Trip with Dan and Suz
Tour Leader: Alejandro Pinto
The eastern Andes in Colombia is home of many endemic and range restricted birds; The division of the Andes into 3 branches, with deep valleys creating a biogeographic barrier, makes each branch of the Andes somwhow unique. the eastern Andes is the widest and longest one. to the east, the foothills eventually ends in the lowlands of the savannas or eastern plains, locally known as the llanos - to the south turning into Amazon forest -.
during the trip we explore the highlands of the Andes from 8000-1000 ft and eventually we moved towards east to the foothills and at the end to the north into the flooded savannas from 2000-800ft, where the peculiarity is that they remain flooded part of the year, the dry season - from novemeber trought march - creates a congregation of birds and other animals near the oversummer wetlands and ponds giving chances for several species, including some restricted to the Orinoquia.
on the highlands of the eastern Andes we visited several localities in the paramo and high Andean forest, some of the best birds during those 3 days in high elevations:
Green-bearded Helmetcrest (E), Apolinar´s Wren (E), Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Muisca Antpitta (E), Andean Potoo, Silvery-throated Spinetail (E), Rufous-browed Conebill, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, Brown-breasted Parakeet (E) and one incredible sight of the near endemic Pale-bellied Tapaculo in the outskirts of Chingaza national park.
Muisca Antpitta
towards east, our first stops was Tororoi reserve, which protect andean and high andean forest and onw of the most range restricted Antpittas in Colombia - and in the world - Cundinamarca Antpitta. we saw tow individuals in the forest! other highlights in the area: Black-collared Jay, Emerald-bellied Puffleg, Sharpe´s Wren, Green and Black Fruiteater, Masked Trogon, White-throated Screech Owl, despite we heard it several times the Golden-headed Quetzal did not cooperate but one of the best birds of the area and definetely for the trip was the incredible Swallow-tailed Nightjar.
Cundinamarca Antpitta, photo by Dan Audet.
in the foothills, Bosque Bavaria and the areas near Restrepo including Rancho Camaná where very productive and we added several species to the list: Turquoise Tanager, Violaceous Jay, Speckled Chachalaca, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Lettered Aracari, Channel-billed Toucan, Swallow Tanager, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Amazonian Motmot, Gilded Barbet, Scaled Piculet and a quick and surprised view of the Amazonian Umbrellabird.
Lettered Aracari, photo by Dan Audet
the last portion in the flooded savannas at Hato la Aurora was the cherry in the top of the cake. the area is remote but wild and the birds so cooperative giving us chances for impresive views but also good photo opportunities. we had such a great time and we saw near 150 species in the property while traveling in a 4x4 willis with tractor wheels.
Traveling into the ranch
some of the best birds: Pale-headed Jacamar, Sharp-tailed Ibis, Orinoco Goose, White-bearded Flycatcher, Scarlet Ibis, Buff-necked Ibis, Venezuelan Troupial, Wire-tailed Manakin, Two-banded Puffbird, Jabiru, Maguari Stork, Yellowish Pipit, Burnished Buff Tanager among many others.
Hoatzin, photo by Dan Audet
but also good non-birds sights: Giant Anteater, Southern Tamandua, Rainbow Boa, Common Tree Boa, Crab-eating Fox.
Check out our wildlife trip!
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