Colombia Birding February 28 - March 18, 2016 with Chris Leahy
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Colombia Birding February 28 - March 18, 2016 With Chris Leahy A Paradise for Birders, Colombia contains the greatest number of bird species of any country in the world with well over 1900 species. The diverse topography includes three Andean Cordilleras, two inter-Andean valleys, the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, the Pacific and Caribbean Coasts, and the Chocó biogeographical region. We will explore a rich diversity of habitats: high altitude paramo, cloud forest, dry scrubland, and tropical lowland forest. All of which add up to a magical birding experience in a safe, yet not overdeveloped country with friendly people and good accommodations. The trip is divided into 2 parts, which may be taken separately or together for the full birding in Colombia experience! Black-fronted Wood Quail. Photo: Pablo Florez Travel with Massachusetts Audubon Society ~ 800-289-9504 ~ www.massaudubon.org DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY PART I: EASTERN ANDES, SANTA MARTA MOUNTAINS, AND THE CARIBBEAN Day 1, February 28: Arrive in Bogota at El Dorado International Airport After meeting our guides, we’ll transfer in our microbus to Hotel Casona del Patio. Depending on arrival times, we will either have an orientation dinner or orientation will occur the next day at breakfast. (D) Overnight at Hotel Casona del Patio (or similar). Day 2, February 29: Chicaque Reserve and Jardin Encantado Feeders After an efficient continental breakfast at 5:00 am, we’ll depart at 5:30 for a 1 hour drive to Chicaque cloud forest reserve at 7,800 ft. where hummingbirds such as Glowing Puffleg and Collared Inca will already be visiting the feeders. After birding around the Arboloco restaurant, we’ll enjoy a “real” breakfast before heading down the mountain for a full morning’s birding, looking for Flame-faced, Beryl- spangled, Rufus-crested , Scarlet-bellied and Grass-green Mountain Tanagers as well as Golden-bellied Starfrontlet, Black Inca (Endemic), Lazuline Sabrewing, Moustached Brush-Finch, Pluscap Finch, Golden-fronted Whitestar, Rufus-browed, White capped, and Blue-backed Conebills, and Black-backed Grossbeak. We will head to the excellent Chicaque Arboloco restaurant for lunch, after which we’ll head west to Jardin Encantado (the Enchanted Garden!) at San Francisco on the western slope of the eastern Andean range. The private home has more than 30 feeders, which attract a blizzard of 200-300 birds at a time. Out of the 23 recorded species of hummers, we will look for Ruby Topaz, Gorgeted Woodstar, Red-billed Emerald, Steely Vented Hummingbird, and Indigo-capped hummingbird (E). We will return to Bogota for dinner. (B,L,D) Overnight at Hotel Casona del Patio (or similar). Black Inca. Photo Pablo Florez Day 3, March 1: Florida Wetland and Birding at Flamencos Sanctuary We will start early this morning with a packed breakfast and head to the La Florida wetlands. This small reedy marsh near the Bogota airport is one of the few high altitude wetlands that have survived development. Avian inhabitants of special interest here include: Apolinar´s Wren (E), Silver- throated Spinetail (E), Bogota Rail (E), Rufous-browed Conebill (NearE), and Subtropical Doradito. At mid-morning we’ll fly from the cool highlands of Bogota to the warm and humid Ríohacha at sea level. (Luggage Restrictions: Limit is 20Kg, plus a 5KG hand luggage.) After check-in and lunch at the Hotel Barbacoa, we’ll head for the Flamencos Sanctuary and spend the rest of the afternoon birding the arid coastal scrub for species such as Vermillion Cardinal, Chestnut Piculet, White-whiskered Spinetail, American Flamingo, Scarlet Ibis, Tocuyo Sparrow, Rufous-vented Travel with Massachusetts Audubon Society ~ 800-289-9504 ~ www.massaudubon.org Chachalaca, Yellow Oriole, Orinocan Saltator, and many others. (B,L,D) Overnight at Hotel Barbacoa- Rio Hacha, a comfortable hotel in Ríohacha City. Day 4, March 2: Guajira Península (Flamencos Sanctuary) & El Dorado Lodge We’ll take a picnic breakfast with us as we return for a full morning birding at the richly rewarding Flamencos Sanctuary. We will keep busy looking for Blue-crowned Parakeet, Green-rumped parrotlet, Bicoloured Wren, Buffy and Shining Green Hummingbird, Double-striped Thick-knee, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Crested Bobwhite, Russet-throated Puffbird, and Pale-legged Hornero. Then we’ll begin the 4.5 hour afternoon drive along the coast toward Santa Marta/El Dorado. Along the way we will stop for lunch and bird the excellent habitat along this forested roads looking for species such as, Blossomcrown (E), Rusty-headed Spinetail (E), White-tailed Starfrontlet (E), Streak-capped Spinetail (NE), White-lored Warbler (E), Santa Marta Brush-finch (E),White-tipped Quetzal (NE), Yellow-billed Toucanet (NE), Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner, (E), Gray-throated Leaftosser, Coopery Emerald, Golden- breasted