A TRIP REPORT FOR A WEEKS BIRDING TO THE SANTA MARTA
MOUNTAINS AND THE COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN COAST
November 22nd
-
November 28th,
2008
Trip Leaders:
Renzo Zeppilli T and Simon Thompson
Pro Aves Local Ornithologists:
Luis Eduardo Urueña and Christian Olaciregui
With:
John Hardister, Gerry Shemilt, Steve Tracy, Pru Williams and Mark
Welford
CLICK
HERE for
Exploratory Trip to the Santa Marta Mountains
of Colombia – November 21-28, 2008
El
Dorado Lodge -
Santa Marta Mountains
A very interesting trip along the northern Colombian coast and into the
geographically isolated Santa Marta mountain range. This area has been under
siege for the last decade and finally (since two years ago) peace has returned,
opening the possibility of birding into an incredible area with many endemic
species and future possible splits. We also covered in this trip the Caribbean
coastal mangroves and the Guajira peninsula life zones adding some interesting
resident birds. It was also good to
see many northern migrants in their winter grounds and the type of habitat and
elevation that these birds prefer when they come to South America. We recorded
20 Colombian endemics, the majority restricted to the Santa Marta Maountains,
and a further 13 range restricted species
We had a great time! A very good team with everybody spotting and helping
each other. Exciting birding in great habitat and great food. With the
assistance of the very helpful and knowledgeable Pro Aves local ornithologists
Luis Eduardo Urueña and Cristian Olaciregui the operation run smoothly besides
a couple of incidents that were promptly solved.
November
21st: Arrive
at Barranquilla airport and drive to El Prado Hotel. Trip Briefing
November 22nd: Early morning
drive to Salamanca N.P. birding at Los Cocos around the mangroves. Then drive
along the coast towards Santa Marta with stops along the way on the many small
lagoons near Cienaga. Lunch outside Tayrona NP at Rio Piedra. Afternoon near
Camarones along Guajira bio-region Xerophitic Dry Scrub. Night
at Riohacha. Seal Level
November 23rd: Early morning in Camarones, field breakfast and continued birding
along the road inside Flamencos N.P. Lunch at the Beach. Drive to Minca and
change to 4wd vehicles to climb along the Santa Marta mountains to El Dorado
Pro-Aves Reserve.
November 24th: 5:15 Breakfast
. Birding uphill from El Dorado Lodge supported by the vehicles. Up to 2200 m.
Lunch at the lodge. Afternoon along lodge trail inside the montane forest. Night
at El Dorado Lodge. 2000m.
November
25th: 4:45
Breakfast . Birding downhill from El Dorado Lodge to Palo Alto due to heavy rain
in the upper sections of San Lorenzo ridge. Birding down to 1700m. Afternoon
at Palo Alto looking for Blossomcrown. Owling near the lodge. Night at El Dorado
Lodge. 2000m.
November
26th: 4:45 Breakfast. Drive lo San Lorenzo ridge,
stopping along the way for White-tailed Starfrontlet. Laguna & Antenna road.
Late afternoon around lodge grounds.
November
27th: 5:30 Breakfast. Birding lodge trail. Downhill
up to Landslide and then crossed on foot changing vehicles on the other side.
Drive to Barranquilla. Amazing rain on arrival, flooding some of the main
streets, chaos!
November
28th: Drive to Barranquilla Airport. Stop at Bogota International
Airport. Birding the airport surroundings.
THE
BIRDLIST
*
= Heard Only
E
= Endemic to Colombia.
NE = Near-Endemic e.g. just sneaks into Venezuela
SACC = South American Classification Committee
IOC = International Ornithological Congress
PELICANIDAE
Brown
Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Several seen along
the coast.
PHALACROCORACIDEA
Neotropic
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax
brasilianus
More than 60
individuals seen the first two days along the Caribbean coast
FREGATIDAE
Magnificent
Frigatebird
Fregata magnificensis
Twenty individuals in
total along the Caribbean coast
ARDEIDAE
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Common
along the coast.
Cocoi Heron
Ardea cocoi
Three
individuals seen along the coast. Checklist
committee says "Formerly
(e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970) known
as "White-necked Heron," but this name is also used (e.g., Martínez-Vilata
& Motis 1992) for Old World Ardea pacifica."
Tricolored Heron
Hydranassa tricolor
More
than a dozen individuals seen along the coast.
Great Egret Ardea
albus
Common
along the coast
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Several
individuals seen along the coast.
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Common
Striated Heron
Butorides striatus
Three
seen in total along the coast
Three
seen along the coast near Cienaga on Nov 22nd.
One
seen along the coast near Cienaga
CICONIDAE
American Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
More
than thirty individuals seen near the Guajira on Nov 22nd and 23rd.
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Four
individuals seen along the coast.
Twelve
individuals seen on Nov 22nd along the road to Camarones.
Five
birds seen along the coast.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Two
dozens seen along the coast on the road to Camarones
Three
individuals seen along the coast
More
than forty individuals seen in a lagoon near Cienaga on Nov 22nd.
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Common
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Common
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Cathartes burrovianus
Common
over the bodies of water near the coast.
King Vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
One
seen at Rio Piedra on nov 22nd.
PANDIONIDAE
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Seven
seen near the coast. Pandion
in Greek mythology was king of
Attica whose tragic daughters, Philomela and Procne were metamorphosed into a
Nightingale and a Swallow respectively. The latter daughter gives the corrupted
name to the Martin genus Progne.
ACCIPITRIDAE
Pearl
Kite
Gampsonyx swainsonii
One
bird seen perched on a tree near Palomino on nov 22nd
Snail
Kite
Rostrhamus
sociabilis
Seen
three of them soaring above Salamanca NP
Hook-billed Kite
Chrondohierax uncinatus
One
individual seen soaring along the coast on nov 22nd.
Common Black-Hawk
Buteogallus anthracinus
Two
birds seen two days in a row along the coast near the mangroves.
Roadside Hawk
Buteo magnirostris
One
heard on nov 22nd.
Grey-lined Hawk
Asturina nitida
One
adult and one immature seen near Minca on nov 26th. One
seen. Formerly placed in the monotypic genus Asturina. The SACC says -
REFS> and Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered the Middle American
subspecies plagiata to deserve recognition as a separate species (Gray
Hawk) from Asturina nitidus (Gray-lined Hawk), but in part because
no rationale was published, this treatment has not been widely accepted; see
Hellmayr & Conover (1949) for rationale for treating them as con-specific. NOTE:
British versus American spelling - the IOC says: "The names reflect the
committee's view that spelling should be consistent throughout the list. Easily
stated and on its face obvious, this rule became difficult to apply where
the same words have for centuries been spelled differently in different
English-speaking countries. The problem essentially involves British and
American spellings, with some countries being on one side and some on the other.
