Cordillera Escalera

In the morning of day 4 we drove a short way east of Tarapoto to the Cordillera Escalera.

Escalera waterfall
A mountain waterfall.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
This Andean Cock-of-the-rock stuck his head up but wouldn't give a view of his all-orange body (until he flew).
Bluish-fronted Jacamar
Bluish-fronted Jacamar
Swallow-tailed Kite
A Swallow-tailed Kite swooped by.
male Swallow Tanager
A male Swallow Tanager
female Swallow Tanager
and the female Swallow Tanager (these are actually cropped from the same photo).
Aconabikh
We visited “Koepcke's Hermit Aconasikh”, a place where Koepcke's Hermits so reliably come to feeders that they named the place for them. Koepcke's Hermit is a very rare hummingbird, classified as “near threatened”.
White-necked Jacobin
Among the hummingbirds at the feeders were many White-necked Jacobins, a common but very active hummingbird of which I never have gotten a satisfactory photo.
Gray-breasted Sabrewing
Gray-breasted Sabrewing is a very large hummingbird.
Gray-breasted Sabrewing
They often hold their wings up when they alight.
Golden-tailed Sapphire Golden-tailed Sapphire
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Gould's Jewelfront Gould's Jewelfront Gould's Jewelfront
Gould's Jewelfront is quite a distinctive-looking hummingbird.
Koepcke's Hermit
Success! Our quarry, Koepcke's Hermit.
Poison dart frog
After enjoying the hummingbirds, we hiked into the forest. This tiny poison-dart frog hopped across our path.
log bridge
You know how people are always saying they will cross that bridge when they come to it? This is the bridge that they are talking about.
Golden-headed Manakin
Golden-headed Manakin
Golden-headed Manakin
Golden-headed Manakin
White-plumed Antbird
We came across a flock of birds following an ant swarm, including numerous White-plumed Antbirds. Photographing small active birds in the deep shade of a cloud forest was a challenge but I got a couple of recognizable shots.
White-plumed Antbird
White-plumed Antbird