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.

Montezuma Keeps Rockin'!

We birded the mid-elevations of Tatama NP this morning in beautiful clear blue skies and found the beautiful forest much busier than yesterday. 

Dusky Chlorospingus (Bush-Tanager)

We spent the first hour of the day at an overlook where we took our field breakfast and birds kept appearing. Beginning with several close Dusky Bush-Tanagers, there was also a pair of Orange-breasted Fruiteaters, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, several groups of Black-chinned Mountain-Tanagers, a pair of Rufous-crested Tanagers, Gold-ringed Tanager, Handsome Flycatcher, a family of Yellow-collared Chlorophonias, a pair of Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonias, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Grey-throated Toucanet, and we even tracked down a feeding group of stunning Black Solitaires. 

The fabulous forest of Montezuma

Black Solitaire

Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager

We began walking down from here and found several feeding flocks which added species such as Pacific Tuftedcheek, White-winged Becard, Choco Vireo, Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Yellow-breasted Antwren, and Indigo Flowerpiercerto our ever growing list. There was also some scope views of a displaying Club-winged Manakin too. We also had further views of previously seen species such as Glistening-green Tanager, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Golden-crowned and Ornate Flycatchers, Rufous-throated, Black-and-gold and Gold-ringed Tanagers etc. Just before jumping into the cars and returning to the lodge for lunch we came across a group of stunning Crested Ant-Tanagers and a couple Olive Finches. I think everyone agreed it had been a good morning.

Olive Finch

At the lodge feeders we added Green Thorntail, Slaty Spinetail and Bar-crested Antshrike as well.

Bar-crested Antshrike

Green Thorntail

Our late afternoon session was a bit on the slow side but we still saw the endemic Tatama Tapaculo, which showed a couple of times and a brief Parker’s Antbird. A flock along the river held more Crested Ant-Tanagers, Olive Finch, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Choco Brushfinch and other previously seen species.  After dinner a Tropical Screech-Owl was seen beside the restaurant.

Montezuma - Tatama National Park

We left in a couple of four-wheel drive vehicles and headed up to the top of the mountain (2500m) early this morning. The weather was good and the views were pretty spectacular as we got our kit together and staked out the hummer feeder just below the army camp. 

View from the top of Tatama NP

A Tourmaline Sunangel, Buff-tailed Coronet, Masked Flowerpiercer and Collared Incacame in just before the hoped for endemic Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, which promptly gave outstanding views. 

Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer

Looking down the slope a pair of Grass-green Tanagers could be seen at the top of a moss-covered tree, whilst Beryl-spangled and Blue-capped Tanagers and Bluish Flowerpiercer also appeared. 

Grass-green Tanagers

Walking down the road to the next hummer feeder produced Tawny-bellied Hermit, a group of Lacrimose Mountain-Tanagers and a showy Streak-headed Antbird. 

Streak-headed Antbird

At the feeders we enjoyed a good picnic breakfast along with several Velvet-purple Coronets, Speckled Hummingbird, Violet-tailed Sylph and Purple-bibbed Whitetip. We also had great scope views of the endemic Gold-ringed Tanager perched above us on a mossy stump and a few stunning Purplish-mantled Tanagers. What a result! 

Gold-ringed Tanager

Purplish-mantled Tanager

Walking lower Spillman’s Tapaculo showed, an obliging Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher appeared, a group of Dusky Bush-Tanagers crossed the hillside above us and an endemic Munchique Wood-Wren gave great views to everyone. At the next feeders Empress Brilliant and Greenish Puffleg showed well. 

Greenish Puffleg

Munchique Wood-Wren

Narino Tapaculo

We spent some time getting to grips with a Narino Tapaculo that called incessantly from the dense vegetation beside the track but our persistence paid off and everyone saw it well. We drove a little lower and at a bend in the road had a magic half an hour with Sharpe’s Wren, a pair of Glistening-green Tanagers, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner and a pair of Saffron-crowned Tanagers.

After a hot picnic lunch brought to us on a motorbike the mist began to bug us and hindered our birding for large chunks of the afternoon. Despite this and with much perseverance we saw a pair of Golden-collared Honeycreepers, more Glistening-green Tanagers, and a Bronzy Inca trying its hardest to escape the bullying attentions of a pair of Velvet-purple Coronets at another feeder. 

Bronzy Inca

Velvet-purple Coronet

In the thick mist it was really, really frustrating looking at Orange-breasted Fruiteater and Golden-headed Quetzal. However when birds were closer it was ok and we saw Silvery-throated Tanager, Handsome FlycatcherandRed-faced Spinetail. Another magic half an hour bonanza resulted in Flame-faced Tanager, a group of Choco Brushfinch, a skulking Tawny-throated Leaftosser, and then a flock paused near us with the mega pair of Rufous-throatedTanager and Black-and-gold Tanager. 

Rufous-throated Tanager

There was also several Golden Tanagers, Flame-faced, Beryl-spangled and Glistening-green Tanagers, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaner, and a pair of cracking Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia. After that excitement we walked a bit lower seeing some Yellow-throated Bush-Tanagers and another Handsome Flycatcher. Walking back the last 4 kms with Neil & Rob wasn’t my greatest idea but it was a good workout! 