The committee decided to select one spelling for each variant word, because to
state these words in the alternative in every case would produce a cumbersome
list." In the case of grey - it was chosen because historically more species
have it spelt that way.
Savanna Hawk
Heterospizias meridionalis
Two
seen on the fields along the coast.
FALCONIDAE
Northern Crested Caracara
Caracara cheriway
35
individuals seen in total. Small
numbers at several sites. Formerly placed in the genus Polyborus but this
species has been switched to the genus Caracara. Note also that the
former species known as Crested Caracara, has been split into three species with
those ranging north of north-west Peru and the Amazon River (i.e. Colombia) and
as far as the USA, according to the IOC, retain the name Northern Crested
Caracara C. cheriway, the birds from Southern Peru to the tip of South
America, Tierra del Fuego, are referable to the species Caracara plancus
Southern Crested Caracara, while another form, the extinct Guadalupe
Caracara C. lutosus, of Guadalupe Island, Mexico, has also been given its
untimely species status. The SACC says "Caracara cheriway and C.
plancus were formerly considered conspecific (e.g., Hellmayr & Conover
1949, Phelps & Phelps 1958a), sometimes also including C. lutosus of
Guadalupe Island (e.g., Meyer de Schauensee 1970, Stresemann and Amadon 1979),
but the ranges of cheriway and plancus are nearly parapatric with
no sign of intergradation, contrary to earlier interpretations (see Banks REF);
they constitute a superspecies. The three forms had previously been considered
separate species by REFS, Pinto (1938), and Friedmann (1950)."
Yellow-headed Caracara
Milvago chimachima
More
than seven individuals seen along the coast.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
One
individual seen at Camarones on Nov 23rd.
CRACIDAE
Band-tailed Guan
Penelope argyrotis
2 individuals seen briefly by
Mark along the lodge trail. Penelope was the daughter of Icarius and wife of
Ulysses King of Ithaca.
Rufous vented Chachalaca
Ortalis ruficauda
Five individuals seen
along the road to Camarones on Nov 22nd.
PHASIANIDAE
Crested
Bobwhite
Colinus cristatus
Three individuals
seen crossing the road at the entrance of Camarones on Nov 22nd.
RR Black-fronted Wood-Quail*
Odontophorus atrifrons
Heard at lodge trail on Nov 24th. Classified as Vulnerable by
BirdLife International, the world population is estimated at 2,500 - 9,999
individuals and is decreasing. This species qualifies as Vulnerable owing to its
small range and population, both of which must be declining in response to
habitat loss. The range is small and fragmented with recent records from only
one area. The Colombian East Andes have been subject to four centuries of
extensive degradation, with progressive deforestation of the lower montane
slopes. In Boyacá and Santander, however, where forest loss was gradual until
the 1960s and 1970s, some sizeable tracts remain, and habitat is beginning to
regenerate owing to land abandonment. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is
threatened by agricultural expansion, logging and burning. On the west slopes,
marijuana plantations expanded widely in the 1980s, and were sprayed by the
government with herbicides in the early 1990s. The Sierra de Perijá is heavily
deforested up to 2,000m, by cattle-ranching at lower elevations and coca
cultivation higher up. It is also hunted at least in some parts of its range.
VULNERABLE
ARAMIDIDAE
Limpkin
Aramus guarauna
Five
birds seen in bodies of water near the coast.
RALLIDAE
.
Gray-necked Wood-Rail
Aramides cajanea
One
bird seen crossing the road at Camarones
JACANIDAE
Wattled
Jacana
Jacana jacana
Several seen along
the coast in small ponds.
CHARADRIIDAE
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
Two
seen flying overhead near Camarones.
Collared Plover
Charadrius collaris
One
seen at Camarones near the beach.
Semipalmated
Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
One individual seen
in the shallow lagoons near the coast at Camarones.
SCOLOPACIDAE
Solitary
Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
One bird seen on Nov
23rd at Camarones.
Lesser
Yellowlegs
Tringa flaviceps
One bird seen on Nov
23rd at Camarones
Greater
Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Several individuals
seen along the coast.
Spotted
Sandpiper
Actitis macularia
Four individuals seen
at the mangrove in Salamanca NP on Nov 22nd.
Willet
Catoptophorus semipalmatus
Eight individuals
seen on the shallow lagoons near the beach at Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Least
Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Six birds seen in
total along the coast.
Western
Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
One bird seen on the
shallow lagoons near the beach at Camarones.
Stilt
Sandpiper
Micropalma himantopus
One individual seen
on Nov 23rd at Camarones.
Hudsonian
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus husdonicus
Two individuals seen along the coast on Nov 22nd. Common at Camerones. Zink
et al. (1995) proposed a return to earlier classifications (e.g., Ridgway 1919)
that considered New World hudsonicus to be a separate species from Old
World populations based on genetic distance. Although plumage pattern also
differs substantially, vocalizations are evidently very similar, in contrast to
the many allotaxa in the Scolopacidae treated as separate species.
Short-billed
Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Five individuals seen
on the shallow lagoons near the beach at Camarones on Nov 23rd.
RECURVIROSTRIDAE
Black-necked
Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Several seen along the coast. The SACC says" Himantopus
mexicanus was formerly (e.g., Peters 1934, Pinto 1938, Hellmayr &
Conover 1948b, Phelps & Phelp 1958a, Vaurie 1965c, Meyer de Schauensee 1970,
Blake 1977, Haverschmidt & Mees 1994) considered a subspecies of Old World H.
himantopus ("Common Stilt") and was so treated by Dickinson (2003). Some
authors have treated southern South American melanurus as a separate
species (e.g., Sibley & Monroe 1990, Ridgely & Greenfield 2001). The six
taxa in the genus Himantopus form a near-globally distributed
superspecies (Mayr & Short 1970, Sibley & Monroe 1990, Pierce 1996), and
with from one to six species-level taxa recognized by various authors. Virtually
no data are available relevant to taxon-ranking of allopatric populations. The
contact between mexicanus and melanurus (White-backed Stilt) in
South America, where at least some hybridization occurs, affords one of the best
opportunities for such study.
LARIDAE
Laughing
Gull
Larus atricilla
More than a dozen
individuals seen near the coast at Camarones on nov 23rd.
STERNIDAE
Gull-billed
Tern
Sterna (Gelochelidon) nilotica
Three individuals
seen near Cienaga along the coast.
Caspian
Tern
Sterna (Hydroprogne) caspia
Two individuals seen
in total near Cienaga on nov 22nd.
Royal
Tern
Sterna maxima
Common along the
coast. Seen on nov 22nd and 23rd.
Sandwich
Tern
Sterna sandvicensis
More than 10 individuals seen on a shallow brackish pond near the coast
at Camarones. Named after the town of Sandwich in Kent, England
RYNCHOPIDAE
Black
Skimmer
Rynchops nigra
One individual seen
near the coast at Camarones on nov 23rd.
