El Tunel & Biodiversidad – days 28-29

Two days working on Heliconius timareta and H. elevatus between Km-17 and Km-18 on the Tarapoto to Yurimaguas road just before it reaches the pass at around 1050 metres near the tunnel, produced a few good birds when I took some time out to check passing mixed feeding flocks. In the reserve at ‘Biodiversidad’ run by the Universidad de San Martin I noted Bronze-Green Euphonia, Opal-rumped Tanager, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Cinnamon Flycatcher, White-throated Woodpecker, Bicolored Hawkm Blue Dacnis, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Green Manakin, Plain-winged Antshrike, Paradise Tanager, Plumbeous Pigeon, Screaming Piha, Yellow-margined Flycatcher, White-lored Tyrannulet, Bay-headed Tanager, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Black Caracara, Orange-bellied Euphonia, and Green Honeycreeper. Around the tunnel and along the trail which leads off from the Km-18 post produced many Phaethornis hummingbirds zipping past. Two perched birds showed well to confirm them as the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit (Phaethornis koepckeae). A troop of seven Ivory-billed Ararcaris (small toucans) crossed the road and a Double-toothed Kite was soaring. Other g ood birds observed included Yellow-crested Tanager, Yellow-bellied Tanager, Cock of the Rock, Musician Wren, Slaty-capped Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager, White-winged Tanager and Dotted Tanager.