COLOMBIA ENDEMICS AND SPECIALTIES TOUR (23 DAYS)

This tour will take us through world-class birding destinations along altitudinal gradients and geographic regions that will maximize the number of species we can observe.

Day 1 : Arrival into Bogota and Parque La Florida

Morning arrival into Bogota. After baggage pick up, transfer to Parque La Florida. Once we arrive, we will bird around the wetlands of La Florida and Jaboque and adjacent upland vegetation. Species we will seek include: (E) Bogotá Rail, (E) Silvery-throated Spinetail, (E) Apolinar’s Wren, (NE) Rufous-browed Conebill, Spot-flanked Gallinule & Yellow-hooded Blackbird. Other specialties include Subtropical Doradito, Lesser Scaup, Andean Siskin, Noble Snipe, Andean Teal, Band-tailed Seedeater, Black Flowerpiercer, Grassland Yellow-finch, and Eastern Meadowlark. Meals: D ; Lodging: Hotel Casona Del Patio

Day 2: Chingaza National Park

Today we rise early and head out towards the small town of la Calera. We begin by stopping at the Hummingbird observatory to get excellent views of the local Hummingbirds. Ten kilometres from la Calera, Krumholz habitat begins and so does the birding. Species we will look for include: (E) Brown-breasted Parakeet, (E) Silvery-throated Spinetail, (NE) Blue-throated Starfrontlet, (NE) Matorral Tapaculo, (NE) Golden-fronted Whitestart, (NE) Coopery-bellied Puffleg, Rufous-browed Conebill, Purple-backed Thornbill, Paramo Seedeater, Plush-capped Finch, Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, and Black-headed Hemispingus. After a full day of birding, we will return to our hotel in Bogota. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Casona Del Patio

Day 3: Monteredondo

Today we rise early again and head towards forested patches within the eastern slope of the Eastern Andes. As we descend, we will bird in the Monteredondo Forest. Here we will look for (E) Cundinamarca Antpitta, (E) East Andean AntbirdAndean as well as other specialties such as: Pygmy-Owl, Golden-crowned Tanager, Andean Guan, Green and Black Fruiteater, Glittering-throated Emerald, Green-bellied Hummingbird, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Blackish Tapaculo, Black collared Jay, Flame-winged Parakeet and Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Casona Del Patio

Day 4: Enchanted Garden and Rio Claro

Today we begin our trip into the Mid-Magdalena Valley into Rio Claro but not before making a stop at the Enchanted Garden a small but very active hummingbird feeding station at the outskirts of the little town of San Francisco. More than 20 species of hummingbirds have been recorded here, among them the endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird, the rare Gorgeted Woodstar and Lazuline Sabrewing. Others that we will see include Black-throated Mango, White-vented Plumeleteer, Sparkling Violetear, Green Violetear, the rare Brown Violetear, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, White-bellied Woodstar, Green Hermit, Steely-vented Hummingbird and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, among others. We then continue on our way to Rio Claro. We will have an afternoon of birding in Rio Claro and if time permits, some stops along our route, including puerto triunfo. Specialties include: (E) Antioquia Bristle-tyrant, (E) Magdalena Antbird, (NE) Saffron-headed Parrot, (NE) Scarlet-browed Tanager, and (NE) Northern Screamer. Other specialties: Black-hawk Eagle, King Vulture, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Gartered Trogon, Rufous Motmot, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Cithron-throated Toucan, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Fasciated Antshrike, Bare-crowned Antbird, Wing-barred Piprites, Bicolored Antbird, Southern Bentbill, Golden-headed, Blue-Crowned, White-bearded and Striped Manakin, Blue Cotinga, Barred Puffbird, Slate-colored Grosbeak, Orange-billed Sparrow, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Crested Owl, Oilbird, Long-billed Hermit, White-whiskered Puffbird, Olivaceous Piculet, Moustached Antwren, Large-billed Seedfinch, White-flanked Antwren, Dot-winged Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Olivaceous Flatbill, Scaly-breasted Wren, Yellow-backed Tanager, Rufous Piha. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Campestre Los Colores