COLUMBIDAE.
Scaled
Dove
Columba speciosa
Two seen at Camarones
on Nov 23rd.
Common
Ground-Dove
Columbina passerina
Five seen along the
coast. The first at Salamanca on Nov 22nd.
Ruddy
Ground-Dove
Columbina talpacoti
More than four seen
along the coastal road.
Bare-eyed
Pigeon
Patagioenas corensis
More than thirty individuals seen near Camaones. Some good scope views. Note that recent research has shown that the genus Columba
is paraphyletic, with New World taxa being more closely related to Streptopelia
than to Old World Columba pigeons.
This is consistent with differences between New World and Old World Columba
in terms of morphology, serology and behaviour. The suggestion was made to place
all New World forms in the genus Patagioenas,
and the AOU recently adopted this change in its latest checklist supplement.
Band-tailed
Pigeon
Patagioenas
fasciata
Three seen in the upper sections of San Lorenzo Ridge. One
of the most widespread New World birds, ranging from Alaska to Argentina. Here
the Neotropical form albilinea, which has been regarded by some authors
as a full species.
White-tipped
Dove
Leptotila verreauxi
Four seen in
different locations in the Santa Marta mountains.
PSITTACIDAE
Scarlet-fronted
Parakeet
Aratinga wagleri
Two seen near Minca
on Nov 27th.
Brown-throated
Parakeet
Aratinga pertinax
Common, more than 30
seen along in the lowlands.
E
Santa Marta Parakeet*
Pyrrhura viridicata
Heard only in the San
Lorenzo ridge in a misty morning. ENDANGERED
Orange-chinned
Parakeet
Brotogeris jugularis
More than 18
individuals seen in total. Several at Rio Piedra on Nov 23rd.
RR Green-rumped Parrotlet
Forpus passerinus
Eight individuals
seen along the road to Camarones in xerophitic dry scrub.
Red-billed
Parrot
Pionus sordidus
Several seen around
the El Dorado lodge in Santa Marta Mountains.
Scaly-naped
Parrot
Amazona mercenaria
Eleven seen near the
antennas of San Lorenzo ridge on Nov 26th.
CUCULIDAE
Squirrel
Cuckoo
Piaya cayana
Three seen in the
lower elevations of San Lorenzo near Minca.
Smooth-billed
Ani
Crotophaga ani
More than five seen
on the road to Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Groove-
billed Ani
Crotophaga sulcirostris
More than twenty seen
along Camarones road. Both species of the Crotophaga genus are here.
Greater
Ani
Crotophaga major
Three seen at
Salamanca NP on Nov 22nd.
Striped
Cuckoo*
Tapera naevia
STRIGIDAE
Santa
Marta Screech-Owl
Megascops gilesi
E
Heard only. Tried several times without luck. After several attempts heard in
the distance. This bird is still awaiting a formal description and will be named for
Robert Giles who has helped Colombian conservation via ProAves in a big way. Its
voice is very different from its congeners
Ferruginous
Pygmy-Owl
Glaucidium brasilianum
One seen on Camarones
road calling the attention of other birds.
CAPRIMULGIDAE
Nacunda
Nighthawk
Podager nacunda
More than 8 seen
along the Camarones road.
Lesser
Nighthawk
Chordeiles acutipennis
More than 20 seen at
dusk along the Camarones road.
APODIDAE
White-collared
Swift
Streptoprocne zonaris
Several seen in the
lower elevations of the Sta. Marta Mountains.
Blossomcrown
TROCHILIDAE
Sooty-capped
Hermit
Phaetornis augusti
Two individuals seen
on the 25th near Palo Alto.
Long-billed (Western Long-tailed) Hermit Phaethornis
longirostris: One
individual seen on the lower elevations of the San Lorenzo ridge. This is the form that occurs in Central America, sussurans,
as opposed to the one along the coast of Ecuador and extreme north Peru baroni
("Baron's Hermit") The SACC says: Ridgely & Greenfield (2001) considered
the subspecies baroni of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru to deserve
recognition as a separate species from Phaethornis longirostris based on
vocal and plumage differences. SACC proposal to
recognize baroni as a separate species did not pass. The IOC calls
this species Long-Billed Hermit and says Baron's Hermit Phaethornis baroni
is conspecific with Long-billed Hermit P. longirostris (SACC 2004).
Green
Violetear
Colibri thalassinus
Several individuals
seen in the Santa Marta Mountains, especially around the lodge.
Red-billed
Emerald
Chlorostilbon gibsoni
One bird seen on the way to Minca on Nov 27th. Species limits
in the mellisugus group of taxa in Chlorostilbon are complex. At
one extreme, Zimmer (1950d) and Schuchmann (1999) considered them all
conspecific, including the canivetii group of Middle America. Chlorostilbon
gibsoni (including nitens) was usually (e.g., Cory 1918, Peters 1945,
Meyer de Schauensee 1970) considered a separate species ("Red-billed Emerald")
from C. mellisugus, as was C. canivetii. Stiles (1996a)
proposed that C. mellisugus should be treated as at least three separate
species within South America: melanorhynchus (of western Colombia and
Ecuador), gibsoni (northern and central Colombia, NW Venezuela), and mellisugus
(rest of South America); this represents a partial return to the
classification of Cory (1918) and was followed by Ridgely & Greenfield
(2001). Together, these taxa would form a super-species with recently described olivaresi.
Sibley & Monroe (1990) considered C. mellisugus to form a
superspecies with Middle American Chlorostilbon species but not with C.
gibsoni, because the two were thought to be sympatric [are they?
breeding?] in the Magdalena Valley, Colombia. SACC
proposal passed to follow species limits proposed by Stiles (1996). So the ones you see in the Amazon are Blue-tailed Emeralds
E Coppery Emerald
Chlorostilbon mellisugus
Two individuals seen
around the shade grown coffee plantations above Minca. Replaces
the former at higher elevations in the Santa Marta Mountains
Violet-crowned
Woodnymph
Thalurania colombica
Several individuals
seen daily at El Dorado lodge. We saw the colombica nominate race in
the Santa Marta Mountains. Sometimes previously called Purple-crowned Woodnymph
but the IOC says Violet-crowned.
E
Sapphire-throated Hummingbird
Lepidopyga coeruleogularis
One individual seen
at Salamanca NP on Nov 22nd. A tricky bird to see.
Shining-green
Hummingbird
Lepidopyga goudoti
Two individuals seen
along the coast.
Rufous-tailed
Hummingbird
Amazilia tzacatl
One individual seen
along the coast on nov 22nd.
Steely-vented
Hummingbird
Amazilia saucerrottei
One individual seen
on the lower elevations of San Lorenzo ridge near Minca.
