RIBERALTA, BOLIVIA: July 1997

The town of Riberalta in the far north of Bolivia lies at the confluence of the rivers Beni and Madre de Dios, at the boundary on Pando and Beni, some 80km from the border with Brazil. It is easily reached by air from La Paz or Trinidad, although flights are not daily. Sjoerd Mayer put the area on the ornithological map by finding the rare Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant and Spotted Antpitta Hylopezus macularius, previously known only from northern Pando, Peru and Brazil. He also discovered that the latter sings differently from the better known population, warranting specific status as H. auricularis, which he named Masked Antpitta. From July 15 - 20 I birded the area with Robin Brace and Paul St Pierre, and following Sjoerd’s directions, saw both species well. We had missed Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrant in April 96 at Noel Kempff Mercado NP, its main known stronghold – perhaps it is a migrant as we found it easily here.

We flew from La Paz with TAM, the military airline, booked the previous day and at $103, cheaper than the two civil airlines. It stopped on the way at Cobija in Pando, surrounded by forest – we should have had a couple of days there had we realised. In Riberalta we walked the few 100m from the termainal to the basic but comfortable Residencial Los Reyes, $4 per person in a 3-man room. Note that there is no bank at La Paz airport and it is very difficult to change travellers cheques in Riberalta.

There are three sites to visit:-

HAMBURGO

This low-lying area of patchy riverine forest and scrub between the town and the Rio Beni, is a 30min walk or 10min motorbike ride away, past the brick-making plants on the western edge of town. As well as the Antpitta, it holds Johannis’ and Spotted Tody-Tyrants, Ashy-headed Greenlet and Chestnut (Purus) Jacamar.

ANTOFAGASTA

A left turn down a sandy track off the main Guayaramerin road immediately after the disused check-point at the edge of town, accessed by motorbike (taxi), goes to the small village of Antofagasta. Beyond there, trails lead through Amazonian forest to a small river. We saw White-browed Hawk, Leaden and Streaked Antwrens, Rufous-tailed Flatbill and Sulphur-bellied Tyrant-Manakin. There are doubtless many other good species to be found here - eg I believe I briefly saw Amazonian Royal Flycatcher O.(coronatus) coronatus.

KM 36

There are occasional km marker posts along the Guayaramerin road but the 36km post is difficult to see. On the bus it is reached some 30 mins after the military camp / checkpoint – a wide track on the right, sign- posted Quela 2km, goes through mature savanna of San Lorenzo de Pampas. Four pairs of Rufous-sided Pygmy-Tyrants were present in the grassland near the first 2 km of track, and we also saw 7 White-rumped Tanagers, 10 White-bellied Parrots and 2 Horned Sungems, but no Cock-tailed Tyrant which might be expected. Sjoerd was told that there was extensive undisturbed savanna along the road to Santa Rosa, 1-2 hrs away by motorbike.

ITINERARY

July 15 La Paz – Cobija - Riberalta, 09.00 – 12.00. Hotel and airline office. 16.30-18.00 Hamburgo.

July 16 Guayaramerin bus to Km 36, 06.35-07.30. Bird savanna till 12.00. Hour wait for lift back, in a pick-up. Late afternoon at Hamburgo – gripping views of Antpitta.

July 17 Motorbikes to Antofagasta 06.05-07.00. Bird trail to river and along river till 11.00. Walk back to village for bike pick-up at 12.00. Hamburgo late afternoon, walked back in dark.

July 18 Bikes to Antofagasta 05.45, birded till 13.00. Afternoon at Hamburgo lake – gripped off on Chestnut Jacamar.

July 19 Hamburgo plus lake 06.15-12.00. Siesta at hotel then back to Hamburgo late afternoon – still no Jacamar.

July 20 Hamburgo 06.30-08.30. To airport at 09.00 for 10.00 LAB flight to Trinidad ($67), departing at 12.30 with stop at Guayaramerin on Brazilian border.

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS

Taxonomy and names follow Birds of the World: A Checklist by JF Clements (1991 + updates). A cross means the species was seen and “H” that it was only heard.

	LOCALITY	Hamburgo	Antofagasta	Km 36
Crypturellus soui	LITTLE TINAMOU		x
Crypturellus undulatus	UNDULATED TINAMOU	H	H
Crypturellus parvirostris	SMALL-BILLED TINAMOU			x
Rhynchotus rufescens	RED-WINGED TINAMOU			x
Anhinga anhinga	ANHINGA	x
Chauna torquata	SOUTHERN SCREAMER	x
Cairina moschata	MUSCOVY DUCK		x
Syrigma sibilatrix	WHISTLING HERON			x
Ardea cocoi	COCOI HERON	x
Casmerodius albus	GREAT EGRET	x
Bubulcus ibis	CATTLE EGRET	x
Butorides striatus	STRIATED HERON	x	x
Mesembrinibis cayennensis	GREEN IBIS		H
Mycteria americana	WOOD STORK		x
Coragyps atratus	BLACK VULTURE	x	x
Cathartes aura	TURKEY VULTURE	x	x
Cathartes burrovianus	LESSSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE	x
Cathartes melambrotus	GREATER YELLW-HEADED VULTURE		x
Sarcorhamphus papa	KING VULTURE		x
Elanoides forficatus	SWALLOW-TAILED KITE		x
Rostrhamus sociabilis	SNAIL KITE	x
Ictinia plumbea	PLUMBEOUS KITE	x
Leucopternis schistacea	SLATE-COLOURED HAWK	x
Leucopternis kuhli	WHITE-BROWED HAWK		x
Buteogallus urubitinga	GREAT BLACK-HAWK	x
Busarellus nigricollis	BLACK-COLLARED HAWK	x
Buteo magnirostris	ROADSIDE HAWK	x	x	x
Falco femoralis	APLOMADO FALCON			x
Falco rufigularis	BAT FALCON		x
Odontophorus stellatus	STARRED WOOD-QUAIL		H
Micropygia schomburgkii	OCELLATED CRAKE			H
Aramides cajanea	GREY-NECKED WOOD-RAIL	x
Jacana jacana	WATTLED JACANA	x
Vanellus chilensis	SOUTHERN LAPWING	x
Phaetusa simplex	LARGE-BILLED TERN	x
Sterna superciliaris	YELLOW-BILLED TERN	x
Columba speciosa	SCALED PIGEON		x
Columba cayennensis	PALE-VENTED PIGEON	H
Columba subvinacea	RUDDY PIGEON	x	x
Columbina talpacoti	RUDDY GROUND-DOVE	x
Columbina picui	PICUI GROUND-DOVE	x
Claravis pretiosa	BLUE GROUND-DOVE		x
Leptotila rufaxilla	GREY-FRONTED DOVE		x
Ara macao/ chloropterus	SCARLET/ RED-AND-GREEN MACAW		x
Ara severa	CHESTNUT-FRONTED MACAW	x	x	x
Aratinga leucophthalmus	WHITE-EYED PARAKEET	x		x
Aratinga aurea	PEACH-FRONTED PARAKEET			x
Forpus xanthopterygius	BLUE-WINGED PARROTLET	x	x
Brotogeris chiriri	YELLOW-CHEVRONED PARAKEET		x
Brotogeris sanctithomae	TUI PARAKEET	x
Pionites leucogaster	WHITE-BELLIED PARROT			x
	LOCALITY	Hamburgo	Antofagasta	Km 36
Pionus menstruus	BLUE-HEADED PARROT		x
Amazona farinosa	MEALY PARROT		x
Piaya cayana	SQUIRREL CUCKOO		x
Piaya minuta	LITTLE CUCKOO		x
Crotophaga ani	SMOOTH-BILLED ANI	x		x
Guira guira	GUIRA CUCKOO	X
Tapera naevia	STRIPED CUCKOO	H
Otus choliba	TROPICAL SCREECH-OWL	H
Nyctibius griseus	GREY POTOO	H
Chordeiles acutipennis	LESSER NIGHTHAWK	x
Nyctidromus albicollis	PAURAQUE	x
Caprimulgus parvulus	LITTLE NIGHTJAR	H
Chaetura brachyura	SHORT-TAILED SWIFT	x
Tachornis squamata	FORK-TAILED PALM-SWIFT	x
Phaethornis hispidus	WHITE-BEARDED HERMIT		x	x
Phaethornis ruber	REDDISH HERMIT		x
Florisuga mellivora	WHITE-NECKED JACOBIN	x
Heliactin cornuta	HORNED SUNGEM			x
Trogon melanurus	BLACK-TAILED TROGON		x
Trogon viridis	WHITE-TAILED TROGON		H
Trogon curucui	BLUE-CROWNED TROGON		H
Trogon collaris	COLLARED TROGON		x
Trogon violaceus	VIOLACEOUS TROGON		H
Ceryle torquata	RINGED KINGFISHER	x
Chloroceryle amazona	AMAZON KINGFISHER		x
Chloroceryle americana	GREEN KINGFISHER		x
Chloroceryle aenea	AMERICAN PYGMY KINGFISHER		x
Momotus momota	BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT		x
Galbula ruficauda	RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR	x	x
Galbalcyrhynchus purusianus	CHESTNUT JACAMAR (PSP)	x
Bucco macrodactylus	CHESTNUT-CAPPED PUFFBIRD		x
Nystalus striolatus	STRIOLATED PUFFBIRD		x
Monasa nigrifrons	BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD		x
Chelidoptera tenebrosa	SWALLOW-WING		x
Ramphastos tucanus	RED-BILLED TOUCAN		x
Picumnus albosquamatus	WHITE-WEDGED PICULET	x
Melanerpes candidus	WHITE WOODPECKER			x
Melanerpes cruentatus	YELLOW-TUFTED WOODPECKER		x
Venilornis passerinus	LITTLE WOODPECKER		x
Piculus rubiginosus	GOLDEN-OLIVE WOODPECKER	x
Deconychura longicauda	LONG-TAILED WOODCREEPER		x
Xiphorhynchus picus	STRAIGHT-BILLED WOODCREEPER		x
Furnarius leucopus	PALE-LEGGED HORNERO		x
Furnarius rufus	RUFOUS HORNERO	x
Synallaxis gujanensis	PLAIN-CROWNED SPINETAIL	x
Hyloctistes subulatus	STRIPED WOOHAUNTER		x
Philydor erythrocercus	RUFOUS-RUMPED FOLIAGE-GLEANER		H
Xenops rutilans	STREAKED XENOPS		x
Taraba major	GREAT ANTSHRIKE	x
Thamnophilus doliatus	BARRED ANTSHRIKE	x
Thamnophilus aethiops	WHITE-SHOULDERED ANTSHRIKE	x
Thamnophulus murinus	MOUSE-COLOURED ANTSHRIKE	x
Thamnophilus punctatus	EASTERN SLATY ANTSHRIKE	x
Thamnophilus amazonicus	AMAZONIAN ANTSHRIKE		x
Thamnomanes schistogynus	BLUISH-SLATE ANTSHRIKE		x
	LOCALITY	Hamburgo	Antofagasta	Km 36
Myrmotherula surinamensis	STREAKED ANTREN		x
Myrmotherula assimilis	LEADEN ANTWREN		x
Cercomacra cinerascens	GREY ANTBIRD	x	H
Cercomacra nigrescens	BLACKISH ANTBIRD	x
Myrmoborus leucophrys	WHITE-BROWED ANTBIRD	x
Hypocnemis cantator	WARBLING ANTBIRD		x
Hypocnemoides maculicauda	BAND-TAILED ANTBIRD		x
Sclateria naevia	SILVERED ANTBIRD		x
Myrmeciza atrothorax	BLACK-THROATED ANTBIRD	x	x
Formicarius analis	BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH		H
Hylopezus (macularius) auricularis	MASKED ANTPITTA	x
Lipaugus vociferans	SCREAMING PIHA		x
Cotinga maynana	PLUM-THROATED COTINGA		x
Querula purpurata	PURPLE-THROATED FRUITCROW		x
Neopelma sulphureiventer	SULPHUR-BELLIED TYRANT-MANAKIN		x
Elaenia flavogaster	YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA	x		x
Elaenia parvirostris	SMALL-BILLED ELAENIA			x
Zimmerius gracilipes	SLENDER-FOOTED TYRANNULET	x
Tyrannulus elatus	YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET	x
Euscarthmus rufomarginatus	RUFOUS-SIDED PYGMY-TYRANT			x
Myiornis ecaudatus	SHORT-TAILED PYGMY-TYRANT		x	x
Hemmitriccus iohannis	JOHANNIS’ TODY-TYRANT	x
Todirostrum maculatum	SPOTTED TODY-FLYCATCHER	x
Ramphotrigon ruficauda	RUFOUS-TAILED FLATBILL		x
Terenotriccus erythrurus	RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER		x
Cnemotriccus fuscatus	FUSCOUS FLYCATCHER	x
Contopus cinereus	TROPICAL PEWEE	x	x
Pyrocephalus rubinus	VERMILION FLYCATCHER	x		x
Colonia colonus	LONG-TAILED TYRANT	x
Myiarchus tuberculifer	DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER		x
Myiarchus tyrannulus	BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER			x
Tyrannus melancholicus	TROPICAL KINGBIRD	x	x	x
Megarhynchus pitangua	BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER	x	x
Myiodynastes maculatus	STREAKED FLYCATCHER		x
Myiozetetes similis	SOCIAL FLYCATCHER	x	x
Philohydor lictor	LESSER KISKADEE	x
Pitangus sulphuratus	GREAT KISKADEE	x	x	x
Pachyramphus polychopterus	WHITE-WINGED BECARD		x
Vireo olivaceus	RED-EYED VIREO		x
Hylophilus pectoralis	ASHY-HEADED GREENLET	x
Hylophilus ochraceiceps	LEMON CHESTED GREENLET		x
Turdus amaurochalinus	CREAMY-BELLIED THRUSH	x	x
Turdus ignobilis	BLACK-BILLED THRUSH	x
Turdus hauxwelli	HAUXWELL'S THRUSH	x	x
Campylorhynchus turdinus	THRUSH-LIKE WREN	x
Cistothorus platensis	SEDGE WREN			x
Thryothorus genibarbis	MOUSTACHED WREN		x
Thryothorus guarayanus	FAWN-BREASTED WREN	x
Troglodytes aedon	HOUSE WREN	x
Tachycineta albiventer	WHITE-WINGED SWALLOW	x
Phaeoprogne tapera	BROWN-CHESTED MARTIN	x
Stelgidopteryx ruficollis	SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW	x
Ammodramus humeralis	GRASSLAND SPARROW			x
Ammodramus aurifrons	YELLOW-BROWED SPARROW	x
	LOCALITY	Hamburgo	Antofagasta	Km 36
Paroaria gularis	RED-CAPPED CARDINAL	x		x
Coereba flaveola	BANANAQUIT		x
Conirostrum speciosum	CHESTNUT-VENTED CONEBILL		x
Schistoclamys melanopis	BLACK-FACED TANAGER			x
Cypsnagra hirundinacea	WHITE-RUMPED TANGER			x
Hemithraupis guira	GUIRA TANAGER	x
Nemosia pileata	HOODED TANAGER	x
Lanio versicolor	WHITE-WINGED SHRIKE-TANAGER		x
Tachyphonus luctuosus	WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER		x
Tachyphonus cristatus	FLAME-CRESTED TANAGER		x
Ramphocelus carbo	SILVER-BEAKED TANAGER	x	x	x
Thraupis sayaca/ episcopus	SAYACA / BLUE-GREY TANAGER	x	x	x
Thraupis palmarum	PALM TANAGER	X	x	x
Tangara mexicana	TURQUOISE TANAGER	X	x
Tangara velia	OPAL-RUMPED TANAGER		x
Dacnis lineata	BLACK-FACED DACNIS		x
Chlorophanes spiza	GREEN HONEYCREEPER		x
Volatinia jacarina	BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT	X		x
Sporophila castaneiventris	CHESTNUT-BELLIED SEEDEATER			x
Saltator maximus	BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR		x
Saltator coerulescens	GREYISH SALTATOR	x
Cyanocompsa cyanoides	BLUE-BLACK GROSBEAK	H	H
Psarocolius decumanus	CRESTED OROPENDOLA		x
Cacicus solitarius	SOLITARY CACIQUE	x

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RIBERALTA, BOLIVIA: July 1997

ITINERARY

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDS

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