The Golden Birding Trail WAC01
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Gold-ringed Tanager THE GOLDEN BIRDING TRAIL Colombia birding tour in search of Andes, Magdalena Valley & Choco endemics The mighty Andes splits into three distinct ranges within Colombia’s borders, forming the Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras. The resulting mosaic of localised climatic conditions and subsequent myriad ecological niches, supports a staggering regional biodiversity. On this classic Colombia birding tour we shall explore all three Cordilleras, focusing on the rich avian diversity found in each. Throughout the marshlands, cloud forests and high altitude paramo of the Eastern Andes we search for such gems as Bogota Rail, Silvery-throated Spinetail and Black Inca. In the wide inter- Andean Magdalena Valley, we stay in a lodge nestled in tropical lowland forest, and search for avian treasures including White-mantled Barbet, Beautiful Woodpecker and Sooty Ant-tanager. A visit to an Oilbird cave is another highlight here, as is the offer of a cooling post-birding dip in the crystal clear Rio Claro river. A short stay outside Medellin should add on several more Colombian endemics, while in the quaint colonial town of Jardin we visit an Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek, and bird the surrounding montane forests which support a population of rare Yellow-eared Parrots. In the pristine Central Andean cloud forest reserve of Rio Blanco we should enjoy incredible views of up to 5 species of antpitta, plus a feast of other avian gems which might include White-capped Tanager, Stygian Owl and the rare Masked Saltator. The high altitude reserve of Los Nevados is one of the best locations for Buffy Helmetcrest, as well as Rufous-fronted Parakeet, Rainbow-bearded Thornbill and Sword-billed Hummingbird. Here, a night in a hotel with natural thermal hot-springs provides the perfect antidote to the cooler conditions. Crossing the narrow Cauca Valley, we move up into the Western Cordillera, and the moss-laden humid forests of the famed ‘Choco’ bioregion, where an incredible selection of Colombian endemic and Choco ‘specials’ awaits. Here we target such stellar species as Chestnut- bellied Flowerpiercer, Munchique Wood-wren, Gold-ringed, Black-and-gold, Purplish-mantled and Glistening Green Tanagers, Toucan Barbet, Black Solitaire, Club-winged Manakin and Velvet-purple Coronet! We finish in the excellent Otun Quimbaya reserve, where key targets include Multicolored Tanager, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow and Cauca Guan. Parque National Natural Tatama (Montezuma) Buffy Helmetcrest Andean Cock-of-the-rock Tour highlights: itinerary at a glance Explore the Eastern Andes for range- DAY: restricted Colombian endemics 1. Arrive Bogota. 3 nights Bogota Bird in high altitude paramo habitats of 2. Cloud forest birding at Chicaque and Chingaza and Los Nevados national parks Laguna Pedro Palo Explore the Magdalena Valley for localised 3. Birding for high altitude specialists at endemics and visit an Oilbird cave Parque National Natural Chingaza Visit one of the most active Andean Cock- 4. La Florida wetlands, Laguna Tabacal + of-the-rock leks in all South America and San Francisco (hummingbird garden) – search for Yellow-eared Parrots from the onto the Magdalena Valley. 2 nights quaint colonial town of Jardin Canon del Rio Claro See as many as 5 species of furtive antpitta 5. Full day birding Canon del Rio Claro in a single morning at the pristine cloud 6. Rio Claro – Medellin. 1 night nr Medellin forest reserve of Rio Blanco 7. La Romero + Bolombolo – Jardin. Andean Spend 3 nights in the mega-diverse 'Choco' Cock-of-the-rock lek. 2 nights Jardin bioregion, where a suite of Colombian 8. Birding Yellow-eared Parrot reserve. endemic and Choco specialties await! 9. Jardin – Manizales. 2 nights Manizales A tour tally of over 500 species is expected, 10. Rio Blanco reserve. including over 50 varieties of hummers and 11. High altitude paramo at Parque Natural a feast of dazzling tanagers Los Nevados. Overnight Termales del Ruiz Enjoy world-class Colombian coffee, 12. Termales – Montezuma (Choco delicious food and amazing hospitality bioregion). 3 nights Montezuma throughout the tour. 13. Birding high/mid levels of Montezuma Special note 14. Birding mid/low levels of Montezuma 15. Montezuma – Pereira. 