MORNING WALK AROUND TALARI LODGE GROUNDS – TWO SITES VISITED AROUND SAN ISIDRO – TRANSFER TO SAN GERARDO DE DOTA VALLEY WITH STOPS FOR LUNCH AND THE PARAMO
WEATHER: broken sunshine, until midday then thick cloud, with light rain. Top temp 28C
Our early morning walk was much better than our walk last evening, so much activity was going on. We had great views of the Rufous-breasted Wren, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Olivaceous Piculet ( a tiny woodpecker), our first Plain-capped Starthroat ( a hummingbird), Rose-throated Grosbeak (a male), Black-and-White Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, American Redstart (female), Fiery-billed Aracari and plenty more. Both Broad-winged hawk and Grey Hawk appeared in the trees.
After breakfast we made a quick sortie into the woodland to look for the Red-capped Manakin, but it failed to show. We then boarded the bus to visit two local sites, the first place was near a river with open fields and mature trees. We were hoping for a sighting of Smooth-billed Ani but we never found any. We did find the Fork-tailed Flycatcher which went down well with the group.
Fort-tailed Flycatcher taken by Kev
The second site we descended upon was in town where a small industrial park is surrounded by mature trees, it is in this area where The Turquoise Cotinga can be found. We searched for an hour without success, but we did find a Mexican Tree Porcupine.
For lunch we stopped at a restaurant on the side of the road where a few hummingbirds fed in the garden, we saw our first Volcano Hummer as well as colourful Fiery-throated, also Lesser Violetear and Talamanca Hummingbirds. Our first Slaty Flowerpiercer was with them in the flowering shrubs, Rufous Collared Sparrows dashed about the lawns and Common Chlorospingus was seen in the trees.
Timberline Wren taken by Kevin Jones
We drove up to 4,000 meters to visit the Paramo (above the tree line) where dense shrubs and bushes dominated the landscape, we were in the clouds and it was quite chilly. Breathing wasn’t easy either. We went there to see a couple of species that thrive in that environment and we saw both of them well and a few other species.
Volcano Junco taken by Kev
The Volcano Junco appeared to be very tame and came very close to us, the Timberline Wren wasn’t so obliging but turned out to see us. We also watched Sooty Thrush, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush and Band-tailed Pigeons flew over.
It was nice to drop down into the Valley of San Gerarde de Dota but the road was in an awful condition, the local council is currently repairing it, at the bottom it is perfect and so was our birding.
We stopped to join a small group of birders who had been watching our most want species the RESPLENDENT QUETZAL, it didn’t show whilst we were there. A little further on a larger group of birders we gathered and they looked excited and animated, we joined them.
Male Quetzal
Kevin's Quetal shot with a lot more tail
the female sat just above us
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush
Emerald Toucanet
My god! We had the best views of a pair of Quetzals that I have ever had, they even perched just above us on telephone wires!!! Click, click! The crowd went crazy, my group were mesmerised and speechless (for a change). Wowza!! That was great. Watching the male in flight was sublime with its tail flapping behind, a lot people were thrilled today including all of my group.
We also watched several other species once the Quetzals had flown off. A pair of Northern Emerald Toucanets chased around and visited a nest hole, we saw an Acorn Woodpecker pile-driving an acorn into a pre-drilled hole. We found our second Nightingale-Thrush when a Ruddy-capped version appeared in the scrub. Sue Kempson found a Flame-throated Warbler, this resident little beauty disappeared before the rest of us could see it. A Torrent Tyrannulet dashed about near the river.
The light began to fade, we had booked an early dinner, (which was delicious), so we called it a day.