Ever Onward

Alejandro Humbolt - This bust stands outside of the Planetarium (in the Park) that bears the name of the German Naturalist and Explorer. Well worth the look inside.

The jusy is still out on this Raptor, but I cannot think it's anything but a Roadside Hawk?

Comments would be appreciated.

Ditto

Bare-faced Ibis

The good news is I've received a phone call in the last hour to say that a driver has been found, so I should start for the 'outback' at 06-00. I thought it best to issue a post as I have no idea if there is WiFi access (or any other for that matter) at the Hato, but it will be short you'll be pleased to know. Maybe this is a good opportunity to catch up on the Venezuelan leg of the Bird List. I will keep a personal list of everything seen, but see little point in writing in Cattle egret for every country. So these are the birds that have been added to the Trip List while in this country.

Totals carried over from the Colombia leg of the trip.

Trip Ticks 526 'Lifers' 349 Endemics 32
CRESTED BOBWHITE*
CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW*
LILAC-TAILED PARROTLET*
YELLOW-SHOULDERED PARROT* (E)
GROOVE-BILLED ANI
STRIPED CUCKOO*
GREY-CHINNED HERMIT*
BLUE-CHINNED SAPHIRE*
BLUE-TAILED EMERALD*
SHINING-GREEN HUMMINGBIRD* (E)
COPPER-RUMPED HUMMINGBIRD
GROOVE-BILLED TOUCANET*
PALE-BREASTED SPINETAIL* (E)
STRIPE-BREASTED SPINETAIL* (E)
CRESTED SPINETAIL* (E)
BARRED ANTSHRIKE
GREAT ANTSHRIKE*
WHITE-FRINGED ANTWREN*
LONG-TAILED ANTBIRD*
WHITE-BELLIED ANTBIRD
BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH*
SOUTHERN BEARDED TYRANNULET*
TAWNY-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT*
MARACAIBO TODY-FLYCATCHER* (E)
GREY KINGBIRD
CHESTNUT-CROWNED BECARD*
SCALED FRUITEATER*
ROSY THRUSH-TANAGER
SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER*
GLAUCOUS TANAGER*
SPECKLED TANAGER*
VERMILION CARDINAL*
ORIOLE BLACKBIRD*
VENEZUELA TROUPIAL*
OCHRE-BREASTED BRUSH-FINCH*
AMERICAN FLAMINGO*
SCARLET IBIS*
PEREGRINE
PLAIN-FLANKED RAIL* (E)
PURPLE GALINULE
CAYENNE TERN*
BARN OWL
SCALED PICULET*
CARIB HORNERO*
FOREST ELAENIA*
PALE-TIPPED TYRANNULET*
GOLDEN-FRONTED GREENLET*
LANCE-TAILED MANAKIN
GOLDEN WARBLER*
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH
BICOLOURED CONEBILL*
FACIATED TIGER-HERON*
GREY-NECKED WOODRAIL
FERRUGINOUS PYGMY OWL
GREEN KINGFISHER*
GUTTULATED FOLIAGE GLEANER*
PLAIN-BROWN WOODCREEPER*
OLIVACEOUS WOODCREEPER*
BLACK-BANDED WOODCREEPER*
RED-BILLED SCYTHEBILL*
BLACK-FACED ANT-THRUSH*
SHORT-TAILED ANT-THRUSH*
MARBLED-FACED BRISTLE-TYRANT*
TROPICAL PEWEE
VENEZUELAN FLYCATCHER* (E)
BUFF-BREASTED WREN*
SOUTHERN NIGHTINGALE WREN*
WHITE-NECKED THRUSH*
FLAVESCENT WARBLER*
RUFOUS-CHEEKED TANAGER* (E)
BLOOD-EARED PARAKEET* (E)
SHORT-TAILED NIGHTHAWK*
OLIVE-BACKED WOODCREEPER*
SCHWARTZ'S (Scalloped) ANT THRUSH*
FLAVESCENT FLYCATCHER*
WIRE-TAILED MANAKIN*
COMMON BRUSH TANAGER
BLACK-and-WHITE HAWK EAGLE*
MOTTLED OWL*
WHITE-TIPPED SWIFT
SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY-TYRANT*
WEDGE-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD*
RUFOUS-SHAFTED WOODSTAR*
STRIPE-THROATED HERMIT*
BUFF-FRONTED FOLIAGE-GLEANER*
VENEZUELAN ANT-VIREO* (E)
BLACK-HEADED TANAGER*
PLAIN-BRESTED GROUND-DOVE*
SPOT-BREASTED WOODPECKER*
BARE-EYED THRUSH*
MALLARD
BLUE-and-YELLOW MACAW*
RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON
YELLOW-CROWNED AMAZON*
ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON*
MASKED CARDINAL*
SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER*

Additions to Trip List - 97 Additional 'Lifers' - 79 Additional Endemics - 11 Total Trip List - 623 Total 'Lifers' - 428 Total Endemics - 50

The 'Ant Swarms' worked very much in our favour, with this huge party on a hunting mission. The ants chase the grasshoppers and spiders which jump to get out of the way, the birds see the movement and close in. The same goes for us, we closed in. At the end of this short clip you will note and ant bridge, where the swarm fill a depression in the earth for ease of access for the others.