Blossomcrown
Anthocephala floriceps
E One
male seen several times around the lodge grounds. Beautiful bird! One of the
most wanted Colombia birds. VULNERABLE
White-vented
Plumeleteer
Chalybura buffoni
Two birds seen in
total, one outside Tayrona NP on the way to Camarones
White-tailed
Starfrontlet
Coeligena phalerata
E Two
individuals seen on the upper elevations of San Lorenzo ridge on Nov 26th.
Tyrian
Metaltail
Metalura tyrianthina
Several individuals seen often at El Dorado lodge feeders. We saw the
very distinct and blue-tailed districta, endemic to the Santa Marta and
Perijá mountains. This latter may deserve full species status as Santa Marta
Tyrian Metaltail. Named after the
color Tyrian purple. Variously known as Royal purple, Tyrian purple, purple of
the ancients, this ancient dyestuff, mentioned in texts dating about 1600 BC,
was produced from the mucus of the hypobranchial gland of various species of
marine molluscs, notably Murex. Although originating in old port of Tyre in
modern day Syria (hence the name), man's first large scale chemical industry
spread throughout the world. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of
the dye also declined and large scale production ceased with the fall of
Constantinople in 1453. It was replaced by other cheaper dyes like lichen purple
and madder.
E
Santa Marta Woodstar
Chaetocercus astreans
One male seen on Nov
27th at the beginning of the African Bee trail. Can easily be missed.
TROGONIDAE
White-tipped
Quetzal
Pharomacrus fulgidus
One individual seen
near the lagoon nearby the antennas on Nov 26th.
Masked
Trogon
Trogon personatus
One bird seen on Nov
26th along the San Lorenzo ridge.
ALCEDINIDAE
Ringed
kingfisher
Megaceryle torquata
More than 15
individuals seen along the coast. Megaceryle
torquata and M. alcyon
have been placed in the genus Ceryle in many classifications (e.g., Meyer
de Schauensee 1970, AOU 1983, 1998), but most classifications have followed Fry
(1980) in restricting Ceryle to Old World C. rudis (e.g., Sibley
& Monroe 1990, Fry & Fry 1992, Woodall 2001). Recent genetic data (Moyle
2006) indicate that Old World Ceryle rudis is the sister to Chloroceryle,
and so Megaceryle must be recognized if Chloroceryle is maintained
as a genus.
Green
Kingfisher
Chloroceryle americana
One individual seen
along the Camarones road on Nov 22nd.
MOMOTIDAE
Blue-crowned
Motmot
Momotus momota
One individual seen
by some members of the group.
GALBULIDAE
Rufous-tailed
Jacamar
Galbula ruficauda
Three individuals
seen on Nov 23rd on the way to Camarones.
BUCCONIDAE
RR Russet-throated Puffbird
Hypnelus ruficollis
Three birds seen in total, first one spotted by Mark at a police
checkpoint. The SACC says - although
Cory (1919) and Peters (1948) considered the subspecies bicinctus to be a
separate species from Hypnelus ruficollis, Meyer de Schauensee
(1966, 1970) considered them conspecific, evidently <check> on the basis
that the subspecies described by Phelps & Phelps (1958) was intermediate
between the two, and because another population was also considered
intermediate. Rasmussen & Collar (2002) considered bicinctus (with stoicus)
as a separate species from H. ruficollis; they reported that
hybridization in area of contact was infrequent and certainly not indicative of
free interbreeding, as is often stated or implied (e.g., Sibley & Monroe
1990). Restall 2006 separates the two species.
RAMPHASTIDAE
Keel-billed
Toucan
Ramphastos sulphuratus
Four birds seen in
total in different sites at the San Lorenzo ridge.
E
Santa Marta Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus lautus
Five birds seen in
total uphill from El Dorado lodge. The SACC says - Ridgely
& Greenfield (2001) suggested that Aulacorhynchus prasinus (Emerald
Toucanet) may consist of more than one species-level taxon, but see Short &
Horne (2001), who pointed out that the allopatric taxa are no more distinctive
than those known to intergrade. The subspecies lautus, albivitta, cyanolaemus,
dimidiatus, and atrogularis, as well as Middle American wagleri
and caeruleogularis, were formerly (e.g., Ridgway 1914, Cory 1919)
each considered separate species from (and in some cases not particularly
closely related to) Aulacorhynchus prasinus, but Peters (1948) and Haffer
(1974) treated them all as conspecific. Navarro et al. (2001) say Patterns of variation
support recognition of four species in Mesoamerica: A. wagleri in western
Mexico, A. prasinus in eastern Mexico and northern Central America, A.
caeruleogularis in Costa Rica and western Panama, and A. cognatus in
eastern Panama, as well as several additional forms (A. lautus - Santa
Marta Mountains, A. albivitta - Andes of Colombia and Ecuador and A.
nigrogularis -Peru and North Bolivia) in South America. The IOC presents
Grey-throated and White-throated as potential splits and if accepted the former
would become a Colombian endemic.
RR Yellow-billed Toucanet
Aulacorhynchus calorhynchus
Several individuals seen below El Dorado lodge. The SACCC says- The taxon calorhynchus was formerly (e.g., Cory
1919, Peters 1948, Phelps & Phelps 1958a, Meyer de Schauensee 1970) treated
as a separate species ("Yellow-billed Toucanet") from Aulacorhynchus sulcatus
(Groove-billled Toucanet), but in their area of contact in Venezuela, only
individuals with intermediate bill characters are found (Schwartz 1972b); still
treated as separate species by Hilty (2003) and Restall (2006)
Collared
Araçari
Pteroglossus torquatus
One
individual seen below El Dorado lodge on Nov 25th. In Greek Pteroglossus means "feathertongued"
a refernece to the slim feather-like tongues of toucans and aracaris.
PICIDAE
Red-crowned
Woodpecker
Melanerpes rubricapillus
Five individual seen
in total along the coast.
Golden-olive
Woodpecker
Piculus rubiginosus
One individual seen
on Nov 26th on the upper sections of San Lorenzo ridge.
Crimson-crested
Woodpecker
Campephilus melanoleucos
Three individuals
seen at El Dorado lodge on a dead tree trunk on Nov 24th.
FURNARIIDAE
RR Caribbean (Pale-legged) Hornero
Furnarius (leucopus) longirostris
Heard several times near Camarones. The SACC says: The
sub-species longirostris was treated as a separate species by Ridgely
& Greenfield (2001) and Hilty (2003). Although vocal and behavioral
differences have been reported, no real analysis has been published to support
this split. Restal (2007) treats this taxon as part of Pale-legged Hornero
RR
White-whiskered Spinetail
Synallaxis candei
Nine individuals seen in total along the road to Camarones. Fantastic
bird! Named after the French Admiral de Cande a naval explorer in the mid 19th
century
E Rusty-headed Spinetail
Synallaxis fuscorufa
Two individuals seen
in total on the upper sections of the San Lorenzo ridge.
