simmojunior
Well-known member
15th November: Affluente & Huembo
Sorry for lack of updates - been really busy at work but I'll try to catch up now.
We left Casa de Seizo at around 5.30 and arrived at Llanteria shortly after 7. The journey there was uneventful apart from the only Orange-backed Troupial of the trip. As soon as I got out the car, the first bird I spotted was a Canada Warbler. Although they turned out to be pretty common here, it was a great start to the day. Also present in the car park amongst a small flock including Peruvian Tyrannulet, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager and Bronze-green Euphonia.
We then paid the pricey entrance fees (30 soles each) to walk the trail and were accompanied by a young local guide. It was difficult to see much in the dense forest but we did find a Cock-of-the-rock and a Northern White-crowned Tapaculo came in nicely to tape. After some searching, we did find a decent if elusive and fast-moving flock. This held Versicolored Barbet, Tschudi's Woodcreeper, Ornate Antwren and Streaked Xenops. A calling Black-mandibled Toucan refused to show itself.
We then returned to the feeders to have our breakfast. These were quiet but a male Ecuadorian Piedtail was in regular attendance. Next, we tried to walk down the road towards Affluente village. This started off really quiet but on our return, we encountered a nesting pair of Golden Tanagers. While enjoying them, we found a cracking flock. This had Speckle-chested Piculet, Striped Woodhaunter, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaner, Montane Foliage-Gleaner, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, female Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black-and-white Becard and a variety of common tanagers.
Walking back up the hill past the garage, we found it to be very birdy despite it already being late morning. Highlights here included Yellow-margined Flycatcher, Grey-mantled Wren, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Lined Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Rufous-tailed Antwren, Summer Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager and Orange-eared Tanager. A calling Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant unfortunately remained hidden. There was also no sign of the hoped for Equatorial Greytail or Yellow-throated Tanager.
We had planned to leave by 12 to give us time at the top of Abra Patricia but did not tear ourselves away until 1.30 and we really needed much longer. When we got to the top of Abra Patricia, the weather was awful so we carried on straight to Huembo arriving after 3. Thankfully the weather had improved a bit so we paid another 30 soles entrance fee before heading straight to the feeders. Immediately on our arrival, we saw a male Marvellous Spatuletail - one of the best hummers and one of the main targets of the trip! It did not stay long but came back regularly over the next hour or so. Loads of other hummers were present including Andean Emerald, Little Woodstar, Bronzy Inca, Long-tailed Sylph and White-bellied Woodstar.
After the rain had stopped, we set off down the hill on a walk along the trails. Here we found Blackish Tapaculo, Sickle-winged Guan, Highland Elaenia, Alder Flycatcher, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Hepatic Tanager, Silver-backed Tanager and flyover flocks of Mitred Parakeet. At about 5.30, the rain started again so we headed back to Pomacochas and checked in to the very good value Hospedaje Brisas (30 soles per single room). What a day it had been!
Sorry for lack of updates - been really busy at work but I'll try to catch up now.
We left Casa de Seizo at around 5.30 and arrived at Llanteria shortly after 7. The journey there was uneventful apart from the only Orange-backed Troupial of the trip. As soon as I got out the car, the first bird I spotted was a Canada Warbler. Although they turned out to be pretty common here, it was a great start to the day. Also present in the car park amongst a small flock including Peruvian Tyrannulet, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager and Bronze-green Euphonia.
We then paid the pricey entrance fees (30 soles each) to walk the trail and were accompanied by a young local guide. It was difficult to see much in the dense forest but we did find a Cock-of-the-rock and a Northern White-crowned Tapaculo came in nicely to tape. After some searching, we did find a decent if elusive and fast-moving flock. This held Versicolored Barbet, Tschudi's Woodcreeper, Ornate Antwren and Streaked Xenops. A calling Black-mandibled Toucan refused to show itself.
We then returned to the feeders to have our breakfast. These were quiet but a male Ecuadorian Piedtail was in regular attendance. Next, we tried to walk down the road towards Affluente village. This started off really quiet but on our return, we encountered a nesting pair of Golden Tanagers. While enjoying them, we found a cracking flock. This had Speckle-chested Piculet, Striped Woodhaunter, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Buff-fronted Foliage-Gleaner, Montane Foliage-Gleaner, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, female Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black-and-white Becard and a variety of common tanagers.
Walking back up the hill past the garage, we found it to be very birdy despite it already being late morning. Highlights here included Yellow-margined Flycatcher, Grey-mantled Wren, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Lined Antshrike, Plain Antvireo, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Rufous-tailed Antwren, Summer Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager and Orange-eared Tanager. A calling Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant unfortunately remained hidden. There was also no sign of the hoped for Equatorial Greytail or Yellow-throated Tanager.
We had planned to leave by 12 to give us time at the top of Abra Patricia but did not tear ourselves away until 1.30 and we really needed much longer. When we got to the top of Abra Patricia, the weather was awful so we carried on straight to Huembo arriving after 3. Thankfully the weather had improved a bit so we paid another 30 soles entrance fee before heading straight to the feeders. Immediately on our arrival, we saw a male Marvellous Spatuletail - one of the best hummers and one of the main targets of the trip! It did not stay long but came back regularly over the next hour or so. Loads of other hummers were present including Andean Emerald, Little Woodstar, Bronzy Inca, Long-tailed Sylph and White-bellied Woodstar.
After the rain had stopped, we set off down the hill on a walk along the trails. Here we found Blackish Tapaculo, Sickle-winged Guan, Highland Elaenia, Alder Flycatcher, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Hepatic Tanager, Silver-backed Tanager and flyover flocks of Mitred Parakeet. At about 5.30, the rain started again so we headed back to Pomacochas and checked in to the very good value Hospedaje Brisas (30 soles per single room). What a day it had been!