Colombia Trip Report 1000 Birds Mega Tour 22Nd November to 20Th December 2013 (28 Days)
Colombia Trip Report 1000 Birds Mega Tour 22nd November to 20th December 2013 (28 days) White-capped Tanagers by Adam Riley Tour Leader(s): Forrest Rowland and Trevor Ellory Top 10 Tour Highlights (as voted by participants): 1. Santa Marta Screech-Owl 2. Guianan Cock-of-the-rock 3. Chestnut-crested Antbird 4. Azure-naped Jay 5. White-tipped Quetzal Trip Report - RBT Colombia Mega 2013 2 6. White-capped Tanager 7. Black-and-white Owl 8. Black Solitaire 9. Crested Ant Tanager 10. Bare-crowned Antbird Tour Intro Colombia has become iconic among Neotropical bird enthusiasts…that is to say, anybody who has ever seen a Cock-of-the-rock, Manakin lek, or hummingbird feeding station in the Andes! It is impossible to avoid falling in love with this diverse, impressive, stunning part of the world – and Colombia has the best of it. Guianan shield, Amazon Basin, three Andean ranges, tropical valleys, coastlines, and the famed Santa Marta Mountains are only what is NOW recognized as accessible. As time passes, access increases, and Colombia (rather than becoming more mundane) just becomes more mysterious as new species reveal themselves and new habitats become known, and we look to ever more remote parts of this complex nation. The mystery and wonder of Colombia, perhaps more than any other country, begged a challenge: is it possible for a commercial tour to record more than 1000 species of birds in less than a month? If so, Colombia was obviously the place to do it! The following is a much abbreviated account of one of the most spectacular journeys this author has ever embarked upon, and cannot possibly do justice to the marvelous sights, sounds, smells, and tastes one encounters after spending a whole month in Birder’s Paradise – Colombia! Tour Summary We all congregated in Colombia’s cosmopolitan capitol city Santa Fe de Bogota, on November 22nd, 2013.
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