Hello ,

Here is a short update from Gunnar - yours truly.
I am traveling again. I guided two weeks in Central Peru and then 10 days in Ecuador. Just got back to Lima. 

Our groups are small with one-two people only, but we are very grateful to at least have some clients after the long hiatus. 

There are several North Peru short hummingbirds trips lined up over the next couple of months, most with just one-two clients, and of course open for more people to join. I have not even been able to put all up yet in the calendar, but check within a few days or write back to me, if you are interested in joining. Some people are combining with Manu Road five days and a few days in Cusco visiting Machu Picchu. 

Apart from these trips in Peru, there are two other very special upcoming trips elsewhere, that I want to mention right now.

Uganda and the Global Birdfair
The most exciting is our trip to Uganda, which we shall squeeze in at the end of July (see below). It fits perfectly with my trip to Europe for the new British err Global Birdfair July 15-17 at Rutland as per usual.

There are still the same silly restrictions not allowing oversea companies to sell directly to the clients, but rather through a third party that has the ATOL registration in the UK.

OK. We are allowed to sell, but only through a third party that will levy 10-15% commission, while we do all the work selling the tours - and pay a premium for the privilege of a stand!

None of that!

I will still be there. I am happy to meet up with anyone. I will bring my fliers and business-cards. And I plan to do interviews of interesting birders for my Bucket List Birding podcast. (More episodes forthcoming).

The Uganda trip is feasible with a small group, since I am already half way there. We have two at this point, and with two more it is a go without any surcharge. 

Why Uganda with 7 Wonders Birding?

• We focus on the essential in just a week (OK, it will be 8 days of birding this time).
• Bucket list focus 
  1. Shoebill. 😱
  2. Gorilla.
  3. Chimpanzees 
  4. Birdfamilies.
       a. Modulatricidae (Dapplethroats and allies) small         family represented here by Gray-chested Babbler. 
       b. Flufftails - White-spotted Flufftail
       c. Nicators - Western Nicator
       d. African Finfoot 
       e. Hammerkopf
• Affordable. You get the Uganda highlights in much less time, and hence for much less money. 
• Good for non-birders, too. Since it is short, it is the kind of trip you can bring a non-birding spouse on. With so many primates, natural highlights and experiences, he/she may not even notice that they have signed up for a birding trip. 😉🤪😂😎👍   
• No promise that we will get it - but we shall try very hard to find Green-breasted Pitta.
• Galago - Bush-babies. During night excursions we shall try hard to see one. 

the YouTube hit-song Rinkeby & Tensta with over 352 000 views (!!!) from 2017,

and the punk version of the Swedish National anthem (recorded in 1991 with video just released in early 2022), 

all these have given me immense pleasure the last couple of years. Getting my band together again was one of the best things, really. 

As general elections to parliament coming up in Sweden this fall, and the threat of the anti-immigrant party Sverigedemokraterna with neo-nazi roots becoming the second biggest party in Sweden and come in position to form a coalition with other right wing parties, it is something that is very bothersome to both myself and my bandmates. We need to do something!

So we are going into the studio again to re-record some of our old political songs with modernized lyrics, as well as recording some songs that have never been recorded before. 
 

The flight to Europe goes via Madrid, so I am offering a special departure to Southern Spain with Alhambra, Iberian Lynx and many raptors, before we start recording. Start on April 23 for 6 days. 

Since this tour would pay for my trip to Europe, it does in a way also finance the recording session. As an extra perk, anyone signing up to the Spain trip, will get all the current CD:s from Guran Guran, plus the new ones, once they are out. 
 

Looking forward to be birding with Guran Guran fans in Spain. Hehe! 🙃 

Saludos

Gunnar

P.S. Other 7 Wonders Birding trips that are confirmed this year are Cambodia in October and Madagascar in November (program forthcoming).