PERU 2010 – Part 10: Parrot Clay Lick

Red-and-Green Macaws

 Red, green, blue and white flashed everywhere as the Red-and-Green Macaws made their way to the clay lick this morning! It sometimes takes a while for them to get up the nerve to come into the open where they are vulnerable to predators, but eventually they seem to let down their guard.

In all we counted over 150 macaws this morning. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, the smaller species of parrots we overly wary and never came to this lick… though we could hear them further away at a smaller, inaccessible lick.

Zone-tailed Hawk

This Zone-tailed Hawk flying overhead, as well as the Roadside Hawk that remained perched at the lick for quite a long time probably had a lot to do with the parrots absence this morning!

Yellow-browed Sparrow

 Fortunately there were many other birds to keep us occupied. Several other raptor species appeared at various times throughout the morning. Muscovy Ducks and a few species of kingfisher and shorebirds made their way along the water’s edge. The Yellow-browed Sparrow pictured above masde several appearances to sing for us.

Little Ground-tyrant

 Little Ground-tyrants and Drab Water-tyrants also joined us offering great looks.

Tropical Kingbird

 Tropical Kingbirds (above) were ever-present, as were Smooth-billed Anis (below).

Smooth-billed Anis