BIRDING COLOMBIA - ISLA SALAMANCA !!

Typical habitat throughout the Guajira area

After leaving Minca, our destination was the lowland coastal area of Colombia, the Guajira peninsula; a far different habitat from the lush surroundings of El Dorado and Minca.
  Isla de Salamanca is a Colombian National Park protecting mangrove habitats and adjacent coastal scrub. From the visitor center at Los Cocos, one can walk the boardwalk through mangrove swamps and observe waterbirds and migrants. We saw a wintering SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and had good views of STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER.  The main attraction, though, was the area around the visitor center, where we hoped to see the extremely rare SAPPHIRE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD. This bird has recently been split as a full species from the similar Sapphire-Throated Hummingbird and restricted to northern Colombia's coastal mangroves. It  can most reliably be found at the flowers at the visitor center, and after an early morning arrival and some time searching, we came across the bird foraging just above eye  level in the flowering bushes. It took some time to see clearly the diagnostic belly color, but eventually were certain that we had the bird.  We also had great looks at BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET, who fed casually at the flowers.  Also notable was the number of neotropical migrants present, with good numbers of NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES and PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS.

SAPPHIRE-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD

Along the roads leading from the visitor center were many ponds and wetlands, in which were a number of denizens of that habitat, including LARGE-BILLED TERN, RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON, PIED WATER-TYRANT, and the unique NORTHERN SCREAMER.  Waterbirds were common, and we added BLUE-WINGED TEAL, MUSCOVY DUCK, and FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCK. We also had faraway views of AMERICAN FLAMINGO, SCARLET IBIS, WOOD STORK, and BARE-FACED and BUFF-NECKED IBIS.
A special treat was getting fantastic views of the unusual RUSSET-THROATED PUFFBIRD,  that perched conspicuously at eye level amid the scrub forest.  We had acceptable views of the Endemic CHESTNUT-WINGED CHACHALACA, but only were able to hear its cousin, the Rufous-Vented Chachalaca.  It's HOT in the Guajira, so we called it a morning about 10:30 and headed back for lunch and a little rest.
Next . . . . LAS FLAMENCOS NATIONAL PARK !

RUFESCENT-TIGER-HERON

RUSSET-THROATED PUFFBIRD

MANGROVE FOREST in ISLA SALAMANCA

MINCA, COLOMBIA !!

BICOLORED WREN

After our wonderful stay at El Dorado Lodge, we worked our way down the mountain to the town of MINCA, a funky town sitting at 1600-2000 feet elevation, with a far different avifauna.  Birds in the neotropics often live in narrow elevational zones, and are only found at the appropriate altitudes.  We worked our way down, and as we approached the town, we were able to find such species as SCALED PICULET, from a genus of small woodpeckers hardly bigger than an oak leaf.  We also found such common species as BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT, YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATER, and CRIMSON-BACKED TANAGER.

WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN

SCALED PICULET

The Hotel Minca was a bohemian affair, not exclusively for birders, but certainly birder-friendly.  The rooms were small and spare, but welcomed at the end of a long day in the field.  Around the grounds, we found our only TROPICAL PEWEE, the stunning BICOLORED WREN, and at the hummer feeders on the veranda STEELY-VENTED HUMMINGBIRD, WHITE-VENTED PLUMELETEER, LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT, and WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN.  All special birds . . 
Three special passerines that occur around the Minca area are the near-endemic BLACK-BACKED ANTSHRIKE, the CINNAMON FLYCATCHER (A subspecies that is soon to be recognized as a separate species), and the striking GOLDEN-WINGED SPARROW, a difficult to find skulker despite it's gaudy plumage.

BLACK-BACKED ANTSHRIKE

GOLDEN-WINGED SPARROW

 After two nights of dinner at local restaurants, we were ready to leave the Sierra and head to the Guajira Peninsula for some low elevation dry habitat birding.

CINNAMON FLYCATCHER

BIRDING COLOMBIA - SANTA MARTA and MORE :HUMMINGBIRDS

One of the joys of birding the Americas is seeing the wide range of HUMMINGBIRDS (family TROCHILIDAE) that occupy the numerous habitats of the area.  There are between around 338 to 347 species of hummer depending on which taxonomic system is used,

and the family only exists in the new world, although recent fossil finds in Europe have suggested that at one time, an ancestor may have been present. 

