From 2009 to 2011: Setting up birding tours for Field Guides & Rockjumper.

21 - 12 - 2012

We have completed three years of scouting and selecting the best birding sites in the Andes of Colombia and it is time to look in retrospective: marvelous traveling experiences, rewarding moments with most amazing birds and, above all, the joy that comes with new friendships.

It all began with Agroecotur’s work supporting ecotourism and agritourism initiatives by private nature reserves throughout Colombia. Learning about tourism and the traveling industry was possible thanks to high quality training provided by Professor Ricardo Anzola from the Instituto Interamericano de Turismo (IIT) with the support of World Wildlife for Nature (WWF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Agroecotur’s founder organizations: CIPAV, Fundación Horizonte Verde, Resnatur, El Hatico Nature Reserve & the Molina family from the Cauca Valley. During those years (2004-2011), Daniel Uribe was Agroecotur’s Executive Director and much traveling was done visiting private nature reserves in the Amazon, Chocó, Andes & the Orinoco Region, working with landowners and local communities.

In February 2009, Proexport organized the first familiarization trip for representatives of birding companies from the USA & UK, in a successful effort to present Colombia as a hospitable birding destination. Trip was attended by guides & representatives from Birdseekers, Avian Adventures, Birdwatching Breaks, Bird Watching Magazine, About-U-Travel, Field Guides, Sunrise Birding and Detour Lic. Localities visited included La Florida marsh in Bogotá, Chicaque Nature Reserve (Cundinamarca), La Romera Park (Sabaneta), El Almejal at Bahía Solano (Chocó), Río Blanco & Los Nevados, Otún-Quimbaya, Salamanca National Park (Barranquilla), Minca & El Dorado (Santa Marta Mountains). Carl Downing (Birding Colombia), Sergio Ocampo (Fundegar) and Daniel Uribe (Agroecotur) served as Colombian guides for that excursion.

Since then, the following tours for Field Guides and Rockjumper have taken place, building our current expertise and knowledge at Birding Tours Colombia as in-bound operators for birding excursions to Colombia:

  • Field Guides scouting tour – October 17 to November 03, 2009. Visited La Romera Park (Sabaneta), Jardín (ProAves’s Yellow-eared Parrot Reserve & Morro Amarillo), Urrao (Proaves’s Colibrí del Sol), Anorí (ProAves’s Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve), Cañón de Río Claro (Puerto Berrío, Puerto Triunfo & Doradal area), Victoria Forest (Caldas), Río Blanco & Los Nevados, Los Alcázares Ecopark, Otún-Quimbaya, Cerro Montezuma, Paso Galápagos (El Cairo), Laguna de Sonso marsh (Buga) and montane forests at Chicoral, ending in Cali. Tour Leaders: Richard Webster and Rose Ann Rowlett (Field Guides), with Sergio Ocampo & Daniel Uribe as Colombian guides.
  • Rockjumper Colombia II Andean Endemics – November 29 to December 17, 2010 (19 days), plus Santa Marta Mountains & La Guajira extension from November 25 to November 29 (5 days). Visited Chingaza National Park, Laguna de Pedro Palo, Cañón de Río Claro, Anorí, Jardín, Río Blanco, Los Nevados, Los Alcázares Ecopark, Otún-Quimbaya, Montezuma, Sonso marsh, Km El 18 (Old Road to Buenaventura) & Anchicayá. Extension sites: El Dorado, Riohacha, Los Flamencos, Tayrona National Park, Isla Salamanca. Tour Leader: David Shackelford, with Sergio Ocampo (main tour), Diana Balcázar (Bogotá area), Waly Naranjo & Daniel Uribe (Santa Marta extension).
  • Field Guides tour “The Cauca Valley and the Western and Central Andes I” – January 15 to January 31, 2011. Tour Leader: Richard Webster, with Daniel Uribe.
  • Rockjumper scouting tour – January 10 to January 18, 2011. Visited Chingaza, La Florida marsh, Enchanted Gardens at San Francisco, Laguna de Tabacal, La Victoria, Los Nevados, Río Blanco, Los Alcázares Ecopark, Otún-Quimbaya. With Adam Riley, Daniel Uribe, Sergio Ocampo and Diana Balcázar (Bogotá área).
  • Rockjumper Colombia I Andean Endemics – January 18 to February 05, 2011 (19 days), plus Santa Marta Mountains & La Guajira extension from February 05 to February 09 (5 days). Tour Leader: Adam Riley, with Sergio Ocampo (main tour), Diana Balcázar (Bogotá area) & Waly Naranjo (extension).
  • Rockjumper Colombia II Andean Endemics – October 30 to November 17, 2011 (19 days), plus Santa Marta Mountains & La Guajira extension from November 17 to November 21 (5 days). Tour Leader: Forrest Rowland, with Sergio Ocampo (main tour), Diana Balcázar (Bogotá area) & Waly Naranjo (extension).

