Colombia; El Dorado Lodge

Day 3 16.11.2019

Today was our first full day in El Dorado, the primary nature reserve of the Santa Marta mountains and home to a large number of endemic species and subspecies. For our first day we got a lift up to nearly the summit of the mountain from the lodge, a drive of some hour and a half prior to sunrise. Once we arrived at the top the birding was fairly slow and we missed a number of key targets. That said, we still have excellent views of Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Brushfinch and Hermit Wood Wren among a sample of other common and rare species. We then took a slow stroll down the mountain, with a few short vehicle rides to make the journey shorter. Birding was slow on our descent until we encountered an impressive mixed flock with White-lored Warbler, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant and Montane Woodcreeper.

-Santa Marta Brushfinch

-Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

-Santa Marta Mountain Tanager

-Yellow-browed Chat-Tyrant

-Black-throated Tody-Tyrant

-Golden-crowned Whitestart

Around lunch we birded around the hotel itself and got a few more hummingbirds, namely the beautiful Lazuli Sabrewing and the rare and endemic White-tailed Starfrontlet. A mixed flock that passed through also provided us with Golden-breasted Fruiteater among a nice mix of commoner species, and the garden feeder turned up trumps with Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Lined Quail Dove and an awesome pair of Black-faced Stone-Quails. Besides the birds there was also a large predatory wasp dragging the paralysed body of a tarantula across the garden paving. Despite being rather morbid, it was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.

-Crowned Woodnymph

-Blue-naped Chlorophonia

-White-tailed Starfrontlet

-Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush

-Masked Trogon

-Sparkling Violetear

-Lesser Violetear

-Lazuli Sabrewing

-Brown Violetear

-Black-hooded Thrush

-Golden-breasted Fruiteater

-Central American Agouti

-Band-tailed Guan

-Lined Quail Dove

-Black-fronted Wood Quail

Then in the evening we headed out to try and find Santa Marta Screech Owl. Although it took us some time with a number of frustratingly close encounters, we finally managed to see one perched in the torchlight, providing fantastic views of this endemic species.

-Santa Marta Screech Owl

Species List:

RNA El Dorado: Band-tailed Guan, Sickle-winged Guan, Black-fronted Wood Quail, White-tipped Dove, Lined Quail-Dove, Band-winged Nightjar, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, White-tailed Starfrontlet, Lazuline Sabrewing, Crowned Woodnymph, Steely-vented Hummingbird, White-rumped Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Santa Marta Screech Owl, Masked Trogon, White-throated Toucanet, Scaly-naped Amazon, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Streak-capped Spinetail, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Olive-striped Flycatcher, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, White-throated Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Tropical Kingbird, Hermit Wood Wren, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, Black-hooded Thrush, Great Thrush, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Sierra Nevada Brushfinch, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Black-and-white Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Santa Marta Warbler, White-lored Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Santa Marta Mountain Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, White-sided Flowerpiercer,

Day 4 17.11.2019

For our second and last full day in El Dorado we ventured down the mountain to try and pick up the remaining endemic species that we had yet to encounter. Without a guide we had to work much harder for our birds but we saw almost all of our targets and most of them we saw really well. Without doubt the highlight was a rather showy Santa Marta Tapaculo which was fantastic to see running across the road although in shocking light so only poor photos. In total we walked over 10 kilometers and saw fantastic birds such as Santa Marta Foliage Gleaner, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, White-tipped Quetzal and Grey-breasted Leaftosser.

-Grey-breasted Leaftosser

-White-tipped Quetzal

-Grey-breasted Wood Wren

-Rusty-breasted Antpitta

-White-lored Warbler

-Santa Marta Foliage-Gleaner

-Crested Oropendula

-Santa Marta Tapaculo

-Black-fronted Wood Quail

-Black-chested Jay

Since the walk took up much of the day there was little else that happened. We spent an hour before dark birding in the lodge garden where we had a nice views of the common species present there. After dark the Kinkajou was once again present, feeding in the tree outside the lodge. This time I managed to get some much more satisfying shots of this remarkable animal.

-Kinkajou

Species List:

RNA El Dorado: Band-tailed Guan, Sickle-winged Guan, Black-fronted Wood Quail, White-tipped Dove, Long-billed Hermit, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Lazuline Sabrewing, Crowned Woodnymph, White-rumped Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, White-tipped Quetzal, Masked Trogon, White-throated Toucanet, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Grey-throated Leaftosser, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, Streak-capped Spinetail, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Brown-capped Vireo, Black-chested Jay, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Pale-breasted Thrush, Black-hooded Thrush, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Crested Oropendola, Yellow-backed Oriole, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, American Redstart, Blackburnian Warbler, White-lored Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Summer Tanager, Crimson-backed Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Kinkajou, 

Day 5 18.11.2019

We decided once again to try and see the Santa Marta Parakeets, but unfortunately this meant another four am start and an hour and a half travel up the mountain. In the end it paid off thought. The Parakeets did indeed come to Eycalyptus plantation as our guide had described on our first day, but they then preceded to feed on the flowers in front of the tower affording unbelievable views. Sadly though, the mornings delights all but ended there. A Bat Falcon flyover was pretty awesome but there was very little birdlife otherwise and we dipped on all our other targets. The only other birds of note were a few Spotted Barbtails that I found in a mixed flock whilst I was on my way to collect my baggage.

-Santa Marta Parakeet

-Plain-breasted Hawk

-White-throated Tyrannulet

-Blue-naped Chlorophonia

-Bay-headed Tanager

-Band-tailed Guan

-Spotted Barbtail

We headed down from the mountain at around 14.00 and made good speed until our driver did not arrive to pick us up, leaving us in the pouring rain for well over thirty minutes. We managed a little birding during our wait but saw nothing of much note. We dipped again on the black-and-white owl and then had more issues with our lost luggage at the Hotel Minca where we stayed the night.

Species List:

RNA El Dorado: Band-tailed Guan, White-tipped Dove, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, Lazuline Sabrewing, Crowned Woodnymph, Turkey Vulture, Plain-breasted Hawk, White-rumped Hawk, Bat Falcon, Scaly-naped Amazon, Santa Marta Parakeet, Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, Spotted Barbtail, Streak-capped Spinetail, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, White-throated Tyrannulet, Tropical Kingbird, Black-chested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Hermit Wood Wren, Great Thrush, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Santa Marta Brushfinch, Yellow-backed Oriole, Tennessee Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, White-lored Warbler, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-lined Tanager, Santa Marta Mountain Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Saffron Finch, Buff-throated Saltator,