Lomas de Arena - Refugio Los Volcanes

We endured the world famous Bolivian roadwork fiasco en-route to Lomas de Arena this morning, eventually arriving at a little after 7.30am. We didn’t actually get very far into the park at all but still picked up a variety of interesting species starting with Barred Antshrike, Green-barred Woodpecker, Blue-winged Parrotlet,Double-collared Seedeaterand Red-crested Finch. As we were watching a pair of Chotoy Spinetails, Chaco Puffbird, and the same spot also held Rufous Casiornis, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Blue-black Grassquit, and a pair of Rufous-fronted Thornbirds. 

Chaco Puffbird

We also saw a few close Fork-tailed Flycatchers, White-banded Mockingbird, Pale-breasted Spinetail, and a family group of 5 White Woodpeckers. Around a pool we saw  a pair of Red-billed Scythebills, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Orange-backed Troupialand a Crowned Slaty Flycatcher.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

We then drove to Los Volcanes, arriving in thick mist. With our bags being taken down in a couple of cars we saId our goodbyes to our driver Fernando and began walking the 4kms to the lodge. With poor visibility it was a little frustrating to only hear some good birds but the lower we walked the better things got for us. We had a couple sightings of Pale-legged Warbler, Streaked Xenops, a cracking Black-capped Antwren and Yellow-olive Flatbill. 

A perched Andean Condor beside the track

A small flock held Red-eyed Vireo, Tropical Parula, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, and a White-winged Tanager, but the sight of a majestic Andean Condor perched in a nearby tree was far more appealing! By now the mist had lifted and we could see the far side of the valley, and could also identify some of the numerous parrots wheeling across the canopy. Most were Mitred Parakeets, but there was also Turquoise-fronted Amazons, Blue-headed Parrots and some brief Military Macaws. We also saw Black-goggled Tanagerand Ochre-cheeked Spinetail on the final stretch of the walk to the lodge. 

Not a bad location!