Although it was another thoroughly enjoyable, and tiring, day at Mishana Allpahuyo Reserve, it was somewhat frustrating as I did not manage to find a single one of my target species, with a heard only Citron-bellied Attila being the closest I came. With the kilometres covered and all the trails walked, through excellent forest, I had hoped that I might have achieved a little more.
I walked the trails on the southwestern side
of the reserve during the morning, passing through some dry forest and some
lowland wetter forest. Overall birding was slower than it had been the previous
day, and I found no new species for me. A Rufous-backed Stipelthroat and a
Red-necked Woodpecker were probably the standouts on the bird front, although
there was a nice bonus once I returned to camp, as a very vocal Black
Hawk-Eagle was flying overhead calling loudly.
Near the main entrance to the reserve I had
the undoubted highlight of the day with two Equatorial Saki monkeys jumping around
in the canopy. At first I thought they might escape before I could get a photo,
but one decided to perch for me just at the last minute. And as I was leaving
the area, they or another two were showing very nicely on the other side of the
path. Without these the day would certainly have felt more like a disappointment.
In the afternoon, once the rain finally ceased, I explore the pathways to the northwest of the reserve. This was a completely new area to me, and despite being the afternoon there were a few interesting birds on offer. Another Rufous-backed Stipelthroat was nice, as were the Casque Caciques feeding in a mixed flock of icterids. It must be said though that I felt truly exhausted throughout the walk, as my diet of instant noodles clearly begins to wear me down.
My night walk sadly produced very little. A few interesting frogs and a single sleeping White-flanked Antwren were all that I could muster before giving up and deciding to sleep early.
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