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Colombia 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 1St to 30Th November 2018 (30 Days) Trip Report

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Colombia 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 1St to 30Th November 2018 (30 Days) Trip Report Colombia 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 1st to 30th November 2018 (30 days) Trip Report Hooded Antpitta by Stephan Lorenz Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Stephan Lorenz Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Colombia Trip Report – RBL Colombia - 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 2 Tour Summary This grandiose journey through the birdiest country on earth fitted the moniker “Mega” in every sense of the word. Not only did we record nearly 1,000 species of birds, but we also birded in every available habitat, from the steamy lowland jungles of the Amazon, through verdant cloud forest and to high elevation paramo. In between, we visited productive wetlands in the Magdalena Valley, explored the dry forest in the Cauca Valley, spent time in all three Andean ranges, and finished in the endemic-rich Santa Marta Mountains with a final morning in the desert scrub of the Guajira Peninsula. The weather was incredibly cooperative, and we only had about an hour of rain combined during the entire trip while in the field – truly astounding for Colombia – but at times the sunny weather was too good, quieting things down early. The birding proved enjoyable and exciting every day of the twenty-eight days we spent in the field. With too many birding highlights to mention here, I just offer a short list of the favourites as chosen by participants: the Stygian Owl perched in a bare tree right next to the Chestnut-capped Piha Lodge, up to eight Blue-billed Curassows visiting the lodge in the Serranía de las Quinchas, a Beautiful Jay with its incomparable colours at Las Tangaras, a pair of near-endemic Chestnut-crested Antbirds that showed well for all in the terra firme forest of Mitu, and two adult Andean Condors soaring in the clear morning sky in the dramatic Los Nevados National Park, where less than ten of these magnificent birds remain. Of course, with nearly 60 endemics and almost 80 near-endemics found, there was much more, so continue reading. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Tour in Detail This epic journey through the birdiest country on earth began with a welcome dinner in the capital of Bogota. Here, we had the chance to get acquainted and we discussed the plans for the coming days, acknowledging that we were headed for one of the best birding trips possible anywhere. Our birding adventure commenced at one of the classic birding sites in Bogota, Parque la Florida, before we headed to the airport for an internal flight to Mitu. The wetlands, scrub, and scattered trees at the park proved to be as productive as usual. We, of course, were focusing on the endemic wetland species present, and once we reached the right spot were soon looking at a singing Apolinar’s Wren that offered great views as it hitched up to the top of a reed to perch in full view. The Bogota Rail took a bit more patience, but we all saw a bird that crossed a broad opening twice, even swimming slowly Grey-bellied Antbird by Stephan Lorenz across a channel for satisfactory views. A Spot-flanked Gallinule was loafing in the open. On the open water, we were able to scope Blue-winged Teal, rare Lesser Scaup, Andean Duck, and Least and Pied-billed Grebes; while the reedbeds held the sought-after Subtropical Doradito and showy Yellow-hooded Blackbirds. Additional excellent finds throughout the morning included the endemic Rufous-browed Conebill, the only Eastern Kingbird of the trip, White-bellied Woodstar, migrant Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and a variety of more widespread water birds. Swallows were also very active, and we added Brown-bellied Swallow, Brown-chested Martin, and Bank, Barn, and American Cliff Swallows. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Colombia Trip Report – RBL Colombia - 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 3 Once we reached the airport, we had a quick lunch and then boarded our flight to Mitu, this one leaving right on time, something that would unfortunately not happen again for the other internal flights. We arrived in Mitu in the afternoon and, after dropping our bags at the hotel, headed out to bird right away. We focused on a road close to town near the community of Urania. What a change of pace, going from the Andes to lowland Amazon rainforest, and new birds came fast of course. The most exciting finds during our two hours of birding included Reddish Hermit, Green-tailed Goldenthroat, a pair of Bronzy Jacamars, White-chinned Sapphire, Red-throated Caracara, Red-bellied Macaw, Rusty-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, uncommon Dusky-chested Flycatcher, palm-dependent Sulphury Flycatcher, scoped Amazonian Umbrellabirds, Black-tailed Tityra, White- vented Euphonia, Fulvous-crested Tanager, and showy Turquoise Tanager. This was just a short preview of what was to come during our three full days here. Cherrie’s Antwren by Stephan Lorenz The town of Mitu