Colombia Birding Trip with NatureScape Tours

After talking with a good birder friend, we decided to join a small group for our first time ever to South America, visiting what turned out to be the most beautiful country ever, Colombia.

We visited several areas over a 16 day period, landing the first day in Bogota.

                                                                DAY 1 1/5/2020
We spent the night at the Dan Carolton, a beautiful hotel in downtown Bogota, then departed on Avianca Airlines the next morning for our first birding stop, Pereira.

Upon arriving at the airport in Pereira, we immediately saw two of our very own US birds, a male and female Vermillion Flycatcher, and a few doves, but then a new hawk appeared.

                                                           Vermilion Flycatcher, female

Vermilion Flycatcher male

Variable Hawk  

We then departed with our driver to Otun Quimbaya, a beautiful sanctuary, home to several endemic Colombian birds where we would spend our second and third nights.

DAY 2 and 3 -OTUN QUIMBAYA

                                                                      Bare-faced Ibis

Southern Lapwing

The food was always great, always healthy, accompanied with fresh squeezed fruit juices with each meal.

                                                                        Cauca Guan

                                                        Southern Emerald Toucanet

                                                                 
                                                                     

                                                                   Tropical Kingbird

                                                                    Black Phoebe

                                                              Blackburnian Warbler

                                                                    Saffron Finch

                                                                     Andean Motmot

                                                      Golden Tanager (Tangara arthus)

                                                          Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola)

Cauca Guan, endemic to Otun Quimbaya

Cauca Guan close-up

Montane Woodcreeper

                                                                     Blue-gray Tanager
                                                                           

                                                                   Sparkling Violetear

Blue-and-white Swallow

    Red-roughed Fruitcrow

DAY 3 (Jan 7) - Birded Otun Quimbaya till around 11:30,

                                                                      Collared Trogan

                                                                  Collared Trogan

Collared Trogan

Sickle-winged Guan

                                                              Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

                                                                          Eared Dove

 Mountain Elaenia

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Mountain Elaenia

Lesser Goldfinch

Lamplight Actinote

     

                                                                      Lamplight Actinote

Banana Plant blossom

Neglected Eighty-eight (Diaethria neglecta)

looks like a 98 this side, flipped around looks like an 89!

Neglected Eighty-eight . . . beautiful on the topside as well.

Main National Park building, and dining hall.  Dormitory style lodge behind here.

Front of dormitory style lodging

Another look at Southern Lapwing as we were leaving.

 then departed for Los Nevados National Park to look for the Bearded Helmet-crest Hummingbird, which only Dan would see briefly, and no one got a photo.

Next stop, Termales del Ruiz.  (Day 3, Jan. 7)   This was a wonderful resort, with the specialty being their many different species of hummingbirds.  Out in the back were hot springs, and guests were welcome to swim in the pools.  Our guide told us to bring our swimsuits.  We did . . . but . . . no thank you!  It was too cold, (and a strong sulfur smell.)  We checked in, and after a night's rest, left early next morning for Los Nevados National Park. 

DAY 4 (Jan 8)

left Termales del Ruiz, arrived at HQ Los Nevados National Park, 

  flight back to Manizales, Laguna Negra, then onto Rio Blanco for the afternoon and evening

Pale-naped Brushfinch

Returned to Termales del Ruiz for more birding for the rest of the day.

Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager

Plain-colored Seedeater

Arrival at Rio Blanco

 

Guan