It will be
hard to describe today in a simple short post, but here goes. Today was one of
the best days birding I have ever had. We headed to Rio Blanco reserve, famous
for its Antpitta feeders, and it did not disappoint. The Antpittas were the
stars of the show, with four different species visiting the feeders set up for
them. Each had a designated feeding time, and two of them were already there
waiting for us when we arrived. First we stopped to see Bicolored Antpitta,
then Chestnut-crowned and Brown-banded at the next feeding station before
finishing off with Slaty-crowned.
-Bicolored Antpitta
-Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
-Brown-banded Antpitta
-Slaty-crowned Antpitta
Away from
the Antpittas the reserve also has a number of different Tapaculo species and
we managed to see three of the four species present. Sadly the one we missed
was the ocellated, but we actually saw Ash-coloured, Blackish and Spillmann’s,
although all were typically tapaculo like and difficult to see.
-Spillmanns Tapaculo
We had a
fantastic young guide called Danny. He was incredibly sharp and immensely keen
to show us the birds. He put in all the effort for us and was a great asset to
our day. Birding around the reserve yielded a grand total of 87 different
species of bird. The hummingbird feeders were immense, with highlights
including Long-tailed Sylph, White-bellied Woodstar and Andean Emerald. Mixed
species flocks always had a wide range of species within them, often including
more unusual species such as Masked Saltator which was finally seen in the
evening when three individuals appeared. The variety of Tanagers, Hemispingus
and Bushfinches was really something to appreciate. Overall it was just a
fantastic days birding.
Buff-tailed Coronet
-Speckled Hummingbird
-Fawn-breasted Brilliant
-Andean Emerald
-Long-tailed Sylph
-Tourmaline Sunangle
-White-bellied Woodstar
-Streak Tuftedcheek
-Golden-headed Quetzal
-Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant
-Black-billed Mountain Toucan
-White-throated Toucanet
-Great Thrush
-Cinamon Flycatcher
-Capped Conebill
-White-capped Tanager
-Masked Saltator
-Western Mountain Coati
We
attempted a night walk with Danny but sadly none of the owls would respond.
After such an immense day it felt like something of a loss to finish with
nothing, but on the drive out of the reserve we flushed a bird from the side of
the road, and although we had no idea what it was we tried some tapes and
managed to draw in a pair of White-throated Screech-Owl, which we finally
spotted in the torchlight with some effort. And then, as we continued driving
out of the reserve there was a Rufous-banded Owl perched up at the side of the
road. It was a really fitting ending to our day.
-White-throated Screech-Owl
-Rufous-banded Owl
Species
List:
Reserva
Ecologica Rio Blanco:
Sickle-winged Guan, Band-winged Nightjar, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, White-collared
Swift, Lesser Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Tourmaline Sunangel, Speckled
Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Purple-backed Thornbill, Bronzy Inca, Collared
Inca, Buff-tailed Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, White-bellied Woodstar, Andean
Emerald, Black Vulture, Roadside Hawk, White-rumped Hawk, White-throated
Screech Owl, Rufous-banded Owl, Golden-headed Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Andean
Motmot, White-throated Toucanet, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Bar-bellied
Woodpecker, Northern Crested Caracara, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Streak-headed
Antbird, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Bicolored Antpitta, Brown-banded Antpitta, Slaty-crowned
Antpitta, Ash-colored Tapaculo, Blackish Tapaculo, Spillmann's Tapaculo, Tyrannine
Woodcreeper, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Streaked
Tuftedcheek, Pearled Treerunner, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Barred Becard, Rufous-breasted
Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Cinnamon Flycatcher, White-tailed
Tyrannulet, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Pale-edged
Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Swallow, House Wren, Mountain Wren, Sepia-brown Wren,
Swainson's Thrush, Great Thrush, Yellow-bellied Siskin, Grey-browed Brushfinch,
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Slaty Brushfinch, Northern
Mountain Cacique, Black-and-white Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Russet-crowned
Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Golden-fronted Whitestart, Summer
Tanager, White-capped Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus, Black-eared
Hemispingus, Superciliaried Hemispingus, Grass-green Tanager, Scarlet-bellied
Mountain Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Blue-and-black
Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Capped Conebill, White-sided
Flowerpiercer, Masked Flowerpiercer, Grey-hooded Bush Tanager, Masked Saltator,
Red-tailed Squirrel, Andean Squirrel, Western Andean Coati,
Day
14 27.11.2019
Since we
had cleared up on almost all of our targets at Rio Blanco we only had a few
birds left that we needed to work for. The number one target for our morning
was Ocellated Tapaculo, a bird that would require a seiours amount of effort
and luck in order to see. Fortunately, our guide, Danny again, was once again
on top form and we managed to see a very vocal individual skulking through the
vegetation.
