After the disappointment of yesterday's sluggish days birding, today was a real return to form, with some brilliant birding and some excellent birds. Although it required long hours in the field, and ample driving on dirt roads, it was without doubt the best day of the trip so far, from an albeit limited selection.
We spent the first hour of light trying one final time to
catch up with our outstanding targets near San Pedro de Casta. This time we
tried adjacent to the bridge from where we left the 116 highway. The birding
was limited, but we had an excellent performance from some Oasis Hummingbirds,
and had another Great Inca Finch. However, as we were pushed for time as we had
a lot to fit in today, we didn’t stay much longer.
The drive up the valley was long and slow, with the road being
dusty and narrow throughout. A few additional stops did have a few new birds,
but it was a limited selection. It was good to see another pair of White-capped
Dippers, but that was it until we reached more open habitat much higher up the
valley. Here we finally caught up with one of our outstanding targets, the
Black Metaltail. It did not pose for photos at all, but having spend two whole
days searching without joy, it was just good to finally catch a break.
We had wanted to stop off at a site called Quebrada Yanac
about halfway between San Pedro de Casta and the high altiplano. We had hoped
to be here by around 09:00 but didn’t make it until already gone 11:00.
Although the sun was strong, we were still able to catch up with our main
target here, the rare and range-restricted White-cheeked Cotinga. Sadly the
views we had were always distant, and often against the sun. Also on our ascent
up the valley, we managed to get Striated Earthcreeper and Rufous-naped Ground
Tyrant.
We did not reach the high altiplano until already gone
midday. But once we arrived we quickly started to pick up new birds. First, we
managed a smart Black-fronted Ground Tyrant by the car, followed by
Slender-billed Miner and Glacier Finch, and this was all before we reached the
main bogs that we wanted to search. Throw in a very confiding pair of
Grey-breasted Seedsnipe and we were already cooking before the main course.
And the main course did not disappoint. Despite being
mid-afternoon, our searching of the upland bogs landed us both key targets for
the site; first White-bellied Cinclodes and then the superb Diademed Sandpiper
Plover. This all set against the stunning background of the high Andes. Other
new birds here included White-fronted Ground Tyrant and Tacanowskis Ground
Tyrant, as well as more of the species we had seen earlier.
The White-bellied Cinclodes was absolutely fantastic,
trotting around the open bogs, dipping in and out of ditches while it searched
for food. It was reasonably approachable but not to the extent that I would
have liked. Of all the Cinclodes I have seen, it is certainly the most
striking.
But the Diademed Sandpiper Plover was, without doubt, the
highlight. It was initially looking like I might dip again, but after some
searching I finally turned up a female in an extremely boggy area. She showed
nicely but was not approachable. It was a shock to see just how small this
bird was, completely in contrast to the lapwing-sized bird I had been
expecting. Fortunately, at the other bog we tried, we had a male, and while he
was also not super confiding, he did show very nicely in the late afternoon
sun.
An absolutely fantastic day all around, with all the targets acquired and safely arrived at our next destination. Halfway through the day it was beginning to look like we might run out of time, or that the sun would be too strong, but it all worked out very nicely in the end. Hopefully more days like this to follow.
Valle de Santa Eulalia: Andean Goose, Spot-winged Pigeon, Bare-faced Ground Dove, Eared Dove, Andean Swift, Sparkling Violetear, Black Metaltail, Giant Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail, Purple-collared Woodstar, Oasis Hummingbird, Puna Ibis, Variable Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Andean Flicker, American Kestrel, Striated Earthcreeper, Buff-breasted Earthcreeper, Cream-winged Cinclodes, White-winged Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spinetail, White-cheeked Cotinga, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Spot-billed Ground Tyrant, Rufous-naped Ground Tyrant, Black-fronted Ground Tyrant, D'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant, Brown-bellied Swallow, House Wren, White-capped Dipper, Chiguanco Thrush, Hooded Siskin, Black Siskin, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Rusty-bellied Brushfinch, Scrub Blackbird, Golden Grosbeak, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Cinereous Conebill, Peruvian Sierra Finch, Ash-breasted Sierra Finch, Great Inca Finch, Mourning Sierra Finch, Greenish Yellow Finch,
Marcopomacocha: Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Yellow-billed Teal, Silvery Grebe, Olivaceous Thornbill, Andean Lapwing, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, Puna Snipe, Andean Flicker, Slender-billed Miner, Cream-winged Cinclodes, White-bellied Cinclodes, Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant, White-fronted Ground-Tyrant, Glacier Finch, Peruvian Serra Finch, Plumbeous Serra Finch,
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