Streak-capped Spinetail
E
Streak-capped Spinetail
Cranioleuca hellmaryi
Several individuals seen foraging in the canopy on several consecutive
days. Another localized spinetail (endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains and
specimens have just been found from the Sierra de Perijá)
Spotted
Barbtail
Premnoplex brunnescens
One bird seen in the
upper sections of the San Lorenzo ridge on Nov 26th.
Montane
Foliage-gleaner
Anabacerthia striaticollis
Seven individuals
seen in total foraging with mixed flocks in the San Lorenzo ridge.
Gray-throated
Leaftosser
Sclerurus albigularis
One incredible view
of this furnarid tossing leaves on the forest floor on Nov 27th.
Streaked
Xenops
Xenops rutilans
Three birds seen in
total foraging with mixed flocks around El Dorado lodge
DENDROCOLAPTIDAE
Strong-billed
Woodcreeper
Xiphocolaptes
promeropirhynchus
Two individuals seen
in the upper sections of the San Lorenzo ridge. Big bird. We
saw the endemic sanctaemartae subspecies.
Montane
Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes
lacrymiger
Several individuals seen around the El Dorado lodge. Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger was formerly (e.g., Peters 1951, Meyer de Schauensee
1970, AOU 1983, 1998, Sibley & Monroe 1990) considered conspecific with
Middle American L. affinis (Spot-crowned Woodcreeper), but recent
treatments (e.g., Ridgely & Tudor 1994, Hilty 2003) usually follow Cory
& Hellmayr (1925), Zimmer (1934c), and Phelps & Phelps (1950a) in
treating them as separate species. Their vocalizations differ strongly, although
a formal analysis has not been published; they constitute a superspecies
THAMNOPHILIDAE
Black-crested
Antshrike
Sakesphorus canadensis
Seven individuals seen in total along the coast. The ones in the mangroves are rather different looking birds (unnamed subspecies) in the desert along the Guajira peninsular. This taxon needs revision and several species are probably involved.
Long-tailed
Antbird
Drymophilla longicauda
One individual seen
near Minca on Nov 27th.
Northern
White-fringed Antwren
Formicivora intermedia
Four birds seen in
total along the coast and foothills of San Lorenzo ridge. On
the Guajira Peninsular (intermedia). Ridgely & Tudor (1994) and
Zimmer & Isler (2003) suggested that Formicivora grisea (Southern
White-fringed Antwren e.g. Bolivia.) may consist of more than one species. Hilty
(2003) described major vocal differences between intermedia and grisea
and suggested two species were involved.
GRALLARIDAE
Santa
Marta Antpitta
Grallaria bangsi
E
Two individuals seen on the upper sections of the San Lorenzo ridge. The
second individual came right into our feet! The world population is not known
but is thought to be decreasing. This species has been up listed to Vulnerable
because new information suggests that it has a small range, which is fragmented
and declining owing to habitat destruction caused by illegal agriculture,
logging and burning. It is currently described as common, but its population
size is unknown. However, it is likely to be undergoing a rapid decline as a
result of habitat loss. Named after Outram Bangs US ornithologist and author.
VULNERABLE
E Rufous (Santa Marta) Antpitta
Grallaria rufula spatiator
One individual seen well through a hole in the bamboo near the top of San
Lorenzo ridge on Nov 26th. Now keep an eye on these "Rufous"
Antpittas as there are many species involved. This one at Santa Marta will
become an endemic and the paper is in progress.
Rusty-breasted
Antpitta
Grallaricula rufipectus
One bird seen hopping
along some tangled vines below El Dorado lodge. Here the nominate race. Birds
south of the Maranon River in Peru are probably a separate species (leymeybambae)
RHINOCRYPTIDAE
Santa
Marta Tapaculo
Scytalopus sanctamartae
E
Three individuals seen in total below El Dorado lodge on Nov 25th.
E
Brown rumped Tapaculo
Scytalopus
latebricola
Another Santa Marta endemic, replacing the Santa
Marta Tapaculo at higher elevations
One individual seen briefly near the Santa Marta Antpitta spot on Nov 26th.
White-throated
Tyrannulet
Mecocerculus leucophrys
Three birds seen with
a mixed flock near the antennas on San Lorenzo ridge. We
saw the subspecies montensis which is endemic
to the Santa Marta Mountains.
COTINGIDAE
Golden-breasted
Fruiteater
Pipreola aureopectus
Common along the San
Lorenzo ridge near El Dorado lodge. . Here the race decora,
endemic to this mountain range
TYRANNIDAE
RR Venezuelan Tyrannulet
Zimmerius improbus
Three individuals
seen around Palo Alto and seen well to be identified.
Olive-striped
Flycatcher
Mionectes olivaceous
Five birds seen in
total around El Dorado lodge. Very distinctive race.
Northern
Scrub Flycatcher
Sublegatus arenarum
Common along the
coastal scrub. Seven individuals seen in total.
Slender-billed
Inezia
Inezia tenuirostris
Six birds seen in
total. One nest found along the road to Camarones. Note
that the tarsal morphology of Inezia has been interpreted to indicate
that it belongs in the Cotingidae! Note the IOC uses "Inezia" for the vulgar
name
Black-throated
Tody-Tyrant
Hemitriccus granadensis
One individual seen
in El Dorado lodge surroundings on Nov 26th.
Common
Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum cinereum
One individual seen
at the Mangrove stand at Salamanca NP on Nov 22nd.
White-throated
Spadebill
Platyrinchus mystaceus
One bird seen along
the trail behind el Dorado lodge on nov 24th.
Cinnammon
Flycatcher
Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus
Common in the Santa
Marta montains.
Vermillion
Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
Four individuals seen
in total in open areas.
E
Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant
Myotheretes pernix
One bird seen perched at eye level on the upper sections of the San
Lorenzo ridge. The world population is estimated at 1,000 - 2,499
individuals and is decreasing. This species has a very small range and is
currently known from just one location (although there are likely to be others).
Its habitat is declining, and concomitant declines in range and population are
inferred. ENDANGERED
Yellow-bellied
Chat-Tyrant
Ochtoeca diadema
Two birds seen near
the antennas of San Lorenzo in chusquea bamboo on Nov 26th.
The subspecies jesupi is endemic to the Santa Marta Mountains
Cattle
Tyrant
Machetornis rixosa
Five individuals seen
on top of some goats near Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Social
Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Common along the
coast
Great
Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Common along the
coast.
Golden-crowned
Flycatcher
Myiodynastes chrysocephalus
Seen almost everyday
around the El Dorado lodge grounds.
Boat-billed
Flycatcher
Megarynchus pitangua
Seen in the foothills
of the Santa Marta mountains.
