San Isidro Reserve June 23-24

Altitude:  6,800 feet a.s.l.
Ecoregions:   Temperate to Subtropical Forest and Bamboo (Chusquea) stands
New Hummingbird Species Seen:  Bronzy Inca

Bronzy Inca

Female Fawn-breasted Brilliant

A male Fawn-breasted Brilliant catching the light just right!

Collared Inca in Bamboo

 The drive from Guango to San Isidro goes down in elevation and passes by a series of tall waterfalls called “The Three Marias”.  This is the rainy season on the Eastern Slope and we are used to being dressed for downpours at all times.  The birds at the feeders are okay with rain but trying to bird in the forests is difficult.  Birders look for motion and listen and when all the leaves are moving because of dripping water – it is not easy to find moving birds.  So, I take some time to watch the hummers.  Even in the rain – the Chestnut-breasted Coronet is zealously guarding the feeder it has claimed for territory. 

Speckled Hummingbird

  It is amazing how much energy one bird spends to drive away competition.  I tried to observe hummers on flowers as well as feeders at San Isidro and even camped out for hours hoping to see a Gorgeted Woodstar – but no luck. 

The lights at this lodge attract lots of moths and each morning at sunrise birds arrive to feast on the bounty.  The loudest are the Inca Jays and the Russet-backed Oropendolas.  Their strange sounds really remind me that I am in the tropics.  

Inca Jay eating a fruit.

The huge nests of the Russet-backed Oropendolas were full of action every morning.

This Chestnut-breasted Coronet guarded "his" feeder from dawn til dusk.

Our guides on the Western Slope did not use an IPOD with bird calls to help them lure birds in closer for a better look.  But, Roger and now Marcelo both use this tool.  It has been very helpful as we bird the road around San Isidro.  There are thick stands of bamboo which make great cover for birds – but frustration for birders.  The IPOD gets the bird to move or call back and that helps us to get a focus on them.  It is amazing to me how many birds these guys can recognize by sound alone.  

Chris, Marcelo, and Cloyce after a hard day of birding.

The most common bird we saw:  The Rufous-collared  Sparrow

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

The "Mystery Owl" is a big attraction at this lodge.

 No stay at Cabanas San Isidro would be complete without searching for the “mystery owl”.  We were lucky to have Marcelo as our guide.  We went out with a bright flashlight and he lead us right to it.  This owl has people puzzled.  It is on the wrong slope to be a Black-and-white Owl and is too high up in elevation to be a Black-banded Owl and the plumage is different.  Trying to figure out this owl has attracted lots of business to the lodge and makes for great dinner discussions.  I’m just glad that I got to see it!