M Dulce

Mana Dulce - Private Reserve  -  6th March 2020

Another early start and we were off to our final birding destination, the Mana Dulce Reserve in the upper Magdalena Valley where we were to spend the morning. The habitat was dry forest, a habitat with its own range of specialities. As the site is only 400-600 metres altitude this was an opportunity to catch up with some lowland species which we had not seen at all on our travels to the higher altitudes in the Andes.  The reserve was scorching hot by mid-morning and far hotter than any other day on the trip.

The first was a typically elusive White-bellied Antbird which was followed by a rather easier White-eared Conebill. One of the target birds, Apical Flycatcher, was found high in a tree near the buildings and gave good views of the diagnostic pale end to the tail. In a darker area of forest we found a male Lance-tailed Manakin and a Blue Ground Dove. A well-seen Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet was the only one we saw on the trip.
  

The start to our last day

Strangler Fig - It was close to here that we saw the endemic Apical Flycatcher. 
Unfortunately it didn't stay long enough for a photo.

Yellow-olive Flycatcher  -  A widespread species which is found in tropical lowlands from Mexico to the very south of Brazil.  This was our only sighting.

Rufous-capped Warbler  -  Found in foothills and highlands and lowlands from The very southern states of the USA to Colombia and Venezuelea.  Our only sighting.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper  - A species of tropical lowlands and found from Mexico to several of the more northerly countries of South America.  Our only sighting.

Mouse-coloured Tyrannulet  -  Found from Costa Rica south to Paraguay.
This was however our only sighting.

Common Tody-Flycatcher  - Another common and widespread species which is familiar to many birders who have spent any time in South America.

Blue Ground Dove  -  A widespread range from Mexico south to Paraguay.  Our only sighting of this species.

Blue Morpho sp. Morpho pelides

Lizard sp.

After that it was the drive to Bogota where we hit very heavy stop-start traffic. A good meal at the Crepes and Waffles restaurant in the airport with Manuel, followed by a long flight arriving back at Heathrow the next day.

For a summary of our thoughts on the trip please see the Home Page.

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