Birds in Peru

Garden birds from Cochabamba, November 2009

2010-04-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Rusty Flowerpiercer

Sayaca Tanager in strong light.

Yellow-browed Tyrant

Santa Cruz airport, Bolivia (Second Part)

2010-04-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Grassland Sparrow, this is a small sparrow, and it is possible to see the yellow lore on this bird. Grassland Sparrow could be confused with Yellow-browed Sparrow. However, the Yellow-browed Sparrow has more yellow on the face, and lives in a different habitat.
Bobolink, northern migrant in its winter plumage.

Wedge-tailed Grassfinch (next two photos), it's possible to see the pointed tail at the second photo, and at the first photo the birds shove the prominent black streaking at the back.

Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher.

Some more pictures from this day with clouds and rain 09 of November 2009. The pictures are not very colorful, but they might help you to identify passerines in pastures a rainy day in this area.

Santa Cruz airport, Bolivia (First part)

2010-04-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Fork-tailed Flycatcher, there were several around perching together with Eastern Kingbirds.

Enough food!

Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

I stayed several hours at the airport 09 of November 2009. This is a good place to spend some hours watching birds. Unfortunately it was cloudy with some rain in the air as you can see from my photos.

Boca del Rio, Tacna 03.04.10

2010-04-16T00:04:00.001-07:00

Ruddy Turnstone

Pectoral Sandpiper (picture 3 &4), although the jizz, black bill and the feathers at the back bothers me, this must be a Pectoral Sandpiper. The breast and olive legs points toward this species. Pectoral Sandpiper can also have a black bill.

Unknown from Colombia II

2010-04-12T20:58:00.000-07:00

This bird shoved up in the hotel garden close to the airport in Medellin, July 2008. I never managed to see the face well. From the pictures it is possible to see the reddish at the crown and wings. The breast is and throat looks all dark grey. The bird seems to be a Spinetail, and the best alternatives are Azara's, Silvery-throated. Ash-browed or Slaty Spinetail. The tail is unusually long and Tit-Spinetail shaped (probably because the tail is worn), and could indicate a Silvery-throated or Azara's Spinetail (the somewhat reddish tail seems to indicate the latter). The tail is probably to long for both Ash-browed and Slaty Spinetail, but the coloration of the breast could indicate that this is Salty Spinetail (although the length and colour of the tail don't fit with this species).

It looks like this is Azara's Spinetail, also from one comment I have received.

Unknown from Colombia

2010-04-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

This is an unidentified bird from Laguna del Sonso en Colombia, 21. July 2008. The bird had the size of a Kingbird and the bill was dark and strong. It might be a common bird, but I have not managed to identify it yet. I was thinking about Hooded Tanager, but the colour of the legs and eye is wrong (it is also to high or this species). Any suggestions?

Richard Johnston suggests that this is Cinereous Becard, and I think he is right. I miscalculated the size though.

Some more Loreto birds, november 2009

2010-04-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

Rufescent Tiger-Heron

Solitary Sandpiper, the only shorebird in the area.
Yellow-billed Tern

Flycatcher ID

2010-04-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from Loreto, Bolivia, 07. November 2009.

The first bird is a Boat-billed Flycatcher. The strong bill easily identifies the species. The next bird is a Great Kiskadee, often identified by it voice when it is repeating the second part of its name. The Great Kiskadee has a large bill, but far from the size of the Boat-billed Flycatcher.

This short billed bird is not as easy to identify as the two first. It is a Rusty-margined or Social Flycatcher. There is much overlap among this two species. My guess is that this is a Rusty-margined Flycatcher mainly because of the coloration on the wing, the black crown and plain wing coverts. It also looks like the Rusty-margined Flycatcher has a darker eye than Social Flycatcher on many illustrations (Birds of Peru, Songbirds of South-America), but this is not mentioned in the text.

Saltators I

2010-03-07T19:04:00.000-08:00

Grayish Saltator, Trinidad, Bolivia

Buff-throated Saltator, Mizque, Bolivia

During my first years in Peru I did not have any bird book were Buff-throated Saltator was illustrated. The first time I saw the species I was not sure if it was Buff-throated or Grayish Saltator. Here you have both species.

Mejía January 2010

2010-01-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

Oasis Hummingbird

House Saprrow, whit a "bocadito"

Lizzard

Sunset 1

Sunset 2

Purple-collared Woodstar, Mejía January 2010

2010-01-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Burrowing Owl, Mejía 2009/10

2010-01-23T11:32:00.000-08:00

Close to the beach

Along the entrance to the Sanctuary. This bird nests along the road, but it is easily overlooked.

Beach area north of Mejía.

Burrowing Owls at the entrance to their nest, they are nesting next to the beach north of Mejía.

