Carrasco National Park

We spent the day in Carrasco National Park beginning just after breakfast with lots of Yellow-rumped Caciques, Magpie Tanager, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Pale-breasted Thrush, Blue-grey Tanager and the not-so splendid delights of a female Double-collared Seedeater. Approaching the Park HQ we called in a cracking pair of Chestnut-tailed Antbirds, then had the superb Paradise Tanager and not that pretty Speckled Chachalaca. 

Paradise Tanager

We then had to cross the river in a ‘cable car’ that was pulled across by hand, by our local guide and so gain entry into the park. Once inside this excellent forest, birding was rather slow but we still picked up another Flammulated Pygmy-tyrant, both Sepia-capped and Yellow-olive Flycatchers, Red-crowned Ant-tanager, Red-headed Manakin and Rufous Motmot. 

Oilbirds

But our main purpose was to visit a secluded cave where a colony of Oilbirds could be seen. And what strange birds they are, but we had superb views of at least fifteen birds including a chick on a nest. This was one of the major highlights of the tour so far for me, a lifer and a bird i'd always wanted to see. Don't get many of those in Asia! 

Sunbittern on a nest

Tearing ourselves away from here we saw a few bats in another cave before getting to grips with Black-faced Antthrush and a Tawny-crowned Greenlet before returning to the Park HQ for our lunch. The afternoon was a bit of a washout as it rained pretty much most of the time, but we did pick up Red-legged Honeycreeper, and found a Sunbittern on a nest with a small chick before getting back to the lodge quite early and the chance for a good rest.