Tropical
Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Common bird of the
neotropics.
Gray
Kingbird
Tyrannus dominiscensis
Very common along the
coast.
RR Venezuelan Flycatcher
Myarchus venezuelensis
One individual seen
at Salamanca NP on Nov 22nd.
Panama
Flycatcher
Myarchus panamensis
Three individuals
seen on total along the road to Camarones.
HIRUNDINIDAE
Bank
Swallow
Riparia riparia
Twelve individuals seen on Nov 23rd along the coast. Note the
IOC has rejected the Euopean "Sand Martin" and Bank Swallow it is - makes sense.
Southern
Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopterix ruficollis
Several seen on the
lower sections of the Sta Marta Mountains.
Barn
Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Three individuals seen along the coast on Nov 22nd.
The New World populations of Hirundo rustica were formerly (e.g., Ridgway
1904) treated as a separate species, H. erythrogastra, from Old World
populations.
Grey-breasted
Martin
Progne chalybea
Common along the
coast.
CORVIDAE
RR Black-chested Jay
Cyanocorax affinis
Several seen around
El Dorado lodge in the Santa Marta mountains.
TROGLODYTIDAE
House
Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Common, seen almost every day in the Sta. Marta Mountains. Many
authors (e.g., Hellmayr 1934, Pinto 1944, Phelps & Phelps 1950a) formerly
treated Neotropical mainland populations as a separate species T. musculus;
see also Brumfield and Capparella (1996); this treatment was followed by Brewer
(2001) and Kroodsma & Brewer (2005). The Falklands population, T. a.
cobbi, might also be best treated as a species (Wood 1993), as was done by
Brewer (2001), Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001), Jaramillo (2003), and
Kroodsma & Brewer (2005);
Bicolored
Wren
Campylorhynchus griseus
Five individuals seen
in total along the coast of this interesting species.
RR Rufous-breasted Wren
Pheugopedius rutilus
Two individuals seen
above Minca in the Sta. Marta mountains on Nov 27th.
Gray-breasted
Wood-Wren
Henicorhina leucophrys leucophrys
Heard several times
and only one individual seen on Nov 25th.
POLIOPTIDAE
Tropical
Gnatcatcher
Polioptila plumbea
Four individuals seen
on Nov 23rd on the road to Camarones in dry xerophitic scrub.
TURDIDAE
Orange-billed
Nightingale Thrush
Catharus aurantiirostris
Heard only in the
Sta. Marta mountains.
Slaty-backed
Nightingale Thrush
Catharus fuscater
Two individuals seen
in total along the trail behind El Dorado lodge.
Swainson`s
Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Two birds seen in the
Sta. Marta Mountains.
Great
Thrush
Turdus fuscater
Two individuals seen on the upper sections of San Lorenzo ridge on the
Sta. Marta Mountains on Nov 26th.
Black-hooded
Thrush
Turdus olivater
Several individuals
seen around El Dorado lodge grounds.
Clay-colored
Thrush
Turdus grayi
One bird seen on the
El Prado Hotel grounds in Barranquilla.
Pale-breasted
Thrush
Turdus leucomelas
Two birds seen in
total around El Dorado lodge on the Sta. Marta Mountains.
VIREONIDAE
Brown-capped
Vireo
Vireo leucophrys
Common in the San
Lorenzo ridge with mixed flocks.
Scrub
Greenlet
Hylophilus flaviceps
Two birds seen along
the road to Camarones on nov 23rd. Very vocal.
MIMIDAE
Tropical
Mockingbird
Mimus gilvus
Common along the
coast, specially on the road to Camarones.
PARULIDAE
Black
& White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Several seen with
mixed flocks along the San Lorenzo ridge.
Golden-Winged
Warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera
One individual seen
briefly in the lower sections of the San Lorenzo ridge on Nov 24th. NEAR
THREATENED
Tennessee
Warbler
Vermivora peregrina
Several seen in the
Sta. Marta Mountains.
Tropical
Parula
Parula pitiayumi
One bird seen around
El Dorado lodge on Nov. 24th.
Yellow
Warbler
Dendroica petechia
Two individuals seen
in Salamanca NP on Nov 23rd.
Blackburnian
Warbler
Dendroica fusca
Common in the Sta.
Marta Mountains.
Blackpoll
Warbler
Dendroica striata
One individual seen
on Nov 23rd along the coast.
American
Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
Two males seen in the
lower sections of the San Lorenzo ridge.
Northern
Waterthrush
Seiurus noveboracensis
One individual seen
in the mangroves of Salamanca NP on Nov 22nd.
Prothonotary
Warbler
Protonotaria citrea
Common in the
mangroves along the coast. Seen in Salamanca and Camarones.
Mourning
Warbler
Oporornis philadelphia
One individual seen
near Minca on Nov 27th.
Slate-throated
Whitestart
Myioborus miniatus
Very common around El
Dorado lodge in the Sta Marta mountains
E Yellow-crowned Whitestart
Myioborus flavivertex
Six individuals seen in the upper sections of San Lorenzo ridge.
Beautiful Whitestart! Slightly atypical for a Myioborus whitestart,
being somewhat slow and deliberate in its movements and almost (Basileuterus)
warbler-like in appearance.
E White-lored Warbler
Basileuterus conspicillatus
Common in the upper sections of San Lorenzo ridge in the Sta Marta
mountains. It is relatively common in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where it
inhabits humid montane forest, forest borders and well-developed second growth
and shade-coffee plantations at 450-2,200m, where it forages at low to
mid-levels, principally in the under growth and understorey. It appears tolerant
of a degree of habitat degradation. All remaining forest in the Santa Marta
Mountains is seriously threatened by agricultural expansion, logging and
burning. Only 15% of the sierra's vegetation is unaltered, with the south-east
slope extensively deforested, and the west slope, between 800 and 1,600m,
largely cleared for coffee and illegal marijuana plantations.
NEAR THREATENED
Rufous-capped
Warbler
Basileuterus rufifrons
Two individuals seen near Minca on Nov 27th. The
delatrii group of subspecies, from Guatemala south to northwestern South
America, was formerly (e.g., Hellmayr 1935) treated as separate species from the
Basileuterus rufifrons of (mainly) Mexico, but they evidently intergrade
in Guatemala and Honduras (Monroe 1968, AOU 1983).
E
Santa Marta Warbler
Basileuterus basilicus
Three birds seen near the antennas in the upper sections of San Lorenzo
ridge on Nov 26th. Another Warbler endemic to the Santa Marta
Mountains, which is quite tricky to see. A large, slow and aberrant species,
that perhaps does not belong in Basileuterus - it was formerly placed in Hemispingus!
It is likely to have undergone a rapid and continuing decline. VULNERABLE
THRAUPIDAE
Crimson-backed
Tanager
Ramphocelus dimidiatus
The common tanager of
open areas, seen in the lower elevations of the Sta. Marta Mountains.