Some common birds, Mejia

2010-01-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

Pied-crested it-Tyrant is a quite common bird in the area, but this is my first photo of the species. The next bird, Rufous-collared Sparrow, is a lot easier to photograph.

Vermilion Flycatcher, Mejia 02.01.10

2010-01-11T19:33:00.000-08:00

Birds along the shore, Mejia

2010-01-11T19:20:00.001-08:00

Guanay Cormorants from Boca del Rio, 02.01.10. More than 10.000 of this species migrating south 03.01!

Black Skimmers, we saw several thousand in the Sanctuary 02.01.

Black Skimmer

Whimbrel

Band-tailed Gull

Killdeer

2010-01-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

Close to Mejia I found a pair of nesting Killdeers with three juveniles on farmland 30.12.09. This is one of three places I have found nesting Killdeers the last years. Two of the pairs located their nests on farmland and the other one next to the beach.
Adult bird (above)

Juvenile

Juvenile

Snowy Plover

2010-01-04T19:07:00.000-08:00

Another local bird present along the beach 30.12.2009 was the Snowy Plover. I found three nesting couples during my walk. I also found one non breeding bird, and I spent some time taking pictures of it. Here you can see some of the results.

American Oystercatcher

2010-01-04T18:58:00.000-08:00

There were not any migrating bird along the shore in Mejia, and I guess it's a result of "el niño". Not a single Gull or Tern rested in the two kilometres stretch I walked 30.12.2009. I had to point my lens at the local birds like this American Oystercatcher.

Woodpeckers from Santa Cruz, Bolivia

2009-12-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

Here are two of the most common Woodpeckers from the lowlands in Bolivia.
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker from Santa Cruz. This Woodpecker can be seen in the central parts of the town.

White Woodpecker from Loreto, Beni. I have also seen this species in Lomas de Arenas several times.

The possibility to get a trip for free

2009-12-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hoatzin, Amazonian Lodge, Manu

It is possible to promote ecotourism in many ways. Gunnar Engblom offers now a trip for free to Manu and Satipo road in order to get visitors to the new lodges in these areas. The idea is that the visitors should promote the new lodges, and at the same time the community lodges receive some more visitors.

It is important for these community lodges to receive visitors and get some benefits out of their protections efforts. If you want to learn something more about the project (and get a possibility to win a trip) you should go to: http://bit.ly/8s830C%20

Still not convinced? Satipo Road and Manu are among the best places to see birds on our planet

Returning from Loreto 08.11.09

2009-12-14T19:31:00.000-08:00

The king of all frogs almost twice the size of my hand.

This is what you can get for 3 USD a day in Loreto, a room with a bed.

Sunday morning I planned to watch birds close to Loreto and then return to Trinidad in the afternoon. I woke up at 06:00 AM, and I soon realized that I had to change my plans. It had rained several hours by then, and the sound of the frogs was intense. The frogs were everywhere, and I observed one almost twice the size of my hand.

The rain stopped at 08:30 AM, and I started to look for a car that could bring me back to Trinidad. Mauricio told me that it could be difficult to drive shortly after the rain, but hopefully someone could give me a lift. Luckily one of the local drivers decided to go at 11:00 AM, and despite some difficulties we used only two hour on our way back to Trinidad. Below: A Piculet, but witch species?

Finding the Blue-throated Macaw the hard way, part IV

2009-12-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Southern Caracara

After 30 minutes at the back of the motorcycle, with Mauricio as the driver, we entered a farm with several small buildings. Several palms around the farm had breeding nest boxes for the Macaws. According to Mauricio the Blue-throated Macaws are probably going to use one of the nest boxes less than 100 meters from the farm buildings this year. It seems like the Blue-throated Macaws accept the presence of humans close to their nest. We started to wait about 50 meters from the nest boxes.

Mauricio told me that the Blue-throated Macaws have to fight with the Blue-and-yellow Macaw in order to get a nest box, and normally it looses the fight because it is smaller. The Blue-throated Macaws are also normally seen close to the farms in the area, and the last breeding season two pairs used the nest boxes made by Mauricio. Last year the chicks were stolen from the nest box used by the Macaws in this area, but the other pair of Blue-throated Macaws had fledgings at another farm.
Blue-and-yellow Macaws

After a while we decided to take a walk looking for the Macaws. We entered the area were the Blue-throated Macaws had their nest last breeding season, and a Laughing Falcon had occupied the nest box the Macaws used then.

Returning to the farm we soon heard the sound of the Blue-throated Macaws and the pair could bee observed in the palms not far from the nest boxes. I took my photos at some distance, and after some 10 minutes we decided to head back to Loreto. I have now seen one of the scarcest Macaws in the world, and hopefully this pair mange to raise their chicks this breeding season!

