Friday 27th November 2009
Dense forest 'birding' is difficult at the best of times, but after spending about 90 minutes getting to the site and then standing there in wet conditions underfoot, the hope was of seeing about the worst 'skulker' in the world. With a lot of patience, we all saw at least something of what may go down (in quality) as the bird of the trip, but to look at it was like looking at a nondescript black mouse. Sharp's Tapaculo, an endemic, is only found in the deepest forests, takes a lot of time to find but is most sort after by the birding fraternity. We had left our small but very comfortable family run guest house at 07-00, and made our way back to Otan Quimbaya the same site as yesterday. All morning was spent there with a total of 67 species, 17 being new to me and the addition of Venezuelan Red Howler Monkey added to the Mammal list. After lunch at the same guest house we started the 2 hour journey to Manizales arriving at 16-30.
Dense forest 'birding' is difficult at the best of times, but after spending about 90 minutes getting to the site and then standing there in wet conditions underfoot, the hope was of seeing about the worst 'skulker' in the world. With a lot of patience, we all saw at least something of what may go down (in quality) as the bird of the trip, but to look at it was like looking at a nondescript black mouse. Sharp's Tapaculo, an endemic, is only found in the deepest forests, takes a lot of time to find but is most sort after by the birding fraternity. We had left our small but very comfortable family run guest house at 07-00, and made our way back to Otan Quimbaya the same site as yesterday. All morning was spent there with a total of 67 species, 17 being new to me and the addition of Venezuelan Red Howler Monkey added to the Mammal list. After lunch at the same guest house we started the 2 hour journey to Manizales arriving at 16-30.
Blue-black Grassquit
Black and White Seedeater, special as never before recorded at this location by Birdseekers.
Black-billed Thrush
Booted Racket-tail. Despite the total lake of colour, this was considered a good photograph just because the extremely fast Hummer was captured.
Cauca Guan
Bromeliad Sp
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Collared Trogon
House Wren in full song.Trip Species Additions
GOLDEN-PLUMED PARAKEET*
GREEN VIOLETEAR
BRONZY INCA*
BOOTED RACKET-TAIL*
GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER*
MONTANE WOODCREEPER*
AZARA'S SPINETAIL*
STREAKED XENOPS*
STILE'S TAPACULO* (E)
RUFOUS-BREASTED FLYCATCHER*
VARIAGATED BRISTLE-TYRANT*
CERULEAN WARBLER* It's been a long time coming!
MULTI-COLOURED TANAGER* (E)
SAFFRON-CROWNED TANAGER*
BLUE-WINGED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER*
ASH-THROATED BUSH-TANAGER*
BLACK-WINGED SALTATOR*
BLACK-and-WHITE SEEDEATER*
Trip Ticks 236 Lifers* 123 Endemics (E) 9
