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Recent bird sightings:
Sites - La Vega

Site evaluation: 3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Species:  
Elevation: 1000-1400 m
Climate: Hot and dry
Trails: Roadside, self-guide
Accommodation: 3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Food: 3 Stars 3 Stars 3 Stars
Hot water: Yes
Electricity: Yes
Communications: Cell phone
Region: Magdalena valley
Location: La Vega, Dept. of Cundinamarca
Summary: La Vega is a small weekend resort town just 90 minutes from Bogotá, which has many interesting birds. Birding is mainly along various trails through shade coffee plantations. One small protected area, Refugía de Laguna del Tabacal, is a quaint lake set in a deep crater surrounded by some forest.
Endemics: Apical Flycatcher, Velvet-fronted Euphonia
Key Species: Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Red-billed Scythebill, Bar-crested Antshrike, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Gray-throated Warbler, Black-headed Brush-Finch and Plain-colored Tanager.
Access: From NW Bogotá take either the La Vega highway or the Autopista Medellín (originating from Calle 80) across the Sabana and over the western ridge of the Eastern Cordillera at Alto del Vino. The highway descends down the humid-to-dry western slope of the
Site Description: The highway to La Vega from Bogotá descends into a large coffee growing area with some patches of shade coffee groves. These groves are worth exploring for Rosy Thrush-Tanagers, Short-tailed Emerald, Gray-throated Warbler, and Black-headed Brush-Finch. However, these species are more likely along the track from La Vega to Laguna del Tabacal, which has less traffic. On the main road below La Vega, the habitat becomes progressively drier, and is home to Spectacled Parrotlet, Red-billed Scythebill, and Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher. This is also the best area to look for the sought-after endemics Velvet-fronted Euphonia and Apical Flycatcher. In coffee plantations just before La Vega, a dirt road branches off left and crosses a river, where Rusty-breasted Antpitta has been recorded.

Laguna del Tabacal is surrounded by humid to dry forest and scrub and extending onto adjacent hillsides. Park opposite the entrance and walk 100 m to the lake. There is a main path anti-clockwise around the lake (look out for White-throated Crakes), that climbs steeply through scrub and secondary forest for 200 m to a mirador (view point). Just after the path leaves the lakeside and enters into scrub is where Rosy Thrush-Tanagers, Bar-crested Antshrikes, Red-billed Scythebill, Immaculate, Dusky and White-bellied Antbirds, Rufous-naped Greenlet and Plain-colored Tanager are seen. By mid-morning this site is heavily disturbed by visitors.
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