One of the Blue-throated Macaws

Loreto 07.11.09, seeing the Blue-throated Macaw the hard way, part III

2009-12-10T19:33:00.001-08:00

Some more species from Loreto.

Limpkin walking next to the main street.

Southern Screamer

Jabiru
Let's start the last leg to find the Blue-throated Macaw together with Mauricio. He is one of the few who knows were to find this scarce species. According to himself he has never failed in his attempt to shove this species to visitors.

To be continued.

Loreto 07.11..09, seeing the Blue-throated Macaw the hard way, part II

2009-12-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

The light varied considerably in the evening, but many bird shove up, and I it is at least possible to identify the birds. Totally I saw five species of Seedeaters in a couple of hours. Here are some of them.
Rusty-collared Seedeater, male. Not a sharp photo but the bird is identifiable.

Lined Seedeater, male and female

Double-collared Seedeater, male in poor light. Caqueta Seedeater and White-bellied Seedeater were also seen during the short walk around the town.

To be continued.

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

2009-12-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

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.

Birds in and around Sucre

2009-10-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Brown-backed Mockingbird is quite common in Sucre.

Grey-hooded Parakeet, Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre. This species is not present all the year, but several flocks were seen during August and September. Now it seems like they have disappeared from the area just as the Mitred Parakeets present at the same time.

Streak-fronted Thornbird, Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre, 10.09.09. It can be difficult to photograph this species.

Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch, Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre, 06.08.09.

Rusty-vented Canastero

2009-10-09T09:20:00.000-07:00

Rusty-vented Canastero at the announcement board.

Caching insects.

The nest in Molle 03.10.09

Several months I have tried to take some decent photos of the quite cryptic Rusty-vented Canastero. It’s a bird that rarely perches in the open, and most of my photos are either distant or only a part of the bird is visible. However, some weeks ago a bird looked for insects hopping on the announcement board at the wall opposite to my office window. The bird visited the announcement board several times a day during the next couple of days, and I managed to take some photos of the bird. Rusty-vented Canastero belongs to the Creamy-breasted Canastero complex together with amongst others Dark-winged Canastero. Here in Sucre the Rusty-vented Canastero builds almost exclusively the nest in trees (mostly Molle), and not in Cactus like the Dark-winged Canastero.

Lomas de Arena, Santa Cruz III

2009-09-24T18:31:00.000-07:00

Guira Cuckoo is one of the common birds in and around Santa Cruz.

South American Snipe, not a good picture but it is the best I have of this species.

Jardín Botánica, Santa Cruz IV

2009-09-24T17:28:00.000-07:00

Purple-throated Euphonia, this group is now considered to be a part of the Siskins in stead of the Tanagers.

This Spot-breasted Woodpecker nested in the same tree as the Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (below).

All the photos are from my visit to the Botanic Garden 07.09.09. When you visit this place its important to tell the driver that you wants to go the new Botanic Garden (el nuevo Jardín Botánico).

Jardín Botánico, Santa Cruz III

2009-09-20T21:04:00.000-07:00

Wattled Jacana

Here are some of the birds I saw along the oxbow lake in the Botanic Garden. I also had a Gray-necked Wood-Rail in the morning, and several Little Grebes were present as well.

Purple Gallinule

Ringed Kingfisher

Amazonian Kingfisher

Jardín Botánico, Santa Cruz - some animals

2009-09-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

The woodland and the oxbox lake also holds some animals, here are some of them.

Lomas de Arena, Santa Cruz II

2009-09-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Red-legged Seriema, I observed this sought after bird in the gardens in the area with the last entrance sign over the road (were the patch of wood you have to drive through begins).
Cocoi Heron
Green Ibis & Black-necked Stilt
Plumbeous Ibis
Nacunda Nighthawk

Lomas de Arena, Santa Cruz

2009-09-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Lomas de arena
White-tailed Hawk
Southern Crested Caracara
Roseate Spoonbill
Ringed Teal (highest) & two Brazilian Ducks.

This area lies quite close to Santa Cruz. However, it takes some time to get there. Sometimes you need a four-wheel drive the last 3 or 4 kilometers, but off course you will see more birds walking through the forest the last kilometers before coming to the dunes and lagoons.

Jardín Botánico, Santa Cruz 07.09.09

2009-09-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

Black-fronted Nunbird, it is easily seen in the forest next to the oxbow lake.
Wood Stork, this is maybe the first observation in this area, although it is not a rare bird in the lowlands.
Spot-backed (Caatinga) Puffbird, not included in the list published several years ago, but now probably quite common at least seasonally.