Hummingbird diversity is greatest in the Andes of South America, and many species migrate into North America to breed, some as far north as Alaska.

WHITE-TAILED STARFRONTLET

SANTA MARTA WOODSTAR

These two species, the SANTA MARTA WOODSTAR and the WHITE-TAILED STARFRONTLET are representatives of genera that range widely throughout the neotropics; these two, however, are endemic to the Santa Marta mountains, and highly desirable sightings. They were common at the feeders at El Dorado.

The most exciting find at El Dorado was a beautiful male BLACK-BACKED THORNBILL, an endangered endemic that is only rarely seen at all, let alone at the feeders! This one provided many birders with great looks and photo-ops for at least two days.

BLACK-BACKED THORNBILL

BLACK-BACKED THORNBILL

LAZULINE SABREWING

VIOLET-CROWNED WOODNYMPH

Although not endemics, there were other beautiful hummers regular at the feeders, sch as LAZULINE SABREWING, VIOLET-CROWNED WOODNYMPH, and GREEN VIOLET-EAR.

GREEN VIOLET-EAR

These beauties were present daily and gave quite a show. All in all, we had 9 hummers during our stay at El Dorado, including MOUNTAIN VELVETBREAST, TYRIAN METALTAIL, BROWN and SPARKLING VIOLET-EARS, and the rare endemic BLOSSOMCROWN. 

Next, the last day at El Dorado!!

BIRDING COLOMBIA - SANTA MARTA AND MORE DAYS 2 and 3 !!

A large percentage of the endemics found in El Dorado occur above the lodge on the SAN LORENZO RIDGE, accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicle up a single road that climbs to around 9000 feet; from this point in the early morning one can see the spectacular snow-capped peaks of the Santa Martas.  Many of the birds here are threatened by habitat destruction, especially by clearcutting for subsistence farming, and special measures are being taken to protect this fragile habitat by the Colombian NGO (FUNDACION PROAVES) which partners with bird conservation organizations worldwide in their preservation efforts.

After a 4:30 AM departure, our first target was the SANTA MARTA PARAKEET, listed as 'endangered' and only occurring in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. 

SANTA MARTA PARAKEET

Usually seen quickly and in flight, we were happy to see this small flock alight for a few quick photos.  After some scouring, we came up with such endemics as SANTA MARTA BUSH-TYRANT, BROWN-RUMPED TAPACULO,  SANTA MARTA and RUFOUS ANTPITTAS (this endemic subspecies soon to be split), and RUSTY-HEADED SPINETAIL.

 We had fairy good success finding the three endemic wood-warblers (family parulidae), which can be skulky and uncooperative.  The SANTA-MARTA and WHITE-LORED warblers, as well as the YELLOW-CROWNED WHITESTART all allowed for at least quick pictures and adequate views.

WHITE-LORED WARBLER

 There are about 118 species of new-world warblers, some of whom migrate to northern breeding grounds, while others, like these, are residents of the neotropics. 

YELLOW-CROWNED WHITESTART

SANTA MARTA WARBLER

One of the highlights of the mountain was coming upon a small flock of the endemic SANTA MARTA MOUNTAIN-TANAGER! Mountain-Tanagers (genus anisognathus) are a grouping of birds in the tanager family, primarily occupying the highland woodlands and cloudforests of South America.  This species, also called the BLACK-CHEEKED MOUNTAIN TANAGER was feeding on berries along the road above the lodge.

SANTA MARTA MOUNTAIN TANAGER

SANTA-MARTA MOUNTAIN-TANAGER

As well as the parade of endemics, we saw a number of  species also common to other areas and elevations, such as the common WHITE-THROATED TYRANNULET, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, MOUNTAIN VELVETBREAST, and WHITE-SIDED FLOWERPIERCER.
Great day on the mountain !!

BIRDING COLOMBIA - SANTA MARTA and MORE DAYS 1 AND 2 !

ONE OF THE BEST birding excursions I've been on, my 11 day (2 - 13 January 2015)  trip to northeastern Colombia was a classroom of endemism, speciation, and downright extreme birding.  
I used Mindo Bird Tours, who is based in Ecuador, but runs tours around South America. I used a private guide, Dusan Brinkhuisen, who I've birded with 3 times before, and consider a friend as well as a guide. Along with a growing number of committed neotropical birders, Dusan is quickly increasing the body of knowledge of the avifauna of the 'bird continent'.

