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Eastern Andes

Endemics everywhere in the capital of wetlands !

This mountain range is where the capital of the country is located, “Santa Fe de Bogotá”.

 

Just inside the city we can visit some conserved wetlands as, La Florida, which is near the international airport, three endemic species are waiting for us here: looking carefully at reeds we can spot the endemics (E) Bogotá Rail and Apolinar’s Marsh Wren, the lake has to offers us three threatened birds (at a national level), the Spot-flanked Gallinule, Andean Duck and the Subtropical Doradito; also, giving a look at the forest we can enjoy of the endemic Silvery-throated Spinetail and the near endemic Rufous-browed Conebill; but the matter do not finish here !!! There is a great opportunity to see two endemic subspecies: American Coot and Yellow-hooded Blackbird, and many more...

 

Living the big city we can go to Soatá municipality, (but making a Páramo stop before) once in Soatá some endemics are just at a walking distance from the Central Square: Indigo-capped Hummingbird, Apical Flycatcher, and Niceforo’s Wren; The Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird  has even been seen occasionally feeding on flowers in the Central Square. Many more birds to enjoy.

After this warm up, it is necessary to move to an oaks forest, The Onzaga Peak, the habitat of the endemic and vivacious Mountain Grackle; but before it, we will stop to drink a cup of coffee at a house whose residents are preserving this habitat. There is a great opportunity to meet more outstanding species as: Silvery-throated Spinetail(E), Indigo-capped and Chestnut-bellied Hummingbirds (E), Nicefero’s Wren(E), Apical Flycatcher(E), Moustached Brush-Finch(NE), Rusty-faced Parrot, Lazuline Sabrewing and the rare, endangered Gorgeted Wood-Quail (E).

Living Soatá we can stop at Páramo de Rusia for its specialties and then spend a day in Rogitama reserve, where special hummingbirds fly around orchids, scrubs and native commercial plants raisen by its charming and passionate owner; here we can delight with: the (VU) Black Inca(E), Silvery-throated Spinetail(E), Lazuline Sabrewing, Golden-bellied Starfrontlet(NE), Short-tailed Emerald(NE), Moustached Brush-Finch(NE), Longuemare’s Sunange, White-throated Screech-Owl, Black Flowerpiercer and many more species.

Back in Bogotá we can move to Monterredondo,  a Forest between 2,300 – 2,800 m asl, let's look for the exclusive Cundinamarca Antpitta(E), the (VU) Flame winged Parakeet (E), Rufous Anpitta,Slaty-crowned Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Brush-Finch and many Hummingbirds.

In Bogota we have other birding options 

Natural Reserve Tenasucá, Laguna de Pedro Palo: The ancient Muisca culture, considered this place sacred, since they believed this was the first lake to see the sunrise in the world. Here is possible to find three endemic Muisca species: Black Inca, Indigo-capped Hummingbird and Turquoise Dacnis as well as Scrub Tanager(NE), Moustached Brush-Finch(NE), Black-backed Grosbeak, Whiskered Wren, Moustached Puffbird, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Slate-colored Seedeater, Gorgeted Woodstar and many more colours.

Chingaza National Natural Park: Interesting Páramo specialities can be found: Andean Condor, Black-and-chestnut Eagle (VU), the (VU)Flame-winged Parakeet (E), Bronze-tailed Thornbill(NE), Rufous-browed Conebill (NE), the (NT) and (NE) Coppery-bellied Puffleg, Glowing Puffleg, Longuemare’s Sunangel, Black-collared Jay, Mattoral Tapaculo, Rufous Antpittta, White capped Tanager, Black backed bush Tanager, Spectacled Prickletail, Black billed Mountain Toucan and Yellow-billed Cacique; if we are lucky: The (VU) Brown-breasted Parakeet (EN) and the (VU) Rusty-faced Parrot.

Lago funeque: A very large wetland, where we have the chance to find the endemics: Apolinar’s Wren, Bogota Rail; also Spot-flanked Gallinule, Yellow-hooded Blackbird and luckily Subtropical Doradito plus more birds.

Chicaque Natural Park: Cloud forests, ancient oak forests, waterfalls, viewpoints and excellent accomodations. Some of the specialties:Turquoise Dacnis (E), Black Inca (E), Silvery-throated Spinetail (E), Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (NE), Blue-throated Starfrontlet (NE), Rufous-browed Conebill (NE), Moustache BrushFinch (NE), White-tipped Swift, Andean Guan and the lovely rare migrant Cerulean Warbler.

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