January 2012 Tour (22 Days)

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bogotá for a four night stay.

Day 2: At dawn we shall find ourselves on Cerro Guadeloupe overlooking the vast city of Bogotá. Here we shall look for the endemics, Matorral Tapaculo and Silvery-throated Spinetail as well as the near endemics, Rufous-browed Conebill and Coppery-bellied Puffleg. Mid morning we shall head off to some nearby gravel pits for Bogota Rail, Spot-flanked Gallinule and Merida Speckled Teal. After a short lunch we shall visit a vast reed bed to look for Apolinar's Marsh-wren.

Day 3: This morning we shall head down the east slope of the Eastern Cordillera, towards the llanos, before heading back on ourself towards Monteredondo. Here our focus will be the very local endemic Cundinamarca Antpitta and Flame-winged Parakeet.

Day 4: Today we shall visit Laguna PedroPalo in search of Black Inca and with luck the elusive Turquoise Dacnis-tanager. Other species seen here have included Ash-browed Spinetail, White-throated Crake, Speckle-breasted (Colombian) Wren, Velvet-fronted Euphonia and Short-tailed Emerald.

Day 5: Today we shall head for the Rio Claro area, stoppong en route to visit some hummingbird feeders, where we should expect to see the endemic Indigo-capped Hummingbird, and some excellent forest where Sooty Ant-tanager is usually easy to find.

Day 6: We shall spend the day in the Rio Claro area searching for White-mantled Barbet, Antioquia Bristle-tyrant, Sooty Ant-tanager, Beautiful Woodpecker, Citron-throated Toucan, Black Antshrike, Grey-cheeked Nunlet, Barred and White-whiskered Puffbird and Oilbird.

Day 7-8: After a final morning birding at Rio Claro, we shall depart for Jardin. Here our aim will be to see the very rare Yellow-eared Parrot. Additional time in the area could reward us with Tanager-finch, White-capped Parrot, Black-billed Mountain-toucan and Red-bellied Grackle and a conveniently located Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek.

Day 9-11: For the next three nights we shall base ourselves in the city of Manizales. The first day will be spent at the Rio Blanco reserve where we shall look for several Antpittas including Brown-banded, Chestnut-naped, Slate-crowned and Bicoloured, but also Dusky Piha, Black-billed Mountain-toucan, Occelated, Spillman's, Ash-coloured and Blackish Tapaculos, Masked Saltator, Rusty-faced Parrot and Golden-plumed Parakeet. The following day we shall travel to the foot of the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano where our primary focus will be to look for the highly local and endemic Rufous-fronted Parakeet. However, we shall also be keeping our eye out for Tawny Antpitta, Golden-crowned Tanager, Black-backed Bush-tanager, Mountain Avocetbill, Black-thighed Puffleg and Bearded Helmetcrest.

Day 12-13: After a final morning birding at the Rio Blanco before heading off to the SFF Otun-Quimabaya. This is almost the only place you can see the very rare Cauca Guan and we should expect to see them feeding high in the canopy prior to going to roost on our first afternoon. We may also be lucky enough to encounter Chestnut Wood-quail or maybe even the diminutive Greyish Piculet. After lunch we shall drive to El Cairo for a two nights stay.

Day 14-15: We shall spend these two days birding at Alto Galápagos. Here our main targets will be the endemic Gold-ringed and Black-and-gold Tanagers. We shall also hopefully see Crested Ant-tanager, Beautiful Jay, Black Solitaire, Fulvous-dotted Treerunner, Glistening-green Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain-tanager, Club-winged Manakin and many other Chocó endemics.

Day 16: Today we shall spend the morning at one of the last remaining wetlands in the Cauca valley. Here we hope to see Spectacled Parrotlet, the rare and particularly nomadic Apical Flycatcher, Bar-crested and Jet Antbirds, Dwarf Cuckoo, Greyish Piculet and Common Potoo. In the afternoon we shall head to Cali for two nights.

Day 17: Today will shall go in search of Multicoloured Tanager at the famour El 18 IBA before visiting a garden with a spectacular number of hummingbirds visiting feeders - up to 200 individuals of 15 species including Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstar and Brown Violetear.

Day 18: We shall catch an early morning flight to Santa Marta. We shall then drive straight to the El Dorado lodge for a two night stay.

Day 19: Today we shall spend the day birding the San Lorenzo ridge in search of the many endemics that the region has to offer including Santa Marta Parakeet, Santa Marta Bush-tyrant, Santa Marta Seedeater, Santa Marta Warbler, Santa Marta Mountain-tanager, Santa Marta Brush-finch, White-lored Warbler, Yellow-crowned Whitestart, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Streak-capped Spinetail, White-tailed Starfrontlet, Santa Marta Antpitta, and Santa Marta Woodstar. Other species may include White-tipped Quetzal, White-rumped Hawk, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Black-fronted Wood-Quail, Golden-breasted Fruiteater and Lined Quail-Dove. In the evening we shall look for the elusive and as yet undescribed Santa Marta Screech-owl.

Day 20: After breakfast we shall head back down towards Minca for one night birding en route. We will stop at selected spots to look for Santa Marta Tapaculo, Santa Marta Foliage-gleaner and Blossomcrown. In Minca we shall spend our time at some hummingbird feeders and with luck shall see the very rare Santa Marta Sabrewing. After a final day in the area we shall head to Santa Marta for a two nights stay.

Day 21: Today we shall visit La Guajira for Coro endemics including Chestnut Piculet, Tocuyo Sparrow, Vermillion Cardinal and Buffy Hummingbird. We shall also hope to see Bare-eyed Pigeon, White-whiskered Spinetail, Black-crested Antshrike, Venezuelan Flycatcher, Orinocan Saltator, Pale-eyed Pygmy-tyrant, Glaucous Tanager, Slender-billed Inezia, Russet-throated Puffbird, Northern Scrub-flycatcher, Double-striped Thick-knee and Northern White-fringed Antwren.

Day 22: We shall spend the early morning in Isla Salamanca in search of the endemic Chestnut-winged Chachalaca, Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird and Bronze-brown Cowbird before driving to Barranquilla for our lunchtime flight to Bogotá.

Dates: 13th January - 3rd February 2012 (22 Days)
Price: £3950 per person
Max Group Size: 4

Tours Include: All accommodation in hotels and lodges, ground transport, internal flights, meals, services of tour leader, drivers and cooks.

Not included: International flights, departure tax, alcoholic drinks, tips, laundry and other items of a personal nature.