and surrounding communities offer some of the best access and habitat diversity of the Colombian Amazon. Due to a variety of forest types occurring relatively close to town, it is possible to bird in species-rich terra firme, small sections of riparian forest along sluggish streams, and most importantly, nutrient-poor and stunted white sand forests that support a large variety of speciality species. During our first full day in Mitu, we covered the Mitù Cachivera and Senda Bocatoma areas with our local guide Miguel. For the early morning, we focused on the white sand forest, and while these stunted trees and open forests do not support a high species richness, several of the Mitu specialities occur only in this type of forest. We were very successful in tracking down a number of rare specialities during the morning, getting excellent views of Black-headed Parrot, Amazonian Antshrike, Cherrie's Antwren, Grey-bellied Antbird, Citron-bellied Attila, a scoped male Pompadour Cotinga, Saffron-crested Tyrant- Manakin, Black Manakin, White-browed Purpletuft, and range-restricted Brown-headed Greenlet; while Spot-backed Antwren was heard only. The trail also crossed several good stretches of taller terra firme forest, and the best finds in this habitat included good views of Amazonian Motmot, a scoped Collared Puffbird, Rusty-breasted Nunlet, White-plumed Antbird, Common Scale-backed Antbird, and a good variety of tanagers, dacnises, and honeycreepers. The open areas and edge habitats before we entered the forest also harboured a good diversity of new species, and we saw Speckled Chachalaca, Plain-breasted Ground Dove, Swallow-winged Puffbird, White- throated and Channel-billed Toucans, and Spangled Cotinga among more widespread Pavonine Quetzal by Stephan Lorenz species. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Colombia Trip Report – RBL Colombia - 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 4 In the afternoon, we drove to an area where a dirt road passed several patches of forest interspersed with old chacras, or clearings, and the birding continued to be excellent right until sunset. Some of the highlights here included Blackish Nightjar and Common Potoo both seen well right after sunset, White- fronted Nunbird, Paradise Jacamar, Gilded Barbet, Yellow-tufted and Crimson-crested Woodpeckers, Lettered and Chestnut-eared Aracaris, three stunning Red-fan Parrots that perched for scope views, a responsive Buff- throated Foliage-gleaner, a troop of Azure- naped Jays that did a nice flyby, Yellow- bellied, Paradise, and Green-and-gold Tanagers, and one of the best finds, a pair of the scarce White-bellied Dacnis – little did we know that we would find more every day thereafter. Exhausted but elated from a 100+ species day, we returned to Mitu for a late dinner at a local restaurant and then retired in preparation for an early start the next Guianan Cock-of-the-rock by Stephan Lorenz morning. We left Mitu well before dawn and drove out of town along the road leading to the Santa Cruz hydro- electrical station. Arriving in perfect time, just as first light trickled through the forest, we staked out an area on a bridge overlooking the black waters of a small stream. Right on cue, the first Fiery Topaz arrived, a large hummingbird with a long forked tail and vibrant colours of red, bronze, and gold. As we watched one catching insects right above the water, we noted at least two more males nearby for what was one of the most memorable bird spectacles of the entire trip. We then enjoyed a field breakfast accompanied by a Point-tailed Palmcreeper that climbed out onto a palm frond to proclaim its territory in full view, another uncommon species for the area. We then drove towards the main trail, with our progress interrupted by an adult Tiny Hawk perched in a bare tree and allowing lengthy scope views. For the remainder of the morning, we explored a new area called the Tayazu trail, which led through a very productive area of terra firme forest. We had an incredible number of highlights, including scoped Pavonine Quetzals (yes, more than one!), Great Jacamar, and Wing-barred Piprites, but the area proved especially productive for antbirds, and we recorded Fasciated, Mouse- colored, Pearly, and Cinereous Antshrikes, Negro Stipple-throated, Yellow-throated, White-flanked and Grey Antwrens, and rare Banded, Imeri Warbling, Dusky, Grey, Black-faced, Black-throated, the near- endemic Chestnut-crested, and Spot-backed Antbirds. We enjoyed a bit of a rest and local lunch at Gorgeted Woodstar by Stephan Lorenz the dam headquarters, where we also tracked down locally rare Black-collared Swallows. In the afternoon, we visited a variety of roadside locations and hiked into some forest patches near Pueblo Nuevo. We again were able to track down a number of specialities and locally uncommon species, with Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Colombia Trip Report – RBL Colombia - 1000 Birds Mega Tour II 2018 5 the headliners no doubt being a pair of Tawny-tufted Toucanets that showed really well, a scoped Chestnut-capped Puffbird, a calling Lemon-throated Barbet studied at length, locally uncommon Opal- crowned Tanagers, and yet another pair of White-bellied Dacnises.
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