16 - 03 - 2017
This was a private birding tour for Allan Hale, Ian Black, Ray Gribble & Malcolm Rains from UK. Starting in Bogota, tour covered the Eastern Andes near Bogota, visiting Chingaza National Park, Siecha gravel pits, the Hummingbird Observatory at La Calera, La Florida Park, Tabacal Lagoon and the Enchanted Gardens of San Francisco at La Vega.
The mid-Magdalena Valley was represented by the Bellavista Forest at Victoria, El Dosymedio near Puerto Boyaca, El Refugio at Rio Claro canyon, the road to Puerto Nare near Doradal, and the adjacent road to El Palacio de Los Frisoles in Cocorna.
The second leg of the tour saw us visiting La Romera Ecopark at Sabaneta in the Medellin suburbs, the Quebrada Sinifana near Bolombolo, the road to Ventanas´s Pass, and Morro Amarillo near Jardin.
Finally, the itinerary covered comprehensively the Central Andes in the coffee region of the country, with great birding at Los Nevados National Park, the hummingbird feeders at Hotel Termales del Ruiz, Rio Blanco, Tinamu Birding Lodge, Cameguadua marsh and Otun-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary. Flight back to Bogota was through Pereira´s airport.
As a result, Malcolm had 112, Allan 88 and Ray 120 lifers, not counting the “heards only”.
In the Eastern Andes section of the tour (days 1 & 2) some of the special birds recorded included Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Lesser Scaup, White-tailed Kite, Black-Hawk Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Bogota Rail, Spot-flanked Gallinule, Noble Snipe, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Spectacled Parrotlet, Stripe-throated Hermit, Sparkling Violetear, Black-throated Mango, Black-tailed & Green-tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail, Glowing & Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Saphirewing, White-bellied & Gorgeted Woodstar, Red-billed Emerald, White-vented Plumeleteer, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Red-crowned & Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Spot-breasted Woodpecker, White-chinned Thistletail, Silvery-throated & Stripe-breasted Spinetail, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Pale-bellied Tapaculo, Yellow-bellied & Mountain Elaenia, White-throated Tyrannulet, Subtropical Doradito, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Cattle Tyrant, Pyratic & Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Striolated & White-bearded Manakin, Brown-bellied Swallow, Gray-breasted Martin, Long-billed Gnatwren, Swainson´s & Pale-breasted Thrush, Black-billed Thrush, Tropical Mockingbird, Superciliaried & Black-headed Hemispingus, Crimson-backed Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Plain-colored Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Rufous-browed Conebill, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Black Flowerpiercer, Masked Flowerpiercer, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Grayish & Streaked Saltator, Rosy Thrush-Tanager (heard), Grassland Yellow-Finch, Ruddy-breasted & Band-tailed Seedeater, Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Black-backed Grossbeak, Golden-fronted Redstart, Black-crested & Rufous-capped Warbler, Yellow-backed Oriole, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, Andean Siskin and Golden-rumped Euphonia, among many others.
From left to right: Allan, Ian, Ray & Malcolm, on Ventanas´s Pass after seeing the endemic Yellow-eared Parrots cruising by as they flew from their roosting sites to distant feeding grounds.
