Tropical Birding on Trinidad & Tobago

Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge

Awaken on your first morning to the raucous noise of the Crested Oropendola and a host of other exotic sounds including the anvil-like chorus of the Bearded Bellbird. Birding from the veranda of the Lodge, a first-time visitor to the tropics will likely see 25 to 30 new species before breakfast!

Your observations will likely include Channel-billed Toucan, Chestnut Woodpecker, Bay-headed, and Silver-billed Tanagers, along with Tufted Coquette, Barred Antshrike and Green Honeycreeper. Our stay in Trinidad will include exploring the rain-forested slopes of the Northern Range searching for Swallow-tailed Kite, Ornate Hawk-eagle, and Bat Falcon.

You can also examine the fascinating world of leaf-cutter and army ants and take photographs of orchids and gorgeous butterflies.

Trips to coastal areas of the island will provide us with tidepool and mangrove habitats to explore. Here we will likely encounter Pinneated Bittern, Azure Gallinule, Wattled Jacana, Green Kingfisher and possibly Red-bellied Macaw. Lowland forest and grassland habitats will provide looks at Red-breasted Blackbird, Southern Lapwing, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Green-rumped Parrotlets, and Squirrel Cuckoo.

Two highlights of the Trinidad portion of this tour include visiting the beautiful riparian grotto located at the Centre to view the breeding colony of the fascinating nocturnal Oilbird; and a visit to the famous Caroni Marsh, a very specialized mangrove forest that provides a classic example of plant adaptation in this brackish water community. The Caroni is home to Striated Heron, White-cheeked Pintail, Pied Water-tyrant and Red-capped Cardinal. Our visit to the Caroni will end with the spectacular flight of the Scarlet Ibis returning to their mangrove roosts at dusk, truly one of the world's most dramatic moments.

The Cuffie River Lodge is located in a secluded tropical rainforest at the edge of Tobago's main ridge - the oldest protected tropical rainforest in the western hemisphere, home to Blue-backed Manakin and the elusive White-tailed Sabrewing.

We will also travel to Speyside and then by glass-bottom boat to Little Tobago Island, one of this nation's most important wildlife sanctuaries. En route to Little Tobago we will watch for Leatherback and Hawksbill Sea Turtles, enjoy pristine coral reef formations, and on the island explore the forest and enjoy the views.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO HIGHLIGHTS

An Inexpensive, Comprehensive Tour of the Natural Highlights of this Beautiful Island-Nation. Limited to 10 participants!

Tentative Price (8-10 participants): 11 Days/10 Nights for  $2,295.00 (6-7 participants $2595.00). A minimum of 6 participants is needed for this to run. The price does not include international air fare. Prices are per person/double occupancy and are subject to change without notice.

Included: Rooms with private bath; all meals; all transfers; field checklist of birds; baggage handling; all gratuities except to tour leaders, boatmen and drivers. Also included are seven field trips with birding leaders: Dunston Cave, Blanchisseuse Caroni Swamp, Aripo Savannah and Arena Forest, Nariva Swamp, Little Tobago Island, and the Cuffie River Trail.

This tropical tour provides seven nights at the Asa Wright Nature Centre and Lodge, a 200-acre wildlife sanctuary in Trinidad's rainforested Northern range, and your base for exploring its beautiful sanctuary grounds as well as for embarking on guided journeys throughout Trinidad. In Tobago your accommodations for three nights will be at the secluded rainforest resort at Cuffie River Lodge in Tobago's beautiful mountain rainforest. You will travel with expert local guides to visit several unique natural areas throughout both islands.

ITINERARY

DAY ONE  Arrival at Piarco International Airport in Port-of-Spain and transfer to the Asa Wright Nature Centre and Lodge.

DAY TWO Awaken this morning to the raucous noise of the Crested Oropendola and a host of other exotic sounds. A first-time visitor might see 20-30 life birds before breakfast! Our day will start with a guided tour of the several trails that traverse this rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary, On our introductory walk we should see such species as Violaceous Trogon, Channel-billed Toucan, Chestnut Woodpecker, White-bearded Manakin, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Turquoise and Bay-headed Tanager.

DAY THREE This day sees us on an all-day excursion over the Northern Range to the seaside village of Blanchisseuse. En route we will look for Swallow-tailed Kite, Common Black Hawk, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Bat Falcon, White-tailed Trogon, and Rufous-tailed Jacamar among many others. Along with rich bird life, we will also have an opportunity to examine the fascinating world of leaf-cutter and army ants, and photograph orchids and other tropical flora. At the seashore we will look for Magnificent Frigatebird, and the Green Kingfisher. Be sure to bring your bathing suit for a very pleasant day on this Caribbean beach, where, depending on the tide we might also be able to explore and discover a host of tide pool organisms.

DAY FIVE A free day! You can set your own schedule...spend the day at the Centre exploring its trails, taking a dip in the naturally beautiful waterfall-fed bathing pool, extend your photographic opportunities, or just relax on the veranda. If you wish to arrange an off-site tour please check with the front desk for your various options. 

DAY SIX This day's journey to the lowland Aripo Savannah and Arena Forest could provide yet another batch of new species. In the savannah, Plumbeous and Grey-headed Kite, Shiny and Giant Cowbird, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Blue-black Grassquit, and Ruddy-breasted Seedeater are likely to be seen. The Aripo Savannah is an area of extremely acidic soil with poor drainage, and is a remnant of what once was a major habitat type of lowland Trinidad. These remnant savannahs are now surrounded by extensively altered landscapes where much sugar cane is grown, as well as small-scale agriculture and housing development sprawl. Our forest sojourn will take us into what remains of the lowland rainforest where we should have great looks at Orange-winged Parrot and Squirrel Cuckoo.

DAY EIGHT We will depart this morning to go to Trinidad's sister island of Tobago. This island forms the final link in the chain of mountain ranges extending from the Venezuelan Coastal Range, on the very edge of the South American Continental Shelf. Tobago's climate and rainfall more closely resembles that of the Lesser Antilles than of its sister island of Trinidad; being drier and windier. We will visit a marsh habitat searching for shorebirds, herons, egrets, and ducks, such as White-cheeked Pintail. We will then drive up to the main ridge along the island and check in at the secluded Cuffie River Lodge where we will relax for the remainder of this day. Participants may choose to enjoy the elevated swimming pool surrounded by the sights and sounds of the rainforest.

DAY NINE This day will see us joining our guide for a 2-3 hour hike along the Cuffie River Trail where Tobago's best mountain forests are found. We will look for White-tailed Sabrewing, Blue-backed Manakin, Yellow-legged Thrush and other Tobago specialties such as Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Ruby Topaz Hummingbird, Collared Trogon, Red-crowned Woodpecker, and White-fringed Antwren. The afternoon will be free and you can make your own arrangements for such activities as snorkling or swimming at a nearby beach, visiting the cultural and historic sites of this beautiful island, or simply enjoying the grounds of this idyllic lodge.

DAY ELEVEN This exciting learning vacation ends this morning as you depart for your flight homeward.