We birded Tablas Montes again this morning, leaving the hotel early doors as usual but this time took a new side track that led us into some fantastic habitat.
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| There was a beautiful sunrise today.... |
Our search for Hooded Mountain-Toucan to-date had been frustrating to say the least and everyone scanned the hillsides intently for any signs. Walking along the track produced flyover Scaly-naped Parrots and 3 Barred Parakeets, this latter species very tricky to find anywhere.
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| Scaly-naped Parrots |
An Amethyst-throated Sunangel perched up nicely for us, and Black-throated Thistletail once again showed very well.
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| Black-throated Thistletail |
We had our usual field breakfast before continuing walking further along the track and eventually we heard the distinctive sound of a Hooded Mountain-Toucan calling close by. Sure enough there it was, moving around a large tree behind us and we enjoyed fine views of a pair before they flew off downhill.
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| Hooded Mountain-Toucan at last....!!! |
We dallied a little while at the same spot, watching some Pale-footed Swallows flying around and perching on a tall snag above us, before another Hooded Mountain-Toucan was spotted and this one gave even better views. Walking back to the coach a Maroon-belted Chat-Tyrant was only seen by me but an Orange-browed Hemispingus was seen by several of the group. And that was our cue to leave and head down to the Miguelito Track once again.
Upon arrival we hadn’t walked very far when a pair of Andean Guans appeared beside the track. We then spent quite some time trying to obtain views of Bolivian Tapaculo, which never really showed satisfactorily but there were several glimpses of a constantly calling individual. A Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager was something of a surprise, as was a pair of high flying Solitary Eagles. Lunch was enlivened by a few Greater Yellow-headed Vultures flying up through the valley and a cracking Versicolored Barbet appeared close by.
From here we drove back up to the higher areas and almost immediately on leaving the coach nailed the endemic Black-hooded Sunbeam, which appeared three times giving great views. At the same spot a Great Sapphirewing fed around some flowers in front of us, Grey-bellied Flowerpiercers fed unobtrusively and a few other common species were seen.
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