27 Feb 18 - Colombia: The Montezuma Track

After a good early morning at the top of the Montezuma track, we continued to drop down in elevation throughout the rest of the day. It was a long, but rewarding, day and easily the best day in Colombia with 21 Ticks.

I can't remember what the others were looking for here

After we left the breakfast spot, we soon ran into the next goodie: a White-faced Nunbird.

White-faced Nunbird: This is a local species which occurs from West Colombia to NW Peru

Soon after we ran into a photogenic Cinnamon Flycatcher.

Cinnamon Flycatcher: This is a widespread species which occurs from Colombia & Venezuela through Ecuador & Peru to NW Argentina

Cinnamon Flycatcher

The next highlight was when we bumped into a lek of Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonias.

Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia: They occur from Colombia & West Venezuela to Ecuador & Peru

Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia

Looking for another goodie: I had handed the small camera over to one of the others to take this photo

We did well for Fruiteaters: with a Green-and-black Fruiteater and later an Orange-breasted Fruiteater.

Green-and-black Fruiteater: Another species that occurs from Colombia & West Venezuela to Ecuador & Peru

Orange-breasted Fruiteater: They are restricted to the Western Andes of Colombia & Ecuador

I was pleased to find there was another group of Hummer feeders. It allowed us a break from walking, but not from the photography.

Empress Brilliant

Velvet-purple Coronet: It looks quite good in this photo

Velvet-purple Coronet

Velvet-purple Coronet: But as it turned its head & body, it caught the light

Velvet-purple Coronet: Another head movement & it's back to a dull coloured head

Velvet-purple Coronet: Superb

As we continued down the track, we ran into a couple of cracking new Tanagers: Black-and-gold Tanager & Gold-ringed Tanager.

Black-and-gold Tanager: A West & Central Colombian Andes endemic

Gold-ringed Tanager: This is a Colombian Choco endemic

Gold-ringed Tanager

Brian missing the Hummers that were perching on his hand at the previous site

The light levels were already starting to drop by the time we reached the lodge. The Hummer feeders were still busy, but the failing light meant it wasn't worth trying to take any more photos. But there was still the opportunity to enjoy a few more Hummingbird species.

26 Feb 18 - Colombia: Another Set Of Hummers To Learn

We arrived at the welcoming Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge with about an hour & a half of light left and quickly put the bags in the rooms. There were a number of feeders next to the open-sided restaurant. The feeders were very busy, with a good selection of fourteen species of Hummingbirds.

White-necked Jacobin: This is a widespread species which occurs from Mexico to Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil

White-necked Jacobin: The white neck is visible on this individual

Tawny-bellied Hermit: I'm not used to seeing Hermits coming to feeders, so this individual was a pleasant treat

Tawny-bellied Hermit: This species occurs from Colombia to Ecuador and Peru

Violet-tailed Sylph: This species occurs in Colombia & Ecuador

Velvet-purple Coronet: A species that is restricted to the Western Andes of Southern Colombia & NW Ecuador

Booted Racket-tail: A widespread species that occurs from Colombia & Venezuela to Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia. The males appear larger due to their long tail streamers, but the females are only the size of a Woodstar

Rufous-gaped Hillstar: This species has recently been split from White-tailed Hillstar. Rufous-gaped Hillstar occurs in the Western Andes of Southern Colombia & NW Ecuador

Rufous-gaped Hillstar: Note, the distinctive rufous moustachial and the extensive purple throat & breast as it turns its head

Green-crowned Brilliant: The majority of resident species we saw do not occur in Central America, but this species occurs from Costa Rica & Panama to Colombia& Western Ecuador

Green-crowned Brilliant: As it turned, its purple throat was obvious

Empress Brilliant: This is another Pacific slope species occurring in Southern Colombia & NW Ecuador

I will cover the remaining Hummingbirds & other species at the feeders in the next Post.