend precious birding time looking for financial institutions to make these transactions.
Your holiday is an almost-all-inclusive tour, so you only need money to cover personal expenses such as drinks, laundry service, internet access, bar expenses, souvenirs and gifts you want to take home, or any non-mandatory gratuities you would like to give to any person who you think has provided exceptional service.
ATM MACHINES
ATMs are only available at the international airport when you arrive in the country. Please take note that several international flights land in Georgetown late in the evening when exchange houses are closed and it might be difficult to exchange money later in the tour. Most of the lodges accept US$, and credit cards are only accepted in the city hotels, but the lodges in the remote countryside accept cash only.
ELECTRICITY
Guyana uses 240V and the plugs are ITA Type A/B. Adaptors are needed for overseas appliances unless you come from the Unites States. A surge protector is strongly recommended, as is a universal adaptor, to help charge your electrical devices.
Due to high humidity in the Guianan rainforests, we advise you to keep your electronics in original cases with tiny bags of silica.
CRIME AND SAFETY
Rural Guyana is safe for most of the tour, but Georgetown has a reputation for street crime. We ask you to take special care of your belongings.
A few simple security measures that are important to remember: do not leave the hotel on your own, do not arrive at the airport displaying your optics and other valuables such as expensive watches, do not use mobile phones in crowded areas, and keep a copy of your passport. If you arrive late in Guyana at the beginning of the tour, phone us and we will do our best to send someone to pick you up at the airport and/or organize a taxi for you. Please do not take any taxis outside the airport.
ACCOMMODATION
We always try to include the best accommodation available on our tours to give our clients the best experience possible. The accommodation we use are considered comfortable, but not luxurious. Guyana is remote and underdeveloped and there are limited options for ecotourism accommodation. The lodges we use provide the best birding and wildlife experiences, and in most cases the lodges provide basic amenities which include private rooms with private bathrooms. Electricity is generally uninterrupted unless there are unscheduled blackouts. There will be air conditioning in the capital, and elsewhere rooms will have fans. Hot showers are not available in the lodges which is usually not a problem after spending the day in temperatures that reach 91°F (33°C).
Most (but not all) remote lodges have Wi-fi available, but this may be charged as an extra cost.
The price of our tour is per person sharing a twin bedroom. Most of our clients, even some couples, prefer to have their own bed to sleep better after long days out birding. The standard matrimonial or double bed in Latin America is the normal double bed size, which might be too small for some people. Bedrooms with queen/king-size beds are not available on this tour.
Do not keep food in your room, unless it is necessary, such as if you are diabetic, and then please ensure you store any snacks in appropriate plastic containers. The smell of food might attract vermin near your room. It is better to leave your snacks with the kitchen staff or in our vehicle. All rooms have mosquito nets.
LAUNDRY
Most of the lodges offer laundry facilities which are not included in the tour price, for those wanting to travel light.
CLOTHING
Long pants and long-sleeved shirts are best to deter any insects and to provide protection against minor scratches from vegetation. Modern, lightweight outdoor clothes are very comfortable and dry quickly. A lightweight fleece will keep you warm on early morning boat trips which can be chilly. Shorts and T-shirts are also useful.
Light-weight hiking boots will be invaluable, preferably waterproof Gore-Tex boots. Rubber boots are always an option, and some lodges may provide these if available. Sandals are useful around lodges and beaches but should not be worn on the forest trails.
As for wet weather gear, an umbrella or poncho, whichever you feel is more practical, will both work well. Rain suits can be quite uncomfortable in the lowlands, where it is hot and humid, and even though we run our trips in the “dry” season, please note that Guyana can experience rain at any time of year.
WHAT TO BRING: OTHER ITEMS
Do not forget: Binoculars, camera, field guide, flashlight (torch – e.g. headtorch), spare batteries, power bank, converter plugs, plug adaptors, chargers, prescription drugs (please bring the generic names for these drugs with you), toiletries, prescription glasses (and a spare pair), insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, alarm clock, money pouch, hiking poles/walking sticks, suggested medical kit (see here), and daypacks.
Our tour leader will have a communal telescope for use during the tour, The communal scope will allow everyone opportunities to look at birds briefly on a rotation basis. If you like to “digi-scope/phone-scope”, or you would like to take prolonged scope views of the birds, please bring your own scope to do so, as the communal scope will be for everyone to look at the birds and not for photography.
Some additional items to remember to bring include important travel documents, passport, cash (or ATM/credit cards to draw money), proof of vaccinations, and your travel or health insurance cards – photocopies of all can be carried by the tour leader in case of emergency.
Bringing a couple of differently colored pens along with a 12-inch (30 centimeter) ruler can make the checklist session easier to follow.
Please refer to the tour-specific documents for further information of items to bring on the individual tours. Additional details on what to bring on a birding tour can be seen on our informative blog post here.