Blue-crowned Motmot

Jardín Botánico in Santa Cruz lies close to the city center, and the forest is well preserved. The area contains both Chaco and Semi-tropical forest, and close to the entrance you can also find an oxbow lake adding some waterfowl to the birdlist. More than 200 species of birds have been observed in the area. The wind was quite strong when I visited the park this Monday morning, but I still managed to see 60+ species.

In the air, Sucre...

2009-09-10T16:36:00.000-07:00

Variable (Red-backed) Hawk
Cinereous Harrier
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and Mountain Caracara

Las Salinas, Arequipa 21.08

2009-09-10T16:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the area above Chiguata and Las Salinas. The best observation this day was not a bird but the Andean Fox that crossed the raod at 4100 m.

Endemic birds in Bolivia 3

2009-09-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

Bolivian Earthcreeper is together with Chaco Earthcreeper now separated in its own family named Tarphonomus. The Bolivian Earthcreeper is endemic for the central part of Bolivia. This individual was photographed in Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre (2860 m) in August 2009. Good fieldmarks are the bill and the underside with no contrasts except the white throat.

Citron-headed Yellow-Finch, Sucre 18.08.09

2009-08-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Citron-headed Yellow-Finch (first picture) is quite common here in Sucre, and it is only present in Bolivia and the northern part of Argentina. Below the more widespread Greenish Yellow-Finch

The Roadside Hawk is still around

2009-08-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

Today I saw the Roadside Hawk from my window once again, It had a prey as well (Picui Ground-Dove). There are a lot of birds in the garden here at SETELA, and it seems like the Hawk has discovered this food source.

Golden-breasted Woodpecker

2009-08-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

From 2001 to 2003 I had one or two observations of this Woodpecker each year here in Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre (2860 m). However, in 2004 I saw this species all months of the year. Now returning in 2009 I have seen this species several times already.

Roadside Hawk seen from my window today

2009-08-14T10:38:00.001-07:00

This Roadside Hawk perched outside my office today. I decided not to open the window, and the quality of the photo is good enough (Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre, 14.08.09).

Another brown-capped bird

2009-08-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

The Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail, is among the more seldom seen bird as well here in Alto Tujsupaya, Sucre. However, I saw two individuals of this species 06.08.09.

Brown-capped Whitestart, Sucre, Bolivia

2009-08-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite birds in the area. The Brown-capped Whitestart is a colorful and fast moving bird. Brown-capped Whitestart is not so common here in Alto Tujsupaya, but I see it from time to time. This individual was photographed in this area 06.08.09. I have seen this species more frequently at slightly lower elevations (among others Hacienda siete cascadas).

Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant, Sucre, Bolivia

2009-08-12T16:56:00.001-07:00

The Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant is a scarce austral migrant in Sucre, and this bird was photographed today. This is only my third observation of this species in Sucre. I have also seen this species in Puno, Peru in August. All my observations are related to the austral winter, and my guess is that this is a migrant in this part of Bolivia and Southern-Peru.

Cliff Flycatcher, Sucre, Bolivia

2009-08-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

This Cliff Flycatcher was photographed along the entrance road to "Hacienda siete cascadas" here in Sucre today.

Endemic birds in Bolivia 2

2009-08-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

There is a colony with Cliff Parakeets next to "Hacienda siete cascadas" in Sucre. The birds are normally seen on the grounds at the hacienda as well. The Cliff Parakeet is by some authors regarded a subspecies of Monk Parakeet, but normally accepted as a valid species endemic to Bolivia.

Endemic birds in Bolivia

2009-08-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

"Hacienda siete cascadas" is a guest house were you can rest, eat & sleep. This is an old restored Spanish "hacienda", and it is a good place to look at birds as well. With some luck most of the specialties in the area can bee seen here in a day or two. I saw many good species, including the two endemics that are quite easily seen here, in about two hours. The turn off to this hacienda lies between the airport and the city center here in Sucre. In this post you can see a Bolivian Blackbird. You might notice some of the differences between this bird and a Shiny Cowbird: The plumage is not so bright, the bill is somewhat stronger and you can also see some brownish on the wing. All these characters distinguish the Bolivian Blackbird from a Shiny Cowbird. Normally you also hear the characteristic "cho-pe" before you see the bird.

Giant Hummingbird, Sucre, Bolivia 09.08.09

2009-08-10T08:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I observed a very cooperative Giant Humingbird. In the end I photographed the bird at about four meters.

Sucre, Bolivia 06.08.09

2009-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my latest observations from Sucre. I have done several walks in Alto Tujsupaya close to the airport were you can find our Theological Seminary (SETELA). One of my best documented observations is a male Wedge-tailed Hillstar (06.08.09). This is just my second observation in this area.