A great thanks goes to Richard Webster and Adam Riley for inviting us to work with them and learn from their expertise. Also, we appreciate the companionship of many great birders that have traveled through both of these companies and whose friendship is most appreciated.

A Field Guides group birding “La M” above Carmen de Atrato in the Western Andes.


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Touring for Central Andes Endemics: how good birding in Colombia can be (October 6 – 15, 2012).

17 - 10 - 2012

Birded the Central & Western Andes from October 6-15 (2012) with Robert & Sarah Carr from Boston (Massachusetts).  After traveling 1,200 kilometers we managed to see or hear 22 out of 28 expected endemics. We saw 327 species and “heard only” 21 species, for a total of 348 species in 8 days. In addition to the endemics, we saw 55 species considered to be true Andean specialties. For a detailed itinerary, please download the PDF that describes our medium length “Central Andes Endemics” tour from the Tours section of this web page.

Birds seen included the Grayish Piculet and Colombian Chachalaca at El Vinculo reserve; Blackish Rail & Cinnamon Teal at the Cartago marshes; Wilson’s  Phalarope on October 9th at the Cameguadua marsh (a rare migrant in this part of the country); Multicolored Tanager, Stile´s Tapaculo, Cauca Guan, Colombian Screech-Owl, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow at Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary; Brown-banded, Slate-crowned, Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped and Undulated Antpittas at Río Blanco, plus Chestnut Wood-Quail, Golden-fronted Whitestar, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Rusty-faced Parrot, Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Crimson-mantled & Powerful Woodpeckers, White-throated Screech-Owl, Band-winged &  Lyre-tailed Nightjars, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Pearled Treerunner, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Antbird, Dusky Piha, Black-collared Jay and Red-hooded Tanager, among many others.

Our Grand Vitara 4×4 allowed us to scout the Old Road to Los Nevados, where we had great views of the Black-thighed and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Rainbow-bearded and Purple-backed Thornbills, Mountain Velvetbreast, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Tyrian and Viridian Metaltails. At 4,000 meters we enjoyed the Bearded Helmetcrest and as we came down the mountain encountered a group of Black-backed Bush-Tanager and a gorgeous Andean Pygmy-Owl vocalizing from a tree.

A short but productive visit to Neira road gave us a close encounter with the endemic  Yellow-headed Brush-Finch and a good sighting of the Moustached Puffbird. At Morro Amarillo we had amazing looks at a female Hook-billed Kite, Slate-colored Seedeater, Guira Tanager, Yellow-backed Oriole, Black-chested Jay and a close encounter with Parker’s Antbird, among many other birds.

Final day birding the road to Ventanas Pass above Jardín allowed us to see 30 Yellow-eared Parrrots, plus Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Citrine Warbler, Black-capped Tyrannulet and Black-throated Pygmy-Tyrant.  On the afternoon we encountered a group of 7 gorgeous Red-bellied Grackles moving along with the beautiful Scarlet-rumped Cacique (the high altitude uropygialis subspecies) and Russet-backed Oropendolas. Closed the day with a farewell visit to the Cock-of-the-Rock lek near town.

In the words of Robert Carr after returning to Boston: “Dear Daniel, we had a great time on the trip!  This was certainly the best birding trip we’ve ever been on, and the memories will last with us forever.  We are looking forward to the chance when we can plan a return visit to bird a different region of Colombia”.


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Bird photography trip for Peter Hawrylyshyn, Bob & Hanno Lewis with emphasis on hummingbirds (August 22 – September 9, 2012).

10 - 09 - 2012

From August 22nd to September 9th (2012) we guided a magnificent bird photo trip for Peter Hawrylyshyn (Canada) and Robert (Bob) & Hanno Lewis (California, USA), aimed at obtaining images of certain hummingbird species and increasing the life list for Bob & Hanno. The itinerary was conceived by Peter & Bob according to their goals in obtaining images of birds, especially endemics & near-endemics of central Colombia. A detailed trip report written by Peter Hawrylyshyn can be downloaded from our “Trip reports” section.

