Birding the Cedae and Theodoro trails

Just returned from a full day birding the Cedae and Theodoro trails. Once again we had a short list of target birds and managed to get a total of 6 new birds, all tricky birds and we worked hard for them! We started off on the Cedae Trail, a trail that runs through primary forest at an altitude of 550m. It was a slow morning bird wise but we managed to get good views of a male Black-cheeked Gnateater, Black-capped Foliage Gleaner and a very nice perched Saw-billed Hermit. Other birds we picked up along the way included Red-necked Tanager, Green-headed Tanager, Spot-billed Toucanet, Tropical Parula, Plain Parakeet, Planalto and White-throated Woodcreeper and better views of Streak-capped Antwren. We arrived back at the minibus around 11.30 and took a short drive back up to the Theodoro Trail at an altitude of 1100m. We stopped briefly on the way to scan the forest for raptors, as soon as we got out of the minibus a Rufous-thighed Kite came over the top of us and perched in a nearby tree, giving great views through the scope, another new bird! We then started to scan the surrounding mountains and I picked up a distant perched Mantled Hawk, another great new bird! Very pleased with ourselves we drove on up to the Theodoro Trail and managed to get Eared Pygmy-Tyrant as our last new bird of the day!

Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner taken on yesterdays trip (Andy Foster)