Hooded Antpitta Baby!

We had the whole morning in the forests of Otun-Quimbaya beginning t the far end of the road where we staked out a site for the mega Hooded Antpitta. We arrived ay 5.40am and it was still quite dark but despite the low light we were able to tick Sickle-winged Guan, a pair of which were ignoring us at the edge of the car parking area. The next hour or so was taken up with our antpitta search and it appeared at several different spots on 3 occasions in the gloomy understorey and you had to be quick to get on it. It’s a mega bird and outstandingly rare. During our search we saw Pale-eyed Thrush, a Chestnut-crowned Antpitta was as surprised as we were when it hopped out onto the road in front of us, our first White-capped Tanager posed nicely at the top of a bare tree  and the endemic Greyish Piculet was seen in a flock that passed through that included Masked Trogon, Golden-olive Woodpecker,Cinnamon Flycatcher and Strong-billed Woodcreeper. By 7.30am the ‘antpitta window’ had passed so we drove back a few kilometres before walking along the road. A Black-and-white Warbler was an early returning winter visitor, and we also saw Pearled Treerunner, Ashy-throated  Chlorospingus(Bush-Tanager) and Metallic-green Tanager. All of a sudden a Moustached Antpitta began calling and was answered by another behind us, so we spent quite some time trying to see either bird. All they gave were glimpses in the understorey that left us wanting more! Walking on we saw a pair of endemic Cauca Guans, Speckled Hummingbird, Bronzy Inca and finished with the endemic Chestnut Wood-Quail that crossed the road twice on either side of us and meant high fives all round.

Western Emerald

 After a 12.00 lunch and a Western Emerald in the garden we set off on the long to Montezuma. It took about 4.5 hours and swapping to a couple of 4-wheel drives for the last 45 minutes bumpy drive to Montezuma Lodge. And what an introduction we had as the hummer feeders were full of birds. It’s hard to put numbers on each species but there were a lot of birds. Purple-throated Woodstar was the most numerous, followed by Empress Brilliant and Andean Emeralds. 

Purple-bibbed Whitetip

Rufous-gaped Hillstar

As we got tuned in to the relevant i.d features we also picked up Steely-vented Hummingbird, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Rufous-gaped Hillstar (split from White-tailed Hillstar), Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and Violet-tailed Sylph amongst the 13 hummer species present. There was also a Lemon-rumped Tanager, Green Honeycreeper and Bananaquit.

Bogota - Otun Quimbaya

We took a 7.30am flight to Pereira and upon arrival met up with our trusty driver Hermes, and drove for around an hour towards Otun Quimbaya. We made a few stops along the way to scan the fast-flowing Otun River and after a few stops found the hoped-for Torrent Duck. A pair were feeding on the shady side of the river and we really enjoyed nice views in the scope. 

Torrent Duck

We also saw a few Torrent Tyrannulets, White-collared Swifts, Thick-billed Euphonia, Scrub Tanager and a Green-fronted Lancebill for myself and Vera. It was much warmer today than we had previously experienced so it was nice to get to the isolated Research Station where would spend the night. A quick walk around the gardens before lunch in the restaurant gave us a pair of stunning (and I know I use that word a lot) Flame-rumped Tanagers, Tropical Pewee, Southern Rough-winged Swallow and a nesting pair of Pale-edged Flycatchers. 

Pale-edged Flycatcher

After a nice meal we spent the afternoon walking along the road and found birding to be slow overall, although we did find some great birds. So we began with an Andean Motmot spotted by Lia, before Rob picked up our first of several Red-ruffed Fruitcrows. What a bird! 

Red-ruffed Fruitcrow

Next up was an obliging Chestnut-breasted Wren singing away from his perch beside the road and what you can only say is ‘showing well’. 

Chestnut-breasted Wren

We walked for a couple of kilometres at which point we decided to head back, but just at that moment a Multicoloured Tanager was spotted and it duly flew away before everyone could get on it. So we raced around the corner to see if we could relocate it but needless to say it was nowhere to be seen. We heard both Golden-headed Quetzal and Stiles’s Tapaculo before walking back around the corner. Here we had a lot of activity with lots of birds, most of which skulked in the dense foliage and it was impossible for everyone to see everything. However, there was Variegated Bristle-Tyrant, Black-billed Peppershrike, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Greenish Puffleg, Common Bush-Tanager, and some flyover Bronze-winged Parrots and Neil even had a glimpse of another Multicoloured Tanager. The walk back to the research station was enlivened by a group of endemic Cauca Guans, whilst a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird was in the garden.

Colombian Screech-Owl

After dinner a few of us went owling and what a productive hour we had, as first of all a Colombian Screech-Owl was found beside the road. Then a throw away comment from Rob about Mottled Owl resulted in one flying in within 30 seconds of its call being played!

Mottled Owl

And we finished off with a close Tropical Screech-Owl. 

Tropical Screech-Owl

Oh and an Opossum and a confiding Crab-eating Fox were also seen tonight.