Siberia Cloud Forest

Comarapa is excellently situated to visit Siberia cloud forest, just a short three-quarters of an hour drive from our hotel. So it was another early 4.30am breakfast and then we were off up into the hills where it was just about light enough upon arrival to see a calling White-throated Tyrannulet. This was one of the best days of the tour with so many new birds to keep us occupied throughout the day and pretty quickly we saw several of the distinctive local race of Common Bush Tanager, Mountain Wren, endemic Bolivian Brush-Finch, and an obliging Trilling Tapaculo. 

Tyrian Metaltail

I just couldn’t believe that our first attempt at seeing the endemic Rufous-faced Antpitta resulted in almost everyone seeing it, as it hopped out onto a narrow path in front of us on three occasions! Wow!  We followed this with Andean Slaty thrush, Grey-breasted Wood-Wren, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, and the first of many Tyrian Metaltails. 

Andean Condor

Overhead we saw Andean Condor, Mountain Caracara, Swallow-tailed Kite, Short-tailed Hawk and Bicolored Hawk. 

Swallow-tailed Kite

Meanwhile a stunning Masked Trogon flew in and landed below us on a mossy branch, whilst White-crested Elaenia, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Pearled Treerunner, Bar-bellied Woodpecker and Glossy-black Thrush were all new additions to our ever growing list. 

Bar-bellied Woodpecker

Masked Trogon

Best of all, a pair of mighty Giant Antshrikes gave killer views as they fed just below the track and I’m still amazed how well they showed to the entire group. 

Giant Antshrike (female)

By around 10am bird activity slowed down, but we kept picking up new birds regularly. A cute little White-bellied Woodstar perched on top of a tree showed well in the scope, and at the same spot Blue-winged and Chestnut-bellied Mountain Tanagers appeared, whilst a Lesser Violetear displaced the Woodstar from its lofty perch. Then a Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant was quickly followed by the much rarer Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, before we continued walking along the track with Barred Becard, Blue-backed Conebill and Long-tailed Sylph seen just before we paused for our picnic lunch. 

Rufous-capped Antshrike

More walking down the track resulted in Blue-capped Puffleg, a few more sightings of Pearled Treerunner, White-eared Solitaire, Band-tailed Pigeon and Smoke-coloured Pewee. At 4pm we left and drove to a lower elevation where the dry scrub-covered hillside we visited yesterday was distinctly calmer but still resulted in poor views of Spot-breasted Thornbird. Compensation came in the shape of a Rufous-capped Antshrike that gave several fine views, a flock of Hooded Siskins, a female Red-tailed Comet (endemic), and finally an Ocellated Piculet. What a day!