PERU 2010 – Part 4: Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge
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Nov 9, 2010 | by Kevin Loughlin
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| Andean Cock-of-the-Rock |
Today started early as we wanted to get to the Cock-of-the-Rock lek before sunrise. No worries, it is an easy 5 minute walt to the viewing blind from the lodge. This year we had to use the “old” blind as the newer one was washed away in a landslide along with a large swath of the lekking area. Fortunately the birds came back to the location only about a month before our arrival!
The display was not quite as grand as last year’s visit, but was still very vocal and fun to witness. They were not quite as close as before, but it won’t be long before they get used to the somewhat changed forest and call it home again.
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| Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet |
While watching the action at the lek we did not ignore other birds, of course, which included a Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, Golden-crowned Flycatcher and others.
Walking back to the lodge we also found an austral migrant Swainson’s Flycatcher, COmmon Bush Tanagers and Olivaceous Siskins.
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| Altinote hilaris butterfly with a Sparkling Violetear behind. |
As we ate breakfast we watched the feeders and flowers for many hummingbirds and tanagers. An Altinote hilaras (the most common butterfly at the lodge) posed near a perched Sparkling Violetear. Green Violetears and Violet-fronted Brilliants were common at the feeders.
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| Golden-eared Tanager |
A pair of Golden-eared Tanagers were a treat as most of the tanagers in the garden were Silver-beaked, Blue-necked and Golden… all beautiful as well!
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| Wire-crested Thorntail |
The expected Wire-crested Thorntail finally made its appearance in the verbina, offering quite a show as it zipped from flower to flower.
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| Buff-tailed Sicklebill |
A very nice surprise, and a lifer for our guide, was a Buff-tailed Sicklebill. Its deeply curved bill perfect for feeding on the heliconia flowers. It made many appearances throughout the morning!
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| Bolivian Squirrel |
A few mammals came through the garden as well, including a Bolivian Squirrel that obviously enjoyed bananas.
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| Brown Capuchins |
The comic relief of the morning was a small troop of Brown Capuchins that preened and gleaned from a nearby perch. Quite vocal with each other they seemed very curious of our behavior as well!