Month: December 2018
Merry Christmas to all birders around the world!
22 - 12 - 2018
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Birding & photographing birds along the Western Andes & Central Andes with Doug & Gail Cheeseman (April 22 – May 8, 2019).
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Birding the Central & Western Andes with Anthony Kaduck & Ken Edwards from Canada (March 20 – April 5, 2019).
SEE MORE
Birding trip for Happy Warblers from New York: the Central Andes & Cauca Valley, from Cali to Manizales (March 6 – 14, 2019).
SEE MORE
Birding in Inírida, San José del Guaviare, San Cipriano & the Anchicayá Valley with Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser (Feb. 4 - 27, 2019).
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Birding Mitú, Inírida & the Perijá Mountains for key species with Hans Jornvall from Sweden (January 5 - 23, 2019).
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Second birding trip to Colombia for Ernest Bradley & Dale Brinker (November 19 – December 03, 2018).
SEE MORE
Birding Colombia: an explosive extension into the Santa Marta Mountains, Guajira pensinsula & Perijá Mountains (October 18 – 27, 2018).
SEE MORE
The Eastern Andes near Bogota: private birding tour for Tony Menart, Thomas Heatley & Dale Manor (October 9 – 18, 2018).
SEE MORE
Birding Colombia through the Southeastern regions of Putumayo & Huila (January 14 – 24, 2018).
SEE MORE
Birding Hato La Aurora in the Eastern Llanos with Todd Pepper & Mark Eaton (December 1 – 4, 2017).
SEE MORE
Birding the Central & Western Andes of Colombia with Anthony Collerton (July 14 – 23, 2017).
SEE MORE
Andean Endemics tour with British crew: from the Eastern Andes to the mid-Magdalena Valley & Central Andes of Colombia (March 1 – 14, 2017).
SEE MORE
Another challenging & productive trip for Hans Jörnvall from Sweden (January 2 – 15, 2017).
SEE MORE
The Eastern Andes from Bogota to Soata: birding trip for recordist Terry Morgan & Karen Walz (November 18-30, 2016).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip for Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser: the Western & Central Andes of Colombia (September 1-20, 2016).
SEE MORE
Birding for much desired targets with Keith Betton, Andrew Herbert (UK) and Rainer Kopa (Germany) (April 17-May 7, 2016).
SEE MORE
Birding the Western & Central Andes with Richard & Jennifer Kershaw from UK (March 10-31, 2016).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip for Steve Huggins & Glenn Giacinto from Chicago, Illinois (January 23 – February 2, 2016).
SEE MORE
Birding along the Western & Central Andes of Colombia with Bob & Katie Self from the UK (November 9 – 26, 2015).
SEE MORE
Birding in Colombia from the Western Andes to the Santa Marta Mountains & Guajira peninsula, with a recapitulation.
SEE MORE
The Eastern Andes, mid-Magdalena Valley, Santa Marta Mountains & La Guajira peninsula with Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser (Sept. 2 – 21, 2015).
SEE MORE
Bird photo tour for photographers from Taiwan & China: The Western & Central Andes of Colombia (July 18 – August 8, 2015).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip for Debby Reynolds & David Copas (UK), and Jane Andrews (USA) (January 20 – February 6, 2015).
SEE MORE
Short but productive bird photo trip for family group from Canada and Colombia (December 16-20, 2014).
SEE MORE
Medium length birding trip through the Western & Central Andes of Colombia with Bruce Webb, Jeanne Conry & Peter Gent from USA (May 18 - 27, 2014).
SEE MORE
Short birding escapade for James Taylor & Christine Forster from Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) (May 8-11, 2014).
SEE MORE
Bird photography trip for Japanese photographers – Hisao komori & Yasunobu Shiga (April 26-May 4, 2014).
SEE MORE
Birding the Eastern, Central & Western Andes with Andy & Gill Swash, Debby Reynolds & David Copas from UK (January 15 – February 5, 2014).
SEE MORE
Birding the Central Andes of Colombia with Steven Huggins & Glenn Giacinto from Chicago, Illinois (January 3 – 13, 2014).
SEE MORE
Bird photography trip to the Eastern Andes of Colombia for Juan José Arango & Anabel Vanin (July 31 - August 04, 2013).
SEE MORE
Back to Colombia for a second time: Peter Hawrylyshyn & Bob Lewis search for more hummingbird species and bird specialties at new birding sites (February 15 – March 03, 2013).
SEE MORE
Central Andes short tour with Happy Warblers touring company from New York (February 5 – 13, 2013).
SEE MORE
More Andean endemics with magnificent birding crew from USA, UK & Canada (Dec. 28, 2012 to Jan. 5, 2013).
SEE MORE
Touring for Central Andes Endemics: how good birding in Colombia can be (October 6 – 15, 2012).
SEE MORE
Bird photography trip for Peter Hawrylyshyn, Bob & Hanno Lewis with emphasis on hummingbirds (August 22 – September 9, 2012).
SEE MORE
Birding Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary for some bird images with Juan Jose Arango and Anabel Vanin (August 3 – 5, 2012).
