Having scoped out the site the previous afternoon, we set off early morning to explore the forest above Samaipata. Sadly the weather was absolutely not on our side, with a low fog hanging over the mountains keeping activity dulled and visibility limited. Still, we only had a morning here so we needed to make the best of it. We had a few targets to track down but made hard work of it. The mixed species flocks that we found did have some nice birds, including the endemic Bolivian Brushfinch, Yungas Warbler and Two-banded Warbler, the latter I had seen before in Argentina.
The main target for us was Black-winged Parrot, which we
knew would likely be a flyover and would be difficult in the poor
conditions. Still, I did my best to photograph any parrots that flew over, and
eventually I managed to grab a blurred photo of one flock which shows the blue
underwing of Black-winged Parrot. Combined with the curious shape, pointed tail and the different call, we had our bird. Additionally I needed to get
a photo of the Bolivian Tapaculo we had seen the previous day. At one point a
Tapaculo showed right out in the open on the road, but it was too quick for me
to grab the camera. Other individuals gave fleeting views, but in the end I
only managed a single spectacularly out of focus photo of this species.
In the afternoon we drove further into the Andes, to the
town of Saipina, we started to encounter other species along the road. Our
first target to fall was Grey-crested Finch, which showed well at the side of
the road, along with a smart Chaco Puffbird. Then we had a nice flock of the
endemic but unspectacular Bolivian Blackbirds, along with Brown-capped
Redstart, White-fronted Woodpecker and another two Grey-crested Finch. Before
we arrived at our afternoon birding destination, the Red-fronted Macaw Reserve.
From the top of the cliffs, we overlooked a desert canyon
with multiple species of parrot present; Cliff Parakeet, Mitred Parakeet and
Yellow-chevroned Parakeet were all present throughout the evening, but we were
made to wait for the main event, until a flock of 17 Red-fronted Macaw came
flying in and circled overhead. They were spectacular, much more impressive
than I had imagined, and well worth seeing. They were around on and off
throughout the evening, and we stayed until the sun dipped below the mountains
and covered us in shadow. Additionally, we enjoyed a few nice raptors, namely a
very close adult Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and multiple Andean Condors flying
over. A great evening to make up for the struggle in the morning.
Samaipata: Tataupa Tinamou, Andean Guan, Bronzy Inca, Blue-banded Toucanet, Lineated Woodpecker, Black-winged Parrot, Red-billed Parrot, Mitred Parakeet, Variable Antshrike, Slaty Gnateater, Bolivian Tapaculo, Montane Woodcreeper, Pearled Treerunner, Azara's Spinetail, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, White-throated Tyrannulet, Mountain Wren, Grey-breasted Wood Wren, Common Chlorospingus, Bolivian Brushfinch, Yungas Warbler, Two-banded Warbler, White-winged Tanager, Black-backed Grosbeak, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Capped Conebill,
Saipina: White-tipped Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Andean Condor, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, American Kestrel, White-fronted Woodpecker, Cliff Parakeet, Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, Red-fronted Macaw, Mitred Parakeet, Variable Antshrike, Cliff Flycatcher, Great Kiskadee, Masked Gnatcatcher, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Bolivian Blackbird, Brown-capped Whitestart, Grey-crested Finch, Golden-billed Saltator,
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