PACE, DIFFICULTY AND STYLE
Guyana is ‘old-school’ birding with no bird feeders, lighting bug traps or water pools where we might normally (in other neotropical countries) spend time waiting for birds to come eat/drink. We must rather look for birds in their natural habitat. It involves walking along forest trails and along some dirt roads looking for as many birds as we can find. Several forest birds can be difficult to see, but with the help of knowledgeable guides we will do our best to show you them, even the most secretive species, however photography of some of the more skulking species is not guaranteed and is not the priority of this tour.
We will walk an estimated three and a half miles (five kilometers) per day and in most cases, trails are rough with uneven terrain. Participants should be fit and able to do this without difficulty, including being able to climb 120 steps (up and down) to reach the canopy walkways and suspension bridges to reach canopy platforms located 80 feet (25 meters) above the forest floor. Please take note of this in case you suffer from vertigo.
We will have daily predawn starts, and will be out birding and driving in the morning with a short break after lunch and then continue birding in the afternoon. Midday breaks will not be possible when changing accommodations. We will take a few boat trips to explore rivers during the trip, and we will deal with bad roads and some long drives in the remote countryside. Participants should be fit and have enough stamina to deal with these conditions.
We ask you to please be patient and understand that Guyana is a developing country that is relatively new to the ecotourism industry with a very small number of businesses and a couple of local communities running the entire industry. Some issues that can be experienced include unscheduled blackouts at the accommodation, mechanical problems with some vehicles, flight delays, or some birding hotspots that may have disappeared due to a natural fire or deforestation. Birding Ecotours will do its best to fix any potential issues and provide the fastest solution to any unforeseen challenges that may occur.
There are no high elevation locations on this trip, therefore altitude sickness should not be a problem, as we will be birding in a lowland country.
WEATHER
The weather will be hot and humid reaching 91-95°F (33-35°C) throughout the trip. Although we run our Guyana birding tours during the dry season, there is still a chance of rain on this tour.
PLANES AND LOCAL FLIGHTS
Depending on the size of our fixed groups, or for private tours, we will take small single- engine passenger planes or twin-engine propeller planes. Please note that sometimes weather can cause flights in rural Guyana to be postponed, and delays on arrival and departure may occur.
We will fly from Georgetown to the Kaieteur Falls and to Surama Eco-Lodge on a charter flight (as described above). The ground fixers will ask for your individual body weight before we board the plane. To return to Georgetown from Letham we will take a commercial flight where there are luggage restrictions – any extra fees from this are not included in the tour price.
TOUR VEHICLES & SEAT ROTATION
For our Guyana birding tour we will mostly use a large van, to ensure each participant has their own window, unless the group is very small in which case, we will use a smaller van. Either way, at Birding Ecotours we follow a seat rotation policy on all set departure tours. This will ensure everybody has equal opportunities throughout the tour. Unfortunately, motion sickness will not excuse you from our seat rotation policy and thus if you are prone to motion sickness, you should ensure you bring the necessary medication. We also require that you are fit and flexible enough to maneuver yourself to the back of the vehicle. Tour participants should also be mindful of the extra equipment they bring into the general seating area of the vehicle (rather than the luggage section) and should ensure they do not clog up the general thoroughfare or extra seats with camera equipment, tripods, etc. from a comfort and health and safety point of view.
BOOKS
Sadly, to date, Guyana lacks a proper bird field guide. We recommend the following books to help you during your birding trip to Guyana:
Birds of Venezuela – David Ascanio (2021), Helm Edition.
Birds of Northern South America: An Identification Guide, Vol: 2 – Robin Restall (2007), Helm Edition.
Guyana: Bradt Travel Guide – Kirk Smock (2018). Bradt Travel Guides.
Guyana Travel Guide: An ultimate travel guide to Guyana – Annie Priest (2023), Independently published.
Eduardo is still one of my favourite guides. He is knowledgeable, always kind and considerate and goes the extra mile to look after us. Our Guyana birding tour was an excellent tour with two different habitats, rain forest and savannah, giving a good selection of tropical birds. We enjoyed it immensely!
A superb tour in a lovely friendly and relaxed country, with lovely accommodation, two brilliant guides and birding in excellent habitats; the time allocation was good and made best use of our time in the country
Eduardo is an excellent birding guide but more importantly an outstanding, patient, and thoroughly knowledgeable person who really went the extra mile to make sure everyone had a great experience. His knowledge of the neotropics and birds and nature is vast, and his enthusiasm for the trip was inexhaustible. Long days, early mornings, and vast distances never once detracted from his positive demeanor and his willingness to entertain questions and share explanations and knowledge
Eduardo’s knowledge of birds and nature is only surpassed by his friendly nature, his incredible work ethic and his true desire for everyone on his trip to both see the birds and have a really positive experience. I cannot wait to sign up for another of his tours.