SEE MORE
Enjoying the Rio Blanco antpittas and Central Andes endemics with Eugenia Carey from Dauphin Island (July 5 – 12, 2012).
SEE MORE
Promoting Colombia as a travel destination with British presenter & producer Nigel Marven (February 6 – 11, 2012).
SEE MORE
Bogota Sunangel or not? The intriguing hummingbird at Rogitama Private Nature Reserve (2011).
SEE MORE
Birding with Dominic Mitchell – Managing Editor of Birdwatch Magazine (UK) (November 27 – December 4, 2011).
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Guiding and operating for Birding Adventures TV episodes in Colombia (November 27 – December 4, 2011).
SEE MORESecond birding trip to Colombia for Ernest Bradley & Dale Brinker (November 19 – December 03, 2018).
04 - 12 - 2018
Ernie & Dale had been lingering for a second birding trip to Colombia and this time they opted for the Eastern Andes, including the best birding sites near Bogota. Birding Tours Colombia had been running Eastern Andes tours for years, and it was very easy to agree on a magnificent 15-day itinerary.
Near Bogota, we visited Laguna de Pedro Palo, Chicaque Nature Reserve, Chingaza National Park, the Hummingbird Observatory at La Calera and the Siecha gravel pits. Moving north, we birded Paramo Grande above Guasca and the colorful Vereda Concepción with La Guajira & Bioandina Nature Reserves. We kept traveling north, visiting Laguna de Fúquene, the gorgeous colonial town of Villa de Leyva and Rogitama Nature Reserve before reaching the dry Chicamocha Canyon in Soata. Naturally, we birded the scenic Paramo de La Rusia and the beautiful Oak forests along the road to Onzaga.
On our return to Bogota, we decided to visit the reservoir of La Copa near the town of Toca for one morning. We then dropped to the Magdalena Valley and enjoyed the hummingbirds at the Enchanted Gardens of San Francisco, and birded thoroughly the rich Tabacal Lagoon near La Vega and Bellavista Forest above Victoria before returning to Bogota.
As a result, Ernie obtained 67 lifers, and Dale had a slightly bigger figure. We saw well the endemics Bogota Rail, Brown-breasted (Flame-winged) Parakeet, White-mantled Barbet, Black Inca, Chestnut-bellied & Indigo-capped Hummingbirds, Beautiful Woodpecker, Silvery-throated Spinetail, Apical Flycatcher, Niceforo´s Wren, Sooty Ant-Tanager, Mountain Grackle and Velvet-fronted Euphonia. Also, the near-endemics Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Golden-bellied & Blue-fronted Starfrontlets, Red-billed & Short-tailed Emeralds, Bar-crested Antshrike, Pale-bellied (Matorral) Tapaculo, Scrub Tanager, Rufous-browed Conebill, Black-headed & Moustached Brush-Finches, and the Golden-fronted Whitestart.
We enjoyed hundreds of glamorous birds, such as the Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Black-hawk Eagle, White-rumped Hawk, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Noble Snipe, Spectacled Parrotlet and the Andean Pygmy-Owl. Among the hummingbirds, we had spectacular views of the Ruby-topaz Hummingbird, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Black-tailed & Green-tailed Trainbearers, Purple-backed Thornbill, Glowing Puffleg, Gorgeted Woodstar and Lazuline Sabrewing. Other great birds included the Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Red-rumped & Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers, Black-crowned Antshrike, Dusky, Jet & White-bellied Antbirds, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Ash-browed & Stripe-breasted Spinetails, Black-billed Peppershrike, White-bibbed Manakin, Black-faced & Metalic-green Tanagers, Band-tailed & Paramo Seedeaters, Black-backed Grosbeak and Andean Siskin, among many others.
From left to right: Dale Brinker, Ernest Bradley, Daniel Uribe & Roberto Chavarro. A retired MD (Anesthesiologist), Roberto is one of the most prominent conservation pioneers in Colombia. His commitment to conservation and his prodigious work restoring the barren land that he bought some 35 years ago is truly amazing. Today, the gardens & forests of Rogitama are home to hundreds of bird species, including the endemics Black Inca, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Silvery-throated Spinetail and Pale-bellied Tapaculo, and near-endemics Short-tailed Emerald, Moustached Brush-Finch, Scrub Tanager and Golden-fronted Whitestart.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Birding & photographing birds along the Western Andes & Central Andes with Doug & Gail Cheeseman (April 22 – May 8, 2019).
SEE MORE
Birding the Central & Western Andes with Anthony Kaduck & Ken Edwards from Canada (March 20 – April 5, 2019).
SEE MORE
Birding trip for Happy Warblers from New York: the Central Andes & Cauca Valley, from Cali to Manizales (March 6 – 14, 2019).
SEE MORE
Birding in Inírida, San José del Guaviare, San Cipriano & the Anchicayá Valley with Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser (Feb. 4 - 27, 2019).