Day 5: Rio Claro

Today we will have a full day of birding at Rio Claro with meals at the reserve. We will surely have a great time birding here. Among our target species are (E) Antioquia Bristle-tyrant, (E) Magdalena Antbird, (NE) Saffron-headed Parrot, (NE) Scarlet-browed Tanager, and (NE) Northern Screamer. Other specialties include Black-hawk Eagle, King Vulture, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Gartered Trogon, Rufous Motmot, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Cithron-throated Toucan, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Fasciated Antshrike, Bare-crowned Antbird, Wing-barred Piprites, Bicolored Antbird, Southern Bentbill, Golden-headed, Blue-Crowned, White-bearded and Striped Manakins, Blue Cotinga, Barred Puffbird, Slate-colored Grosbeak, Orange-billed Sparrow, Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Crested Owl, Oilbird, Long-billed Hermit, White-whiskered Puffbird, Olivaceous Piculet, Moustached Antwren, Large-billed Seedfinch, White-flanked Antwren, Dot-winged Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Olivaceous Flatbill, Scaly-breasted Wren, Yellow-backed Tanager, Rufous Piha.. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Campestre Los Colores

Day 6: Rio Claro, Aquitania, San Luis, Piñuela, Medellin

Today we rise early and begin making our way towards Medellin, the Paisa Capital of Colombia. We will make several stops along the way. We will look for (E) White-mantled Barbet, (E) Beautiful Woodpecker, (E) Sooty Ant-tanager, (E) Colombian Chachalaca (NE) Sooty-headed Wren, and (NE) Yellow-browed Shrike-vireo. Other possibilities in our stops will include: Marbled Wood-quail, Black-faced Dacnis, Black-headed Brush-finch, Ruddy Quail-dove, Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Striped Manakin, Black-bellied Wren, Slate-colored Seedeater, Red-billed Scythebill, Large-billed Seed-finch, Dusky Antbird. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Ibis Medellin

Day 7: La Romera, Sinifana, Jardin

After breakfast, we head out to la Romera, just outside of Medellin. Here we will look for (E) Red-bellied Grackle, (E) Stiles Tapaculo and the rare Yellow-headed Manakin. After a brief stop here, we will begin our trip towards Jardin. Along the way we will stop at some dry forest remnant patches in the Cauca Valley. Some of the species we will look for include: (E) Antioquia Wren, (E) Grayish Piculet, (E) Apical Flycatcher, (E) Colombian Chachalaca, (NE) Bar-crested Antshrike. Other specialties include White-fringed Antwren, Jet Antbird, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Moustached Puffbird, Spectacled Parrotlet, Cinereous Becard, Long-billed Starthroat, Guira Tanager, Plain Antvireo, Black-crowned Antshrike, and Striped Cuckoo. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel La Casona

Day 8: Jardin (Ventanas)

After a short night, we will have an early start and make our way to Alto Ventanas. Probabilities on this day include: (E) Yellow-eared Parrot, (E) Dusky Starfrontlet (rare) (E) Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, (E) Chestnut Wood-quail, (E) Red-bellied Grackle, (E) Colombia Chachalaca,(NE) Golden-fronted Whitestart, (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, (NE) Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, and (NE) Tanager Finch. Other specialties: Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, White-rumped Hawk, Purple-backed Thornbill, Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rufous Antpitta, Ocellated Tapaculo, Spillman’s Tapaculo, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Striped and Flammulated Treehunters, Bronze-olive Pygmy Tyrant, Barred Fruiteater, White-capped Tanager, Andean Cock-of-the-rock (lek), Red-hooded Tanager, Black-collared Jay, and Powerful Woodpecker. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel La Casona

Day 9: Los Termales road, Termales del Ruiz

This Morning we look for birds we may have missed the previous day. Around noon, we will begin our drive towards Manizales and bird along the lower portions of the road into the Nevado del Ruiz. Here, our possibilities include: (NE) Crescent-faced Antpitta, (NE) Bicolored Antpitta, (E) Chestnut Wood-quail, Chestnut-naped Antpitta. Other possibilities include: Black-chested Mountain-tanager, Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan, Black-headed Hemispingus, Agile tit-tyrant, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Purple-backed Thornbill, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Crowned , Slaty-backed, Brown-backed and Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrants, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, White-browed Spinetail, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Slate-crowned Antpitta, Blackish, Ash-colored and Spillman’s Tapaculos, Barred Fruiteater, Powerful and Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Blue-backed Conebill, Mountain Avocetbill, Dusky Piha, Ocellated Tapaculo. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Estelar Las Colinas