EL DORADO AIRPORT, BOGOTA

DAY 1 : El Dorado airport in Bogota was modern, clean and efficient; I met Dusan there, and we  headed to our hotel planning to catch an early morning flight to Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast.  We managed to find an accommodating taxi to take us to our first birding stop, Parque La Florida to look for the rare endemic birds BOGOTA RAIL and APOLNIAR'S WREN. The wetlands in the park, which also has a golf course, is the most reliable place in Colombia for these secretive birds.  We dipped on the wren, but had good looks at the colorful SPOT-FLANKED GALLINULE, and the endemic SILVERY THROATED SPINETAIL.  We saw the rail, but under bizarre circumstances;  after a good amount of time of futile searching, the ROADSIDE HAWK that had been watching from a nearby snag left his perch. The next time he appeared, he had in his talons a juvenile BOGOTA RAIL!!  With the help of the eyes of Dusan and our park guide, we were able to make out the diagnostic marks that identified the prey definitively as the rail.  Not the best of conditions, but the rail is on my life list!

DAY 2:  After a good night at the Hotel Aloft, we took an early morning flight to the coastal city of SANTA MARTA, population 380,000, interestingly enough the sister city of Miami Beach, Florida, whose skyline of beachfront highrises this city resembles. 
After disembarking, we met our driver for the week, Alfredo and his indestructible Toyota, and took off for our first destination,  EL DORADO LODGE. The nerve center of the Fundacion Proaves El Dorado Reserve, it consists of a a 1600 acre property of subtropical and montane forest on the northern slope of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta,  a 19,000 foot massif rising from the Caribbean coast.  Due to its unique geologic positiion, it hosts the highest concentration of continental range restricted bird species in the world. The lodge sits at around 6200 feet elevation.

The guest house at El Dorado Lodge

Beautiful Caribbean sunset from El Dorado Lodge.

The accommodations at the lodge were rustic and friendly; the food was tasty and staff were especially helpful. They made every effort to  accommodate my vegetarianism, and the coffee was always available and hot, even for our EARLY morning departures. The nights were cool and comfortable.

BLUE-NAPED CHLOROPHONIA

BLACK-CAPPED TANAGER

As we started to explore the grounds, we were drawn to the platform feeders located about; we were drawn to the colorful songbirds BLUE NAPED CHLOROPHONIA and BLACK-CAPPED TANAGER, common at the bananas.

BAND-TAILED GUAN

BLACK-FRONTED WOOD-QUAIL

As the day wound down, we were able to two more common denizens of the lodge grounds; the near-endemic BAND-TAILED GUAN and the vulnerable BLACK-THROATED WOOD-QUAIL, both of which occurred at the ground feeding stations. 
The day couldn't have been better, and we retired early for the next day's foray into upper elevation El Dorado.




   NEXT : SAN LORENZO RIDGE AND HIGH                 ELEVATION EL DORADO !!!

A few shots from our Gulf Coast Swing, 1 - 8 April 2013

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

In our continuing quest to visit all 50 states, Jayne and I took a trip through the Gulf states this April, driving through Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to bird and visit some interesting landmarks.
The accompanying shots were taken during one of the highlights of our birding, a fallout of PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS descending on a grove of Bottle Brush bushes on Dauphin Island, Alabama.  We must have seen at least 30 birds, as well as a number of other migrants. Here are some photos:

SUMMER TANAGER

 

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO

WHITE-EYED VIREO

  

WOOD THRUSH

PROTHONOTARY WARBLER

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We took a morning walk along the beach in GULFPORT, MS, and saw the following birds going about their business:

AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER

GREAT BLUE HERONS

HORNED GREBE

MERRITT ISLAND NWR

 MORE FROM THE SUNSHINE STATE . . .

MERRITT ISLAND NWR

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 as an overlay of NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center.  Consisting of 140,000 acres, the Refuge provides a wide variety of habitats:  coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub, pine flatwoods, and hardwood hammocks provide habitat for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals.

ANHINGA

LITTLE BLUE HERON ADULT

LITTLE BLUE HERON JUVENILE