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WINGS Birding Tours – Photo Gallery

Venezuela: The Andes, Llanos and Coast Range

Starting in the high Andes of Western Venezuela we’ll explore slopes covered in pristine montane rainforest… …where we’ll walk down quiet back-roads… …in search of such delights as Red-headed Barbet…. ….and Golden-breasted Fruiteater. Along the San Isidro Tunnel Road we’ll explore more untouched forest… …where we’ll visit an active lek of Andean Cocks-of-the-rock… …and should see Torrent Ducks on the nearby river. We’ll then descend into the llanos, where each dawn we’ll explore the wilds of Hato El Cedral, a working cattle ranch with a strong conservation ethic. We’ll cruise amongst vast flocks of waterbirds that form a spectacle hard to beat anywhere else on the planet… …and while such a mass of birds can seem overwhelming… …we’ll soon be picking out such species as Jabiru Stork…. …the brilliant Scarlet Ibis… …numerous Wattled Jacanas… …and local specialities including Orinoco Goose… …Pinnated Bittern… …the beautiful Azure Gallinule… …the shy Agami Heron… …or perhaps even Zigzag Heron. Behind the boat there will be flocks of Large-billed Terns… …while along the banks we’ll see Capybaras, the world’s largest rodent… …and Spectacled Caiman, which look dangerous but are no real threat! Back at the ranch house a pair of Double-striped Thick-knees nest in the adjacent paddock… …while endemic White-bearded Flycatchers frequent the garden. We’ll then drive across the llanos stopping to look for Black-capped Donacobius… …and Orinocan Saltator, both of which are strangely scarce at Cedral… …and will reach Henri Pittier National Park in Venezuela’s coastal mountain range where we’ll spend our last four nights. The park’s habitats are varied ranging from open woodland where we’ll find such species as Red-crowned Woodpecker… …Rufous-tailed Jacamar… …and Russet-throated Puffbird… …to montane rainforest, home to many endemics, such as this Handsome Fruiteater. In the mountain streams we’ll look for Fasciated Tiger-Heron… …and with luck, we may find a few mammals such as Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth.

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