Day 10: Termales del Ruiz and Paramo Nevado del Ruiz

Today we we will explore Los Nevados National Park, located on the highest part of the Colombian central Andes. We will wind through patches of forest that open up to Paramo, a montane ecosystem above the treeline dominated by espeletia (frailejon), and grasses. We will reach elevations up to 3,950 meters (13,000 feet), so it will be cold and we will take all precautions to avoid elevation sickness. On our ascent, we will stop at the hummingbird feeding station at Termales which attracts Páramo Sword-billed Hummingbird, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Tourmaline Sunangel, Viridian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. As we enter the paramo habitat, possibilities include: (E) Buffy Helmetcrest, (E) Rufous-fronted Parakeet, (NE)Black-backed Bush-tanager, (NE) Black-thighed Puffleg, (NE) Golden-breasted Puffleg. Other specialties include Tawny Antpitta, White-chinned Thistletail, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Andean Condor, Many-striped Canastero, Paramo Seedeater, Noble Snipe, Black flowerpiercer, Golden-crowned Tanager, Ash-coloured & Paramo Tapaculo, Andean Pygmy-owl, Mountain Avocetbill, Plain-capped Ground-tyrant. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Estelar Las Colinas

Day 11: Rio Blanco Reserve

Today we rise early before dawn and head towards the Rio Blanco Reserve. The Rio Blanco Reserve is managed by Aguas de Manizales, the municipal water company near the city of Manizales. This is one of the finest destinations for birdwatching in Colombia where we will be able to observe spectacular birds. Our first order of business will be to see upclose, a handful of the shy Antpittas that are attracted to worm feeder stations: these include the endemic Brown-banded, Bicolored, Chestnut-crowned, Chestnut-naped, and Slate-crowned Antpitta. The secretive Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush and Gray-browed Brush-Finch also appear during the feeding sessions. visit A walk up the reserve will yield many species and possibilities like the Rusty-faced Parrot, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Golden-faced Redstart, Dusky Piha, Black-billed and Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanagers, Grass-green and White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Rusty-faced Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Ocellated, Blackish and Spillman’s Tapaculos, Black-billed Peppershrike, Plushcap, Mountain Cacique, and Golden-plumed Parakeet. During lunch a the small lodge, we will have the opportunity to see up to 20 species of hummingbirds that visit the many feeders that surround the lodge including Tourmaline Sunangel, the aggressive Buff-tailed Coronet, White-bellied Woodstar, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Collared and Bronzy Inca , Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, and the Green and Sparkling Violetear. Among the flowering shrubs in the garden we will likely get excellent looks at White-sided Flowerpiercer , and the beautiful Masked Flowerpiercer. Other species that we have seen from the comfort of our lodgings include Black-billed Toucan, Sickle-winged Guan, and the target Masked Saltator. After dinner at the lodge, we will go down to Manizales for the night. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel Estelar Las Colinas

Day 11: Santa Rosa de Cabal (Cortaderal), Otun Quimbaya

We will rise early and head towards Santa Rosa de Cabal. Here we will look for (E) Fuerte's Parrot (indigo-winged parrot), and (NE) Bicolored Antpitta. Other specialties include: Mountain Avocetbill, Dusky Piha, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Ocellated Tapaculo, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Hooded-Mountain Tanager, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Speckled-faced Parrot, White-capped. After Lunch, we will head south toward Otun Quimbaya where we will have the opportunity to do some late afternoon Birding. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Otun Lodge

Day 12: Otun Quimbaya

Otun Quimbaya is well-known as the best site for the endemic, endangered and now very local Cauca Guan, as well as being a great location to spot Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, (E) Chestnut Wood-Quail, (NE) Moustached and Hooded Antpittas, Torrent Duck, (E) Golden-plumed Parakeet, (E) Multicolored Tanager, (E) Stiles’s Tapaculo (E) Grayish Piculet, and (E) Crested Ant-tanager. The birding here will be done along a seldom- used stretch of unpaved road. The understory is pretty navigable and open, making this a great place to look for Antpittas and the Wood-Quail. Other great birds to look for include (NE) Colombian Screech-Owl, (NE) Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Wattled Guan, Rusty-winged Barbtail, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Streak-capped Treehunter, Bronze-olive Pygmy-tyrant, Black-billed Peppershrike, Golden-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, and Whiskered Wren among others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Otun Lodge

