Birding and all the Rest . . .: BIRDING COLOMBIA

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 !