Trinidad & Tobago
The Asa Wright Experience
Saturday 26 January - Friday 8 February 2008 (14 days)
Saturday 24 January - Friday 6 February 2009 (14 days)
One of the best possible introductions to the natural riches of the Caribbean, based at the world-famous Asa Wright Nature Center on Trinidad, together with the wonderful tropical seabirds and coral reefs of Tobago.
Ask a few well-travelled birdwatchers their favourite places in the world to stay, and Asa Wright will soon enter the conversation. This famous centre on Trinidad not only makes for an excellent introduction to the incredible diversity of bird life in Central and South America, but is also an outstanding location in its own right. The view from the verandah out over the valley is superb, while the birding from here - sometimes only a few feet away at the hummingbird feeders - is always entertaining. Around the centre lie two hundred acres of estate, a former coffee-cocoa-citrus plantation now reverting to secondary forest, surrounded by impressive rainforest. One special bird here is the nocturnal Oilbird, a fruit-eating relative of nightjars, and one of the only birds in the world to use echo-location. A visit to a colony of these weird birds in caves on the estate makes a unique birding experience.
Tobago is Trinidad's much smaller neighbour, and with its lovely beaches, coral reefs and seabird islands, it makes a fine contrast for the second part of our stay.
January and February are the very best months to visit, with many forest birds including Manakins displaying, and seabirds nesting on Little Tobago. Early in the dry season, the climate is also delightful at this time.
Prices:
2008 - £ 2,845
2009 - £ 2,945
Single supp.: £ 525
Deposit: £ 400 per person
The price is per person and includes scheduled return flights London/Port of Spain*, internal flights, airport taxes, ground transportation, accommodation on a full-board basis, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, optional tips to local drivers/guides, drinks and other personal expenses.
*For an ex-international flight cost (starting and finishing in Port of Spain) please deduct £ 560 per person from the tour cost.
Leaders:
2008 - Keith Grant with local guides
2009 - John Muddeman with local guides
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart from London to arrive Port-of-Spain, Trinidad in the evening, from where we head straight for the Asa Wright Nature Center.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 2
We awake to the resonant calls of Bearded Bellbirds deep in the forest, and head for one of the prime birdwatching sites of the area - the verandah! From here a first-time visitor may see twenty or more new species before breakfast, with several hummingbirds including White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-breasted Hermit, and the delightful and diminutive Tufted Coquette, as well as Barred and Great Antshrikes and Green and Purple Honeycreepers. After breakfast we walk some of the trails that cross this wonderfully diverse estate, while we get to grips with our first representatives of the neotropical avifauna. Violaceous Trogon, Channel-billed Toucan, White-bearded Manakin, and Turquoise, Bay-headed and Palm Tanagers are among the delights in store. It will be a fairly relaxed day as we adjust to the heat, but a hugely productive one.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 3
We drive over the ridge of the Northern Range of Trinidad to the seaside village of Blanchisseuse. En route we look for raptors, which may include Common Black Hawk, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, and the stunning White Hawk. Some of the more secretive forest birds can also be searched for - White-tailed Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and Speckled Tanager. At Blanchisseuse we have lunch on the beach, and a chance of a swim - but not before looking for Magnificent Frigatebird, Green Kingfisher and Silvered Antbird.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 4
Today we explore the lower parts of the track that leads to the highest rainforest on Trinidad, the Lalaja Uplands, where we search the treetops for the endemic Trinidad Euphonia and other species. A visit to a primary tropical rainforest is a really impressive experience. Among the trees festooned with orchids and bromeliads, leaf-cutter and army ants go about their daily toil, and we hope for their attendant antbirds to put in an appearance. Patience is often needed to see skulking species such as White-flanked Antwren, however. Trogons sit quietly on the overhanging branches while noisier toucans and parrots can be glimpsed flying above the treetops overhead. Later we return to the centre, where after dinner there will be an evening walk to look for night creatures.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 5
We make a full day visit to the Nariva Swamp and east coast. On the way we visit an agricultural research station, with a host of lowland species including Savannah Hawk, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Southern Lapwing and the delightful Green-rumped Parrotlet. Nariva, the largest freshwater swamp in Trinidad, also has an excellent mangrove area. Birds include Pearl Kite, Azure Gallinule, Wattled Jacana and, with luck, Pinnated Bittern. The coast should have Brown Pelican as well as Four-eyed Fish! We stay here for dusk, when we hope to see flocks of Red-bellied Macaws coming in to roost.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 6
