White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant, Chiguata

I have only seen White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant a couple of times, and never photographed the species earlier. At about 3500 meters, Mauricio spotted one, but after a couple of minutes, it disappeared. I started to run after the bird without thinking about the altitude, and I found it after a ten minutes hike up the hillside. I felt shaky and could hardly held the camera, but I was able to take some pictures of the bird.

White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant (above and below)

 Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, photograpet at 3000 meters in Chiguata the same day.

Chiguata - once again

Once again I had the opportunity to visit Chiguata. This time together with Finn and Mauricio. We birded along the road from Chiguata to Salinas. Here are some of the birds from the lower elevations (2300 - 3500 meters). The first post showing some of the hummingbirds in the area.

             The endemic Black Metaltail

                            Giant Hummingbird

                     Peruvian Sheartail

                   Sparkling Violetear

                Sparkling Violetear

               Giant Hummingbird

Chiguata

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.

Chiguata 28.03.2008

White-throated Earthcreeper

Chiguata 14.03.09

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

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

White-throated Earthcreeper

Thick-billed Siskin

Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant

Chiguata 17.06.08

Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant

Well, let's just call it Dark-winged Canastero.
Slender-billed Miner

Humingbirds from Chiguata, 17.06.08

Giant Humming-
bird











Black Metaltail
Giant Humming-
bird








Here are some hummingbird pictures from Chiguata. I took the photos just outside te town at 3000 m.

Lower parts of the Chiguata basin 11.12.07

Burrowing Owl from the drier parts just after entering the Chiguata basin.



Andean Tit-Spinetail in the drier parts of the basin. I have only seen this species below 2900 m. Andean Tit-Spintail can be confused with Streaked Tit-Spinetail. Note the streaks at the breast.


Dark-winged Canastero sitting at the nest.



Canyon Canastero habitat before entering the Chiguata basin. I saw the Canyon Canastero here 11.12.07. I have also seen it at higher altitude. some years ago.





Canyon Canastero from the Arequipa - Juliaca road (above Yura) 16.12.07. Note the reddish tail, wings and back.

Chiguata 11.12.07

Hooded Siskin, male
Thick-billed Siskin, note the bill and less yellowish colour.
White-browed Chat-Tyrant
Band-tailed Seedeater, male

Mourning Sierra-Finch, male

__________

Just before the Pipeline trail there is another small gorge to the left; this is also a good place to see birds. Here are some birds from this locality.

Pipeline trail, Chiguata 11.12.07

The Black Metaltails seems to prefer gorges where they can stay in the shadows.

Human activity in the Pipeline trail

The Pipeline trail lies in the Chiguata basin. You can see the pipeline cross the fork at the left-hand side of the road. This was earlier a peaceful place with birds like White-throated Earthcreeper and Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch. The human activity in this gorge has probably scared them both. However I saw several Black Metaltails displaying in the entrance to the gorge.

Ground-Tyrant 3

I think that this is White-browed Ground-Tyrant, but I am not sure if it is possible to rule out Puna Ground-Tyrant. Does anyone have any suggestions? The pictures are from Chiguata at 3000 m 31.07.07. Altitude, location (farmland) and supercilium (behind eye) indicates White-browed Ground-Tyrant.