Between Trinidad and Loreto 07.11.09. Seeing the Blue-throated Macaw the hard way, part I

On the 06 of November at 21:00 PM I headed from Santa Cruz to Trinidad. The bus came to Trinidad at 06:00 the next morning. The next thing I had to do was to find the place were you can get a lift to Loreto. I soon learned that there is not any regular service to Loreto, so I just had to wait hoping that someone could pick me up. I met my guide Mauricio from Armonia at 10:00 PM, and half an hour later a Pick-Up shoved up (with all the seats occupied), and I got a space at the back of the car together with five other people. Mauricio headed towards Loreto at his motorcycle.

I had decided to see the Blue-throated Macaw "the hard way", at my own (paying a reasonable price), using Mauricio as my guide in Loreto. A week earlier Armonia had been very helpful providing information and the first contact with Mauricio. Then I had to find my way to Loreto, the last leg at the back of a Pick-Up. It was a sunny day and I managed to see 60+ species along the road. Among them Maguari Stork, Jabiru, Wood Stork, Plumbeous Ibis, Scarlet-headed Blackbird & White Monjita just to name a few.

According to Mauricio the best would be to visit the farm were we could see the Macaws in the afternoon. This meant that I could spend some hours watching birds walking around in the outskirts of Loreto on my own. It was quite warm, and in the middle of the day, but I still managed to see some birds.
Rufous Hornero, common in Loreto.

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper in the outskirts of the town.

Two White Monjitas could be seen at the end of the main street leading towards some ponds and lagoons.

White-rumped Monjita was easily seen in the town. I took this pictures in the late afternoon.

To be continued.