Colombia; Las Tangaras & Jardin

Day 17 30.11.2019

It was huge relief to have made it to Las Tangaras the previous evening, so we had the full day to bird the reserve. We had a particular main trail to focus on, and needed to make good progress along the track, high up the mountains, in order see our key targets. We had not anticipated how short the trail would be however, although we were slow with our walking we reached the end before lunchtime, past the ridge where a landslide many years earlier had cut the path short. Here we found our number one target with ease, Golden-ringed Tanager. In the end we found a few different individuals feeding along the canopy.

-Gold-ringed Tanager

Although we found many good birds, we found the birding harder than anticipated with limited flock action. That said, many of the species we encountered were extremely good birds, with awesome views of Ochre-breasted Antpitta and a day roosting female Lyre-tailed Nightjar. Unfortunately, after lunch we were high by a tropical deluge and our birding became much more limited. We visited the sites hummingbird feeders where we had awesome birds such as Voliet-tailed Sylph and White-booted Raquet-tail, but the conditions made photography hard. We also had views of a Yellow-breasted Antpitta here, although it did not show was well as some of the other antpitta species we had seen. Just before nightfall we also tried for Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, and had an individual respond to the tape in the half light, bringing our trip owl total up to nine.

-Lyre-tailed Nightjar

-Violet-fronted Coronet

-Purplish-mantled Tanager

-Violet-tailed Sylph

-Cloud-Forest Pygmy-Owl

-Choco Brushfinch

-Olivaceous Piha

-Narino Tapaculo

-Orange-breasted Fruiteater

-Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Species List:

RNA Las Tangaras: Pauraque, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Violet-tailed Sylph, Greenish Puffleg, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, White-booted Racket-tail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstar, Andean Emerald, Black Vulture, Tropical Screech Owl, Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl, Masked Trogon, Andean Motmot, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Tatama Tapaculo, Narino Tapaculo, Montane Woodcreeper, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Azara's Spinetail, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Olivaceous Piha, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Ornate Flycatcher, Handsome Flycatcher, Sepia-brown Wren, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Great Thrush, White-naped Brushfinch, Choco Brushfinch, Russet-backed Oropendola, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Three-striped Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager, Gold-ringed Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, Purplish-mantled Tanager, Palm Tanager, Golden Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Masked Flowerpiercer, 

Day 18 01.12.2019

This was our second full day at Las Tangaras, and having already seen our main targets the previous day, all that was left was to mop up some other species and enjoy a fantastic days birding. Fortunately the weather held off until mid afternoon today, but the mornings birding was slow. Although we encountered some nice species such as Golden-winged Manakin and Toucan Barbet, it wasn’t until after lunch when we returned to the main trail that the birding really got going. All of a sudden we found ourselves surrounded by an impressive flock featuring target after target. The outstanding bird of the day, Black Solitaire, was in one such flock. Other awesome birds included Rufous-rumped Antwren, Crested Ant Tanager and Pacific Tuftedcheek. We also found another Ochre-breasted Antpitta, keeping our fantastic antpitta day streak going. A whopping 69 species make it one of the highest species totals of the trip so far.

-Toucan Barbet

-Greenish Puffleg

-Rufous-throated Tanager

-Choco Brushfinch

-Uniform Treehunter

-White-headed Wren

-Black-and-gold Tanager

-Anole

-Red-headed Barbet

-Black Solitaire

-Crested Ant Tanager

-Crested Quetzal

-Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Species List:

RNA Las Tangaras: Squirrel Cuckoo, Brown Violetear, Violet-tailed Sylph, Greenish Puffleg, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, White-booted Racket-tail, Rufous-gaped Hillstar, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstar, Andean Emerald, Double-toothed Kite, Crested Quetzal, Red-headed Barbet, Toucan Barbet, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Tatama Tapaculo, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Uniform Treehunter, Star-chested Treerunner, Red-faced Spinetail, Golden-winged Manakin, Olivaceous Piha, Barred Becard, White-winged Becard, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Ornate Flycatcher, Handsome Flycatcher, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Smoke-colored Pewee, Long-tailed Tyrant, Black-billed Peppershrike, White-headed Wren, Sepia-brown Wren, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Black Solitaire, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Dusky Bush Tanager, White-naped Brushfinch, Choco Brushfinch, Red-bellied Grackle, Blackburnian Warbler, Three-striped Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Summer Tanager, Crested Ant Tanager, Rufous-crested Tanager, Black-and-gold Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, Purplish-mantled Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Palm Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Golden Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Bluish Flowerpiercer, 

