08 December, 2025
Mirador El Roble Reserve
We were up and about relatively early, ready for another great day of Colombian birding. Breakfast would be taken at the reserve but the hotel provided coffee and toast to tide us over until then.
We were warm and cozy inside as we waited for 4x4 vehicles to take us up vertiginous mountain passes, inaccessible for the bus.
Christmas was celebrated everywhere.
It was dark outside, yet strangely inviting, and we looked forward to yet another grand adventure.
We stopped en route to search for Yellow-eared Parrot (Ognorhynchus icterotis), a bird almost shrouded in mystery and endemic to Colombia, generally thought to be extinct in Ecuador, with the Colombian Andes being its final home.
We were successful in finding the bird, but mostly in distant flight; Pam, remarkably, was able to get a picture.
A Lacrimose Mountain Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus) paid a visit too.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Upon arrival at our "camp" we were treated to the most remarkable experience. I was astonished to see a small covey of Chestnut Wood Quail (Odontophorus hyperythrus) emerging from the vegetation.
Picture: Victoria Ho
It is apparent that this local population has become habituated to human settlement and is assured of food, leading it to shed its usual secretive behaviour.
The bird on the left above is probably a juvenile, witness the yellow tip to the bill, heavy spotting and grey chest.
Photo: Victoria Ho
We were delighted to be in such close contact with a bird we had hardly expected to see. Pam, in fact, got really close!
Breakfast was a fine affair, enjoyed by everyone.
A White-capped Tanager (Sericossypha albocristata) is an exciting bird.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Its very appearance spells tropical! If you have been following along with these reports of our Colombia birding trip, you will recognize Lesser Violetear (Colibri cyanotus) as an old friend.
Photo: Pam Sadler
It became so familiar at flowers and hummingbird feeders we sometimes paid it scant attention, but oh to see one now! A Purple-throated Woodstar (Philodice mitchellii) is an incredible little bundle of energy.
It was a considerable source of satisfaction to see Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) frequently and in many locations.
Photo: Pam Sadler
As hummingbirds go, Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys) is quite subdued in appearance.
Photo: Victoria Ho
One could certainly not make the same claim about a flashy Collared Inca (Coeligena conradii), dazzling us with extravagant flourishes.
A Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea) no doubt experienced both rage and frustration as it battled with its own reflection in the rear view mirror of one of the vehicles.
Photo: Pam Sadler
One of our target species was Chimi Antpitta (Grallaria alvarezi) and it was a long walk to the clearing where it was known to respond to the time-tested practice of calling to it and providing worms. We climbed mountain trails.....
..... across muddy terrain.....
Photo: Pam Sadler
..... up grassy slopes.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Shimmering spider webs sparkled and gleamed.
As fortune would have it that day, the antpitta was indifferent to the siren songs of two dedicated antpitta whisperers, and declined to grace us with its presence.
As Robbie Burns knew so well,
"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang oft agley."
For those seeking a rough translation of the Gaelic-infused verse of the Scottish bard, it means don't count your antpittas until they come for the worm.
It mattered little, there were other sights and sounds to reinforce our joy at being in the Colombian Andes. It was well worth the trek.
These fungi are incredibly interesting and we were delighted to see them.
Photo: Victoria Ho
Photo: Victoria Ho
Photo: Pam Sadler
Unfortunately, I have failed miserably at identifying them. Here is a typical trail through the forest.
Photo: Pam Sadler
You will understand how robust, intrepid and resolute we are! Pam managed this shot of a Cinnamon Flycatcher (Pyrrhornyias cinnamomeus) zooming after prey.
Who does not thrill to a Grey-browed Brushfinch (Arremon assimilis) in a forest clearing?
Photo: Pam Sadler
Ferns are eternally lovely.
Whoever it was that came up with the name Pearled Treerunner (Margarornis stellatus) was obviously a closet romantic!
I have a notion that this is a species of Begonia.
Photo: Victoria Ho
I am fairly confident that Victoria took a picture of an orchid endemic to Colombia, (Oncidium luteopurpureum).