Among other sites, we visited Rogitama Private Reserve, Chingaza & Los Nevados National Parks, Siechia wetlands, the Enchanted Gardens of San Francisco de Sales, Bellavista Forest in Victoria, Rio Blanco, Jardin, Las Tangaras & Chestnut-capped Piha Reserve of ProAves and La Romera Ecopark in Medellín.

In summary, Hanno saw 95 lifers, Bob 62 (including his 4000th life-bird!) and Peter saw 60 species of hummingbirds including 14 of his “must see” birds. We took plenty of images, enjoying remarkable photo opportunities for species such as: Bogota Rail (E), Silvery-throated Spinetail (E), Matorral Tapaculo (E), Spot-flanked Gallinule, Short-tailed Emerald (NE), Rufous-browed Conebill (NE),  Coppery-bellied Puffleg (NE), Bronze-tailed Thornbill (NE), Indigo-capped Hummingbird (E), Red-billed Emerald (NE), White-mantled Barbet (E) , Sooty Ant-Tanager (E), Velvet-fronted Euphonia (E), Bar-crested Antshrike (NE) , Golden-fronted Whitestart (NE) , Brown-banded Antpitta (E), Black-thighed Puffleg (NE), Golden-breasted Puffleg (NE) , Yellow-eared Parrot (E), Rufous-breasted Flycatcher (NE) , Black-and-gold Tanager (E), Glistening-green Tanager (NE), Purplish-mantled Tanager (NE), Indigo Flower-piercer (NE) , Toucan Barbet (NE), Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager (NE) , Velvet-purple Coronet (NE), Empress Brilliant (NE), Purple-throated Woodstar (NE), Brown Inca (NE), Violet-tailed Sylph (NE), Scrub Tanager (NE), Red-bellied Grackle (E) , Colombian Chachalaca (E), Parker’s Antbird (E), Black-headed Brush-Finch (NE) and Sooty-headed Wren (NE).

To see a sample of the bird images taken by Bob Lewis, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/boblewis/sets/72157631494733382

And Peter´s images will soon be published here: http://www.pahphoto.com


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Birding for one day – and it was great! (August 17, 2012).

18 - 08 - 2012

August 17th (2012) we did a one-day birding trip to Rio Blanco & El Recinto del Pensamiento with Jean Rosenberg and daughter Nathalie from Massachusetts. The day began with a sighting of Rusty-faced Parrots feeding on mistletoes in Rio Blanco, a good breakfast and a short walk to the first of three Antpitta feeding stations. Here, we enjoyed the Brown-banded (endemic), Chestnut-naped & Chestnut-crowned Antpittas.  In the second feeding station the Bicolored Antpitta (near-endemic) showed briefly but was well seen. And in the third station we had a close encounter with the Slate-crowned Antpitta, feeding on earthworms just 5 feet away from us!

A pleasurable hike through the forest yielded long views of a family of four Long-tailed Antbirds, feeding along bamboo thickets with the tiny Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant. Some of the birds that showed up really well: Andean Guan, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Black-capped and Superciliaried Hemispingus, Blue-and-black Tanager, Pearled Treerunner, Golden-fronted Whitestart (near-endemic), Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Mountain Elaenia, Masked Trogon, Green-and-black Fruiteater and Azara’s Spinetail. Before leaving Rio Blanco we had great views of the Golden-plumed Parakeet (a group of 30 flying over, plus 5 birds perched in front of the lodge baranda) and the White-capped Tanager (a group of 5, perched).

Late afternoon we visited the hummingbird feeders at El Recinto del Pensamiento. Hummingbirds seen here plus those seen in Rio Blanco made a total of 16 species for the day!  The species seen were: Tourmaline Sunangel, Buff-tailed Coronet, Long-tailed Sylph, Tyrian Metaltail, Speckled Hummingbird, Collared Inca, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, White-bellied Woodstar, Green-fronted Lancebill, Bronzy Inca, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, Green Violetear, Sparkling Violetear and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird . Before the day ended, we had a close encounter with the Sickle-winged Guan, Golden-crowned Flycatcher and Pale-edged Flycatcher.


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Birding Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary for some bird images with Juan Jose Arango and Anabel Vanin (August 3 – 5, 2012).

06 - 08 - 2012

Birded Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary on August 3, 4 & 5 (2012) with Juan José Arango and wife Anabel Vanin, searching for some photo opportunities. Four months before, Juan José & Anabel birded Río Blanco with Daniel Uribe, managing to take nice photos of all five species of Antpittas.  ¿Could a similar success be repeated in Otún-Quimbaya?

