Location: Colombia, 2022

Reported by: Joe Giunta

Our group consisted of Joe, Christina, Amanda, Janet, John, Linda, Theresa, Laura and Monica. It was the fourth time that Happy Warblers LLC had sponsored a trip to Colombia. The trip was highly successful with a total of 256 species of birds seen by most members of the group. We recorded the birds on 19 separate ebird files. At the end of the trip it was wished that we could have stayed longer and just enjoyed the wildlife, venues, food, and friendships that were made on the trip.

March 6: Our American Airways flight, out of JFK Airport, took off right on schedule. We were supposed to change planes in Miami but American Airways changed the flight and made it a direct flight to Cali, Colombia. We arrived right on time. We were met at the airport by Jose Luna, our guide and Uriel, our driver. Both Jose and Uriel would stay with us for the next 9 days. We overnighted at Hotel MS Chipichape in Cali.

March 7: Our birding venues for the first birding day would be the private reserves of La Florida and Finca Alejandria and the road way along Kilo-18. At La Florida, also known as “Bosque de Las Aves”, the birds were amazing. We saw two of their specialties the Chestnut Wood-Quail and the Multicolored Tanager. We also saw the first of the 30 Blackburnian Warblers that we would see during the trip. There were many tanagers at their feeders. Some of them were: Summer, Flame-rumped, Blue-winged Mountain, Blue-gray, Palm, Golden-naped, Black-capped, Scrub, Saffron-crowned and Golden. Green Honeycreeper was also common. Red-headed Barbet, both male and female, put on a good show. Two hummingbirds that stood out were the Long-tailed Sylph and the Booted Racket-tailed. We spent three hours at their feeders. At Finca Alejandria, also known as “El Paraiso de Los Colibries” another private reserve, we saw 16 hummingbird species. Hummingbirds that stood out were: Greenish Puffleg, Bronzy Inca and Fawn-breasted Brilliant. The Crimson-rumped Toucanet put on a nice show at their feeders. We saw our first Euphonia of the trip. The Orange-bellied Euphonia also put on a nice show at their feeders. As we started to drive to our hotel we did some birding along the road. We picked up Red-faced Spinetail and White-necked Jacobin. Overnight was at Hotel Guadalajara de Buga.

March 8: It was mostly a traveling day but with stops along the way. Number one was the Laguna de Sonso. We birded the area in two different ways. First we viewed the marsh from the roadway. We picked up a local guide, Johnathan , who lived next to the marsh. From our roadside spot we were able to see many species including very good looks at Horned Screamers. They were the specialty of the area. With them we also saw: Black-bellied Whistling-ducks, Fulvous Whistling Ducks, Limpkins, Snail Kites and Purple Gallinule. In past years we were able to get to the other side of the marsh for a look at a dry forest but this year because of flooding we were not able to get there. Instead we went to another spot close by. We saw White-faced Whistling-Ducks and Cinnamon Teal. A male Vermillion Flycatcher, in the open, put on a nice show. For our two and a half hour visit we picked up 38 species. Another spot close-by was “Parque Natural Regional El Vinculo”. Here we saw a good number of land birds. Highlights were: Grayish Piculet, Apical Flycatcher, Thick-billed Euphonia and Guira Tanager. A Lineated Woodpecker flew over and everyone had good looks. After lunch we drove to Otun-Quimbaya, our main venue for the next two days. On the way we stopped at a fast moving stream and had great views of both male and female Torrent Ducks. At the same stop we also saw two Torrent Tyrannulets. Other birds along the stream included White-capped Dipper and Black Phoebe. In a tree adjacent to the stream we saw Blue-naped Chlorophonia and Bay-headed Tanager. They were two of the most beautiful birds of the entire trip. We would overnight at Hotel Kumanday, close to Otun-Quimbaya. We were not able to stay at the lodge in Otun-Quimbaya because covid had closed the place and they had not yet reopened.

March 9: We were up early and spent the first half of the day birding Otun-Quimbaya. We started by being picked up by two 4-wheel vehicles before breakfast and while it was still dark. We took the 4-wheel drive vehicles to the top of the hill. It was the right way to travel up the hill as the road was very muddy and we were able to get there just at dawn. Before we reached the top of the hill we saw two Tapirs feeding along the trail. One ran deeper into the forest but the other continued to feed giving everyone very good views. The hotel provided us with a takeout breakfast and we had sandwiches just as the sun was coming up. Our target birds for this area were: Cauca Guan, Sickle-winged Guan and Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. Before we left the area we saw all of them. One of the specialties of this venue was the Red-ruffed Fruitcrow. We saw or heard 8 of them. Many birders come to this venue just for the Crow and the Guans. We also saw two Canada Warblers. Blackburnian and Canada warblers are the two most common North American warblers to overwinter in Colombia. Our count of Blackburnian Warblers for this spot was 17. Other great birds we saw at Otun were: Collared Trogon, Andean Motmot, Moustached Puffbird and Green Jays. In all we saw 33 species in this area. It was a great concentration of special birds. We had lunch at the hotel and headed towards a water treatment and reclaiming spot called “Malecon de Cameguadua”.