We spend a whole relaxing day in the centre grounds again, starting with a visit to Dunstan Cave. Here in this beautiful riparian grotto can be found one of the world's few accessible colonies of Oilbird. This strange nightjar-like bird lives in caves by day, coming out at night to pluck fruit from trees as it flies, locating the fruit by smell and, uniquely among birds, finding its way around the caves by echo-location. The rest of the day will be spent wandering the trails, with many more species of antbird, tanager and honeycreeper all to be found amidst the lush vegetation. In the evening we visit a disused airfield where we look for nightjars and the remarkable Common Potoo, its huge eyes gleaming in our spotlights.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 7
We journey to the Aripo Savannah, the only remaining savannah in Trinidad, and host to many species not yet encountered in our stay. Grey-headed Kites, Shiny and Giant Cowbirds, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Blue-black Grassquit and Ruddy-breasted Seedeater are all likely to be seen. A remnant of the lowland rainforest at Arena may also be visited for birds including Squirrel Cuckoo and White-bellied Antbird.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 8
We start the day by commuting to Waterloo! This is an area of mudflats on the west coast, with a great range of waders, terns, and other shorebirds. In the afternoon we travel to the fabulous Caroni Marsh, a unique brackish water community with a wide diversity of mangroves. Here we can find Anhinga, Striated Heron, White-cheeked Pintail, Pied Water-Tyrant, Bicolored Conebill and Red-capped Cardinal. In the late afternoon we take a boat trip, ending with arguably one of the world's finest ornithological spectacles - the sight of hundreds of Scarlet Ibis, egrets and herons flying in to their roosts in the evening.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 9
We depart this morning for 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. The drier and windier climate together with its location, give Tobago a different range of species to that of the larger island, along with some wonderful seabird colonies.
We start by exploring the excellent Crown Point area for herons including Yellow-crowned Night-heron, wildfowl and waders. Afterwards, we visit the Grafton Estate, an old house with overgrown gardens, where regular feeding has led to the resident birds becoming quite tame.
We continue to the north-east corner of the island.
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 10
The raucous calls of Rufous-vented Chachalacas form our wake-up call. Weather permitting, we take a boat trip to Little Tobago Island. This was the place where the memorable film of Red-billed Tropicbirds and Magnificent Frigatebirds was made for "Life on Earth". Red-footed and Brown Booby can also be found. Our glass-bottomed boat will show us the splendours of a coral reef here, and we can either look down on Angelfish, or up at the seabirds overhead. We return to Blue Waters for an afternoon at leisure, with some gentle birdwatching around the grounds, snorkelling amongst the rocky shores of the bay, or simply lazing on the beach!
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 11
We spend the morning walking the delightful King’s Bay trail, with an afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beach by the hotel, and more local exploration, perhaps up to the old cannon and the trail cut into the hillside above the hotel, where dazzling Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds glint from the bushes in the sunshine .
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 12
We travel to the mountains, to visit Tobago's best rainforests today. These areas, at over 700m, harbour White-tailed Sabrewing, Blue-backed Manakin, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and other Tobago specialities.
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 13
After a final morning's birdwatching we travel back across Tobago and fly back to Trinidad to connect with our flight home, arriving back in London on the morning of Day 14.
Accommodation will be as outlined above with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients
Day 1
Depart from London to arrive Port-of-Spain, Trinidad in the evening, from where we head straight for the Asa Wright Nature Center.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 2
We awake to the resonant calls of Bearded Bellbirds deep in the forest, and head for one of the prime birdwatching sites of the area - the verandah! From here a first-time visitor may see twenty or more new species before breakfast, with several hummingbirds including White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-breasted Hermit, and the delightful and diminutive Tufted Coquette, as well as Barred and Great Antshrikes and Green and Purple Honeycreepers. After breakfast we walk some of the trails that cross this wonderfully diverse estate, while we get to grips with our first representatives of the neotropical avifauna. Violaceous Trogon, Channel-billed Toucan, White-bearded Manakin, and Turquoise, Bay-headed and Palm Tanagers are among the delights in store. It will be a fairly relaxed day as we adjust to the heat, but a hugely productive one.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 3
We drive over the ridge of the Northern Range of Trinidad to the seaside village of Blanchisseuse. En route we look for raptors, which may include Common Black Hawk, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, and the stunning White Hawk. Some of the more secretive forest birds can also be searched for - White-tailed Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and Speckled Tanager. At Blanchisseuse we have lunch on the beach, and a chance of a swim - but not before looking for Magnificent Frigatebird, Green Kingfisher and Silvered Antbird.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 4