Day 13: Otun Quimbaya, Apia, Montezuma

Today we rise early and will look for species we may have missed on the previous day. We will surely stop at various places along the Otun river to spot the torrent Duck and (E) Turquoise Dacnis. Then we begin our 3.5 hr drive to Montezuma. The Montezuma Peak lies within Tatama National Park in the Colombian Western Cordillera. Recognized as one of the best birding sites in the world with over 600 bird species identified, and with the most endemics in the Americas, Montezuma promises to be a feast to the senses. We will have the opportunity to see some unique species such as (E) Gold-ringed Tanager, (NE) Tanager Finch and (E) Munchique Wood-Wren, (NE) Black Solitaire, (NE) Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, and (NE) Beautiful Jay. (E) Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, White-faced Nunbird, There are so many specialties at Montezuma Peak that it will be impossible to mention them all here. However, some of the day’s highlights can include: (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) Dusky Chlorospingus, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain-tanager, Crested Quetzal, Olive Finch, and Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Semicollared Hawk (rare). Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, and Barred Fruiteater among many others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Montezuma Lodge

Day 14: Montezuma High and Mid-elevation

After breakfast, we will bird forests between 1,600 to 2,500 mts in elevation We will have the opportunity to see some unique species such as E) Gold-ringed Tanager, (E) Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer, (E) Dusky (Glittering) Starfrontlet (rare), (E) Munchique Wood-Wren (NE) Tanager Finch, (NE) Black Solitaire, (NE) Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, (NE) Orange-breasted Fruiteater, (NE) Beautiful Jay, (NE) Purplish-mantled Tanager, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) Dusky Chlorospingus, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain-tanager, (NE)Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, (NE) Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, (NE) Brown Inca, and (NE) Nariño Tapaculo. Specialties include: White-faced Nunbird, Greater Scythebill (rare), Crested Quetzal, Scaly-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Tricolored Brush-Finch, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Semicollared Hawk (rare). Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Barred Hawk. Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant, Semicollared Hawk (rare). Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, and Barred Fruiteater among many others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Montezuma Lodge

Day 15: Montezuma Mid Elevation

Today we will bird the morning in the lower elevations of Montezuma before we begin our trip towards the High Anchicaya around mid morning. We will try for some of those trickier birds to find, including Choco Tapaculo, Zeledon's and Parker's Antbirds, Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner, Spotted Woodcreper, Plain Antvireo, Black Hawk-eagle, and Barred Hawk. It will take us about 6 hrs to drive to our next area, the Anchicaya Valley, which is considered by most one of the best birding areas in the world. Of course we will make some stops along the way to stretch our legs and perhaps add one or two species to our list. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario

Day 16: Montezuma Low Elevation and Anchicaya

Today we will bird the morning in the lower elevations of Montezuma before wel begin our trip towards the High Anchicaya around mid morning. When we arrive at El Descanso, we will bird along the road where possibilities include: (E) Tatamá Tapaculo, (E) Grayish Piculet, (E) Crested Ant-tanager, (E) Parker’s Antbird, (NE) Toucan Barbet, (NE) Rufous-throated tanager, NE) Chocó tapaculo, (NE) Uniform Treehunter, (NE) Orange-breasted fruiteater, (NE) Club-winged Manakin, (NE) Sooty-headed Wren, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, (NE) Ochre-breasted tanager, (NE) Black Solitaire, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) White-whiskered Hermit, and (NE) Yellow-collared Chlorophonia. Specialties include Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Torrent Duck, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black-headed Brush-finch, Green Thorntail, Olive Finch, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Russet Antshrike, White-headed Wren,and Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario

Day 17: Anchicaya

Colombia's most famous birding location is within minutes after we depart the hotel. Over 300 species have been recorded along the old Cali to Buenaventura Road. We will begin or birding along a narrow dirt road surrounded by lush vegetation and gorgeous waterfalls. As we descend, possibilities include the near endemic Lemon-rumped Tanager, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Summer Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Bright-rumped Atilla, Golden-collared Manakin, White-headed Wrens, and Chestnut-headed Oropendola. We will stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant before descending further into the lower Anchicaya where we will have opportunity to search for Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Collared Aracari, White-tipped and Blue Cotinga, Rose-faced and Blue-headed Parrot, Spot-crowned Barbet, Black-chested Puffbird, and Purple-throated Fruitcrow. Other possibilities include Blue-whiskered, Emerald, Palm, Dusky-faced, Tawny-crested and Rufous-winged Tanager, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Ruffous-tailed Jacamar, Ocellated, Jet, Stub-tailed and Bicolored Antbird, and Long-tailed Tyrant Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario

Day 18: Anchicaya

We will focus today on the Lower and Middle and (to some extent) the Higher Anchicaya Valley, beginning at 1,600 m (5,250 ft) and ending in humid tropical forests at 400m (1,300 ft) in the Pacific Lowlands. Besides the impressive landscape, we will look for (E) Tatamá Tapaculo, (E) Grayish Piculet, (E) Crested Ant-tanager, (E) Parker’s Antbird, (NE) Toucan Barbet, (NE) Rufous-throated tanager, Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Black Solitaire. Other possibilities that we will surely look for include (NE) Chocó tapaculo, (NE) Uniform Treehunter, (NE) Orange-breasted fruiteater, (NE) Club-winged Manakin, (NE) Sooty-headed Wren, (NE) Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, (NE) Ochre-breasted tanager, Torrent Duck, (NE) Glistening-green Tanager, (NE) White-whiskered Hermit, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Black-headed Brush-finch, Green Thorntail, Olive Finch, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Russet Antshrike, White-headed Wren, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, (NE) Yellow-collared Chlorophonia and many others. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Hotel El Campanario

Day 19: Queremal, Doña Dora, Km 18, and Flight to Barranquilla

Today we spend the morning in El 18, which is located on km 18 of the road that connects Cali to the port of Buenaventura. But just before getting to Km 18, we will stop at El Descanso, a small, very rustic roadside restaurant that will provide us excellent views of Toucan Barbet, Black Solitaire, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Crowned Woodnymph and more. Birding at Km 18 can be very productive, and we will look for four endemics – Chestnut Wood-Quail, Colombian Chachalaca, Grayish Piculet and Multicolored Tanager. Besides the four endemics, we can be treated to a very colorful experience. Purplish-mantled, Summer, Beryl-spangled, Flame-rumped, Golden, Metallic-green, Saffron-crowned, and Golden-naped tanagers as well as Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager. We will also stop at Finca Alejandria, a private home with multiple hummingbird feeders that are visited by hundreds of Hummers. Species include Long-tailed Sylph, Booted Racket-tail, Blue-headed Sapphire, Green Violetear, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, White-necked Jacobin. Brown Violetear and Tawny-bellied Hermit. Birding the forest can also produce many near-endemics such as Scrub Tanager, Purple-throated Woodstar, Nariño Tapaculo, Purplish- mantled Tanager and Yellow-headed Manakin. In the late afternoon, we will head towards Palmira for our night (usually 9:21 pm) pm flight to Barranquilla. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Hotel Marriott

Day 20: Barranquilla, Salamanca, Camarones

Early In the morning we'll take a 35 minute drive out to Cienaga Grande in Salamanca. The Ciénaga Grande (Great Marsh) and Isla Salamanca National Park lie along the Caribbean coast between Baranquilla and Santa Marta. This brackish marshland is formed by the delta created as the Magdalena River enters the Caribean Ocean. We will bird the mangrove stands along the boardwalk looking for Saphire-throated Hummingbird, Bicolored Conebill, Brown-throated Parakeet, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Yellow-chinned Spinetail and other specialties. The wetlands in the area can also reward us with some specialties including Northern Screamer, white-cheeked Pintail and others. Just before it gets too hot, we will begin our 3 hour drive along increasingly dry areas to Riohacha stopping for lunch along the way. We will however stop at some dry thorny forests and scrub desert to for White-whiskered Spinetail, Vermilion Cardinal, Orinocan Saltator, Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Buffy Hummingbird, Russet-throated Puffbird, Chestnut Piculet, White-whiskered Spinetail, Slender-billed Inezia and Trinidad Euphonia. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Jiisot Hotel