Day 19 02.12.2019

We spent the morning at Las Tangaras hoping for a final little flurry to finish off some of the few target species we were still missing. Alas we largely failed on that front, although Choco Vireo was another species we struck from the list. New birds were still achieved however, with Yellow-breasted Antwren and Uniform Antshrike both new for me. We had a few other bits and pieces to achieve today, so we wrapped up our two and a half day, very productive stint, just before lunchtime.

-Purple-bibbed Whitetip

-Pacific Tuftedcheek

-Moustached Puffbird

-Crested Ant Tanager

-Poison Dart Frog

-Red-breasted Grackle

Our next destination was a roadside two hours drive away near a small town of Bolombolo. We pulled up at the side of the road hoping for a short stop to achieve three endemics, although Greyish Piculette we had already seen. As soon as we got out of the car we spotted the first, Apical Flycatcher (Rather non-descript) and with a little playback persuasion we quickly found the second, Antioquia Wren which was much nicer. Greyish Piculette also put in an appearance, and I gained another lifer in Black-crowned Antshrike, rounding off a very productive hours stop.

-Apical Flycatcher

-Greyish Piculette

-Black-crowned Antshrike

-Antioquia Wren

The reason our time at the previous site was so finite was so we had time to visit an Andean Cock-of-the Rock lek in the town of Jardin. Because we wrapped up our targets so quickly we had plenty of time to enjoy the spectacle of so many ludicrously bright birds dancing. It was, without doubt, the trip highlight so far and one of the best birding experiences I have ever seen. We had maybe in excess of twenty male birds bouncing around us, at extremely close quarters. The site was little more than a garden on the outskirts of town, but every effort had been made to make sure the lek was as enjoyable as possible, with a well maintained garden and ample balconies to view the birds from. There were also Tanager feeders in the garden and these brought in goodies such as Scrub Tanager and Green Honeycreeper, as well as Colombia Chachalaca. Green Hermit also put in an appearance on the garden flowers. Despite this fantastic backup cast, the lek was the outstanding moment of the day, and peak moment of the trip thus far.

-Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

-Green Hermit

-Clay-coloured Thrush

-Scrub Tanager

-Golden Tanager

Species List:

RNA Las Tangaras: Sickle-winged Guan, Pauraque, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant, Zone-tailed Hawk, Masked Trogon, Moustached Puffbird, Red-headed Barbet, Uniform Antshrike, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Uniform Treehunter, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Olivaceous Piha, Variegated Bristle Tyrant, Ornate Flycatcher, Smoke-colored Pewee, Choco Vireo, White-headed Wren, Sepia-brown Wren, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Swainson's Thrush, Black Solitaire, White-naped Brushfinch, Choco Brushfinch, Red-bellied Grackle, Blackburnian Warbler, Three-striped Warbler, Canada Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Crested Ant Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Palm Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Golden Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Masked Flowerpiercer

Bolombolo: Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Greyish Piculet, Black-crowned Antshrike, Greenish Elaenia, Apical Flycatcher, Antioquia Wren, Thick-billed Euphonia, American Yellow Warbler, Golden-crowned Warbler, Scrub Tanager

Jardin Cock-of-the-Rock Lek: Colombian Chachalaca, Feral Pigeon, White-collared Swift, Green Hermit, Western Emerald, Western Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Tropical Screech Owl, Andean Motmot, Red-headed Barbet, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Black Phoebe, Tropical Kingbird, Black-chested Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Clay-colored Thrush, Black-billed Thrush, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Yellow-backed Oriole, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, Palm Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Golden Tanager, Green Honeycreeper, Black-and-white Seedeater