Special birds of the mid-Magdalena Valley leg of the trip (days 3, 4 & 5) included Northern Screamer, Colombian Chachalaca, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Striated Heron, Cocoi Heron, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Savanna Hawk, Russet-crowned Crake (heard), Yellow-billed Tern, Wattled Jacana, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Spectacled Parrotlet, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Mealy Parrot, Greater Ani, Oilbird, White-collared Swift, Gray-rumped Swift, Short-tailed Swift, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Pale-bellied Hermit, Purple-crowned Fairy, Long-billed Hermit, Blue-chested Hummingbird, White-tailed Trogon, Green Kingfisher, Broad-billed Motmot (heard), Rufous Motmot, Pied Puffbird, Barred Puffbird, White-whiskered Puffbird, White-mantled Barbet, Channel-billed (Citron-throated) Toucan, Collared Aracari, Olivaceous Piculet, Beautiful Woodpecker, Russet-throated Puffbird, Cinnamon & Lineated Woodpecker, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Bar-crested & Black-crowned Antshrike, Pacific & Slaty Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Magdalena Antbird, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Olivaceous Flatbill, Black-tailed Flycatcher, Acadian Flycatcher, Pied Water-Tyrant, White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, Long-tailed Tyrant, Streaked Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Bright-rumped Attila, White-bibbed Manakin, Striolated Manakin, White-bearded Manakin, Rufous Piha, Cinereous & Cinnamon Becard, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Scrub Greenlet, White-thighed Swallow, Southern Rough-Winged Swallow, Gray-breasted Martin, White-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Band-backed Wren, Bicolored Wren, Black-bellied Wren, Bay Wren, White-breasted Wood-Wren, Sooty-headed Wren, Gray-headed Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Black-faced Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper, Scarlet-browed Tanager, Dusky-faced Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Thick-billed Seed-Finch, Black-striped Sparrow, Tennessee Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler, Golden-crowned Warbler, Buff-rumped Warbler, Crested Oropendola, Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow Oriole, Red-breasted Blackbird, Velvet-fronted Euphonia and Fulvous-vented Euphonia.
Happy birders at Victoria after spotting the endemic Beautiful Woodpecker on scattered trees in the middle of an Avocado plantation.
From Sabaneta to Jardin we also had a good set of specialties, including Sickle-winged Guan, Colombian Chachalaca, Yellow-eared Parrot, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Speckle-faced & Bronze-winged Parrot, Green Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, Booted Racket-Tail, Western & Andean Emerald, Steely-vented Hummingbird, Highland Motmot, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Grayish Piculet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Rufous & Red-faced Spinetail, Pearled Treerunner, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Bar-crested & Black-crowned Antshrike, Parker´s Antbird, Ocellated Tapaculo, Blackish Tapaculo, Stiles´s Tapaculo, Spillmann´s Tapaculo, Sooty-headed & Black-capped Tyrannulet, Greenish & Mountain Elaenia, Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Black-throated Pygmy-Tyrant, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive & Cinnamon Flycatcher, Smoke-colored Pewee, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Golden-crowned & Pale-edged Flycatcher, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Barred & White-winged Becard, Black-chested & Green Jay, Whiskered & Antioquia Wren, Tropical Gnatcatcher, White-capped Dipper, Andean Solitaire, Flame-rumped & Blue-capped Tanager, Lacrimose & Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Golden-crowned Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Golden Tanager, Guira Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Yellow-faced Grassquit, Black-winged Saltator, White-naped (Yellow-throated) Brush-Finch, Slaty Brush-Finch, Common Bush-Finch, Hepatic Tanager, Citrine & Three-striped Warbler, Russet-backed Oropendola, Mountain Cacique, Yellow-backed Oriole, Red-bellied Grackle, Giant Cowbird, Yellow-bellied Siskin and Thick-billed Euphonia.
The high paramo ecosystem, from the road to Los Nevados National Park.