Day 21: Los Flamencos and Minca

We will rise early and bird along the trails in the dry scrub forest near camarones for specialties which include: (NE) White-whiskered Spinetail, (Orinocan Saltator), (NE)Slender-billed Inezia, (NE) Chestnut Piculet, (NE) Red-billed Emerald, (NE) Tocuyo Sparrow (rare). Along the lagoon and the dry forest, we will look for other specialties including American Flamingo, Vermilion Cardinal, Orinocan Saltator, Bare-eyed Pigeon, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Red-billed Emerald, Buffy Hummingbird, Russet-throated Puffbird, Black-crested Antshrike, Northern Scrub-flycatcher, Pale-eyed Pygmy Tyrant, Pearly-vented Tody Tyrant, Glaucous Tanager, Double-striped Thick-knee, White-fringed Antwren (northern race), Rufous-vented Chachalaca, Pileated Finch, Redish Egret, Scarlet Ibis, White-tipped Inezia, and Pale-legged Hornero (Caribbean). Just before it gets too hot, we will begin our drive to Minca at the base of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. We will make several stops along the way to look for other specialties including Lance-tailed Manakin, One-colored Becard, Buff-breasted Wren, Brown-capped Tyrannulet, Trinidad Euphonia, Keel-billed Toucan, and White-bellied Antbird. We will have a late afternoon snack at Hotel Minca where we’ll find an impressive hummingbird feeding station. We’ll see dozens, perhaps hundreds, of hummingbirds of various species while enjoying our cup of Colombian coffee: Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Steely-vented and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, White-vented Plumeleteer, and Pale-bellied Hermit, Long-billed Starthroat, the near endemic Red- billed Emerald. If light permits, we will have time to explore the surrounding forests and look for Black-backed Antshrike, Scaled Piculet, Swallow Tanager, Rufous- tailed Jacamar, Keel-billed Toucan, Black-chested Jay, Masked Tityra, and many more. Meals: B,L,D ; Lodging: Colores de la Sierra

Day 22: Minca to El Dorado Lodge

We will rise early and begin our ascent into the Sierra Nevada. We will stop along the way. We will lunch at the Lodge and spend the remainder of the day birding around the forests near the lodge. Possibilities on this day include: (E) Sierra Nevada Brush-finch, (E) Santa Marta Tapaculo, (E) Santa Marta Woodstar, (E) Santa Marta Blossomcrown (E) Santa Marta Antbird, (E) Santa Marta Tapaculo, (E) Santa Marta Screech-owl, (E) Santa Marta Foliage Gleaner, (E) White-lored Warbler, (E) Santa Marta Brush-finch, (NE) Black-fronted Wood-quail, (NE) Coppery Emerald, (NE) White-tipped Quetzal, (NE) Streak-capped Spinetail, Band-tailed Guan, King Vulture, Grey-headed Kite, Scaled Pigeon, Blue Ground-dove, Black-and-white Owl, Zone-tailed Hawk, Ferrugineous Pygmy-owl, Golden-Winged Sparrow, Scaled Piculet, Golden-headed Manakin, Rosy Thrush-tanager, Groove-billed Toucanet, Black-throated Tody-tyrant, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Orange-billed & Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush, Red-billed Parrot, Black-headed Tanager, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Long-billed Hermit, Golden-winged Warbler, Venezuelan Tyrannulet, Yellow-legged, Black-hooded & Pale-breasted Thrushes, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Groove-billed Toucanet, Paltry Tyrannulet, and Cerulean Warbler. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: El Dorado Lodge

Day 23: Cuchilla San Lorenzo, Cerro Kennedy

January 8, 2018 Cuchilla San Lorenzo-Cerro Kennedy We will rise at 4:00 am and head up to higher elevation looking for Santa Marta Endemics at sunrise: Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Mountain-tanager, Santa Marta Bush-tyrant and Brown-rumped Tapaculo. In the mixed species flocks, we may find a few Black-cheeked Mountain-Tanager, Rusty-headed Spinetail, and the handsome Black-capped Tyrannulet. We’ll also look for hummingbirds as we have chance of seeing Black-backed Thornbill, Santa Marta Woodstar and the endemic subspecies of Tyrian Metaltail. We will stop at a great spot for a picnic where we will be able to appreciate the stunning views of this beautiful Sierra Nevada. On our return to Minca, we will look for Swallow Tanager, Grove-billed and Santa Marta Toucanet, Black-chested Jay, White-bellied Antbird, Golden-breasted Fruiteater and the near endemic White-tipped quetzal. After dinner at the lodge, we will look for the endemic Santa Marta Screech-owl that has made the lodge its home. Meals: B, L, D ; Lodging: Colores de la Sierra

Day 24: Minca, Barranquilla

We will rise early and head towards dry forests at the bottom of the Sierra for looks at Military Macaw and other dry forest specialists like Crimson-crested woodpecker, Lineated woodpecker visited, Orange-crowned oriole, Grey-headed kite, Long-billed gnatwren, Black-backed antshrike, and Chestnut-Winged Chachalaca. After a good lunch we will head straight to the airport for our connecting flights home.

EXTENSION TOURS

Pacific Lowlands, Bahía Solano, Utria National Park, El Valle (6 Days)

DETAILED ITINERARY

Eastern Plains (4 days)

DETAILED ITINERARY