We made the long trek back to the buildings where the feeders were primed and ready, the birds were numerous and lunch was being prepared.
Keen birders and photographers took their positions!
Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens) is a pugnacious little hummingbird, often dominating feeders. Unusually, here is one on the ground.
Photo: Victoria Ho
And perched, as is to be expected.
One of the most remarkable encounters of our entire trip was the visit of a Clouded Tiger-Cat (Leopardus pardinoides).
Photo: Pam Sadler
It was provided with a piece of raw meat, but one is given to wonder whether the large number of birds attracted to the feeding stations were the original lure.
Photo: Pam Sadler
It is not much bigger than an average house cat, and generally lighter, reflecting a wild-caught diet as compared with calories doled out from a can to kitties that barely have a moment's exercise.
Photo: Pam Sadler
We all found it incredibly beautiful, and felt it a privilege to see it. I wonder whether, way back in antiquity, somewhere in the Middle East, this is how felines first became domesticated. Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingii) is a sensational bird.
One must hope that not too many of them perished in the maw of a tiger-cat.
Bronzy Inca (Coeligena coeligena) is unusally drab for a hummingbird, and not a species that we saw often. Perhaps we were distracted by the vibrant colours and aerial acrobatics of other species.
Speckled Hummingbird (Adelomyia melanogenys) was topping up on nectar at the flowers.
Photo: Pam Sadler
A female Long-tailed Sylph and a Lesser Violetear converged on the same hummingbird feeder.
Photo: Pam Sadler
You will note the decurved bill on this female Mountain Velvetbreast (Lafresnaya lafresnayi).
Photo: Victoria Ho
No doubt it enables the bird to gain access to nectar in certain flowers, denied to other species.
Victoria took a great picture of a Fawn-breasted Brilliant (Heliodoxa rubinoides) at a sugar-water feeder.
Are you not enchanted by some of the hummingbird names? I know I am. Imagine being called a Raven-haired Scintillant or a Shining Sparklecheeks! There were birds other than hummingbirds, of course. Great Thrush (Turdus fuscater) is an exceptionally handsome bird.
Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) was seen so often that I suspect that few of us paid little attention to it.
Photo: Pam Sadler
This one seems to have something to say. I once had a neighbour like that!
Photo: Pam Sadler
We considered ourselves fortunate to see this female Green-and-black Fruiteater (Pipreola riefferii).
Photo: Pam Sadler
Whenever a Sickle-winged Guan (Chamaepetes goudotii) decided to muscle its way onto the feeders it had little opposition.
Pepsis grossa is a type of spider wasp that preys on tarantulas.
Photo: Pam Sadler
It appeared to be in hunting mode when this picture was taken. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) was seen frequently and became a great favourite with everyone. Unusual among woodpeckers, it is a cooperatively breeding species, and the degree of togetherness can be seen in the following picture.
Photo: Pam Sadler
For an excellent treatment of this bird, I recommend Cooperatively Breeding Acorn Woodpecker, Princeton University Press, Walter D. Koenig and Ronald L. Mumme (1987). The following three pictures, all showing the engaging nature of the bird, were taken by Victoria.
A female White-sided Flowerpiercer (Diglossa albilatera) has caught a large insect.
Photo: Victoria Ho
This species is particularly subject to attacks by hummingbirds and stays deep in foliage when hummingbirds are present. Red-tailed Squirrel (Sciurus granatensis) exhibits the same pesky behaviour as our familiar Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) at home.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Blue-capped Tanager (Sporathraupis cyanocephala) is a striking bird.
Photo: Pam Sadler
Away from bird tables provisioned with fruit it is found in a wide range of fruiting trees. It seems only fitting that a couple of Buff-tailed Coronets were close at hand as we boarded the bus to return to our hotel.
Photo: Pam Sadler
After all they had entertained us all day long. Pam took a series of pictures on our way back to Jardin. I offer them without further commentary.
It had been another memorable day in Colombia.