Chiguata

2009-08-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

Chiguata is my homepatch one again (last time back in 1995/96), there is nothing more relaxing than a walk in this area. The people are gentle and the scenery extraordinary. There are also a lot of interesting birds in the area, just around Chiguata itself there are 70+ species to be seen, but if you add the polilepis wood and "Salinas" we talk about 140+ species.

Harvestime

White-throated Earthcreeper is one of the specialities in the area.
The church in Chiguata.

A colourful Black-hooded Sierra-Finch is hiding between the branches.

Sacsayhuamán, Cuzco 23.05

2009-08-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

Sacsayhuaman isn't a place were you can see a lot of birds, but walking around this archaeological site there is always something to see.

Andean Lapwing, probably not present all year in the area.

Black-throated Flowerpiercer, this is a common bird in the area.

Stronewalls

White-throated Hawk soaring above the ruins, this is a scarce raptor west of the Andes.

More pictures from the trip to Sandia 28-29 of May

2009-08-01T18:30:00.001-07:00

Andean Condor

Waterfall just below the highest point at the road.
Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, female

La Cumbre

Cinereous Hawk

2009-08-01T18:25:00.001-07:00

Here comes a picture I've had on my computer some time, it's a female Cinereous Harrier from Juliaca. It hunted along the hills just above our house in April this year.

Back from Norway

2009-08-01T18:16:00.000-07:00

We have been some weeks in Norway, and hopefully there will be some more birds from Peru and Bolivia soon on this page. Meanwhile you can take a look at this Ringed Plover (it's not a Semipalmated Plover!) from Lista, Southern Norway.

Along the road to Sandia 28 of May.

2009-05-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

28 of May I headed towards Sandia together with some friends, our goal was San Juan del Oro. I was the only birdwatcher, but we had some stops that I used to watch birds. Along the road from Juliaca to Sandia you have to climb up to 4600 m, it means that you can see some highland species on your way.
Ornate Tinamou
La Rinconada area

White-winged Diuca Finch

Looking for gold.

Crested Duck

Sandia area 28 of May.

2009-05-31T16:21:00.000-07:00

While the others were eating lunch in Sandia I used the time looking for the Green-capped Tanager. I managed to see two in a garden at the right hand side shortly after a waterfall (to the left) about two kilometres below Sandia at approximately 2100 m. After lunch we continued our way to San Juan del Oro. However, we didn’t make it all the way to San Juan del Oro, while climbing to Abra Maruncuna (2200 m) the road got really bad and we decided to return to Sandia.

Blue-banded Toucanet
Andean Guan

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Green-capped vs. Burnished-buff Tanager

2009-05-31T15:56:00.000-07:00

29 of May I returned to the garden where I observed the Green-capped Tanager the previous day. In the early morning I observed one individual. After an hour I had good enough light to take some photos at 800 ASA, and luckily a new bird entered the garden. After taking some photos I started to wonder if this really was a Green-capped Tanager. The crown looked more rufous than usual for this species, and I wondered if this could be a Burnished-buff Tanager. However, it seems to be too high for this species (2100 m). But as my experience with both species is quite limited I hope someone can give me some advice about this bird. It looks like the bird has some greenish in the rufous crown.
Is it a Green-capped or Burnished-buff Tanager.
Some greenish in the rufous crown.

The only picture from behind.

This individual was observed 28 of May at 1800 m.

The waterfal next to the garden were I observed the bird at the three first photos.

Returning from Sandia 29 of May.

2009-05-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

Some photos along the road between Sandia and the highlands.

Andean Condor, juvenile

Sparkling Violetear, Capachica, Lake Titiaca 09.05.09

2009-05-15T20:25:00.000-07:00

Santa Eulalia

2009-05-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

We didn't have too much time on our way back to Lima from the highlands, but we managed a couple of short stops in the Santa Eulalia valley. I visited Santa Eulalia for the first time last year, and then I added 7 species to my lifelist (http://hogsas.blogspot.com/search?q=White-cheeked+Cotinga). Here are two endemics from the area below the San Pedro turn off (my camera still worked).
Thick-billed Miner

Thick-billed Miner

Great Inca-Finch

Lima highlands

2009-05-15T18:17:00.001-07:00

Diademed Plover, I have seen this species earlier, but these are my first photos of this species. I could maybe have gone somewhat closer, but decided not to disturb the birds more than necessary.
Diademed Plover

White-bellied Cinclodes

Rufous-bellied Seedesnipe

Black-breasted Hillstar

All since I got "Birds of the High Andes" back in 1991, I have been interested in seeing many of the scarce Andean birds. I saw many of them back in 1997 visiting Abra Malaga. Just to mention Royal Cinclodes and Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant. But still I hadn't seen several of the highland species from Lima, among them White-bellied Cinclodes, Dark-winged Miner & Olivaceous Thornbill (the Thornbill is not only a speciality for this area, but easily seen here), all of them target species on this trip (I saw them all!). Unfortunately I didn't manage to take to many good photos, mostly because the battery was almost flat, and I hadn't my second battery in the bag either :-(. I just took some photos without checking the result. However, some of them are good enough.

