Sumapaz and Beyond!

Everyone apart from Rob and myself had early flights so we decided to make the most of this ‘spare’ day and visited Sumapaz with Jose. This is another high-altitude site close to Bogota and I’m including our sightings here for sake of completeness and to give an idea what is possible. We had amazing close views of the endemic Apolinar’s Wren within a few minutes of arriving. 

Green-bearded Helmetcrest (female)

It took a bit longer to find the endemic Green-bearded Helmetcrest but we did find a pair eventually, whilst the other stand-out bird was Northern Tawny Antpitta– a different species to the one seen on the main tour according to HBW. In fact, this species was incredibly common up here and we enjoyed repeated views. 

Northern Tawny Antpitta

Other birds seen up here included Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Chestnut-winged Cinclodes, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, a few Noble Snipe, Greater Yellowlegs, what appeared to be a Plain-breasted Hawk, Andean Siskin, Shining Sunbeam, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, and a flock of 30+ migrating Lesser Nighthawks. 

Indigo-capped Hummingbird

By mid-morning we were done here and took a longish drive to a secret site with a stack of feeders attracting numerous endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbirds. Also present were Black-throated Mango and White-vented Plumeleteer amongst others. It was a lovely spot to have lunch and enjoy all of the frenzied activity before driving to the airport for our late evening flight home.

The End of the Road.....

We left the excellent El Dorado Lodge after breakfast, seeing for the last time species such as Black-hooded Thrush, Band-tailed Guan, Lazuline Sabrewing etc. 

Band-tailed Guan

A few stops at various points as we descended the mountain proved to be productive beginning with a perched endemic Santa Marta Blossomcrown at a known stake-out for this sometimes tricky species. 

Santa Marta Blossomcrown

A Louisiana Waterthrush spent some time on the road in front of us as we walked down the road from here, and a Santa Marta Tapaculo was extremely confiding here as well. We also saw commoner species such as Pale-breasted Thrush, Bicoloured Wren and Santa Marta Brushfinch before making another stab at seeing Rusty-breasted Pitta. 

Rusty-breasted Antpitta

This time we well and truly nailed it with calling birds seen on both sides of the road at the dame spot. Wow! There was also Tropical Pewee, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Grey-lined Hawk, American Redstart, Rufous-capped Warbler and the peculiar Santa Marta race of Bay-headed Tanager. 

White-chinned Sapphire

We finished our birding this morning closer to Minca with perched Long-billed Starthroat and White-chinned Sapphire, and a Rosy Thrush-Tanager for a couple lucky people. Oh and let’s not forget the pair of day-roosting Black-and-white Owls.  

Black-and-white Owl

We had lunch at the Hotel Minca where Orange-chinned Parakeets, White-vented Plumeleteer and lots of White-necked Jacobins entertained us at the feeders. 

Orange-chinned Parakeet

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Steely-vented Hummingbird

White-necked Jacobin (female)

White-necked Jacobin (male)

From here it was a short drive to the airport and a quick flight back to Bogota and conclusion of a very successful tour.