This area has been completely redone and in my opinion is now more people friendly than bird friendly. Yet there were many good birds to see. Some of the highlights were: Vermillion Flycatchers (on a nest), Bare-faced Ibis (25), Southern Lapwing (78), Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Blue-winged Teal (200) and one somewhat uncooperative Blackish Rail. After we finished birding the area we headed towards our next spot which was the Tinamu Lodge. At the lodge we had dinner, went over the bird list and prepared for the next day.

March 10: We were up early, as usual, and did some birding on the grounds. The dining area of the lodge is wide open and has many feeders for us to view. Breakfast and birding kind of become one. We took a walk with Fernando, the resident local guide. He took us to a resting Common Potoo and then to the lek of the Golden-collared Manakins. The Potoo was easy to see but the Manakins were more difficult as they keep hoping around. Finally we were all satisfied with our views. We heard some Acadian Flycatchers singing. This is another North American bird that winters in Colombia. Some other birds we saw on the grounds were: Bar-crested Antshrike, Squirrel Cuckoo and Gray-headed Dove. In the afternoon we birded the road which leads into the reserve. Here we saw: Blue-headed Parrot, Bronze-winged Parrot and Yellow-bellied Seedeater. We went out at night to do some owling but only saw a Common Pauraque. For the day at Tinamu Lodge we saw 62 species.

March 11: The Lodge was so comfortable and the birding was so good that we had a second day on the grounds. 64 species this time. Many were repeats but we did get some new birds. The new ones were: Cocoa Woodcreeper, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Yellow-faced Grassquit and Streaked Saltator. North American migrants were represented by: Black-and-white Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We finally left the Tinamu Lodge and headed towards our last hotel, the Estelar.

March 12: Up early again. Today we drove up the Andes to 14000 feet. Our target was the Buffy Helmetcrest located at the top of Carretera Nevado del Ruiz, known as Los Nevados National Park. We started counting birds at 7:30 and would continue for the next 6 hours. On the drive to the top, with many stops, we recorded: Andean Teal, Andean Duck, Paramo Tapaculo, Stout-billed Cinclodes and Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant. We finally reached the top and got out of the van. This time it was not as easy as in the past years to find the Helmetcrest. It took us just over one hour before we saw the Helmetcrest. Everyone got good looks. We recorded 18 species (basically all new) for the day.

We drove down the mountain and stopped at Hotel Termales del Ruiz. We had lunch at the hotel and also visited their bird feeders. We saw 13 more species, mostly all new for our trip. Two real beautiful birds we saw were the Lacrimose Mountain Tanager and the Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager. The six species of hummingbirds at their feeders are very used to people so much so that they land on your hand and you can feed them. We left this spot and traveled back towards our Hotel Estelar and got ready for our next day. We all looked forward to birding Rio Blanco.

March 13: Rio Blanco is rated as one of the top birding locations in the world, yes the world. They feed Antpittas at the reserve and know exactly where and when they can be located. At 7:15 we picked up a local guide, Daniel, whose family manages the reserve and we started to record birds. In all we would see or hear 4 Antpitta species. They were: Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped, Bicolored and Brown-banded. It was a great birding experience. While we were looking at the antpittas we saw two Black-billed Mountain-Toucans. They were very close and very busy feeding on some berry trees. We all had excellent looks and I would rate them as the most beautiful birds we saw on our trip to Colombia. We walked the trail up the hill came back to their station had lunch and walked the trail again. For the day we recorded 59 species at Rio Blanco, many of them brand new for our trip. Some of the birds seen very well were: Green-and-black Fruiteater, Grass-green Tanager, Metallic-green Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Powerful Woodpecker and Masked Trogon. We returned to our hotel, did the list and prepared for the next day.

March 14: It was our last day of the birding trip. We were all up early as Jose had arranged for someone to come to our hotel and test us for covid. We needed to get a negative test so that we could fly back to the U.S. Happily everything worked out fine and we were cleared to return. Some of us had a 2pm American Airlines flight while others were on a later Avianca flight. Having some time in the morning we birded the grounds of the hotel and picked up 12 species. The Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush was a nice fine. It was a great trip where everyone picked up “lifers”, made birding friends and looked forward to more birding experiences in the future.

SPECIES SEEN

Acadian Flycatcher

Acorn Woodpecker

Amazon Kingfisher

Andean Cock-of-the-rock (heard)

Andean Duck

Andean Emerald

Andean Guan

Andean Motmot

Andean Pygmy-Owl

Andean Solitaire

Andean Teal

Andean Tit-Spinetail

Anhinga

Apical Flycatcher

Ashy-headed Tyrannulet

Ashy-throated Chlorospingus

Bananaquit

Bar-crested Antshrike

Bare-faced Ibis

Bay-headed Tanager

Beryl-spangled Tanager

Bicolored Antpitta

Black Phoebe

Black Vulture

Black-and-white Warbler

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Black-billed Mountain-Toucan

