Day 1. Monteredondo Cundinamarca Antpitta twitch.
Full day near Monterredondo on the Villavicencio road. This area which was off limits a couple of years ago is now safe to visit. the endemic and receently described Cundinamarca Antpitta is the main target. Other birds possible here include Brown-breasted Parakeet (Flame-winged Parakeet), Ochre-breasted Brush-Finch, Green-bellied Humminbird, Greater Scythebill, Solitary Eagle, Rufous Antpitta, Slate-crowned Antpitta and Grass-green Tanager. Stygian Owl has also been seen here at day perch.
Day 2. Chingaza National Park Flame-winged Parakeet and Bronze-tailed Thornbill
Today we shall visit the highlands above Bogotá Brown-breasted Parakeet (Flame-winged Parakeet), Matorral Tapaculo, Andean Siskin, Golden-faced Redstart, Coppery-bellied Puffleg (endemic), Black-headed Hemispingus, Bearded Helmetcrest, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Glowing Puffleg, Longuemare´s Sunangel, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Blue-throated Starfrontlet, Noble Snipe, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, , Rufous Antpitta, Undulated Antpitta, and many more. Then drive to Rogitama
Day 3. Rogitama reserve. Bogota Sunangel?
Last year there was an alarm that Bogota Sunangel had been rediscovered at Rogitama. If it was or not is not clear yet. Nevertheless, we shall check out the interesting hummers at the site. Black Inca, Lazuline Sabrewing, Short-tailed Emerald, Longuemare’s Sunangel, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet. Other birds include Silvery-throated Spinetail, Moustached Brush-Finch and White-throated Screech-Owl. We continue to Soatá for an overnight stay.
Day 4. Soatá area and drive to Ocaña. Mountain Grackle and Niceforo's Wren.
Near Soatá one can get several birds that people usually see at Proaves Cerulean Warbler reserve. Soatá lies more conveniently on our way to the Recurve-billed Bushbird reserve and with the help of the local guides we should be able to trace down most of our target the previous afternoon and this morning. Targets include.
Mountain Grackle, Bronze-tailed Thornbill, Rufous-browed Conebill, Rusty-faced Parrot, Moustached Brush-Finch, Golden-fronted Redstart, Chestnut-bellied and Indigo-capped Hummingbirds, Apical Flycatcher and Niceforo’s Wren then drive to Bushbird reserve.
Day 5. Recurve-billed Bushbird. Bushbird reserve.
The main target is Recurve-billed Bushbird. Also here is the localized Gray-throated Warbler. If time permits we shall also look for Todd's Parakeet here.
Day 6. Bushbird reserve in morning and then drive to Santa Marta.
Additional morning in the Bushbird reserve or surrounding areas. We will arrive late to Santa Marta.
Day 7. Guajira endemics. Chestnut Woodpecker and Vermilion Cardinal
We spend a full day visiting the Guajira peninsula for a number of localized restricted range species. Targets include Bare-eyed Pigeon, White Whiskered Spinetail, Buffy Hummingbird, Russet-throated Puffbird, Vermillion cardinal, Black-backed Antshrike, Black-crested Antshrike, Slender-billed Inezia, Glaucous Tanager and Orinoco Saltator, Other bird include Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Green-rumped Parrotlet, Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant, Grey Kingbird, Brown-throated Parakeet,Pileated Finch and Sapphire-throated Hummingbird.
Among the birds on the lagoons we see a number of shorebirds, gulls and terns as well as Scarlet and White Ibis. NIght in Santa Marta.
Day 8-12. Santa Marta mountains. Santa Marta Endemics.
We have in total 5 full days to get practically all possible Santa Marta Endemics, less Santa Marta Wren and Santa Marta Sabrewing. The guard station at San Lorenzo will be our base, which is closer to most of the endemics than ProAves El Dorado. However, we shall visit El Dorado en route and have lunch there on the way up. Here we can find Santa Marta Brush-Finch, Blossomcrown and Santa Marta Woodstar on the feeders and Black-capped Tanager and Blue-naped Chlorophonias.
The trail is good for Black-fronted Wood-Quail, Santa Marta Toucanet, White-tipped Quetzal, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Streak-capped Spinetail, Gray-throated Leaftosser, Santa Marta Antpitta, Golden-breasted Fruiteater, Black-hooded Thrush and White-lored Warbler.
Very near to the San Lorenzo station one find some of the best Santa Marta endemics including Santa Marta Parakeet, White-tailed Starfrontlet, Rusty-headed Spinetail, Santa Marta Rufous Antpitta, Brown-rumped Tapaculo, Santa Marta Bush-Tyrant, Santa Marta Mountain Tanager, Yellow-crowned Whitestart and Santa Marta Warbler. There is also an undescribed Screech-Owl from this area.
On the way down we shall be birding more extensively at Minca. Species here include: Blossomcrown, Keel-billed Toucan, Santa Marta Ruddy Foliage-gleaner (undescribed species), Gray-throated Leaftosser, Scaled and Rusty-breasted Antpittas, Santa Marta Tapaculo, Venezuelan Tyrannulet, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Rufous-breasted Wren and Black-headed Tanager. Depending how we do at the top we may spend a full day around Minca at the end.
Day 13. Early drive to Barranquilla. P.N. Salamanca. Rufous-winged Chachalaca and Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
Two additional endemics shall be tried for before a midday flight out of Barranquilla to Bogota: Rufous-winged Chachalaca and Sapphire-bellied Hummingbird
