Today was our first full day in the Hacienda Amorique, and after a ‘stop/start’ kind of day the previous day, we were ready to get stuck in. We decided to get Martin to take us in the pickup, all the way to the top of the hill to the best forest. We would then explore this area before walking the five or so kilometers back down to the Hacienda, birding along the way. We would then arrive back in time for an early dinner, before we would return at night to the top of the hill to try for the owls. A plan that would land us plenty of birds and hopefully plenty of lifers.
And so it did! No sooner had we arrived at the top of the
mountain than we were greeted by a flock containing a huge variety of species,
including lifers such as Lanceolated Monklet, Grey-mantled Wren and Blue-browed Tanager, as well as
a host of commoner species. The flock seemed endless, but sadly they did
eventually move through. Although we never encountered a flock like this again,
there were smaller flocks that we regularly encountered, and this kept our day
total ticking over.
A bird I really hoped to see was the White-crowned Tapaculo.
Although not a lifer having seen it in Ecuador earlier this year, the
population in Peru is vocally distinct and so I tried all morning to find a
bird that would show. Eventually I managed to get one individual out, but I
failed to actually see the white crown. While searching for this I also managed
to get brief views of a female Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, a bird I just barely
missed earlier in the year during my time in Ecuador.
Satisfied with our first few hours birding in the upper
regions of the forest, where the oldest and most mature patches were, we began
our descent down the mountain. Along the way I picked up new birds including
Grey-capped Tyrannulet, Stripe-chested Antwren and Peruvian Tyrannulet. After
failure the previous day, we had a fanastic time at the Cerulean-capped Manakin
lek, with two males not just present but actually performing their dance, where
by one male would circle the other whilst hovering like a bumblebee. Absolutely
incredible to witness, and arguably the highlight of the trip thus far.
By the time arrived back at 15:30, we had amassed over 70
species. After another superb dinner we loaded ourselves into the pickup and
braced ourselves for another long night of looking for owls. And we were
significantly more successful on this occasion, with one owl actually being
seen, although it was the most common owl present on the site, a Rufescent
Screech Owl. We also had another Ocellated Poorwill, but the undoubted
highlight was a family group of Black-headed Night Monkeys that we picked up as they crashed
through the canopy. At first it looked like good views might elude us, but
fortunately the mother with a juvenile on her back, stayed steady for a few minutes,
allowing us to get some excellent photos and brilliant views.
Hacienda Armorique: Speckled Chachalaca, Plumbeous Pigeon, White-tipped Dove, White-throated Quail-Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Ocellated Poorwill, Speckled Hummingbird, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, White-bellied Hummingbird, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Roadside Hawk, Rufescent Screech Owl, Band-bellied Owl, Lanceolated Monklet, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Versicolored Barbet, Black-throated Toucanet, Ocellated Piculet, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Barred Forest Falcon, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Stripe-chested Antwren, Creamy-bellied Antwren, Streak-headed Antbird, Blackish Antbird, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, White-crowned Tapaculo, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Inambari Woodcreeper, Streaked Xenops, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Ash-browed Spinetail, Cerulean-capped Manakin, White-crowned Manakin, Masked Fruiteater, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Sepia-capped Flycatcher, Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant, Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Sierran Elaenia, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet, Peruvian Tyrannulet, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Brown-capped Vireo, Chivi Vireo, Inca Jay, Blue-and-white Swallow, Grey-mantled Wren, House Wren, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Bronze-green Euphonia, Russet-backed Oropendola, Tropical Parula, Slate-throated Whitestart, Black-eared Hemispingus, Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Palm Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Spotted Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, Blue-browed Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Green Honeycreeper, Golden-collared Honeycreeper,
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