Not easily: first morning at Otún was rainy, non-stop! Thus, we decided to evacuate the area moving into the outskirts of Pereira city, visiting two sites with nice hummingbird feeders, one at William Peña’s house, and the other at Villa Martha Coffee Farm. Here, we had good photo opportunities, not only for hummingbirds (White-necked Jacobin, Black-throated Mango, Steely-vented HB, Rufous-tailed HB), but for the very nice Bar-crested Antshrike, Spectacled Parrrotlet, Golden-faced Tyrannulet and Bay-headed Tanager, among others.

In the afternoon, we drove back to Otún-Quimbaya and in spite of intermittent showers, we enjoyed greatly stopping at a wooden bridge for photos of both male & female Torrent Ducks. Then, in the forest near the lodge we took good images of the endemic Grayish Piculet, Azara’s Spinetail, Slate-throated Whitestart, Blue-and White Swallow, Montane Woodcreeper, Black Phoebe and others. In the morning of our last day, we took good photos of the beautiful Tropical Parula, Fawn-breasted Tanager, near-endemic Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Common Bush-Tanager and Yellow-bellied Seedeater. We also had fair views of the Cauca Guan and splendorous Ref-ruffed Fruitcrow (but no good photo opportunity) and a blind encounter with the endemic Stiles’s Tapaculo that never showed himself to our cameras!


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Enjoying the Rio Blanco antpittas and Central Andes endemics with Eugenia Carey from Dauphin Island (July 5 – 12, 2012).

14 - 07 - 2012

From July 5th through July 12th (2012) we birded with Eugenia Carey the Central Andes, placing great emphasis on the Rio Blanco antpittas. Eugenia chose our “Central Andes Endemics Short Tour” for her first birding visit to Colombia, attracted particularly by antpittas and the sizeable number of Colombian endemics that can be seen in this short but highly dynamic tour. We first visited Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary, seeing well the endemic Cauca Guan, Styles’s Tapaculo, Grayish Piculet and many other specialties, including the beautiful Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, gorgeous White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Black-billed Peppershrike and Torrent Duck. We then birded the Cameguadua marsh en route to Manizales, enjoying greatly the Blackish Rail, Spectacled Parrotlet and a great variety of aquatic and riparian birds. At Río Blanco we saw the endemic Chestnut Wood-Quail and Brown-banded Antpitta, along with 4 other species of antpittas – including the near-endemic Bicolored Antpitta, the beautiful Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, the secretive Slate-crowned Antpitta under amazing views (Eugenia’s favorite antpitta for the trip!) and the Chestnut-naped Antpitta which has gradually developed a dominant posture over the other birds that visit the earthworm feeding stations. Many other nice birds were seen well at Rio Blanco, including the Masked Saltator, Dusky Piha, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Rusty-faced Parrot, Black-chested Jay, Golden-fronted Redstart and Red-hooded Tanager. We then scouted Los Nevados high-altitude ecosystems, having acceptable views of the Bearded Helmetcrest and astonishing views of the Many-striped Canastero and a very dedicated Shining Sunbeam mother feeding two chicks on a nest. On our last day of the tour, we visited the municipality of Neira searching for the endemic Yellow-headed Brush-Finch, which finally showed up with a glorious pair after much looking for it.


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Customized private tours for short birding escapades (2012).

20 - 04 - 2012

On February, March & April (2012) we organized three short trips for birders from USA, based on their target lists and travel needs. February 13-18 we toured with Joe Giunta from New York (see: www.happywarblers.com) visiting Otún-Quimbaya Wildlife Sanctuary, Cameguadua marsh, Rio Blanco, Los Nevados National Park and the hummingbirds at Recinto del Pensamiento.

March 18-22 we toured with Lowell & Robin Taubman, visiting Rio Blanco, Los Nevados, Cameguadua marsh, Otún-Quimbaya and Los Yarumos Ecopark. Birding moments at Rio Blanco & Los Nevados were great, and at Otún-Quimbaya all endemics displayed very well for us.

April 14-18 we hosted a short visit by Garrick Dutcher, birding Rio Blanco, Los Nevados and Otún-Quimbaya. Following Garrick’s most desired birds to see, we paid a short visit to the municipality of Apía (Western Andes) searching for two great birds: the near endemic Yellow-headed Manakin (Xenopipo flavicapilla –Near Threatened) and the endemic Turquoise Dacnis (Dacnis hartlaubi – Vulnerable).  We saw both birds, thanks to the local expertise of Julián Zuleta (see: www.apiatierradeaves.jimdo.com). Not only is Julián an amenable birding companion, but he also immortalizes Apía´s colorful birds into beautiful drawings.