RR
Glaucous Tanager
Thraupis glaucocolpa
Six individuals seen in
total along the road to Camarones on Nov 23rd. Limited
range in Venezuela and Colombia
Blue-gray
Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Several individuals seen in the lower elevations of the Sta. Marta
Mountains. The scientific name is derived from the ‘episcopal
blue' plumage.
Palm
Tanager
Thraupis palmarum
Two birds seen along
the coast on Nov 22nd.
Blue-capped
Tanager
Thraupis cyanocephala
Several individuals
seen in the Sta. Marta Mountains.
Santa
Marta Mountain Tanager
Anisognathus melanogenys
E Eight
individuals seen in total in the upper sections of the San Lorenzo ridge.
Bay-headed
Tanager
Tangara gyrola toddi
Common in the Sta. Marta Mountains. This race has all green under-parts.
The name ‘gyrola' is derived from the Latin ‘gyros', or ring, and
refers to the golden nuchal collar present in most races of this species.
Black-capped
Tanager
Tangara heinei
Common in the Sta.
Marta Mountains.
Black-headed
Tanager
Tangara cyanoptera
One individual seen
near Minca in the Sta. Marta Mountains.
Summer
Tanager
Piranga rubra
One male seen on Nov
25th along the San Lorenzo ridge.
Hepatic
Tanager
Piranga flava
Two males seen on Nov 24th and Nov 26th on the
upper sections of the San Lorenzo ridge
White-sided
Flower-Piercer
Diglossa albilatera
Common around El
Dorado lodge grounds.
RR
Trinidad Euphonia
Euphonia trinitatis
Two individuals seen
on Nov 23rd on the road to Camarones.
Blue-naped
Chlorophonia
Chlorophonia cyanea
Common in the Santa
Marta Mountains.
COERBIDAE
Bananaquit
Coereba flaveola
Two individuals seen
along the coast at Salamanca NP on Nov 23rd.
EMBERIZIDAE
Dull-colored
Grassquit
Tiaris obscurus
Several individuals
seen around El Dorado lodge every day.
Bicolored
Conebill
Conirostrum bicolor
More than ten
individuals seen in the mangroves of the Salamanca NP on Nov 23rd.
Rufous-collared
Sparrow
Zonotrichia capensis
Common in the Sta.
Marta Mountains.
Blue-black
Grassquit
Volatinia jacarina
Seen in different
locations of the tour.
Yellow-bellied
Seedeater
Sporophila nigricollis
Three birds seen near
Minca on Nov 27th.
Gray
Seedeater
Sporophila intermedia
Three individuals
seen along the road to Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Ruddy-breasted
Seedeater
Sporophila minuta
One pair seen along
the road to Camarones on Nov 23rd
Large-billed
Seed-Finch
Oryzoborus crassirostris
One pair seen near
Minca before a strong rain on Nov 27th
Santa
Marta Brush-Finch
Atlapetes melanocpehalus
E Very
common around El Dorado lodge in the Sta Marta Mountains
Stripe-Headed
Brush-Finch
Buarremon brunneinucha
One individual seen in El Dorado lodge grounds on Nov 26th.
The ones here have black breast bands but other subspecies do not..
More than one species are likely involved.
Lesser
Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Three individuals
seen near Minca on Nov 27th.
View
from El Dorado Lodge
FRINGILLIDAE
Southern
Yellow-Grosbeak
Pheucticus chrysogaster
One bird seen above
El Dorado lodge on Nov 26th.
Buff-throated
Saltator
Saltator maximus
Two individuals seen
on the lower sections of the Sta Marta Mountains on Nov 27th.
Greyish
Saltator
Saltator coerulescens
One
individual seen on the lower sections of the Sta Marta Mountains on Nov 27th.
RR Orinocan Saltator
Saltator orenocensis
Five seen along the
road to Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Streaked
Saltator
Saltator striatipectus
Two birds seen along
the coast on Nov 23rd.
RR
Vermillion Cardinal
Cardinalis phoeniceus
Three females seen
well at Camarones. One male briefly seen on Nov 23rd.
Rose-breasted
Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Several seen along
the Sta. Marta mountains.
ICTERIDAE
Crested
Oropendola
Psarocolius decumanus
More than six
individuals seen in the lower sections of the Santa Marta Mountains.
Great-tailed
Grackle
Quiscalis mexicanus
Common along the
coast.
Yellow-backed
Oriole
Icterus chrysater
Four individuals seen
in total along the coast.
Yellow
Oriole
Icterus nigrogularis
Three individuals
seen on the road to Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Northern
(Baltimore) Oriole
Icterus
galbula
One individual seen
on the road to Camarones on Nov 23rd.
Exploratory Trip to the Santa Marta
Mountains of Colombia – November 21-28, 2008
We all arrived safely on direct flights from Miami in Barranquilla, the
fourth largest city in Colombia, on Friday night. At 7:21 am on Saturday while
driving out of Barranquilla, at an unscheduled police stop, we got our first
good bird – a Russet-throated Puffbird, thanks to Mark. On the drive east to
Salamanca, our first destination, we also had the ubiquitous Rock Pigeon, and
Great and Cattle Egrets. But we also had our first Striated Heron and Osprey.
Salamanca proved to be an excellent introduction to lowland forest, off a
very busy main road, and although it conserves mangrove forest, it was
surprisingly rich in birds. We saw our first Bicolored Wren – wow – now that
is a wren, Northern Waterthrush, a couple of Bicolored Conebills, Lesser
Yellow-headed Vulture, male and female Black-crested Antshrike, several
Brown-throated Parakeets, a very obliging Lesser Nighthawk, two
Sapphire-throated Hummingbirds and a Common (Mangrove – soon to be re-lumped)
Black-Hawk.
Closer to Santa Marta we passed through extensive roadside wetlands where
we got good looks at Roseate Spoonbill, Wattled Jacana, three White-cheeked
Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, and the first of many Crested Caracara. Just past
Santa Marta we ventured up the road to the antennas on San Lorenzo ridge and our
lodge, the El Dorado. We saw several Red-crowned Woodpeckers, a pair of
White-fringed Antbirds, a Pale-eyed Pygmy-Tyrant, quite a find, and an endemic
Shining-green Hummingbird.
Then it was on along the Caribbean coast to Riohacha with a lunch stop at
a restaurant near the Los Estoraques Natural Area where we got White-vented
Plumeleteer, a pair of Orange-chinned Parakeet building a nest in a termite
nest, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Pale-legged Hornero, King Vulture that few flew
over the road, and Ruddy Ground-Dove.