Some common birds from Sucre, Bolivia II

2009-05-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Red-tailed Comet, not a long tailed male, but still a good looking bird.

Rufous Hornero

Saffron Finch, seen in large groups in the area.

Great Kiskadee, now even more common than five years ago.

Citron-headed Yellow-Finch, this near endemic is quite common here, but I didn't get any closer this time.

Some common birds from Sucre, Bolivia I

2009-05-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures taken Alto Tucsupaya in the outskirts of Sucre 04-06 of May.
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Bay-winged Cowbird

Bay-winged Cowbird (Imm)

Bay-winged Cowbird

Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant and Lesser Shrike-Tyrant

2009-05-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant and a still not identified flycatcher from Sucre, Bolivia. The unidentified flycatcher behaved like a Ground-Tyrant, but what confuses me is the amount of white on the wings. The wing projection is also to short for most of the Ground-Tyrants. Any suggestions? The birds perched on the fence at the airport at 2870 m.
Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant
Several persons have indicated that this is a Lesser Shrike-Tyrant. This is my third observation of this bird in Sucre, and the first I have photographed. It means that I have seen this species earlier in the same general area four years ago, but I still didn't manage to recognize it. I guess that the small size confused me.

Lesser (Mouse-brown) Shrike-Tyrant

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Sucre, Bolivia

2009-05-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

Here are some birds from Sucre, Bolivia. I visited our theological seminary next to the airport in Alto Tucsupaya, Sucre a couple of days. From the office I observed a Narrow-billed Woodcreeper 05 of May. It was climbing in a tree next to the window. I have earlier seen Narrow-billed Woodcreeper close to "Hacienda Siete Cascadas" at 2600 m. However, 05 of May I saw the bird at 2860 m, witch might be the highest ever observation of this species. Ridgely and Tudur (The Birds of South-America, vol. 2) mentions that it is possible to see this species at least to 2300 m in Bolivia.

Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, at 2860 m from Sucre, Bolivia, 05.05.09

Colombia, July 2008 (6)

2009-04-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from Cali. This is the last of six posts. You should start the story at the first post.
Crested Bobwhite, male
Crested Bobwhite, female. The birds were observed when we visited Cristo Blanco above the town.

Great Kiskadee, Cali

Rusty-margined Flycatcher, at the airport, Cali

Blue-gray Tanager, at the airport, Cali

Colombia, July 2008 (5)

2009-04-24T11:06:00.001-07:00

The third post with birds from Laguna de Sonso, Valle de Cauca.

Whispering Ibis

Purplish Gallinule

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Colombia, July 2008 (4)

2009-04-24T10:49:00.001-07:00

More birds from Laguna de Sonso, Valle de Cauca.

Anhinga, not always easy to see here.

Yellow Oriole
Greater (Caribbean) Flamingo, there are not many observations of this species from Laguna de Sonso.

Smooth-billed Ani

Spectacled Parrotlet

Colombia, July 2008 (3)

2009-04-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

When it comes to birds the highlight of the trip was a visit to Laguna de Sonso, in the valley of Cauca. The rest of the family spent some time walking around in Buga while I preferred mud, mosquitoes and of course the opportunity to see some new birds. The taxi driver I used from Buga to Laguna de Sonso happened to know the place well, and together we walked two hours in the area. I observed more than 50 species at this site.

A Saffron Finch indicating where I could find the birds!
Yellow-headed Caracara, quite common here.

Snail Kite, a very common bird!

Red-crowned Woodpecker, just recently observed at Laguna de Sonso.

Crimson-crested Woodpecker, this species is not on the list from Laguna de Sonso. This might bee a new species here.

Colombia, July 2008 (2)

2009-04-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

Southern Lapwing, Las Lomas hotel, Medellín.

Striated Heron, from a park Antioquia area close to Medellín.
Tropical Kingbird, Bogotá

Colombia, July 2008

2009-04-24T08:39:00.000-07:00

Steely-vented Hummingbird, in the garden at Las Lomas hotel close to the airport in Medellín.

Great Thrush, a common bird in the parks, Bogotá

Steely-vented Hummingbird, Las Lomas hotel, Medellín.

American Coot, Parque Florida, Bogotá.

Montane Thrush, Las Lomas hotel, Medellín.

Last year we visited Colombia together with my brother and his family. This was manly a family trip so I did not see so many birds, but here are some of the birds observed in Bogotá and Medellín. In Bogota I visited Parque Florida. I did see the Apolinar's Wren during the tree hours spent in the park but not the Rail.