As always, the last leg of the trip at the Central Andes (days 9 – 14) was very productive. Highlights included Torrent Duck, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Andean & Cauca Guan, Sickle-winged Guan, Crested Bobwhite, Chestnut Wood-Quail, White-rumped Hawk, Sharp-shinned (Plain-breasted) Hawk, Purple Gallinule, Gray-headed Dove, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Bronze-winged Parrot, Dwarf & Striped Cuckoo, Colombian & White-throated Screech-Owl, Mottled Owl, Common Potoo, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, White-throated Wedgebill, Tourmaline Sunangel, Speckled Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Buffy Helmetcrest, Viridian Metaltail, Black-thighed & Golden-breasted Puffleg, Shinning Sunbeam, Bronzy & Collared Inca, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Saphirewing, Booted Racket-Tail, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Long-billed Starthroat, White-bellied Woodstar, Western Emerald, Golden-headed Quetzal, Collared & Masked Trogon, Highland Motmot, Moustached Puffbird, Southern Emerald Toucanet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Grayish Piculet, Yellow-vented & Golden-olive Woodpecker, Crimson-mantled & Spot-breasted Woodpecker, Powerful Woodpecker, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spinetail, White-chinned Thistletail, Slaty Spinetail, Streak-capped & Flammulated Treehunter, Streaked Xenops, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Strong-billed & Black-banded Woodcreeper, Cocoa & Montane Woodcreeper, Great & Bar-crested Antshrike, Parker´s & Jet Antbird, Blue-lored (Immaculate) Antbird, Moustached Antpitta, Scaled Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous Antpitta, Tawny Antpitta, Brown-banded Antpitta, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Ash-colored Tapaculo, Blackish Tapaculo, Spillmann´s Tapaculo, Paramo Tapaculo (heard), Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, White-tailed & White-banded Tyrannulet, Torrent Tyrannulet, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, Variegated & Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Slaty-backed & Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Black-billed Peppershrike, Brown-capped Vireo, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Black-collared Jay, Brown-bellied Swallow, Sedge Wren, Speckle-breasted Wren, Rufous & Sharpe´s Wren, Chestnut-breasted Wren, White-capped Dipper, Clay-colored Thrush, Black-capped Hemispingus, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Oleagineous Hemispingus, Black-eared Hemispingus, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Scarlet-bellied & Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Golden Tanager, Capped Conebill, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Plushcap, Black-winged Saltator, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Slaty Finch, Plain-colored Seedeater, Paramo Seedeater, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Gray-browed Brush-Finch, Slaty Brush-Finch, Common Bush-Finch, Ashy-throated Bush-Finch, Tropical Parula, Golden-fronted Redstart, Citrine Warbler, Russet-crowned Warbler, Andean & Yellow-bellied Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, Orange-bellied Euphonia and Blue-naped Chlorophonia.
Upper montane forest at 3,000 meters, from the Old Road to Los Nevados.
The lovely city of Manizales, seen from El Mirador de Rio Blanco.
Ian, Malcolm, Ray & Allan, birding the cloud forest at Rio Blanco.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Birding & photographing birds along the Western Andes & Central Andes with Doug & Gail Cheeseman (April 22 – May 8, 2019).
SEE MOREBirding the Central & Western Andes with Anthony Kaduck & Ken Edwards from Canada (March 20 – April 5, 2019).
SEE MOREBirding trip for Happy Warblers from New York: the Central Andes & Cauca Valley, from Cali to Manizales (March 6 – 14, 2019).
SEE MOREBirding in Inírida, San José del Guaviare, San Cipriano & the Anchicayá Valley with Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser (Feb. 4 - 27, 2019).
SEE MOREBirding Mitú, Inírida & the Perijá Mountains for key species with Hans Jornvall from Sweden (January 5 - 23, 2019).
SEE MORESecond birding trip to Colombia for Ernest Bradley & Dale Brinker (November 19 – December 03, 2018).
SEE MOREBirding Colombia: an explosive extension into the Santa Marta Mountains, Guajira pensinsula & Perijá Mountains (October 18 – 27, 2018).
SEE MOREThe Eastern Andes near Bogota: private birding tour for Tony Menart, Thomas Heatley & Dale Manor (October 9 – 18, 2018).
SEE MOREBirding Colombia through the Southeastern regions of Putumayo & Huila (January 14 – 24, 2018).
SEE MOREBirding Hato La Aurora in the Eastern Llanos with Todd Pepper & Mark Eaton (December 1 – 4, 2017).
SEE MOREBirding the Central & Western Andes of Colombia with Anthony Collerton (July 14 – 23, 2017).
SEE MOREAndean Endemics tour with British crew: from the Eastern Andes to the mid-Magdalena Valley & Central Andes of Colombia (March 1 – 14, 2017).
