LAGUNAS LLANGANUCO, HUASCARAN NATIONAL PARK 
PERU

ANCASH (Compass)

Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography msl 
Protected/registered status 
Best Time for visit (26th-27th March)

 

Birding Site Guide

This stunning area of 2 emerald green lakes is within the Huascaran National Park and easily accessed from Yungay. Combis leave from opposite the 'Comisaria' in Yungay at 8am but colectivos may leave earlier if there are passengers (8s). You could also hire a taxi there to take you up earlier. You'll have lots of offers. You must pay the entrance fee (5s) for a day or for staying in the park (65s). The latter seems the same for whatever period of time. There are several spots you can bird in the park. I got dropped off at the 1st lake (Laguna Chinancocha) where there is a trail (Sendero Chinancocha) that goes along the edge of the lake through stunning Polylepis forest and loops up a hill and back to the start. This trail had Andean Flicker, Baron's Spinetail, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant and Giant Conebill. Andean Duck, Puna Teal and Black-crowned Night-Heron were seen on or by the lake. The Maria Josefa trail leads from the same spot (that has some camping facilities) down the valley and rejoins the road. This trail had Rufous-eared Brush-Finch, Tit-like Dacnis, Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch, Citrine Warbler and Giant Hummingbird. From the point it rejoins to the guard post had Red-crested Cotinga, Black Metaltail, Black-throated Flowerpiercer and Jelski's Chat Tyrant. I couldn't find the supposed trail across from the post but explored a bit and found Ancash Tapaculo. I also saw Red-backed Hawk and Andean Swift flying over. On the way to Abra Portachelo, I saw Andean Goose, Andean Coot and Thick-billed Siskin around the second lake. I saw 40 species including 9 lifers. 


Species seen

  • Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
  • Andean Goose Chloephaga melanoptera
  • Crested Duck Anas specularioides
  • Puna Teal Anas puna Photographed
  • Andean Duck Oxyura ferruginea Photographed
  • Red-backed Hawk Buteo polyosoma Photographed
  • American Kestrel Falco sparverius Photographed
  • Slate-colored Coot Fulica ardesiaca
  • Andean Swift Aeronautes andecolus
  • Sparkling Violet-ear Colibri coruscans
  • Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis
  • Giant Hummingbird Patagona gigas
  • Black Metaltail Metallura phoebe Endemic Photographed
  • Andean Flicker Colaptes rupicola
  • Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus Photographed
  • Baron's Spinetail Cranioleuca baroni Endemic Photographed
  • Canyon Canastero Asthenes pudibunda Endemic
  • Stripe-headed Antpitta Grallaria andicola Possibly heard
  • Ancash Tapaculo Scytalopus affinis Endemic
  • Red-crested Cotinga Ampelion rubrocristata Photographed
  • Jelski's Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca jelskii Possibly seen
  • Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca rufipectoralis Photographed
  • Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis montana
  • Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca Seen between Yungay and Llanganuco
  • Brown-bellied Swallow Notiochelidon murina
  • Chiguanco Thrush Turdus chiguanco
  • Great Thrush Turdus fuscater Photographed
  • Citrine Warbler Basileuterus luteoviridis
  • Cinereous Conebill Conirostrum cinereum
  • Giant Conebill Oreomanes fraseri Near-threatened Photographed
  • Tit-like Dacnis Xenodacnis parina Photographed Recorded
  • Peruvian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus punensis Photographed
  • Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus Photographed
  • Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch Poospiza alticola Endemic Endangered
  • Plain-colored Seedeater Catamenia inornata Photographed
  • Black-throated Flowerpiercer Diglossa brunneiventris
  • Greenish Yellow-Finch Sicalis olivascens Photographed
  • Rufous-eared Brush-Finch Atlapetes rufigenis Endemic Photographed
  • Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis Photographed
  • Thick-billed Siskin Carduelis crassirostris


Other Fauna 
A total of -- species of mammals. 

There are -- recorded species of amphibians and reptiles. 

Flora 

Author: Charles Hesse

 

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