We birded
through the forest for the morning seeing a number of different bird species.
Once again we had a fantastic species selection, with 64 species managed just
in the morning. Brown-billed Scythebill, Black-billed Peppershrike and
Crimson-backed Woodpecker were all excellent birds that we encountered during
the morning.
-Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant
-Crimson-backed Woodpecker
-Plushcap
-Pearled Treerunner
-Occelated Tapaculo
-Andean Squirrel
-Tourmaline Sunangle
-Carib Grackle
In the
afternoon we drove an hour to our new hotel near Nevado del Ruiz in readiness
for the following morning. Since we had plenty of time in the afternoon we
visited a hotel built near some thermal springs which had an excellent
selection of Hummingbird feeders. We saw eight different species, seven of
which were new. Highlights were Great Saphirewing and Rainbow-bearded
Thornbill. The hummingbirds here were incredibly tame, and would often land on
your head, hands or phone screen. There was also a small tanager feeder which
attracted Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Masked Flowerpiercer and Pale-naped
Brushfinch.
-Shining Sunbeam
-Great Saphirewing
-Golden-breasted Puffleg
-Mountain Velvetbreast
-Buff-winged Starfrontlet
-Rainbow-bearded Thornbill
-Acorn Woodpecker
-Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager
-Pale-naped Brushfinch
-Masked Flowerpiercer
-Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager
-Mountain Wren
Species
List:
Reserva
Ecologica Rio Blanco:
Lesser Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Tourmaline Sunangel, Speckled
Hummingbird, Long-tailed Sylph, Purple-backed Thornbill, Bronzy Inca, Collared
Inca, Buff-tailed Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, White-bellied Woodstar, Andean
Emerald, Black Vulture, Masked Trogon, Andean Motmot, Black-billed Mountain
Toucan, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Bronze-winged Parrot, Golden-plumed
Parakeet, Ocellated Tapaculo, Blackish Tapaculo, Brown-billed Scythebill, Montane
Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Pearled
Treerunner, Barred Becard, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Mountain Elaenia, Black-capped
Tyrannulet, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Black-billed
Peppershrike, Brown-capped Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, Brown-bellied Swallow,
House Wren, Sepia-brown Wren, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Lesser Goldfinch, Grey-browed
Brushfinch, Rufous-collared Sparrow, White-naped Brushfinch, Blackburnian
Warbler, Black-crested Warbler, Russet-crowned Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated
Whitestart, Golden-fronted Whitestart, Summer Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus,
Oleaginous Hemispingus, Black-eared Hemispingus, Grass-green Tanager, Lacrimose
Mountain Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Blue-and-black
Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Masked
Flowerpiercer, Plushcap, Grey-hooded Bush Tanager, Carib Grackle, Red-tailed Squirrel,
Andean Squirrel,
Hotel
Termales del Ruiz: Tourmaline
Sunangel, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Black-thighed Puffleg, Golden-breasted
Puffleg, Shining Sunbeam, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Great
Sapphirewing, Acorn Woodpecker, Mountain Wren, Great Thrush, Pale-naped
Brushfinch, Lacrimose Mountain Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Masked
Flowerpiercer,
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