Chiguata 28.03.2008

2009-04-11T20:22:00.001-07:00

White-throated Earthcreeper

Moho area 02-03.04.2009

2009-04-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

Andean Lapwing

Puna Teal
Yellow-billed Pintail
Peruvian Sierra-Finch

Pectoral Sandpiper

Peruvian Sheartail, Arequipa 29-30.03.08

2009-04-10T20:33:00.001-07:00

One of the most common garden birds in Arequipa!

Aplomado Falcon, Moho 02.04.09

2009-04-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

Between Wayrapata and Ninantaya, Moho (Puno) I observed two Aplomado Falcons. I had to leave the car in order to get closer to the birds, and I was able to get quite close before they took off.

American Kestrel, Moho 02.04.09

2009-04-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

While driving between Wayrapata and Ninantaya, Moho (Puno) I observed this American Kestrel. It was eating another unidentified bird. Luckily I could use the car as a hide.

Chiguata 14.03.09

2009-03-17T20:47:00.001-07:00

This and the next post shoves 10 of the 34 species observed during an early morning walk (06-08 AM) in the grassland and scrub above Chiguata.

Black-hooded Sierra-Finch, male
Mountain Parakeet

Dark-winged Canastero

Chiguanco Thrush

Cream-winged Cinclodes

Chiguata 14.03.09

2009-03-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

Band-tailed Seedeater, male
Mourning Sierra-Finch, male

White-throated Earthcreeper

Thick-billed Siskin

Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant

Mostly Mejía area

2009-03-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

I had a search after unpublished photos on my computer; here are some of the photos I found from the last months.

Vermilion Flycatcher, Mejía, December 2008

Little Blue Heron, Mejía, January 2009

Gray-hooded Gull, La Punta, Islay, January 2009.

American Oystercatcher, Mar Villa, Lima, February 2009. Gray-hooded Gull in the background.

Woodpeckers II

2009-03-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some more Woodpeckers from the coast & Andean part of Peru. If you want to learn more about the differences between Golden-olive & Black-necked Woodpecker take a look at the previous post (Woodpeckers I).
Black-necked Woodpecker, Santa Eulalia, Lima (02.08.08)

Andean Flicker the only Woodpecker in the puna grassland in the Andes (Juliaca, 15.02.09)

Woodpeckers I

2009-03-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of Woodpeckers from the coastal northern part of Peru. The Golden-olive Woodpecker also can be found east of the Andes. I took the pictures during a brief visit to Chaparrí last year. The Scarlet-backed Woodpecker is definitely the most spectacular of them, and also sought after during bird trips along the northern coast or Marañón Valley. The Golden-olive Woodpecker can be confused with the endemic Black-necked Woodpecker. However, the Black-necked Woodpecker can be identified by the barred upperpart (see next post, Woodpecker II). According to Birds of Peru (Schulenberg et al.) there is little distributional overlap between Black-necked & Golden-olive Woodpecker.

Golden-olive Woodpecker
Golden-olive Woodpecker

Scarlet-backed Woodpecker

Yellow-hooded Blackbird, Mar Villa 18.02.09

2009-03-09T18:28:00.000-07:00

This species has survived in Pantanos de Villa since at least 1965 when about 35 ad. and one young were observed (Koepcke, The Birds of the Department of Lima, Peru, 1983 Ed.). Since then it has also spread to several other coastal marshes. When I came to Peru in 1995 there was some uncertainty about the survival of this coastal population (at least abroad). When I visited Mar Villa for the first time in 1996 together with Oscar Gonzales we saw several adults and young birds, and I remember I reported this to several persons then. The species seems to have a healthy population in and around Lima today, and it is easily seen in the Mar Villa area, Pantanos de Villa.

Andean Avocet, Laguna Chacas 06.03.09

2009-03-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

I visited Lagunas Chacas briefly yesterday, and an Andean Avocet walked around in a small pool close to the road. I had some problems with the sharp light, but here you have some of the photos.
Andean Avocet

Wilson's Phalarope

Lesser Yellowlegs

Puna Ibis

Shorebirds, Pantanos de Villa, Lima 18.02.09

2009-02-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

Stilt Sandpiper & Wilson's Phalarope

The Pectoral Sandpipers were quite easy to find because of the warm brown colour. At this picture you can also see Lesser Yellowlegs and one more species. Can you find it?

Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs & Stilt Sandpiper

Here you have four species, can you find them?

