This was another brilliant days birding, departing early as always to drive to Mashpi Amagusa reserve. We arrived at a viewing balcony, where, over a welcome cup of tea, we were able to enjoy another fantastic array of new birds, all enjoying the feeding opportunities made available to them. A stump at the back of the garden was scattered with seeds, and a beautiful White-throated Quail Dove, with attractive facial markings, quietly filled its tummy here. At the fruit feeders a stunning male Red headed Barbet arrived for a snack, and a kaleidoscope of beautiful tanagers came and went in an ever changing display. There were the aptly named Flame-faced Tanagers, bright emerald Glistening-green Tanagers, with a small red spot at the sides of its head, the more subtly plumaged Moss-backed Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, and Golden-naped Tanager. These were all new species for us. Golden Tanagers were here too, together with the very attractive Golden-collared Honeycreeper. Several Rose-faced Parrots flew into a tree, giving great views.
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| White-throated Quail Dove |
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Red-headed Barbet
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Rose-faced Parrot
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| Rufous-throated Tanager |
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| Golden-naped Tanager |
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| Glistening-green Tanager |
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| Golden-collared Honeycreeper |
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| Flame-faced Tanager |
In the nearby bushes, a Summer Tanager skulked briefly, and a Swallow Tanager landed in a tree at the back. Later a Scaled Fruiteater landed in the same tree, soon to be followed by a Crimson-rumped Toucanet that eventually flew down to feast on the banana feeders. On a low branch, a colourful Broad- billed Motmot perched unobtrusively, its long blue tail ending in shuttlecock feathers, dangling below.
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| Scaled Fruiteater |
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| Crimson-rumped Toucanet |
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| Broad-billed Motmot |
Crossing the road towards the hummingbird feeders, we found a Zeledon’s Antbird, very mobile, and favouring the shadows, but giving several decent views of the distinctive pale blue patch around the eye. Focusing again on the hummers, I was given a flower, to entice the birds to feed on my hand, a great experience, and fascinating to observe the wonderful, shimmering colours of a Violet-purple Coronet at such close range. A tiny Green Thorntail and large Empress Brilliant were other notable hummingbirds seen here.
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| Velvet-purple Coronet |
After some time here, we took a walk along a somewhat slippery muddy trail. Sadly I dipped on the Club-winged Manakin, seen by everyone else in the group, but which disappeared just as I got to a position where I could see it. Like yesterday, I struggled to find birds in the high canopy, although did betterwith those at a lower height, including a Slaty Antwren. We then took a walk up a high observation tower, climbing 162 steps, to a spectacular view across the canopy, hoping for raptors, or roving flocks of parrots, but all we saw was a single swallow!
Retracing our steps, we encountered a Variable Seedeater by a large greenhouse, quickly followed by a Yellow-bellied Seedeater. We sat for a coffee by a small pool, and again enjoyed much bird activity.
Next, we took another trail, with lower bushes, making the birds much easier to identify. Here we found a Rufous-rumped. A White-tipped Sickebill was a highlight, located by a guide in a small bush beside the road. Continuing on, we reached another area of the reserve, again seeing lots of birds as we sat on a bench overlooking another fruit feeding station. A Toucan Barbet flew in, and although mobile, showed very well as it moved around the trees. Then a superb pair of Black-chinned Mountain Tanagers landed in front of us, golden underparts and central head stripe contrasting with a black head and chin. Many of the beautiful tanagers seen this morning dropped in too, giving brilliant views in great light, and a larger Black-winged Saltator, with striking white eyebrow and chunky bill positioned himself for a feast. In a nearby tree a Cinnamon Becard moved furtively amongst the branches.
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| Black-chinned Mountain Tanager |
It had been a fantastic morning, with an incredible number of birds seen. A road closure meant we were very late in finding somewhere for lunch, but a pair of Pacific Hornero outside the restaurant as we departed were another new bird for us, adding a nice finale to an unbelievable day.
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| Pacific Hornero |
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