Monklets Galore!

We birded the lower elevation of Tatama National Park this morning in beautiful sunny weather. After a 5.30am breakfast we started walking along the forest track seeing a few Spot-fronted Swifts flying over, as well as Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant and Slaty Spinetail beside the track. And then a Lanceolated Monklet began responding to the iPod and after a nervous wait if flew in and landed above us. This is still one of the most-wanted Neotropical birds and it’s a real privilege to see one and this beauty just stayed on its perch above us for ages, calling away and we lapped up the views. 

Lanceolated Monklet

Just around the corner we spent a while getting a decent look at Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner but we did eventually, and just before laying eyes on Slaty Antwren, Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaner, Red-headed Barbet, Red-faced Spinetail, a group of Ochre-breasted Tanagers and amazingly a pair of Lanceolated Monklets - making it a 3 monklet day!  Walking on, an obliging Sooty-headed Wren showed really well and sang from several perches around us but then we had  difficult spell with Parker’s and Zeledon’s Antbirds just heard and unresponding and also a Golden-collared Manakin proved really tricky to see - this species is a recent split from White-collared Manakin. 

Broad-billed Motmot

Lemon-browed Flycatcher

Moving on we saw a flyover Black Hawk-Eagle, Andean Solitaire, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, 4 Lemon-browed Flycatchers, Broad-billed Motmot and ended the morning session with a superb Moustached Puffbird perched in a  dense patch of forest. 

Moustached Puffbird

By 11.30am we drove back to the wonderful Montezuma Eco-Lodge and packed up our belongings, ate lunch and bid our goodbyes to the excellent staff. This was one of my favourite places throughout the tour and it really was a bit sad to leave as you always felt there were new birds to find here. We then set out on the long drive of 5 hours to Manizales and the next exciting stage of our Colombian adventure.