Siberia Cloud Forest - Cochabamba

Headed back up to the higher reaches of Siberia Cloud Forest after another 4.30am breakfast, arriving just after daybreak. The forest here is amazing with moss encrusted trees all around, but it was unfortunate that the infamous Bolivian roadworks have reached here and roadside birding was tricky. At our first stop a couple of Crimson-bellied Mountain-Tanagers tried their best to sneak by us as they fed in some low bushes. A Tyrian Metaltail was scoped, a Golden-headed Quetzal eluded almost everyone, a few Bolivian Brush-Finches appeared, Spectacled Whitestart posed at the top of a tree, as did a pair of Masked Flowerpiercers, Scaly-naped Parrot flew over and a White-browed Chat-Tyrant was also seen.

Our office this morning

Up at the pass a few Yellow-billed Teal, several Andean Lapwings and a Wilson’s Phalarope adorned the pool, but roadside birding again proved fruitless. However a Hellmayr’s Pipit was scoped, and as we drove a away a Red-crested Cotinga was spotted. 

Red-crested Cotinga

A few kilometres downhill and we began walking along the road, which turned out to be fortuitous as a pair of Plushcaps were seen feeding in the bamboo here. Then we had a mad few minutes with a pair of Light-crowned Spinetails showing uncharacteristically well out in the open, Azara’s Spinetail, Sierran Elaenia, Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch, and a Buff-browed Foliage-Gleaner showed really well.

Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch

Moving on the scenery became much drier and arid with cactus dotting the hillsides. A Great Pampa-Finch seemed a little out of place at our next stop and was a different race to the ones seen in Trinidad. 

Birding and scenery along the way to Cochabamba

A Black-winged Ground-Dove was more expected, and a Green-barred Woodpecker was also found. A little further on we checked out some roadside scrubby areas and found a Wedge-tailed Hillstar, quite often a tricky species to find. Also here was a Band-tailed Seedeater, Andean Swift and a Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant. We had lunch here in the shade of some tall Eucalyptus trees. 

Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer

Rock Earthcreeper

Our last stop of the day at a side valley was mind-blowing! We began walking along a dirt road beside a stream and came across a Grey-bellied Flowerpiercer feeding beside the track, and as we watched this a Rock Earthcreeper began calling and we had great views. On the slope above us there was a lot of activity and after a little consternation we nailed a pair of Brown-capped Tit-Spinetails, one of which came right down to take a look at us. Then a Giant Hummingbird appeared, followed by a stunning Red-tailed Comet. 

Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail

A couple of Rufous-sided Warbling-Finches were then picked out above us and we also found a pair of nest-building Creamy-breasted Canasteros. We also had another pair of these beauties further along the valley which showed particularly well. 

Creamy-breasted Canastero

Around the corner 3 Bare-faced Ground-Doves were feeding on the track in front of us, a Grass Wren sang its heart out, Miguel and Jules had a Rust-and-yellow Tanager, and a field was alive with Band-tailed Seedeaters and a few Plain-coloured Seedeaters. As we watched them a pair of Cochabamba Mountain-Finches appeared and gave absolutely awesome views. 

Cochabamba Mountain-Finch

Then a Rufous-bellied Mountain-Tanager (Saltator) flew into a bush next to us, a Tufted Tit-Tyrant appeared, and a flock of Grey-hooded Parakeet flew over and landed in a tree. The weedy fields were alive with seedeaters, Hooded Siskins, Golden-billed Saltators and it was a real pleasure to have lots of birds all around us. A White-browed Chat-Tyrant was next up at the same spot, and we scoped the parakeets, whilst an Olive-crowned Crescentchest sang behind us and looked stunning in the scope. 

Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant

Overhead we picked out a few Brown-bellied Swallows amongst the Blue-and-white Swallows and we finished with more Great Pampa-Finches and a pair of Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrants.