Author: Martyn Kenefick
36 Newalloville Ave, San Juan, Trinidad, Rep. of Trinidad & Tobago
Tel. (868) 674.7609. e-mail "martynkenefick AT hotmail DOT com"
This tour was booked by Nigel Hacking through Chris Sharpe at Birding Venezuela (Chris: http://www.birdvenezuela.com, Birding Venezuela: http://www.birdingvenezuela.com; email: birdingvenezuela AT gmail DOT com). The participants were Nigel Hacking and myself. Our guide and driver, Cecilia Herrera, had an excellent knowledge of local birds; spoke fluent English, was both personable and enjoyable company and ensured a smooth and trouble free tour.
A total of 185 species were seen, and another 9 heard, during 3 days birding the Coastal Cordilleras within Henri Pittier National Park, some 2.5 hours drive west from Caracas.
Our base for 3 nights was Posada El Limon, just outside Maracay. Both food and accommodation were good value; their attitude flexible to suit birding needs, so 5.00am breakfast was no problem.
Much of Henri Pittier is roadside forest birding. Both roads attract a considerable volume of traffic, especially at weekends. There are a couple of side-roads near the northern base of Ocumare Rd which are much quieter and the coastal scrub surrounding Choroni graveyard is excellent value. There is no automatic public access to the Audubon Society banding station at Portachuelo Pass, close to the Rancho Grande Research station. (only in operation during the peak of fall migration) and, should access be granted, a donation towards operational costs would be welcomed. The Research Station is only officially open from 8.00am-4.00pm, although access outside of these hours was easily arranged. A daily fee per person is in force and permits must be arranged by a local company or guide.
Commoner species
The following species were commonly seen/heard on several days and need no specific mention.
Additionally, whilst we saw few of the following, or only saw them in one place, we anticipate they being common residents and need no further comment
Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, Brown Booby, Great Egret, Yellow-headed Caracara, Roadside Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper, Royal Tern, Pale-vented Pigeon, Squirrel Cuckoo, Neotropical (Fork-tailed) Palm-swift, Rufous tailed Jacamar, Green Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Slaty-capped Flycatcher, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Tropical Pewee, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Blue and White Swallow, Cocoa Thrush, Three-striped Warbler, Purple Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper, Thick-billed Euphonia, Orange-bellied Euphonia.
Species of note
Little Tinamou (h) :- just one calling from forest along the mid elevation southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct
Fasciated Tiger-heron :- just one seen beside a fast flowing river on the northern slope beside the Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
King Vulture :- an adult seen flying south over lowland forest on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Common Black-hawk :- an adult seen soaring around the coastal lookout above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Black Hawk-Eagle (h) :- just one calling, possibly soaring above the canopy, along Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Aplomado Falcon :- a juvenile seen soaring around the coastal lookout above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Peregrine :- an immature female seen gliding over Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Rufous-vented Chachalaca :- a group of at least 3 birds on scrubby slopes above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Wilson's Snipe :- a single bird flushed from scrub and then flying south from Choroni on 24th Oct was presumed to be this species, and not South American Snipe
Common Ground-dove :- at least 10 on scrubby slopes above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Chestnut-fronted Macaw :- a roost of at least 20 birds were found in Royal palms close to our accommodation in Limon
Red-billed Parrot :- a group of 4 were perched in Cecropia trees on the road to Rancho Grande on 25th Oct
Blood eared Parakeet :- groups seen and heard daily at middle and higher altitudes.
Lilac-tailed Parrotlet :- a flock of 14 flew over Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Yellow-billed Cuckoo :- single birds seen on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct and in scrub above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Inca Jay :- groups of 10 on the northern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct and 6 the following morning on the southern slope of Ocumare Rd
Ferruginous Pygmy-owl :- a single bird responding to vocalisation imitation on northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Vaux's Swift :- several birds were trapped at the Portachuelo Pass Banding Station on the 25th. Easily separable in the hand from Gray-rumped, but extremely difficult in the air
White-tipped Swift :- Several calling from nests on the Rancho Grande Research station and at least two seen flying around station garden.
Blue-tailed Emerald :- 2 birds found on lower southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct
Glittering-throated Emerald :- 2 birds feeding on the lower northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Wedge-billed Hummingbird :- 2 birds seen at Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Golden-tailed Sapphire :- single seen on northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct and another in the hand at Portachuelo Pass Banding Station also on 23rd Oct
Buffy Hummingbird :- 2 birds found on song perches in the hillside scrub above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct.
Violet-fronted Brilliant :- up to 3 birds coming to feeders at the Rancho Grande Research Station on 23rd and 25th Oct
Brown Violet-ear :- a group of at least 3, possibly 5, birds surrounding a flowering shrub low on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct
Bronzy Inca :- just one feeding at the summit of the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Booted Racket-tail :- just one seen in forest behind Rancho Grande Research station on 25th Oct
Violet-chested Hummingbird:- 1 possibly 2 seen feeding by side of road on 24th Oct on north slope of Choroni Rd.
Long tailed Sylph :- .One seen along Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct and several fleeting sightings along higher stretches of the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Sooty-capped Hermit :- following several "zip pasts" of Hermits which were probably Sooty capped, one fed lazily along Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Pale-bellied Hermit:- 1 seen drinking repeatedly over fast flowing river on northern slope beside the Ocumare rd on 23rd Oct.
Stripe-throated Hermit :- just one, along Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
White-tipped Quetzal :-2 birds, possibly a pair, seen from the balcony at Rancho Grande Research Station on 23rd Oct. Another female seen in the same location on the 25th
Collared Trogon :- several birds were calling and 1 pair seen well high on N slope of Choroni rd on 24th Oct. Further birds heard along Ocumare rd, however a female was seen in the hand at the Portachuelo pass banding Station on 25th Oct
Russet-throated Puffbird :- 2 birds feeding in a clearing along the lower stretch of the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Amazon Kingfisher :- at least one pair, possibly two, feeding along a roadside stream on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Green Kingfisher :- probably 6 different birds feeding along the various streams that border the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Groove-billed Toucanet :- up to 3 birds seen on each visit to the balcony of Ranch Grande Research Station. Also several feeding groups totalling at least 12 birds were found near the summit of the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Golden-olive Woodpecker :- just one seen, but several heard, on the southern slope of Ocumare Rd on 25th Oct
Red rumped Woodpecker (h) :- just one heard from Ocumare Rd on 25th Oct
Crimson-crested Woodpecker :- a male seen in lowland forest on the northern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Scaled Piculet :- one, possibly two birds amongst a loose feeding flock along the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Plain-brown Woodcreeper :- just one, along Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Straight billed Woodcreeper :- a single bird in scrub beside Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Crested Spinetail :- only seen at Rancho Grande Research Station where several birds were seen from the balcony on 23rd and 25th Oct
Streaked Xenops :- up to 3 birds accompanying feeding flocks at higher elevations on Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Montane Foleage-gleaner :- single birds at highest elevation on both roads on 24th & 25th Oct
Buff-fronted Foleage-gleaner :- 2 birds high on the northern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct and another 2 behind Ranch Grande Research Station on the 25th
Guttulated Foleage-gleaner :- one bird trapped at Portachuelo Pass Banding Station on 23rd Oct. Another heard close by on the 25th.
Gray-throated Leaftosser :- 2 birds seen at close range behind Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Black-crested Antshrike :- several birds calling but just one male seen on the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Slaty Ant-wren :- a pair seen foraging low in the undergrowth on trails behind Ranch Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
(Northern) White- fringed Antwren :- single birds seen in mid elevation forest on both roads, 23rd and 24th Oct
Plain Antvireo :- single male seen on southern slope of Ocumare Rd on 25th Oct
Long-tailed Antbird (h):- only heard from mid elevation on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct
Schwartz's Ant-thrush (h) :- several different birds heard from higher elevation of both slopes of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Short-tailed Ant-thrush :- one seen well behind Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Black-faced Ant-thrush :- heard in several areas, but just one seen behind Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Plain-backed Antpitta :- just one heard from forest behind Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Golden-headed Manakin :- just one female trapped at Portachuelo Pass Banding Station on 25th Oct
Lance-tailed Manakin :- just one female seen on lower slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct.
Cinnamon Flycatcher :- One seen on Choroni rd on 24th and at least 2 birds seen from the balcony at Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Common Tody-flycatcher (h) :- obviously overlooked. Just one heard from Ocumare Rd on 25th Oct
Southern Beardless Tyrannulet (h) :- several heard on southern slope of Choroni Rd on both 22nd and 24th Oct
Pale-tipped Inezia :- just one seen on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
White-throated Tyrannulet :- just one seen close to the summit of the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Rufous-lored Tyrannulet :- probably only 2 birds, seen on several occasions from the balcony at Rancho Grande Research Station on 23rd and 25th Oct
Marble-faced Bristle-tyrant :- single seen at mid elevation on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct with a second at similar elevation on Ocumare Rd the following day
Northern Scrub Flycatcher:- One seen on lower slopes of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Yellow-olive Flatbill:- One seen on lower slopes of Ocumare rd on 23rd Oct
Olive-striped Flycatcher :- several birds seen and trapped at Portachuelo Pass Banding Station on 25th Oct
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher :- just one bird trapped at Portachuelo Pass Banding Station on 25th Oct
Golden-crowned Flycatcher :- just one on the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Smoke-colored Pewee :- just one, seen in forest close to Rancho Grande on 25th Oct
Venezuelan Flycatcher :- only one positively identified as this species – on the northern slope of the Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct. Several other brief views of "Myiarchus" flycatchers may well have been this species.
Masked Tityra :- just one on the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Black and White Becard :- a male seen on the north slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Chestnut-crowned Becard :- one, possibly two seen from the balcony at Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Handsome Fruit-eater :- a magnificent male seen from roadside forest at the summit of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Golden breasted Fruit-eater :- a male seen from lowland forest on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Whiskered Wren :- just one found amongst a lower storey mixed feeding flock close to Rancho Grande on 25th Oct
Buff-breasted Wren :- just one seen eventually, from dense roadside cover on the lower northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Gray-breasted Wood-wren :- one, seen well, from trails behind Ranch Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Southern Nightingale Wren (h) :- several birds heard from both roads (and just once a tiny dark object hurtled across a break in cover). Whilst appearing to respond to tape lure, they stayed well out of sight
Tropical Gnatcatcher :- up to 12 birds seen in scrub bordering Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Veery :- just one bird trapped at Ban Portachuelo Pass banding Station on 25th Oct
Andean Solitaire :- 3 were seen from mid elevation forest on the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Brown-capped Vireo :- just 2 seen amongst a mixed feeding flock on Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Red-eyed Vireo :- just one found on the lower southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct
Yellow-throated Vireo :- just one bird found behind Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Tennessee Warbler :- adult birds seen from the balcony at Rancho Grande Research Station on 23rd and 25th Oct
Black and White Warbler :- appear quite widespread, Seen daily with at least 7 birds found.
Blackburnian Warbler :- between us, up to 4 birds were seen from higher elevations on Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Blackpoll Warbler :- the most numerous passerine migrant with at least 80 birds seen, including 35-40 in the scrub beside and above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct
Yellow Warbler :- a female found in the scrub adjacent to Choroni Graveyard on 24th Oct
Hepatic Tanager :- an adult male, seen on the lower southern slope of Choroni Rd on both 22nd and 24th Oct
Blue-capped Tanager :- up to 7 birds of the race "olivicyanea" seen among two mixed feeding flocks at the summit of the Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Blue-winged Mountain-tanager :- at least 4 birds amongst a feeding flock high on the northern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Fulvous-headed Tanager :- 2 seen at low elevation on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th, and another, close to Rancho Grande the following day
White-eared Conebill :- at least 2, seen in open scrubland on the lower northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Blue Dacnis :- a pair seen on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Swallow Tanager :- just one imm/female seen from the balcony at Rancho Grande Research Station on 25th Oct
Golden Tanager :- following a single bird found at mid elevation on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct, another was part of a mixed feeding flock on Choroni Rd on the 24th and up to 4 birds were close to Rancho Grande on the 25th
Beryl-spangled Tanager :- only found at high elevation on the northern slope of Choroni Rd - 3 birds seen on 24th Oct
Burnished-buff Tanager :- just one, seen in more open woodland on the lower southern slope of Choroni Rd on 22nd Oct
Gray-headed Tanager :- one found amongst an early morning feeding flock at low elevation on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Streaked Saltator :- single birds seen in Caracas on 22nd and Choroni on 24th Oct
Ochre-breasted Brush-finch :- 2 birds seen amongst a lower storey feeding party on the southern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch:- 1 seen in dense roadside vegetation high on Choroni road on 24th Oct.
Black-faced Grassquit :- common around roadside scrub at the coast close to Choroni
Yellow-bellied Seedeater :- seen in open scrub at lower elevations of both roads. Only 3 males specifically identified but accompanying immature/female plumaged birds were likely to be this species.
Lesson's Seedeater :- a party of 4 males and a number of females (thought to be this species) were found in open scrub on the lower northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Lesser Goldfinch :- a party of at least 6 birds were seen early morning on the lower open southern slope of Choroni Rd on 24th Oct
Dickcissel :- 2 different birds found in scrub above Choroni graveyard on 24th Oct had obviously just "arrived"
Orange-crowned Oriole :- just one, seen at low elevation on the northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
Russet-backed Oropendola :- only seen from the road south of Rancho Grande on 25th Oct
Oriole Blackbird :- a pair seen in open scrubland on the lower northern slope of Ocumare Rd on 23rd Oct