SEE MORE
Birding Mitú, Inírida & the Perijá Mountains for key species with Hans Jornvall from Sweden (January 5 - 23, 2019).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip to Colombia for Ernest Bradley & Dale Brinker (November 19 – December 03, 2018).
SEE MORE
Birding Colombia: an explosive extension into the Santa Marta Mountains, Guajira pensinsula & Perijá Mountains (October 18 – 27, 2018).
SEE MORE
The Eastern Andes near Bogota: private birding tour for Tony Menart, Thomas Heatley & Dale Manor (October 9 – 18, 2018).
SEE MORE
Birding Colombia through the Southeastern regions of Putumayo & Huila (January 14 – 24, 2018).
SEE MORE
Birding Hato La Aurora in the Eastern Llanos with Todd Pepper & Mark Eaton (December 1 – 4, 2017).
SEE MORE
Birding the Central & Western Andes of Colombia with Anthony Collerton (July 14 – 23, 2017).
SEE MORE
Andean Endemics tour with British crew: from the Eastern Andes to the mid-Magdalena Valley & Central Andes of Colombia (March 1 – 14, 2017).
SEE MORE
Another challenging & productive trip for Hans Jörnvall from Sweden (January 2 – 15, 2017).
SEE MORE
The Eastern Andes from Bogota to Soata: birding trip for recordist Terry Morgan & Karen Walz (November 18-30, 2016).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip for Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser: the Western & Central Andes of Colombia (September 1-20, 2016).
SEE MORE
Birding for much desired targets with Keith Betton, Andrew Herbert (UK) and Rainer Kopa (Germany) (April 17-May 7, 2016).
SEE MORE
Birding the Western & Central Andes with Richard & Jennifer Kershaw from UK (March 10-31, 2016).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip for Steve Huggins & Glenn Giacinto from Chicago, Illinois (January 23 – February 2, 2016).
SEE MORE
Birding along the Western & Central Andes of Colombia with Bob & Katie Self from the UK (November 9 – 26, 2015).
SEE MORE
Birding in Colombia from the Western Andes to the Santa Marta Mountains & Guajira peninsula, with a recapitulation.
SEE MORE
The Eastern Andes, mid-Magdalena Valley, Santa Marta Mountains & La Guajira peninsula with Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser (Sept. 2 – 21, 2015).
SEE MORE
Bird photo tour for photographers from Taiwan & China: The Western & Central Andes of Colombia (July 18 – August 8, 2015).
SEE MORE
Second birding trip for Debby Reynolds & David Copas (UK), and Jane Andrews (USA) (January 20 – February 6, 2015).
SEE MORE
Short but productive bird photo trip for family group from Canada and Colombia (December 16-20, 2014).
SEE MORE
Medium length birding trip through the Western & Central Andes of Colombia with Bruce Webb, Jeanne Conry & Peter Gent from USA (May 18 - 27, 2014).
SEE MORE
Short birding escapade for James Taylor & Christine Forster from Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) (May 8-11, 2014).
SEE MORE
Bird photography trip for Japanese photographers – Hisao komori & Yasunobu Shiga (April 26-May 4, 2014).
SEE MORE
Birding the Eastern, Central & Western Andes with Andy & Gill Swash, Debby Reynolds & David Copas from UK (January 15 – February 5, 2014).
SEE MORE
Birding the Central Andes of Colombia with Steven Huggins & Glenn Giacinto from Chicago, Illinois (January 3 – 13, 2014).
SEE MORE
Bird photography trip to the Eastern Andes of Colombia for Juan José Arango & Anabel Vanin (July 31 - August 04, 2013).
SEE MORE
Back to Colombia for a second time: Peter Hawrylyshyn & Bob Lewis search for more hummingbird species and bird specialties at new birding sites (February 15 – March 03, 2013).
SEE MORE
Central Andes short tour with Happy Warblers touring company from New York (February 5 – 13, 2013).
SEE MORE
More Andean endemics with magnificent birding crew from USA, UK & Canada (Dec. 28, 2012 to Jan. 5, 2013).
SEE MORE
Touring for Central Andes Endemics: how good birding in Colombia can be (October 6 – 15, 2012).
SEE MORE
Bird photography trip for Peter Hawrylyshyn, Bob & Hanno Lewis with emphasis on hummingbirds (August 22 – September 9, 2012).
SEE MORE
Birding Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary for some bird images with Juan Jose Arango and Anabel Vanin (August 3 – 5, 2012).
SEE MORE
Enjoying the Rio Blanco antpittas and Central Andes endemics with Eugenia Carey from Dauphin Island (July 5 – 12, 2012).
SEE MORE
Promoting Colombia as a travel destination with British presenter & producer Nigel Marven (February 6 – 11, 2012).
SEE MORE
Bogota Sunangel or not? The intriguing hummingbird at Rogitama Private Nature Reserve (2011).
SEE MORE
Birding with Dominic Mitchell – Managing Editor of Birdwatch Magazine (UK) (November 27 – December 4, 2011).
SEE MORE
Guiding and operating for Birding Adventures TV episodes in Colombia (November 27 – December 4, 2011).
SEE MORE