BIRDING IN THE EAST, CENTRE AND WEST ANDES, COLOMBIA

Trip Report – December 2016 – by René Montero

Number of travellers: 3
Length: 6 days
Starting: Bogotá
Ending: Pasto
Pace: Fast
Physical Difficulty: Easy
Tour Type: General BirdingOverview

This route was a general birding trip for a couple interested in a quick view of the Colombian Andes. They began the Journey in Bogotá and had to be in Pasto city after seven days. The route had some long road transfers but was designed to cover the traveller’s interests and needs.Itinerary at-a-glance

Day 1: Hummingbirds of Eastern Andes “Jardín Encantado” and Mid Magdalena Valley “Charca de Guarinocito”
Day 2: Mid – Magdalena Valley “Victoria”
Day 3: Río Blanco Reserve
Day 4: Jardín – Antioquia
Day 5 and 6: Transfer Jardín – Anserma – San Juan de Pasto
Day 7: Birding in La Cocha Lake – Return to PastoBirds List

Day 1
Location: Jardin Encantado

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) 1
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) 1
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) 1
Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina) 2
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 2
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris) 3
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) 2
Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy) 1
Pale-bellied Hermit (Phaethornis anthophilus) 1
Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae) 2
Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus) 2
Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) 3
Black-throated Mango (Anthracothorax nigricollis) 2
Emerald-bellied Puffleg (Eriocnemis alien) 1
White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) 2
Gorgeted Woodstar (Chaetocercus heliodor) 1
Lazuline Sabrewing (Campylopterus falcatus) 1
White-vented Plumeleteer (Chalybura buffonii) 1
Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania colombica) 1
Andean Emerald (Amazilia franciae) 2
Steely-vented Hummingbird (Amazilia saucerottei) 3
Indigo-capped Hummingbird (Amazilia cyanifrons) 2
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) 3
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) 1
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 2
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 2
Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis) 2
Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) 1
Flame-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus flammigerus) 2
Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) 3
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) 2
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) 3
Scrub Tanager (Tangara vitriolina) 1
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) 2
Grassland Yellow-Finch (Sicalis luteola) 1
Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 3
Streaked Saltator (Saltator striatipectus) 1
Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris) 1

Location: Charca de Guarinocito

Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria) 4
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) 10
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) 20
Rufescent Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum) 1
Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi) 2
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 4
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 20
Striated Heron (Butorides striata) 6
Whistling Heron (Syrigma sibilatrix) 1
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 1
Bare-faced Ibis (Phimosus infuscatus) 20
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 8
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 2
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 2
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) 2
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) 2
Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) 6
Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex) 4
Plumbeous Pigeon (Patagioenas plumbea) 2
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 4
Greater Ani (Crotophaga major) 15
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) 8
Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia) 1
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) 2
Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) 1
Spot-breasted Woodpecker (Colaptes punctigula) 1
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) 1
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) 1
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) 6
Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala) 4
Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) 2
Yellow-chinned Spinetail (Certhiaxis cinnamomeus) 8
Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) 4
Pied Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola pica) 6
White-headed Marsh Tyrant (Arundinicola leucocephala) 4
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 5
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 8
White-winged Swallow (Tachycineta albiventer) 8
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Bicolored Wren (Campylorhynchus griseus) 4
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) 4
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) 5
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) 6
Yellow-hooded Blackbird (Chrysomus icterocephalus) 10
Yellow Oriole (Icterus nigrogularis) 1

