2 Mar 18 - Colombia: Parrots In The Mist

Obviously, the alarms went off well before dawn so we could get into some jeeps for a slow & bouncy ride up into the hills above Jardin. Our main target species for the day was the endangered Yellow-eared Parrot. This was a species that was thought to be extinct up until 1999 when around eighty individuals were discovered in the Colombia Andes. Thanks to good campaigns to raise its plight with local communities & also to protect its habitat, the population has grown. One of the problems is its main tree, the Quindio Wax Palm is also a threatened tree. The tree used to be used for Palm Sunday processions, but part of the work with local communities & the church, has greatly improved protection for the trees, with alternatives being used for the processions. The main Colombian Bird NGO, ProAves, has created a couple of reserves & put up nest boxes on the Palms to help provide additional nesting holes. This has been a successful campaign and the population is now around 1500 individuals.

A lone Quindio Wax Palm

It was a cold wait in the mist for the first sighting

It was very misty at first light, but slowly the mist started to clear. We saw a couple of Yellow-eared Parrots flying towards our viewing point on a small ridge. Fortunately, they landed, but not particularly close. Soon after a few more flew in & landed in a bit closer in some of the Palms. They were followed by others until we had seen around twenty of these lovely Parrots.

Yellow-eared Parrot: The light wasn't great as they were flying in

Yellow-eared Parrot: Most settled in these trees

Yellow-eared Parrot: A great looking Parrot

Yellow-eared Parrot: They are a near endemic as there is a small population in Northern Ecuador

We saw a reasonable selection of other species as we walked down the main track towards the town. However, it was a morning when few species were photogenic.

Walking back down the main track: It's clear why we used jeeps, rather than taking the bus

Black-billed Mountain Toucan: This species occurs from Colombia & W Venezuela to NE Ecuador

Streak-throated Bush-tyrant: This species occurs from Colombia & Venezuela to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia & NW Argentina

Golden-fronted Whitestart: This is the yellow-faced chrysops subspecies

Slaty Brush-finch

Montbretia: This looks similar to the Montbretias that grow in my garden. The family is native to East & Southern Africa & therefore these must have been introduced into South America

These flowers look like they will be popular with the local Hummingbirds

After a good morning's Birding despite the mist, we returned to the hotel in Jardin to collect our bags. The rest of the day was spent on a long & slow drive to the Rio Claro reserve.

Green Iguana: It was a largely uneventful drive, with this Green Iguana being the highlight

Medellin: There were a number of hillsides around the city that were as packed as this hillside

No surprise, that we were stuck in a few traffic jams in the Medellin area

We didn't arrive until after it was dark. As we stepped out of the bus, it was distinctly warm & humid. Having spent most of the trip at altitude, the next couple of days were going to be a big shock as we were only around 350 metres asl.

23 Feb 18 - Colombia: An Afternoon At Rio Blanco

After an hour & a half of driving from Santa Rosa, we arrived at the gates to the Rio Blanco reserve. This is an excellent area of woodland which has been protected as is a water catchment area by the local water company.

The entrance sign: I wouldn't recommend shorts in the tropics, as they result in a much higher chance of insect bites

There is a small accommodation building inside the reserve that would have been great to stay in, but we stayed in the nearby city of Manizales: it was about a thirty minute drive to the entrance. It was a real pity that we couldn't stay in the reserve, as it would have been great place to stay. I don't remember hearing whether there wasn't enough accommodation for the group or there was another reason. While we had a decent hotel in Manizales for a couple of nights, we found we weren't able to get into the reserve on the following morning until after it had got light. We had a few hours of Birding in this excellent reserve before it got dark.

Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Black-billed Mountain Toucan: This was our second Mountain Toucan of the day & even better this was a Tick

Powerful Woodpecker: Female. A record shot of my first Powerful Woodpecker. Females have a predominantly black head, while the males have a bright crimson crest

Golden-fronted Whitestart: This is the chrysops subspecies of Golden-fronted Whitestart. We saw the white-faced ornatus subspecies at Cerro Guadalupe on 19 Feb 18

Grass-green Tanager: This distinctive Tanager occurs from Colombia to Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia. It's a pity it is in the shade as the chestnut-red face isn't as clear as it was in the forest

Beryl-spangled Tanager: This is a relatively widespread Tanager which occurs from Colombia & Venezuela to Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia

Slaty Brush-finch: This species occurs from Colombia & W Venezuela to Ecuador & Peru

I think we were all looking forward to returning the following morning, especially as we knew there were some treats on the menu: breakfast was to include some worms. More in the next Post.

