10 December, 2025
Jardin - Medellín
After our usual excellent breakfast we loaded up and departed Jardin for Medellín, where we would spend one night before flying home.
This was essentially a travel day, but we did stop for about an hour and a half to do some birding along the way.
I don't recall the insects being especially irritating, but here Selwyn is coating Victoria with repellent.
One is never surprised to see birders glancing skyward.
A Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) quickly became the focus of our attention.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Piper peltatum is a shrub of the drier Neotropics in the black pepper family.
Among the most fascinating insects to be found throughout much of Central and South America are Leafcutter Ants (three genera - Atta, Acromyrmex and Amoimyrmex)
There are four castes in a colony, Minims, Minors, Mediae and Majors.
Very briefly, their functions are as follows.
- Minims are the smallest and skinniest workers, and tend to the growing brood or care for the fungus gardens. Head width is less than 1 mm.
- Minors are slightly larger than minim workers, and are present in large numbers in and around foraging columns. These ants are the first line of defence and continuously patrol the surrounding terrain and vigorously attack any enemies that threaten the foraging lines. Head width is around 1.8–2.2 mm.
- Mediae are the generalized foragers, which cut leaves and bring the leaf fragments back to the nest.
- Majors, the largest worker ants, act as soldiers, defending the nest from intruders, although recent evidence indicates majors participate in other activities, such as clearing the main foraging trails of large debris and carrying bulky items back to the nest. The largest soldiers (Atta laevigata) may have total body lengths up to 16 mm and head widths of 7 mm
Pam's excellent pictures below show Mediae and Majors; possibly Minors but of that I am not sure.
A Blue-necked Tanager (Stilpnia cyanocollis) is a breathtakingly beautiful bird.
Photo: Victoria Ho
Photo: Pam Sadler
This tree seems well defended against all comers; I think it is a type of Prickly-Ash (genus Zanthoxylum).
Photo: Pam Sadler
I am not quite sure what this bird is. A female euphonia (genus Euphonia) perhaps?
Photo: Pam Sadler
An Olivaceous Piculet (Picumnus olivaceus) launched itself into the air.
Photo: Pam Sadler
A Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) was occupied doing what woodcreepers do.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Photo: Pam Sadler
Photo: Pam Sadler
Other than us, there were not many patrons. Perhaps they were waiting for the music to begin.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Photo: Pam Sadler
I had a bowl of soup which was quite agreeable, and most of the others chose tilapia.
When we left to board the bus, one might conclude that one dinosaur found another!
Photo: Pam Sadler
Photo: Pam Sadler
We arrived at our hotel late afternoon and waited with our luggage while the front desk processed our reservations.
The rooms were very well appointed.
The view from the window was quite pleasant.
Photo: Pam Sadler
This bovine formed part of the decor of the hotel.
Photo: Pam Sadler
And that's no bull!
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, no, not with an udder like that! Glad you were able to see a fair amount of avian and other nature, despite the long drive. I have van life friends who ended up staying in Medellin for four months (took an AirBnB) and got to know the city quite well. They really saw the best of it, even in the challenging parts. YAM xx
...Zanthoxylum americanum grows here and can be invasive!
ReplyDeleteEs una maravilla que hayas podido observar todas esas aves y la flora de Medellín, una visita de gran belleza y contenido. Me ha gustado ver esas hormigas portadoras de hojas y las increíbles fotos que has obtenido de ellas.
ReplyDeleteMuchos besos y abrazos.
Hi David.
ReplyDeleteThis was a nice trip.
Beautiful, that Blue-necked Tanager.
Gorgeous, that Striped Treecreeper.
Regards from Patricia.
Hmmm, those ants! What organization and I look in amazement at the large piece of leaf that Mediae can carry.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of the birds are beautiful, I especially like the one where I can see its wings. I always look at how they are artistic in addition to their function.
I feel fine in a restaurant without live music, but there is always some background music playing from the speakers. Fortunately, it is not usually loud.
The only thing you can really say about the blue cattle is "charming". I recently said this word in a pastry shop about a small paper house cut, folded, glued by a child, and which the owner or the waiters put in the window. And it was really charming! The little artist's work was appreciated.:)
All the best to you! Éva