SEE MOREAnother challenging & productive trip for Hans Jörnvall from Sweden (January 2 – 15, 2017).
SEE MOREThe Eastern Andes from Bogota to Soata: birding trip for recordist Terry Morgan & Karen Walz (November 18-30, 2016).
SEE MORESecond birding trip for Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser: the Western & Central Andes of Colombia (September 1-20, 2016).
SEE MOREBirding for much desired targets with Keith Betton, Andrew Herbert (UK) and Rainer Kopa (Germany) (April 17-May 7, 2016).
SEE MOREBirding the Western & Central Andes with Richard & Jennifer Kershaw from UK (March 10-31, 2016).
SEE MORESecond birding trip for Steve Huggins & Glenn Giacinto from Chicago, Illinois (January 23 – February 2, 2016).
SEE MOREBirding along the Western & Central Andes of Colombia with Bob & Katie Self from the UK (November 9 – 26, 2015).
SEE MOREBirding in Colombia from the Western Andes to the Santa Marta Mountains & Guajira peninsula, with a recapitulation.
SEE MOREThe Eastern Andes, mid-Magdalena Valley, Santa Marta Mountains & La Guajira peninsula with Katy Krigbaum & Birgit Felser (Sept. 2 – 21, 2015).
SEE MOREBird photo tour for photographers from Taiwan & China: The Western & Central Andes of Colombia (July 18 – August 8, 2015).
SEE MORESecond birding trip for Debby Reynolds & David Copas (UK), and Jane Andrews (USA) (January 20 – February 6, 2015).
SEE MOREShort but productive bird photo trip for family group from Canada and Colombia (December 16-20, 2014).
SEE MOREMedium length birding trip through the Western & Central Andes of Colombia with Bruce Webb, Jeanne Conry & Peter Gent from USA (May 18 - 27, 2014).
SEE MOREShort birding escapade for James Taylor & Christine Forster from Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) (May 8-11, 2014).
SEE MOREBird photography trip for Japanese photographers – Hisao komori & Yasunobu Shiga (April 26-May 4, 2014).
SEE MOREBirding the Eastern, Central & Western Andes with Andy & Gill Swash, Debby Reynolds & David Copas from UK (January 15 – February 5, 2014).
SEE MOREBirding the Central Andes of Colombia with Steven Huggins & Glenn Giacinto from Chicago, Illinois (January 3 – 13, 2014).
SEE MOREBird photography trip to the Eastern Andes of Colombia for Juan José Arango & Anabel Vanin (July 31 - August 04, 2013).
SEE MOREBack 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 MORECentral Andes short tour with Happy Warblers touring company from New York (February 5 – 13, 2013).
SEE MOREMore Andean endemics with magnificent birding crew from USA, UK & Canada (Dec. 28, 2012 to Jan. 5, 2013).
SEE MORETouring for Central Andes Endemics: how good birding in Colombia can be (October 6 – 15, 2012).
SEE MOREBird photography trip for Peter Hawrylyshyn, Bob & Hanno Lewis with emphasis on hummingbirds (August 22 – September 9, 2012).
SEE MOREBirding Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary for some bird images with Juan Jose Arango and Anabel Vanin (August 3 – 5, 2012).
SEE MOREEnjoying the Rio Blanco antpittas and Central Andes endemics with Eugenia Carey from Dauphin Island (July 5 – 12, 2012).
SEE MOREPromoting Colombia as a travel destination with British presenter & producer Nigel Marven (February 6 – 11, 2012).
SEE MOREBogota Sunangel or not? The intriguing hummingbird at Rogitama Private Nature Reserve (2011).
SEE MOREBirding with Dominic Mitchell – Managing Editor of Birdwatch Magazine (UK) (November 27 – December 4, 2011).
SEE MOREGuiding and operating for Birding Adventures TV episodes in Colombia (November 27 – December 4, 2011).
SEE MORE