Andean Cock of the rock and toucanet

Andean Cock of the rock, Rupicola peruvianus,Queremal, Valle de Cauca, Colombia

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p39​oJf

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p3a​4gG

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p3a​4h8

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p3z​Hnb

davholla wrote in post #19561311
Andean Cock of the rock, Rupicola peruvianus,Queremal, Valle de Cauca, Colombia

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p39​oJf EF7A8432-CR2_DxO_DeepPRIMECocko​ftherock by davholla2002, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p3a​4gG EF7A8460-CR2_DxO_DeepPRIMECocko​ftherock by davholla2002, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p3a​4h8 EF7A8456-CR2_DxO_DeepPRIMECocko​ftherock by davholla2002, on Flickr

Toucan Barbet, Semnornis ramphastinus, Queremal, Valle de Cauca, Colombia

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/2p3z​Hnb EF7A8486-CR2_DxO_DeepPRIMETouca​nBarbet by davholla2002, on Flickr

Striking birds and nice images.

That's so great that you got to go to Colombia! A dream destination for me. Would love to go there someday. Great photos of striking subjects!

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19561322
That's so great that you got to go to Colombia! A dream destination for me. Would love to go there someday. Great photos of striking subjects!

When I saw this, I was with some Americans and I got the impression that for you guys if you go out of season* ticket prices are quite reasonable.
Also the journeys are so much shorter

*Assuming you don't work in or have children in education.

davholla wrote in post #19561402
When I saw this, I was with some Americans and I got the impression that for you guys if you go out of season* ticket prices are quite reasonable.
Also the journeys are so much shorter

*Assuming you don't work in or have children in education.

Are you not from America yourself? If not, where are you from?

I am not sure what is "in season" and "out of season" in Colombia. I actually thought that any place so near the equator doesn't really have very distinct seasons. I think there must be a lot to learn about international travel to Colombia that I don't know anything about.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19561430
Are you not from America yourself? If not, where are you from?

I am not sure what is "in season" and "out of season" in Colombia. I actually thought that any place so near the equator doesn't really have very distinct seasons. I think there must be a lot to learn about international travel to Colombia that I don't know anything about.

I am from the UK.
For Colombia there are 4 things to think about
a) Prices are so much cheaper outside of the school holidays from where you are flying from. If I were to go in November it would have been much cheaper than August (about 60% of the price) (but we have to travel in August for family reasons)
b) The rainy season is important and it varies from place to place.
For example Mitu is meant to be amazing and cheap but during August it rains all the time so I can't go there.
https://www.uncovercol​ombia.com …lombia-birding-adventure/

Some places are dry in August though so it varies.

c) In the US winter there are some migrants so that is quite interesting although not vital.
d) some times of year you can see turtles or whales on the coast.

There are 2 ways to go birding in Colombia
a) pay for a tour easy and expensive
b) visit places yourself

I do b) because I am there with family so there is a limit to how long I can go looking for birds. For the Andean Cock I paid someone 750,000 COP about £150 190 USD so not cheap. Which included food, transport, guide etc. It was also only one day.

If you ever want to go

.
Thanks for giving me so much useful info!
.

davholla wrote in post #19561517
.
a) Prices are so much cheaper outside of the school holidays from where you are flying from. If I were to go in November it would have been much cheaper than August (about 60% of the price) (but we have to travel in August for family reasons)

b) The rainy season is important and it varies from place to place.
For example Mitu is meant to be amazing and cheap but during August it rains all the time so I can't go there.
https://www.uncovercol​ombia.com …lombia-birding-adventure/

Some places are dry in August though so it varies.

c) In the US winter there are some migrants so that is quite interesting although not vital.
d) some times of year you can see turtles or whales on the coast.
.

.
I would be going in January, February, or March. . That is because that is the time of year when I have enough spare time to go, and when I go I want to spend at least 4 to 5 weeks there. . I have found that I get the most for my money when I do fewer trips but longer trips.
.

davholla wrote in post #19561517
.
There are 2 ways to go birding in Colombia
a) pay for a tour easy and expensive
b) visit places yourself

I do b) because I am there with family so there is a limit to how long I can go looking for birds. For the Andean Cock I paid someone 750,000 COP about £150 190 USD so not cheap. Which included food, transport, guide etc. It was also only one day.
.

.
I am definitely a do-it-myselfer, but would have no problem paying an affordable rate for info that points me in the right direction. . What I would probably end up doing is to get to know some of Colombia's most successful bird photographers, and then go out shooting with them. . That's what I do with most of what I shoot in the US, and it always seems to work out well. . Social media and smartphones make it so easy to do research and find people and connect with them to arrange meetings and outings. . Even the language barrier is no concern because the Google translator works so well.
.

davholla wrote in post #19561517
.
If you ever want to go
.

.
Yes I very much want to go!


.

Tom Reichner wrote in post #19561592
.
Thanks for giving me so much useful info!
.

.
I would be going in January, February, or March. . That is because that is the time of year when I have enough spare time to go, and when I go I want to spend at least 4 to 5 weeks there. . I have found that I get the most for my money when I do fewer trips but longer trips.

A good time to go.
I would consider the following
Mitu (Amazon wildlife) *
Casanare (Savannah) (check security)
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (a mixture of different habitats from dry forest to cloud forest, endemic monkeys at sea level)
Manizales cloud forest meant to be good for Toucans*

Maybe Valle de Cauca for Andean Cock of the rock - not sure if you can see it elsewhere.

A good way to plan is to look for bird photos on ebird and see where people get good photos

*Not been

I went on a bird photography trip to Colombia in October 2021. I went with my guide from Costa Rica that I have been on multiple trips with. It was great what a wonderful place the wildlife and the birds are amazing highly recommended whether you do it yourself or go with the tour Route. A local photographer friend of mine did a do it yourself trip recently and he had a wonderful time also but he had some friends and contacts there that made it a little easier.