We left Cochabamba and headed up into the hills and over a
high pass, and the road then dropped steeply until we reached a narrow track
that led through the cloud forest. We picked up a number of new birds beginning
with
Scarlet-bellied and the rather
more uncommon
Chestnut-bellied Mountain-tanager.
A
Bolivian Tyrannulet quickly
followed, as did
Rust-and-yellow Tanager,
Spectacled Redstart,
Montane Woodcreeper, and an untypically
obliging
Maroon-breasted
Chat-tyrant.
 |
| Maroon-breasted or Maroon-belted Chat-tyrant |
Beside a fast flowing river we had a
Golden-crowned Flycatcher, followed a
little later by
Streak-necked Flycatcher,
Glossy-black Thrush,
Dusky-green Oropendola and a brief
Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper. After a
picnic lunch we drove back up to the main road and spent the rest of the
afternoon driving down into the valley, making frequent stops. A huge
Black-and-chestnut Eagle was a bonus,
as was a
Sunbittern seen on yet
another tumbling mountain stream. Other goodies included a pair of
Saffron-crowned Tanagers, brief
Blue-banded Toucanet,
Western Wood Pewee,
Chestnut-collared Swift,
White-throated Kingbird and finishing
off with a
Fasciated Tiger-heron.
 |
| Bolivian Brush-finch |
The day was all about quality and good views of most things, but there was also
a fine supporting cast and other highlights included
Bar-bellied Woodpecker,
Light-crowned
Spinetail,
Red-crested Cotinga,
Tyrian Metaltail,
Bolivian Brush-finch,
White-winged and
Fawn-breasted Tanagers. It was a pleasant surprise to find our
accommodation at Villa Tunari was amongst the best of the whole tour and even
came complete with
Russet-backed
Oropendolas nesting in the garden.
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