Pantanos de Villa, 18.02.09

2009-02-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

Neotropic Cormorant

Great Egret

Peregrine Falcon

Gray-hooded Gull (imm)

Great Grebe (adult & pull)

Shorebird migration in the Andes

2009-02-22T13:48:00.001-08:00

Lately there has been a slightly increase in the number of migrating shorebirds in and around Juliaca. Among others I did my first observations of Stilt Sandpiper in the Andes 14 & 15.02. The most numerous shorebirds were Wilson's Phalarope followed by Lesser Yellowlegs & Stilt Sandpiper, then came White-backed Stilt (non-migrant), Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper & Baird's Sandpiper. All pictures from Laguna Chacas (Kokan turnoff along the road to Lampa) & Laguna Koriauata (salida Cusco in Juliaca).

15 of the 29 Stilt Sandpipers seen in Laguna Chacas 15.02. Spots on tail and breast are visible, and the slightly decurved bill is another field mark.

Stilt Sandpiper, Laguna Koriauata

Stilt Sandpiper (left) and Lesser Yellowlegs (right) from Laguna Koriauata 14.02.

Lesser Yellowlegs, Laguna Koriauata.

White-backed Stilt, Laguna Koriauata

Capachica, Lake Titicaca. January 2009

2009-02-14T17:24:00.001-08:00

Immature Mountain Caracara

Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch

Capachica, Lake Titicaca

Lesser Yellowlegs, Capachica, January 2009

2009-02-14T17:06:00.000-08:00

Lesser Yellowlegs (behind) & Greater Yellowlegs (in front)

Lesser Yellowlegs (the first bird) & Greater Yellowlegs (behind)

Lesser Yellowlegs, smaller head than Greater Yellowlegs.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs, Capachica, January 2009

2009-02-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

Some Greater Yellowlegs along the shore of Lake Titicaca, Capachica.

More birds from Mollendo and Mejía from 28.12.08 to 02-01.09

2009-02-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

Not always easy to find a place to rest for the birds along the beaches (north of the Sanctuary)

Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, above Matarani (at 400 m).

Pacific Dove. Mejía 28.12.08

Purple-collared Woodstar, Mejía

Oasis Hummingbird, Mejía

Common Miner, Coastal and Andean ssp.

2009-02-04T13:09:00.000-08:00

Common Miner from the Coastal population, photographed at 400 m. above Matarani along the road to Arequipa 31.12.08.

Common Miner (coastal)

Common Miner from the Andean population, photographed at 4450 m close to Crucero Alto (Juliaca-Arequipa road) 25.12.08.

Common Miner (Coastal)

Along the coast look also after Grayish Miner http://hogsas.blogspot.com/search?q=Grayish+Miner

Matarani, Islay 30-31.12.08

2009-02-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

Inca Tern, 500+ present in the area.

Blackish Oystercatcher, several seen along the rocky shores.

Band-tailed Gull

Inca Tern

Humboldt Penguin, from a colony in the "El Faro" area.

Peruvian Pelican, Matarani, Islay 30-31.12.08

2009-02-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

Mejía Wetlands January 2009

2009-02-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Willet, 150+ seen along the river in the Sancturay.

Willet

Cinereous Harrier, male

Cinereous Harrier, female

Andean Falmingo - still pesent in Mejía

2009-01-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

Andean Flamingo, Mejía Wetlands, 02.01.09. I have earlier posted photos of the same bird from November 2008.

We counted 140 Chilean Flamingos in the Wetlands at the end of December 2008. It is possible to see a group of Puna Ibis in the background.

Franklin's Gull - plumage variation

2009-01-19T19:21:00.001-08:00

Franklin's Gull togheter with Elegant Tern. More than 10.000 Franklin's Gulls seen at the same time along the beaches in Mejía at the end of year 2008.

Could someone indicate the exact stage of each bird?

Somewhat different bill shape?

House Wren - some variation

2009-01-19T19:08:00.001-08:00

(Southern) House Wren from the coast (Mejía), December 2008.

(Southern) House Wren from the Andes (Juliaca), December 2008; slightly bigger and warmer colours.

Yura area 27.12.08

2009-01-09T21:44:00.000-08:00

Straight-billed Earthcreeper, I am not that close to often.

Straight-billed Earthcreeper

White-throated Earthcreeper, the somewhat strong bill and white throat can be used to separate this species from Plain-breasted Earthcreeper.

White-throated Earthcreeper

Colca valley, the pass 27.12.08

2009-01-09T21:30:00.001-08:00

Vicuña

White-throated Sierra-Finch

Plumbeous Sierra-Finch

We also saw some other good bird at this site, among others Diademed Sandpiper-Plover (three very shy birds) and White-winged Diuca-Finch.

Colca valley 26-27.12.08

2009-01-09T21:05:00.001-08:00

Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, it is a common but also a nice bird when it perches like this.

Mourning Sierra-Finch, this is one of the most common birds in the valley.

Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant

A Chiguanco Thrush is finding something to eat.

Andean Condor, we did not get it any closer.