Northern Venezuela-tour 2002

Introduction

This French tour, which was organised in co-operation with Naturailes.
It counted more participants (10) than on other trips. Nevertheless this was no objection.
Roughly the trip could be devided in 3 parts: a week in Henri Pittier, a week in Los Llanos (Hatos El Frio & Hato El Cedral) and then a last week in the Andes with a happy ending in the Catatumbo lowlands.
Though we focused on good (and close) views of birds and numbers were less important, we still managed to see nearly 400 species in 21 days.

Among the best species: Horned (Anhima cornuta, Kamichi cornu) and Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria, Kamichi chavaria),
Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata, Merganette des torrents),
Black-mandibled (Ramphastos ambiguus,Toucan tocard) and Citron-throated Toucan ! (Ramphastos citreolaemus, Toucan à gorge citron),
Russet-throated (Hypnelus ruficollis,Tamatia à gorge rousse) and Moustached Puffbird (Malacoptila mystacalis,Tamatia à moustaches),
White-tipped Quetzal (Pharomachrus fulgidus, Quetzal brillant),
Military Macaw Military Macaw (Ara militaris, Ara militaire) (spectacular close views in the Northern Andes),
Ruby-topaz Hummingbird (Chrysolampis mosquitus, Colibri rubis-topaze),
Buffy Hummingbird (Leucippus fallax, Colibri trompeur),
Sword-billed Hummingbird (Ensifera ensifera, Colibri porte-épée),
Black-chested Buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus, Buse aguia),
Fasciated Tiger-heron (igrisoma fasciatum, Onoré fascié),
Whistling (Syrigma sibilatrix, Héron flûte-du-soleil), Capped (Pilherodius pileatus, Héron coiffé) and Agami heron (Agamia agami, Héron agami),
Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus, Condor des Andes),
King (Sarcoramphus papa, Sarcoramphe roi) and Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus, Urubu à tête jaune),
Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana, Coq-de-roche péruvien), Golden-winged ! (Masius chrysopterus, Manakin aux ailes d'or) and White-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus, Manakin casse-noisette) performing in a lek,
Spotted Barbtail ! (Premnoplex brunnescens, Anabasitte tachetée),
Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris, Grimpar à bec rouge),
Black-faced Antthrush (Formicarius analis, Tétéma coq-de-bois),
White-eared Conebill (Conirostrum leucogenys, Conirostre oreillard),
Blue-naped Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia cyanea, Organiste à nuque bleue),
Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea, Paruline azurée),
Northern White-crowned (Scytalopus atratus, Mérulaxe atratus) and Mérida Tapaculo (Scytalopus meridanus, Mérulaxe de Mérida).




All pictures were taken during the trip and are copyrighted ( (C) 2003 Jurgen Beckers).



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