On my last morning here, I went out early with Eladio and Jhonny, and the best bird of the day happened right off the bat. Maybe the first bird we heard calling when we got onto the trail was one of the resident White-bellied Antpittas, which I had been hearing…
Still feeling pretty weak and unfortunately not up for a full day out, I decided to get a bus up to the trailhead on Guacamayos Ridge so spend another morning there. Slowly meandering down the trail, I came across a couple mixed flocks, containing the usual suspects such as Grass-green…
A rare sunny morning greeted us today, and I quickly got up and grabbed a breakfast snack before heading out. I joined Eladio, Jhonny and his girlfriend, and a neighbour’s kid (who is probably around 8) for a hike up the ridge across the street. We didn’t find anything new…
Successfully flagging down a bus in the dark at 5am started my day, and I was off on my next adventure, though still feeling less than perfect. The goal was a visit to the Reserva Wayra, where I hoped to get a couple target birds. Getting there before they officially…
After getting unfortunately sick and missing a day of birding yesterday, I was able to get back out today for some low key birding. Sometimes things just don't work out as planned, and although I had to play the rest of the trip by ear and take it slow, I…
I hired a fantastic local guide for a day, with hopes of getting on some harder to find species, as well as getting to some roadside spots that aren’t easily birded without a car. Marcelo picked me up at 6am, and we headed off to our first stop, the Guacamayos…
We got an early start this morning, for we had a mission. Toni and Eladio had gotten in contact with someone who has a known nest site for Black-and-Chestnut Eagle on their property, not far from here. This species was high on my want list, so it was worth dedicating…
Birding this morning was a bit slow, as cloud forest birding can be. Jhonny (Toni and Eladio’s son) and I hiked up on the ridge here at the cabañas. We encountered a couple small mixed flocks, and teased out a couple new species. Lifer Lemon-browed Flycatcher and Pale-edged Flycatcher provided…
After going pretty intensely for the last 3 days, having a day off from intense birding served to both give my feet a break and give my mind a chance to catch up on everything. After breakfast and packing up from my hostel in Papallacta, I walked down the hill…
I got another early start today for some cloud forest birding at Guango Lodge. Finding birds in the cloud forest is never easy, and can be a downright frustrating experience sometimes when they never reveal themselves amongst the thick tangle of an understory. But by slowly, quietly walking the trails…