Salamanca

Our day began with a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl calling away from a large tree right outside the front door of the hotel. We then headed over to the port area and as soon as we got out of the minibus a Chestnut-winged Chachalaca was seen in a bare tree and it was soon joined by another bird and they began uttering their raucous call. 

Chestnut-winged Chachalaca

A Glaucous Tanager was scoped, whilst Grey Kingbird, Yellow Oriole, Yellow Warbler, Ringed Kingfisher, Greyish Saltator and Common Ground-Dove all appeared around us. Several groups of Brown-throated Parakeets flew by, with a few birds landing on the bushes nearby, whilst a cracking pair of Bicoloured Wrens showed well and began singing quite close to us. From here we moved on to a trail an hour’s drive away which led into open country and some lagoons. A Caribbean (Pale-legged) Hornero was the first bird seen, quickly followed by a pair of stunning Stripe-backed Wrens and a trio of Black-crested Antshrikes. 

Black-crested Helmetshrike

Walking along we were getting very sweaty as it was such a hot day but the birds kept appearing with Cattle Tyrant, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Snail Kite and Yellow-headed Caracara. The first of three stunning Rufous-throated Puffbirds to be seen today was next up, along with Greater, Smooth-billed and Groove-billed Anis, Purple Gallinule, Wattled Jacana, Scaled Dove, Pied Water-Tyrant, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipersand a perched Green Kingfisher. 

Pied Water-Tyrant

A large lagoon was productive with White-cheeked Pintail,Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Greaterand Lesser Yellowlegs, a superb Stilt Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt, Yellow-chinned Spinetail and White-tipped Dove. A short drive from here took us to Salamanca Reserve where a shortish walk gave us Pale-tipped Inezia, Pied Puffbird, Northern Waterthrush, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Lineated and Golden-green Woodpeckers, and a day roosting Lesser Nighthawk. 

Lesser Nighthawk

A longish drive was made more problematical by the ever-present Colombian roadworks and also a car accident that stalled us for an hour in a long queue. But after lunch and another drive we walked a side track where we heard a Little Tinamou, and saw Trinidad Euphonia, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Yellow-green Vireo, another American Pygmy Kingfisher, Buff-breasted Wren, Rufous-tailed Jacamar and a rather flighty Bright-rumped Attila. Dinner was taken at a nice seafront restaurant.