In the late afternoon we got to Camarones NP where we saw Bare-eyed
Pigeon, an endemic, we also saw Cattle Tyrant, Tropical Mockingbird, four
fantastic White-whiskered Spinetail (our favorite spinetail of the trip!); we
also got poor looks at an Orinoco Saltator and Rufous-vented Chachalaca and
great views of Nacunda Nighthawks; we also heard a Crested Bobwhite.
Sunday morning, November 23, after a night at Riohacha we drove again on
the road through Camarones NP that terminates at Los Flamencos Wildlife
Sanctuary. Birding was steady and good throughout the morning – we found a
Slender-billed Tyrannulet on a nest with one egg in it right over the road. We
also got Scrub Greenlet, two Gray Kingbirds, and a glimpse of a Gray-necked
Wood-Rail that ran across the road in front of us. We got much better looks of
an Orinoco Saltator, and saw a Baltimore Oriole – a lifer for Renzo- our local
guide. We located a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl that was being mobbed by several
Black-crested Antshrikes, White-fringed Antbirds, Prothonotary Warbler, Northern
Scrub-Flycatcher, and a much needed Glaucous Tanager. We also got good looks at
several Trinidad Euphonias, Ruddy-breasted Seedeater, several female Vermilion
Cardinals, and a fleeting glance of a Black-billed Cuckoo. Further along the
road, a Peregrine flew over and a Rufous-tailed Jacamar was feeding in the
nearby thickets.
On the road to the beach, we got lots of herons including Great, Snowy
and Cattle Egrets and shorebirds including Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary
Sandpiper, Willet, Black Skimmer, Short-billed Dowitcher, Stilt Sandpiper,
Sandwich Tern and a Collared Plover. In the village we also got several Cattle
Tyrants and had a great lunch of fish and beer on the beach.
Running a little late and with rain showers in the area, we drove back
along the coast and took the road to Minca where we exchanged vehicles for two
4x4 vehicles. And oh did we need these – the road from Minca to the fantastic
El Dorado lodge (at 2000 m) is one of the worst roads that many of us have every
been on. But it was through amazing and incredible scenery. We even got a
Keel-billed Toucan, Crested Oropendola, a heard only Orange-billed
Nightingale-Thrush and an American Redstart on the way. After a great evening
meal we retired early to bed.
After a late breakfast at 5:15 am on Monday, we headed up the road toward
San Lorenzo ridge. But not before we got lots and lots of Blue-naped
Chlorophonias at the lodge feeders. Although overcast and occasionally wet,
along the road we did locate some good birds including: easy to see
Golden-breasted Fruiteaters, Black-capped Tanagers, two Crimson-crested
Woodpeckers, the endemic Streak-capped Spinetail, and two of the three endemic
warblers – the Yellow-crowned Whitestart and White-lored Warbler – a great
start to our endemic list. Returning to the lodge we also got poor looks at
another endemic – the Rusty-headed Spinetail, so we had all the endemic
spinetails on the first day’s birding in the Santa Marta Mtns. We also got the
endemic sub-species of the Emerald Toucanet, and the endemic tanager – the
Santa Marta Mountain-Tanager.
After a great lunch we headed lower and got Mountain Elaenia. In the late
afternoon around 4 pm, we explored the lodge trail and Mark saw two
regionally-endemic Band-tailed Guans and he and Renzo heard a pair of
Black-fronted Wood-Quail. The group did get a White-throated Spadebill and saw
three Black-chested Jays. Back at the lodge while relaxing before dinner we
watched the feeders and flocks going through the lodges garden and got great
looks of Pale-breasted Thrush and the endemic Santa Marta Brush-Finch.
Again, on Tuesday we tried going up the road but the wet conditions led
us to re-trace our steps and we headed down to the Palo Alto Farm at 1700 m
birding slowly all the way. A couple of us got a Black-headed Tanager,
unfortunately the only one of the trip. As a group, all of us got the following:
a nice Black-hooded Thrush, Collared Aracari, Swainson’s Thrush, Summer
Tanager, and another endemic – the Santa Marta Tapaculo – and we had
incredible looks of what is not your typically shy Tapaculo. Just below where we
found the Tapaculo we found the localized Rusty-breasted Antpitta calling from 4
ft up a small shrub. It was incredible to see an Antpitta up a tree! We also
found a Sooty-capped Hermit and another Keel-billed Toucan – which everybody
saw this time. Returning towards the lodge we also found a Venezuelan Tyrannulet
and three Groove-billed Aracari. After dinner we tried for the endemic and
newly-described screech-owl – the Santa Marta Screech-Owl. Sadly we only heard
three distant hoots.
Finally third time lucky – the early morning started clear and we
ventured up the road nearly all the way to the antennas and the wax palm forest
at 2650 m. We saw Scaly-naped Parrots on a tree, an unusual sight, the endemic
and incredible White-tailed Starfrontlet – for many the highlight of the trip.
We also saw a fleeting glimpse of the endemic White-tipped Quetzal, poor looks
at another endemic Tapaculo – the Brown-rumped Tapaculo, and great looks at
the endemic sub-species of Rufous Antpitta, this is sure to be split. Back down
the road a couple of 100 m, we also got our third and last endemic warbler –
the Santa Marta Warbler. We also had Spotted Barbtail, Yellow-bellied
Chat-Tyrant and Strong-billed Woodcreeper just within the wax palm eco-tone.
Lower down in the fog, we also heard several distant endemic Santa Marta
Parakeets and saw another endemic - the Santa Marta Antpitta. We also got
another localized species – the Blossomcrown, and the highly localized but
widespread – Black-throated Tody-Tyrant. Back at the lodge we also got the
local sub-species of Masked Trogon and Stripe-headed Brush-Finch.
Finally our last day birding arrived – we ventured down the lodge trail
again and were rewarded with great looks of a Gray-throated Leaftosser. After
saying our farewells to the wonderful staff at the El Dorado Lodge we started
back down the road. At our first stop, several of us got looks at another
endemic – the Santa Marta Woodstar. A little lower we got a Coppery Emerald
and Steely-vented Hummingbird, and even lower within the coffee-growing zone we
got several Lesser Goldfinch, Yellow-bellied Seedeater, and Black-billed Seed
Finch. In a much degraded environment we also got Mourning Warbler, Rufous-capped
Warbler and Long-tailed Antbird. Our bird of this area was a very obliging
Rufous-breasted Wren. Having taken our time coming down the mountain, we were
caught in a torrential tropical downpour and got stuck above a landslide. We all
safely crossed the landslide leaving our El Dorado drivers, guides and vehicles
above while we hired a local to take us down to the main highway. A stop for
air, for Simon, got us one more endemic – the Red-billed Emerald and we also
heard Scarlet-fronted Parakeets.
It was a great trip – we saw or heard most of the Santa Marta endemics
that are easily accessible.
We have already reserved our next Santa Marta trip – it’ll run in
early January 2010. Hope you can join us.
Mark Welford