Mixed Feeding Flocks

Looking for Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Another night of Internet action, and first have to make a note of what for me was a brilliant sighting yesterday. Since seeing Cape May Warbler 2 years ago (in Cape May), Cerulian Warbler remained the only one of the more common Yanks I needed to see. Yesterdays excursion put paid to that thanks to Gina, Carl and more esspecially Steve who found the little beauty.

The more discerning among you will have noticed the right old 'foxes paw' I'm making of the 'trip list' for which I apologise. Normal service will be resumed as soon as I get my act together.

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta found.

We were all awake at 03-30 and mustered in the foyer of the very well appointed hostel in Manizales, where we are staying for 3 nights, drinking coffee. Our departure, to search for White-throated Screech-Owl, had been planned for 04-00 but 10 minutes before departure Michaelangelo, our drive, reported he had a flat tyre. With the Owl abandoned, there was now time to catch up on some notes as I for one was thinking a cup of coffee would be hard to find at that time of day, let alone a wheel change. While there was obviously some delay, I think to everyone's surprise we were on the road by 06-30. Our destination today was the area of Rio Blanca, reknowned for higher altitude birds such as Antpitta's, Hummingbirds and mixed feeding flocks of passerines.

Antpitta were high on the agender and we didn't have to wait at a well known site to find our first a Chestnut-crowned. This was closely followed by the 'endemic' Brown-banded Antpitta which was far less obliging than its cousin. Breakfast, of scrambled eggs with German sausage, hard but tasty toast and Colombian coffee was provided at the Ranger Station where we were made very welcome and looked after.

Brown-banded Antpitta
Brown-banded Antpitta

This done, the rest of the day was given over to searching for the afore mentioned mixed feeding flock. These too were easy to find with highlights including Blackish Tapaculo, the delightfully marked Pearled Treerunner, Barred Becard, Black-capped & Ashy-headed Tyrannulet, Tyrannine Woodcreeper and the majestic Crimson-mantled Woodpecker. Hummingbirds were also well represent Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green Violetear, Rufous-tailed & Speckled Hummingbird, Collared Inca, Tourmaline Sunangel (what a name), the beautifull Long-tailed Sylph, dozens of Buff-tailed Coronet, plus the bird with the smallest bill in the world Purple-backed Thornbill.

Great Thrush

Black-billed Mountain-Toucan

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Of significence, Masked Saltator was the real prize for our Chief Guide Carl, who only having 1176 species on his Columbia list wasn't expecting a lot. However, hopeful of his 'boggie bird' he announced to the throng that if we should see a Masked Saltator there would be an 'endless tap' on the beer counter that evening. Never wise to make such undertakings, within the hour we had found one, hic. Otherwise, Masked Trogon, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Bar-bellied Woodpecker and Dusky Piha all joined my 'world list' as the final 'tick' of the day, a Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, flew across the ever darkening sky. We lingered at the Ranger Station until dark to have a go at the Screech-Owl but it was not to be, but we did get the spectacle of lots of 'Fireflies' winking at dusk.

Masked Saltator

Buff-tailed Coronet

Ditto
Tourmaline Sunangel

Collared Inca

Masked Trogon

Today's Additions to the Trip List

RUFOUS-BELLIED NIGHTHAWK*
TAWNY-BELLIED HERMIT*
SPECKLED HUMMINGBIRD*
COLLARED INCA*
BUFF-TAILED CORONET*
TOURMALINE SUNANGEL*
LONG-TAILED SYLPH*
PURPLE-BACKED THORNBIRD*
MASKED TROGON*
BLACK-BILLED MOUNTAIN-TOUCAN*
CRIMSON-MANTLED WOODPECKER*
TYRANNINE WOODCREEPER*
STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER
BAR-BELLIED WOODPECKER*
PEARLED TREERUNNER*
CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA*
BROWN-BANDED ANTPITTA* (E)
SLATE-CROWNED ANTPITTA*
BLACKISH TAPACULO*
BARRED BECARD*
BLACK-CAPPED TYRANNULET*
ASHY-HEADED TYRANNULET*
DUSKY PIHA*
RUFOUS-CROWNED TODY-TYRANT*
PALE-EDGED FLYCATCHER*
BLACK-BILLED PEPPERSHRIKE*
GOLD-FRONTED REDSTART*
WHITE-CAPPED CONEBILL*
BLUE and BLACK TANAGER
BUFF-BREASTED MOUNTAIN-TANAGER*
GREY-HOODED BUSH-TANAGER*
BLACK-CAPPED HEMISPINGUS*
SUPERCILIARIED HEMISPINGUS*
BLACK-EARED HEMISPINGUS*
GRASS-GREEN TANAGER*
SLATY BRUSH-FINCH*
STRIPE-HEADED BRUSH-FINCH*
MASKED SALTATOR*
YELLOW-BELLIED SISKIN*

This list will be brought up to date as soon as time allows.