Day 2
Location: Victoria

Little Tinamou (Crypturellus soui) 3
Colombian Chachalaca (Ortalis columbiana) 2
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 4
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) 2
Ruddy Ground-Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 4
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) 1
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) 8
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 1
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris) 6
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris) 6
Blue-chested Hummingbird (Amazilia amabilis) 1
White-mantled Barbet (Capito hypoleucus) 2
Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) 1
Beautiful Woodpecker (Melanerpes pulcher) 2
Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) 1
Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis) 2
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) 4
Black-crowned Antshrike (Thamnophilus atrinucha) 2
Plain-brown Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) 1
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) 2
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleagineus) 2
Common Tody-Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) 4
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 6
Rusty-margined Flycatcher (Myiozetetes cayanensis) 4
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 8
White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) 8
Striped Manakin (Machaeropterus regulus) 2
Golden-headed Manakin (Ceratopipra erythrocephala) 1
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) 6
Scaly-breasted Wren (Microcerculus marginatus) 2
Pale-breasted Thrush (Turdus leucomelas) 1
Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis) 3
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) 2
Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons) 1
Buff-rumped Warbler (Myiothlypis fulvicauda) 2
White-shouldered Tanager (Tachyphonus luctuosus) 2
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) 4
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) 6
Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) 2
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) 4
Yellow-faced Grassquit (Tiaris olivaceus) 2
Streaked Saltator (Saltator striatipectus) 2
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) 1
Sooty Ant-Tanager (Habia gutturalis) 2
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) 4
Velvet-fronted Euphonia (Euphonia concinna) 3

Day 4
Location: Jardín, “La Herrera” area

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 3
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 2
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) 7
Pale-vented Pigeon (Patagioenas cayennensis) 2
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) 1
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) 5
Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 2
White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris) 4
Green Hermit (Phaethornis guy) 1
Bronzy Inca (Coeligena coeligena) 1
Andean Emerald (Amazilia franciae) 1
Steely-vented Hummingbird (Amazilia saucerottei) 1
Andean Motmot (Momotus aequatorialis) 2
Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) 2
Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus prasinus) 1
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) 2
Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus) 3
Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) 4
Bar-crested Antshrike (Thamnophilus multistriatus) 1
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia variegaticeps) 1
Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea) 1
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant (Phylloscartes ophthalmicus) 1
Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) 2
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) 2
Golden-crowned Flycatcher (Myiodynastes chrysocephalus) 2
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 2
Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruvianus) 1
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 2
Whiskered Wren (Pheugopedius mystacalis) 2
White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephalus) 2
Andean Solitaire (Myadestes ralloides) 1
Black-billed Thrush (Turdus ignobilis) 3
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) 1
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) 1
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) 2
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) 1
Slate-throated Redstart (Myioborus miniatus) 1
Flame-rumped Tanager (Ramphocelus flammigerus) 4
Crimson-backed Tanager (Ramphocelus dimidiatus) 6
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) 6
Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) 4
Black-capped Tanager (Tangara heinei) 2
Scrub Tanager (Tangara vitriolina) 1
Blue-necked Tanager (Tangara cyanicollis) 2
Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola) 1
Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus) 2
Black-winged Saltator (Saltator atripennis) 1
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) 3
White-naped Brushfinch (Atlapetes albinucha) 1
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) 2
Yellow-backed Oriole (Icterus chrysater) 3
Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons) 3
Thick-billed Euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris) 2

Day 7
Location: La Cocha Lake

Muscovy Duck (Domestic type) (Cairina moschata (Domestic type)) 3
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) 4
Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) 3
Yellow-billed Pintail (Anas georgica) 3
Andean Teal (Anas andium) 4
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 3
Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus) 2
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 2
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 2
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 2
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 2
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 2
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) 1
Sora (Porzana carolina) 1
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 3
American Coot (Fulica americana) 2
Slate-colored Coot (Fulica ardesiaca) 3
Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon)) 1
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) 1
Ruddy Pigeon (Patagioenas subvinacea) 2
Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) 2
Sparkling Violetear (Colibri coruscans) 2
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) 3
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 1
Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) 2
Hooded Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis montana) 2
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus) 1
Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus igniventris) 2
Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager (Dubusia taeniata) 1
Blue-and-black Tanager (Tangara vassorii) 2
Black Flowerpiercer (Diglossa humeralis) 1
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) 4
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) 3
Andean Siskin (Spinus spinescens) 5