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ABRA PORTACHUALO, HUASCARAN NATIONAL PARK |
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Written by Charles Hesse
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Aug 24, 2006 at 12:00 AM |
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ABRA PORTACHUALO, HUASCARAN NATIONAL PARK
PERU
ANCASH (Compass)
Lat:00o00´S/00o00´W ha topography msl
Protected/registered status
Best Time for visit (27th March, 2006)
Birding Site Guide
This site is also within the Huascaran National Park but takes longer to get to. Take a combi from Yungay towards Yanama which leave round the corner from the Llanganuco ones at 7:30. After the 2nd lake, the road winds up a very steep slope to the pass (Abra Portachuela) at (roughly) km 45 and down the other side. Following the directions in Valqui, I got off at 10km further down near the first patches of Polylepis. Before this, the road passes 3 small lakes and the paramo here had Plain-crowned Ground-Tyrant, Many-striped Canastero and Plain-breasted Earthcreeper. At km55, cut accross the grass towards a valley to your right (facing downhill). You will see the lush Polylepis in the valley as you get closer. I walked up the valley along the edge of the forest scanning the tops of the trees. I found White-cheeked Cotinga fairly easily by checking bunches of red infloresces where it seemed to be feeding on berries. Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant was also found easily in this spot. Back at the road, walk another 2km down the road to km57 and check the scrub on the steep bank to your right (next to the road). This was a good spot for Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch. Tit-like Dacnis was also common here. The journey took almost 2 and a half hours in a 'combi' arriving at 10:30. The same vehicle goes back at 2:30-3pm and costs 10s each way. This only leaves 4 hours to look around but should be sufficient. I saw 22 species including 3 lifers.
Species seen
Crested Duck Anas specularioides
Shining Sunbeam Aglaeactis cupripennis Photographed
Black Metaltail Metallura phoebe Endemic
Andean Flicker Colaptes rupicola Photographed
Plain-breasted Earthcreeper Upucerthia jelskii Photographed
Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
White-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes atacamensis Possibly seen
Many-striped Canastero Asthenes flammulata
White-cheeked Cotinga Zaratornis stresemanni Endemic Vulnerable Photographed
Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes alpinus Endangered Photographed
D'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca oenanthoides
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca rufipectoralis
Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola alpinus
Brown-bellied Swallow Notiochelidon murina
Great Thrush Turdus fuscater
Tit-like Dacnis Xenodacnis parina Photographed
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor Photographed
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus
Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch Poospiza alticola Endemic Endangered Photographed
Plain-colored Seedeater Catamenia inornata
Rufous-eared Brush-Finch Atlapetes rufigenis Endemic
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
www.birdingsiteguide.com |
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Last Updated ( Jul 20, 2008 at 03:24 PM )
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