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Recent bird sightings:
Sites - Reinita Azul Bird Reserve

Site evaluation: 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Species:  
Elevation: 1200-2300
Climate: Mild and wet
Trails: Guided and self-guid
Accommodation: 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Food: 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Hot water: Yes
Electricity: Yes
Communications: Cell phone
Region: Magdalena valley
Location: Serrania de las Yariguies, Dept of Santander
Summary: This reserve on the Magdalena valley slope of the Eastern Cordillera contains two major zones: a lower area of shade coffee plantations, excellent for Neotropical migrants and an array of residents and an upper area of good subtropical Oak forest containing many Eastern Cordillera specialties. Both zones have many interesting birds and several productive days may be spent birding here from the excellent reserve lodge.
Endemics: Gorgeted Wood-Quail, Chestnut-bellied and Indigo-capped Hummingbirds, Black Inca, White-mantled Barbet, Parker’s Antbird, Upper Magdalena Tapaculo, Turqouise Dacnis, Colombian Mountain Grackle.
Key Species: Highland Tinamou, Spectacled Parrotlet, Moustached Puffbird, Bar-crested Antshrike, Recurve-billed Bushbird, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, Yellow-throated Spadebill, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Black-headed Brush-Finch, Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo.
Access: 3 hrs from Bucaramanga to San Vicente, 30 min from San Vicente up to reserve, 4x4 vehicle necessary.
Site Description: Further explorations of the coffee zone have revealed a reliable site for the rare Yellow-browed Shrike-Vireo and also produced sightings of White-eared Conebill, Double-banded Graytail, Thick-billed Seed-Finch, White-vented Euphonia and more.

The reserve cabins are located in a pasture with scattered trees and scrub; Indigo-capped Hummingbird, White-tipped Swift, Bicolored Wren, Turquoise Dacnis and a variety of Neotropical migrants can be seen on site. The shade coffee and cacao plantations below the reserve are excellent for Neotropical migrants between October and March- among the many flycatchers, warblers, tanagers and grosbeaks are significant populations of scarce species such as Cerulean and Golden-winged Warbler.

The plantations are also home to a variety of residents: look for Mottled Owl, Spectacled Parrotlet, Bar-crested Antshrike, a variety of flycatchers, Band-backed Wren, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Scrub Tanager, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Rufous-capped Warbler, Yellow-backed Oriole and, if you are very lucky, Recurve-billed Bushbird. Just below the cabins also look for the endemic and critically endangered Chestnut-bellied Hummingbird.

A 150 year-old stone path climbs the pasture (one hour uphill hike to entrance of forest) and continues through the forest (moderately strenuous). The forest is excellent; look for Highland Tinamou, Black Inca, Moustached Puffbird, Parker’s Antbird, Upper Magdalena Tapauclo, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater and Yellow-throated Spadebill. The critically endangered Gorgeted Wood-Quail is found within the forest with patience; listen for their vocalizations. Mixed flocks contain good numbers of tanagers, flycatchers and woodcreepers- search for Uniform Antshrike, Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet and Metallic-green Tanager. The higher stretches of forest are home to the newly described Yariguíes subspecies of Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch, Colombian Mountain Grackle, Brown-billed Scythebill and White-throated Spadebill.
Photos:
Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Benjamin Freeman Scrub Tanager, Benjamin Freeman Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Benjamin Freeman Blackburnian Warbler, Benjamin Freeman Rufous-capped Warbler building nest, Benjamin Freeman
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