Colombia - searching for endemics 2010. With Ashley Banwell and expert local guides.
14th November to 4th December £3050 based on 6 people
After our successful tour of Colombia in 2006 we shall be turning our attentions to searching for the seldom seen endemics.
Day 1 – Arrive Bogota Day 2 – Cerros bove Bogota in search of Rufous-browed Conebill, Mattoral Tapaculo, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Rufous Antpitta, etc.
Day 3 – Search for Cundinimarca Antpitta
Days 4-6 – Long drive to Cerulea Reserve for 3 nights. Can stop en route to look for Apolinar’s wren for those that need it. At Cerulea look for Recurve-billed Bushbird, Gorgeted Wood-quail, Russet-crowned Crake, Black Inca, Turquoise Dacnis, Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Mountain Grackle, Parker’s Antbird, Upper Magdalena Tapaculo, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, etc
Days 7 -8 – brief look for Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird and continue to Rio Claro for two nights. Here we shall look for White-mantled Barbet, Antioquia Bristle-tyrant, Sooty Ant-tanager, Oilbird, Beautiful Woodpecker, Citron-throated Toucan.
Day 9-10 – Drive to Anori for two nights in search of Chestnut-capped Piha, and maybe Black-and-gold Tanager.
Day 11 – Drive to Jardin. PM birding above Jardin in search of Yellow-eared Parrots.
Day 12 - Am Birding above Jardin. Also possible are Tanager-finch and Chestnut-crested Cotinga. PM Drive to Rio Blanco
Day 13 – Birding at Rio Blanco for several Antpittas including Brown-banded and Bicoloured, Dusky Piha, Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Occelated, Spillman's, Ash-coloured and Blackish Tapaculos, Rusty-faced Parrot and Golden-plumed Parakeet Day 14 – Birding the Nevado del Ruiz Road
Day 15 – Drive to El Cairo. Birding in El Cairo area.
Day 16 – Birding above El Cairo. Key species include Gold-ringed Tanager, Bicoloured Antshrike, Munchique Wood-wren (common), Black Solitaire, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner.
Day 17 – Early AM Birding near El Cairo. Then drive to El Mirador
Day 18 El Mirador in search of Indigo-winged Parrot and Crescent-faced Antpitta.
Day 19 – Walk down from El Mirador. Drive to Ibague.
Day 20 – Birding above Ibague looking for Tolima Dove and Olive-headed Brush-finch. Also possible maybe Apical Flycatcher, Yellow-headed Manakin and Crested Ant-tanager
Day 21 – Drive back to Bogota for afternoon connecting flights