9 Mar 18 - Colombia: Hummers At Minca

Back at the hotel in Minca, we had the chance for some cool drinks & to enjoy the Hummingbird feeders while we waited for lunch. The Hummingbird feeders produced a few new species for our trip list.

White-necked Jacobin: Most seemed to be immature individuals

White-necked Jacobin

Long-billed Starthroat: Showing off its long bill

White-vented Plumeleteer: Living up to its name

White-vented Plumeleteer

Steely-vented Hummingbird: Note, the dark vent

Steely-vented Hummingbird: This is a Central American species which extends to Colombia & Venezuela

There were also a few other species coming in to the fruit feeders.

White-tipped Dove: This is a widespread Dove that occurs throughout the Neotropical lowlands

Bicoloured Wren: Good to get the opportunity to get a better photo than the record shot from earlier in the morning

As we were packing up, we were surprised to see there was a Blue-and-yellow Macaw in the trees at the front of the hotel. We couldn't figure out if it was a tame or a wild individual that had appeared due to a food source in one of the trees.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw: Stretching its left wing

It was time to head for the coastal Tayrona National Park for our final treats of the day. The highlight of the journey were some wildlife road signs.

Monkey road sign

Lizard road sign: We failed to see any Monkeys or Lizards

9 Mar 18 - Colombia: The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Foothills (Part2)

We had started the morning by Birding along the track we had visited at the end of the previous day. One of the highlights had been a few Military Macaws that flew over us in the early morning. We returned to the main road leading up to the El Dorado Lodge & drove up it for a mile or two, to a site we had stopped at on the previous afternoon. There was a Black-and-white Owl roost site near the road, but for the second time, we drew a blank at the site. The Black-and-white Owl clearly had other roost trees that the drivers didn't know. However, an hour of road side Birding was more productive.

Broad-winged Hawk: A widespread species, but uncommon, species on the trip

 Whooping Blue-crowned Motmot

Rusty-margined Flycatcher: This species occurs from Panama, Colombia & Venezuela to as far South as Bolivia & Brazil

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Bicoloured Wren: This species occurs from Colombia to Venezuela, Guyana & neighbouring North Brazil

Rufous-capped Warbler

Buff-throated Saltator: This is a widespread Neotropical species that occurs from Mexico to Bolivia, Brazil & Paraguay

Buff-throated Saltator: To confirm how it got its name

As we walked up the road to where the 4WDs were waiting, we ran into another Tick: a couple of Golden-winged Sparrows. I've seen the similar-looking Pectoral Sparrow & San Francisco Sparrow in Brazil. Despite their bright colours, these Golden-winged Sparrows & their close cousins are surprisingly easy to overlook if they sit still.

Golden-winged Sparrow: They quickly disappear into background, once they sit still in the shade

Golden-winged Sparrow: Grovelling on the ground

Golden-winged Sparrow: They are restricted to Colombia & Northern Venezuela

By late morning, the Birding activity was dropping off & we headed back to the hotel in Minca. However, there was still plenty of activity at the Hummingbird feeders.