19 Feb 18 - Colombia: A Morning At Cerro Guadalupe

The alarms were set fractionally later on our second morning of Birding in Colombia, but still well before what any sane person would consider to be dawn. There was chance for a quick coffee in the hotel reception, as they had remembered to provide some this morning, before we jumped into the minibus for the forty five minute drive to Cerro Guadalupe. This is a windy road on the edge of Bogota & where we were to spend the morning Birding along the forested road edges. The Birding was from the road, but fortunately, there was little traffic along the road, as it's a dead-end road. Soon after first light, we saw some Guans sitting in the trees. They were Andean Guans, but the light wasn't great for photos. As the light improved, we saw more Andean Guans & they were closer for photos.

Andean Guan: These were the first of several parties of Andean Guans we were to see over the next week

As we walked along the road, we encountered a few Coppery-bellied Pufflegs: this was the only site we saw this near endemic which is restricted to the Colombian Eastern Andes & neighbouring Venezuela.

Coppery-bellied Puffleg: A cracking Hummer

As we continued Birding, we ran into a few small parties of Birds, including a couple of large & bulky Rufous Wrens. The road was a bit frustrating, as often there were banks on either side of the road above head height, so we were seeing some of the typically skulking species sitting partially concealed above our heads, before disappearing far too quickly. The views were fine, but it was a morning of struggling to get photos. But then I was also spending more time Birding & not worrying too much about using the camera.

It was tough habitat to see into & it was relatively quiet

Another scenery shot

After some time, some police showed up on motorbikes. They stopped close to us, before slowing following us at a distance. Brian walked over to have a chat them as he & Janos were our best Spanish speakers. I was expecting to be told that we weren't allowed to be Birding along the road and we had to leave. But the coppers kept their distance. Later, Brian said, they explained they would hang around as there had been problems with robberies along the road in the past, so they were going to keep an eye on us for our own good. They were friendly & quiet and it was reassuring having them around. It was nice to have my suspicions proved wrong.

Our guardians for the morning: While Brian & a couple of others were having a chat with the coppers, Welsh Birder Rob Hunt was leaving them to catch up with the rest of us

As we walked along the road, there were a few Band-tailed Pigeons flying around. Additionally, a smaller, medium-sized Bird flew over & perched on a distant tree. The scopes were brought into use, to confirm it was a Red-crested Cotinga. Like, the Andean Guan, it was a species I had seen before in Ecuador, but not for 18 & 20 years, respectively.

Red-crested Cotinga

We walked down to a nearby road junction, before exploring along that side road. There were one or two small trails into the forest & we managed to see a few other species in the bamboo thickets under the trees including a couple of Rufous Antpittas, a couple of White-browed Spinetails and an Agile Tit-tyrant. Back on the road, I saw my first Golden-fronted Whitestarts & a family party of Black-crested Warblers.

White-browed Spinetail: Bamboo can be really hard to photograph Birds in

 Agile Tit-tyrant

Agile Tit-tyrant

 

Golden-fronted Whitestart: This is the nominate ornatus subspecies. It was the only occasion we saw this subspecies, all the rest were the yellow-faced chrysops subspecies

Plushcap: This is a widespread South American species that I've only ever seen skulking in or near to Bamboo

Plushcap: I've rarely had clear views of Plushcaps, which is a pity as they look great

Black-crested Warbler: Adult

Black-crested Warbler: Juvenile. This juvenile was more of an identification challenge, until mum & dad appeared

A mixed flock produced my first Black-capped Hemispingus & Superciliared Hemispingus: both members of the large & colourful Tanager family.

Black-capped Hemispingus: This species occurs from Colombia & Western Venezuela and further South through Ecuador to Peru

Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager: They have a similar range to the Black-capped Hemispingus

Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager: This is a large good-looking Tanager

Pale-naped Brush-finch

Butterfly sp.

By late morning, I had managed to see six Ticks, despite it seeming a fairly quiet morning. It was now very quiet & we returned to the minibus to head off to the afternoon destination of Parque la Florida (Florida Park). Another long, cross Bogota journey of around two hours.

Bogota

Bogota: Looks like Health and Safety laws have made it to this suburb of Bogota