Black-billed Thrush

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-capped Tanager

Black-collared Jay

Black-crested Warbler

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Blackish Rail

Black-throated Mango

Black-winged Saltator

Blue-and-black Tanager

Blue-and-white Swallow

Blue-black Grosbeak

Blue-capped Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-headed Parrot

Blue-headed Sapphire

Blue-naped Chlorophonia

Blue-necked Tanager

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

Blue-winged Teal

Booted Racket-tail

Broad-winged Hawk

Bronze-winged Parrot

Bronzy Inca

Brown Violetear

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

Brown-banded Antpitta

Brown-bellied Swallow

Brown-capped Vireo

Buff-rumped Warbler

Buff-tailed Coronet

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Buffy Helmetcrest

Canada Warbler

Capped Conebill

Cattle Egret

Cattle Tyrant

Cauca Guan

Chestnut Wood-Quail

Chestnut-breasted Wren

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch

Chestnut-collared Swift

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Chestnut-naped Antpitta

Chivi Vireo

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Cinnamon Teal

Clay-colored Thrush

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Cocoi Heron

Collared Inca

Collared Trogon

Colombian Chachalaca

Common Gallinule

Common Pauraque

Common Potoo

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Crimson-backed Tanager

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Crimson-rumped Toucanet

Crowned Woodnymph

Eared Dove

Eastern Kingbird

Equatorial Antpitta

Fawn-breasted Brilliant

Flame-rumped Tanager

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Glossy Flowerpiercer

Glossy Ibis

Golden Tanager

Golden-breasted Puffleg

Golden-collared Manakin

Golden-crowned Flycatcher

Golden-crowned Tanager

Golden-crowned Warbler

Golden-faced Tyrannulet

Golden-naped Tanager

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Golden-winged Warbler

Grass Wren

Grass-green Tanager

Gray Seedeater

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

Gray-headed Dove

Gray-hooded Bush Tanager

Grayish Piculet

Great Egret

Great Kiskadee

Great Sapphirewing

Great Thrush

Great-tailed Grackle

Green Hermit

Green Honeycreeper

Green Jay

Green-and-black Fruiteater

Greenish Puffleg

Guira Tanager

Hooded Antpitta

Hooded Mountain Tanager

Horned Screamer

House Wren

Indigo-winged Parrot

Lacrimose Mountain Tanager

Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Violetear

Limpkin

Lineated Woodpecker

Little Blue Heron

Long-tailed Sylph

Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant

Masked Flowerpiercer

Masked Trogon

Metallic-green Tanager

Montane Foliage-gleaner

Montane Woodcreeper

Mountain Wren

Moustached Puffbird

Multicolored Tanager

Nariño Tapaculo

Neotropic Cormorant

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Orange-bellied Euphonia

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Pale-naped Brushfinch

Palm Tanager

Paramo Tapaculo

Pied-billed Grebe

Plain-brown Woodcreeper

Plain-colored Seedeater

Plumbeous Sierra Finch

Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet

Powerful Woodpecker

Purple Gallinule

Purple-throated Woodstar

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill

Red-crowned Woodpecker

Red-faced Spinetail

Red-headed Barbet

Red-ruffed Fruitcrow

Ringed Kingfisher

Roadside Hawk

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Ruddy Ground Dove

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher

Rufous-naped Greenlet

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Russet-crowned Warbler

Rusty-margined Flycatcher

Saffron Finch

Saffron-crowned Tanager

Scaled Antpitta

Scaly-breasted Wren

Scaly-naped Parrot

Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager

Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

Scrub Tanager

Sharpe's Wren

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper

Shining Sunbeam

Shiny Cowbird

Sickle-winged Guan

Slate-throated Redstart

Slaty Brushfinch

Smoke-colored Pewee

Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Smooth-billed Ani

Snail Kite

Snowy Egret

Solitary Sandpiper

Southern Emerald-Toucanet

Southern Lapwing

Southern Rough-winged Swallow

Sparkling Violetear

Speckle-breasted Wren

Speckled Hummingbird

Spectacled Parrotlet

Spotted Sandpiper

Squirrel Cuckoo

Steely-vented Hummingbird

Stout-billed Cinclodes

Streaked Flycatcher

Streaked Saltator

Streaked Xenops

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Striated Heron

Stripe-throated Hermit

Summer Tanager

Swainson's Thrush

Tawny Antpitta

Tawny-bellied Hermit

Thick-billed Euphonia

Torrent Duck

Torrent Tyrannulet

Tourmaline Sunangel

Tropical Kingbird

Tropical Parula

Turkey Vulture

Variegated Bristle-Tyrant

Vermilion Flycatcher

Viridian Metaltail

Wattled Jacana

Western Emerald

Whiskered Wren

White-bellied Woodstar

White-breasted Wood-Wren

White-capped Dipper

White-chinned Thistletail

White-collared Swift

White-faced Whistling-Duck

White-necked Jacobin

White-sided Flowerpiercer

White-tailed Tyrannulet

White-throated Crake

White-throated Quail-Dove

White-vented Plumeleteer

Yellow Oriole

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-backed Oriole

Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

Yellow-bellied Seedeater

Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Yellow-headed Caracara

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

Species seen - 256