Fruiteater (NE), Santa Marta Tapaculo (E), Band-tailed Guan (NE), Black-hooded Thrush, Black-headed Tanager, and Rusty-breasted Antpitta. (B,L,D) Overnight at El Dorado Lodge. Day 5, March 3: El Dorado Lodge We will have a relaxing day birding near our lodge and enjoying the fantastic feeders around our cabins. Some special birds to keep us busy: Black-fronted Wood Quail, Santa Marta Antpitta (E), White-tailed Starfrontle (E), Black-backed Thornbill (E), Santa Marta Woodstar (E), Lazuline Sabrewing, White-lored Warbler (E), Santa Marta and Sierra Nevada Brush Finchs (E), and Blue.naped Chlorophonia. (B,L,D) Overnight at El Dorado Lodge. Day 6, March 4: Dorado San Lorenzo Ridge & El Dorado Bird Reserve (Santa Marta) After breakfast we’ll head for the highest part of El Dorado Bird Reserve dressed for the high altitude chill. In the morning we’ll focus on the endemics and other specialties that are found only at the top of the road (8300 ft). Then we’ll return to the lodge for lunch and bird the lower parts of the reserve in the afternoon. Birds we may see today include Santa Marta Parakeet (E), Black-backed Thornbill (E), Santa Marta (SM) Bush-Tyrant (E), Brown-rumped Tapaculo (E), SM Antpitta (E), the newly discovered Santa Marta Screech Owl (E), SM Rufous Antpitta (E), SM Mountain-tanager (E), Yellow-crowned Whitestart (E), SM Warbler (E) and many others of “high quality” such as Andean Condor and Solitary Eagle. (B,L,D). Overnight at El Dorado Lodge. Day 7, March 5: Birding in Minca After an early breakfast at Dorado Lodge, we’ll spend the morning looking for bird species we may have missed, while on our way to the town of Minca. Some birds to look for today include Santa Marta Sabrewing (E), SM Foliage-gleaner (E), Golden- winged Sparrow, Scaled Piculet, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Sooty-capped Hermit, Venezuelan Tyrannulet, Military Macaw, Royal Flycatcher, Black-chested Jay (NE), Rufous-breasted Wren, Rufous-and-white Wren, Golden-fronted Greenlet (NE), Rosy Thrush-tanager, and Thick-billed Seed Finch. (B,L,D) Overnight at Sierra Sound Lodge, Minca. Travel with Massachusetts Audubon Society ~ 800-289-9504 ~ www.massaudubon.org Day 8, March 6: Tayrona National Park and back to Bogota We will depart from Sierra Sound Lodge after breakfast and drive to Tayrona National Park with hopes of finding the likes of Blue-billed Curassow (E), White-bellied Antbird, White-necked Puffbird, Lance-tailed Manakin, Black-backed Antshrike, Common Black Hawk, and Military Macaws. We are also likely to encounter some special tropical mammals today, including Cotton-Top Tamarin, Capuchin Monkey, Red- howler Monkey, Agoutis, and Tamandua (anteater). We will try to leave time for a swim at a beautiful beach with good snorkeling, and enjoy lunch at a beachside restaurant. In the afternoon we will drive about 1 hour to the airport for our direct flight from Santa Marta to Bogota. Dinner at one of Bogota’s many excellent restaurants. (B,L,D) Overnight at Hotel Casona del Patio. Day 9, March 7: Chingaza National Park (Paramo) and Guasca There will be an early start to the day (we will bring both a picnic breakfast and lunch) as we drive to Chingaza National Park and the high paramo zone above tree line at 10,500 ft. This is the home to many special birds and we will spend the whole morning seeking out Green-bearded Helmetcrest (E), Bronze-tailed Thornbill (NE), Coppery-bellied Puffleg (NE), Blue-throated Starfrontlet (NE), Mattoral Tapaculo (E) and Rufous-browed Conebill (NE). We’ll also hope to see several spectacular Mountain Tanagers such as Golden-crowned, Black-chested, Scarlet-bellied, White capped and Buff-breasted. Golden-crowned Tanager. Photo: Pablo Florez Other great highland birds are Brown-breasted Parakeet (E), Andean Pygmy Owl, Ocellated Tapaculo, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Black-collared Jay, Plush-capped Finch, Rufous Antpittta, and Black headed Hemispingus. In the afternoon we’ll descend and search for Bogota Rail (E), Spot-flanked Gallinule, and Noble Snipe near Guasca, and then return to Bogota. We will have a group dinner and say farewell to those who will not continue on for Part II. They will be transferred to the airport for evening flights. Those who have chosen to continue will overnight at Hotel Casona del Patio. (B,L,D) DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY PART 2: MAGDALENA AND CAUCA VALLEYS, CENTRAL AND WESTERN ANDES Day 10, March 8: Part II Bogota to Medellin The remaining Part I group will catch a flight to the International Airport in Medellin after breakfast. There we’ll meet our driver and transfer to our hotel. During the day we will meet new arrivals for Part II of our trip. As this is a travel / arrival / orientation day, we will have just one optional activity planned. The group will have the chance to spend 3 hours birding today in Reserva La Romera. This forest reserve is located in the town of Sabaneta (close to Medellin), which is situated in Valle de Aburra, a lush pre-montane/montane ecosystem.