The Many-striped Canastero, at Los Nevados National Park.


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Birding for endemics with Cagan Sekercioglu and Tanya Williams (March 10 – 21, 2012).

22 - 03 - 2012

March 10th – 21st (2012) we had the pleasure to bird with Dr. Cagan Sekercioglu (Department of Biology, University of Utah at Salt Lake City) and Tanya Williams, covering the Eastern Andes, Magdalena Valley, Central Andes & Santa Marta Mountains, in search of endemics and specialties. We had great birding at Chingaza National Park and Siechia gravel pits, as well as in La Florida marsh and Enchanted Gardens of San Francisco. Amazing pictures of great endemics & near-endemics were taken at Victoria Forest, including the Velvet-fronted Euphonia, Sooty Ant-Tanager, Bar-crested Antshrike and White-mantled Barbet. As usual, Río Blanco & Los Nevados National Park offered amazing birding, with great photos of highly special birds such as the Brown-banded, Bicolored, Chestnut-crowned, Slate-crowned and Chestnut-naped Antpittas. Birding route took us into splendorous Otún-Quimbaya Sanctuary, birding en route Cameguadua Marsh, with amazing views and pictures on the endemic Grayish Piculet, Cauca Guan and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, among many others. Departing from Pereira, Cagan and Tanya flew to Santa Marta, where Waly received them to bird the Santa Marta Mountains and La Guajira scrubland, having great success there with the endemics and specialties.  Many endemics seen, including the endemic & critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow!

 


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Promoting Colombia as a travel destination with British presenter & producer Nigel Marven (February 6 – 11, 2012).

14 - 02 - 2012

British wildlife producer Nigel Marven came to Colombia to film his new series Wild Colombia! This high-quality series will be presented by Nigel Marven itself at Birdfair 2012 in Rutland Water. Birding Tours Colombia was pleased to be chosen by Proexport to organize and operate Nigel’s filming excursion to the Central Andes and Magdalena Valley from February 6 – 11 (2012). We toured with Nigel Marven and his crew, visiting Rio Blanco, Los Nevados National Park, Cocora Valley in Salento and the Magdalena Valley. Amazing footage of the Bearded Helmetcrest was taken by Nigel at Los Nevados! And of course, the Rio Blanco antpittas gave a big show for Nigel and his crew! And the Wax Palm forests in Salento did not hide their atmospheric charm and beauty.


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Bogota Sunangel or not? The intriguing hummingbird at Rogitama Private Nature Reserve (2011).

21 - 12 - 2011

When photos of the presumably re-discovered Bogota Sunangel (Heliangelus zusii) were briefly published at the Internet Bird Collection on December 05/2011, we quickly set our visit to old-friend Roberto Chavarro and wife Ginette at Rogitama Nature Reserve in the outskirts of the little town of Arcabuco in the Eastern Andes of Colombia, 3-hours north of Bogotá.

Excited with the great news and supported by Proexport, James Currie extended his stay in Colombia for three more days and flew from Cali to Bogotá, meeting there with Daniel’s brother, Félix. Daniel struggled with bad weather that stopped him from flying to Bogotá, having to spend an entire night at Pereira’s airport. Finally, the three of them met with Roberto Chavarro in Rogitama and lodged at comfortable rooms in the reserve for 3 nights.

A complete review of James Currie’s close encounter with this amazing hummingbird can be seen at:

http://10000birds.com/mystery-rogitama-hummingbird-captured.htm

http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/tn77-james-currie-filming-bogota-sunangel/

http://blog.aba.org/2011/12/james-currie-on-mystery-hummingbird-in-colombia-new-species-lost-relic-other.html

In spite of multiple images and e-mails that have circulated through the internet, no definitive conclusion on the real identity of this bird has arisen yet. A group of Colombian ornithologists and conservationists are working on a diagnosis and we hope that a sound conclusion will arise soon.

In the meantime, we share here some of the photos of the bird taken during our visit to this beautiful reserve. Many thanks go to Roberto Chavarro, his wife Ginette and daughter for their hospitality and to Proexport for extending James’s stay in Colombia and facilitating Daniel’s trip to the area.


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