1 night Otun This tour is limited to 8 participants, but, if we Quimbaya reserve have 5-8 guests, we will supply a second expert 16. Otun Quimbaya - Pereira and fly to bilingual (Spanish/English) birding guide. Bogota - tour ends on return to Bogota Here's to seeing more special birds! DETAILED ITINERARY D ay 1 – Arrival in Bogota You will be greeted at Bogota airport by a friendly member of the Wild About Colombia team, and then transfer to a comfortable hotel in the city. Bogota is a fantastic base from which to explore the many excellent natural habitats of Colombia’s Eastern Andes, which hold a raft of exciting birds, including several country endemic species. This evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner, where you will meet your Wild About Colombia tour leader and have the chance to discuss the exciting days ahead! Please note, we shall depart our hotel very early tomorrow morning, so we suggest you Indigo-capped Hummingbird arrive in reasonable time today. Should you wish to arrive a day or two early, whether to prepare for the tour, enjoy additional bird Day 2 – Laguna Pedro Palo and watching or to explore the cultural sights of Chicaque National Park Bogota we would be delighted to assist with Our Colombian birding adventure begins your pre-tour arrangements. Please just let at Laguna Pedro Palo, which lies on the us know when you contact us. western slope of Colombia’s Eastern Andes. Here we enjoy gentle birding in beautiful sub-Andean cloud forests, searching for our first special birds of the tour, such as the striking and endemic Turquoise Dacnis. Mixed flocks might include such dazzling tanagers as Beryl-spangled, Flame- faced, Saffron-crowned, Golden and Blue- necked. We will also be on the lookout for two spectacular hummingbirds - Black Inca and Indigo-capped Hummingbird - both of which can only be found in Colombia’s Eastern Andes. Another star hummer of the region is the dazzling Blue-throated Starfrontlet, not to mention the likes of Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Andean Emerald, Steely-vented Hummingbird and Booted Racket-tail! Andean (Colombian) Oak (found only in Colombia and Panama) is common in this area, and often acts as a magnet for mixed flocks which could contain Pearled Treerunner, White-throated Tyrannulet, Ash-browed Spinetail, Lineated and Montane Foliage-gleaners, Plushcap, Black-capped, Black-headed and Plushcap Superciliaried Hemispinguses, as well as various woodpeckers including Acorn, Red- crowned and Smoky-brown. Other birds we hope to encounter today include Crimson- rumped Toucanet, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Bar-crested Antshrike, Scrub Tanager, Spectacled Parrotlet, Speckle- breasted Wren, Moustached Puffbird and the Colombian endemic Silvery-throated Spinetail. Having enjoyed a bird-packed morning, we shall enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before moving onto Parque Natural Chicaque – a private cloud forest reserve just a short drive away. Here we will have another chance (if necessary) at the wonderful Black Inca, as well as the breath- taking (but often tricky) Golden-bellied Starfrontlet. Near the reserve’s HQ are a number active hummingbird feeders which provide excellent photographic opportunities for jaw-dropping species such as Green and Sparkling Violetears, Tourmaline Sunangel, Glowing Puffleg, Buff-tailed Coronet and Bar-crested Antshrike Collared Inca. Late this afternoon, having explored the area for its avian treasures, we Day 3 – Chingaza National Park will return to our comfortable hotel in Bogota Having acclimatised to the higher altitudes for a delicious dinner and a restful night’s over the past days we make a very early pre- sleep. dawn start this morning and head east to the spectacular Chingaza National Park. Chingaza is a particularly important reserve as it protects a large area of threatened paramo habitat – a high altitude neotropical savannah sandwiched between the timberline and the permanent snowline. The endemic Silvery- throated Spinetail and near-endemic Rufous- browed Conebill both should make an appearance, while the beautiful Golden- fronted Whitestart, here in its white-faced Golden-fronted Whitestart form, often betrays its location with repeated contact calls. Masked and Glossy Flowerpierces are common, and often loosely associate with the likes of Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus and Pale-naped and Slaty Brush-finches. The distinctive three-note call of Tawny Antpitta often cuts through the crisp morning air, and we should enjoy good views of this surprisingly confiding species. Undulated and Rufous Antpittas (the latter a likely future split) on the other hand can prove more difficult, but with persistence, we Glossy Flowerpiercer will hopefully be able to lure them out of dense stands of their favoured Chusquea Sword-billed Hummingbird bamboo. We will be on the lookout for the rare endemic Green-bearded Helmetcrest, the localised Bronze-tailed Thornbill and also try a little-known patch of cloud forest for the often elusive Brown-breasted Parakeet. The reserve is also home to a number of special mammals including Puma and Spectacled Bear, although considerable luck is required to see either of these creatures. We round off the day with time spent in a fabulous private garden with hummingbird feeders - while topping up our own energy levels with fresh Colombian coffee and a slice of cake. Here jaw-droppers include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Black-tailed and Green- tailed Trainbearers, Blue-throated Starfrontlet and Glowing Puffleg. Having enjoyed what is sure to have been a fantastic day’s birding, we shall make our way back to Bogota to our now familiar hotel. Day 4 – Bogota to Canon del Rio Claro As we leave Bogota this morning, we shall make a stop at a productive marshland site on the western border of the city – Parque La Florida.