Today we explore the lower parts of the track that leads to the highest rainforest on Trinidad, the Lalaja Uplands, where we search the treetops for the endemic Trinidad Euphonia and other species. A visit to a primary tropical rainforest is a really impressive experience. Among the trees festooned with orchids and bromeliads, leaf-cutter and army ants go about their daily toil, and we hope for their attendant antbirds to put in an appearance. Patience is often needed to see skulking species such as White-flanked Antwren, however. Trogons sit quietly on the overhanging branches while noisier toucans and parrots can be glimpsed flying above the treetops overhead. Later we return to the centre, where after dinner there will be an evening walk to look for night creatures.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 5
We make a full day visit to the Nariva Swamp and east coast. On the way we visit an agricultural research station, with a host of lowland species including Savannah Hawk, White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Southern Lapwing and the delightful Green-rumped Parrotlet. Nariva, the largest freshwater swamp in Trinidad, also has an excellent mangrove area. Birds include Pearl Kite, Azure Gallinule, Wattled Jacana and, with luck, Pinnated Bittern. The coast should have Brown Pelican as well as Four-eyed Fish! We stay here for dusk, when we hope to see flocks of Red-bellied Macaws coming in to roost.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 6
We spend a whole relaxing day in the centre grounds again, starting with a visit to Dunstan Cave. Here in this beautiful riparian grotto can be found one of the world's few accessible colonies of Oilbird. This strange nightjar-like bird lives in caves by day, coming out at night to pluck fruit from trees as it flies, locating the fruit by smell and, uniquely among birds, finding its way around the caves by echo-location. The rest of the day will be spent wandering the trails, with many more species of antbird, tanager and honeycreeper all to be found amidst the lush vegetation. In the evening we visit a disused airfield where we look for nightjars and the remarkable Common Potoo, its huge eyes gleaming in our spotlights.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 7
We journey to the Aripo Savannah, the only remaining savannah in Trinidad, and host to many species not yet encountered in our stay. Grey-headed Kites, Shiny and Giant Cowbirds, Yellow-rumped Cacique, Blue-black Grassquit and Ruddy-breasted Seedeater are all likely to be seen. A remnant of the lowland rainforest at Arena may also be visited for birds including Squirrel Cuckoo and White-bellied Antbird.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 8
We start the day by commuting to Waterloo! This is an area of mudflats on the west coast, with a great range of waders, terns, and other shorebirds. In the afternoon we travel to the fabulous Caroni Marsh, a unique brackish water community with a wide diversity of mangroves. Here we can find Anhinga, Striated Heron, White-cheeked Pintail, Pied Water-Tyrant, Bicolored Conebill and Red-capped Cardinal. In the late afternoon we take a boat trip, ending with arguably one of the world's finest ornithological spectacles - the sight of hundreds of Scarlet Ibis, egrets and herons flying in to their roosts in the evening.
Overnight Asa Wright
Day 9
We depart this morning for 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. The drier and windier climate together with its location, give Tobago a different range of species to that of the larger island, along with some wonderful seabird colonies.
We start by exploring the excellent Crown Point area for herons including Yellow-crowned Night-heron, wildfowl and waders. Afterwards, we visit the Grafton Estate, an old house with overgrown gardens, where regular feeding has led to the resident birds becoming quite tame.
We continue to the north-east corner of the island.
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 10
The raucous calls of Rufous-vented Chachalacas form our wake-up call. Weather permitting, we take a boat trip to Little Tobago Island. This was the place where the memorable film of Red-billed Tropicbirds and Magnificent Frigatebirds was made for "Life on Earth". Red-footed and Brown Booby can also be found. Our glass-bottomed boat will show us the splendours of a coral reef here, and we can either look down on Angelfish, or up at the seabirds overhead. We return to Blue Waters for an afternoon at leisure, with some gentle birdwatching around the grounds, snorkelling amongst the rocky shores of the bay, or simply lazing on the beach!
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 11
We spend the morning walking the delightful King’s Bay trail, with an afternoon at leisure to enjoy the beach by the hotel, and more local exploration, perhaps up to the old cannon and the trail cut into the hillside above the hotel, where dazzling Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds glint from the bushes in the sunshine .
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 12
We travel to the mountains, to visit Tobago's best rainforests today. These areas, at over 700m, harbour White-tailed Sabrewing, Blue-backed Manakin, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and other Tobago specialities.
Overnight Blue Waters Inn
Day 13
After a final morning's birdwatching we travel back across Tobago and fly back to Trinidad to connect with our flight home, arriving back in London on the morning of Day 14.
Accommodation will be as outlined above with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients