Dip (verb): [in birding] to overlook seeing a chicken you have been searching for
Many instances once we converse in regards to the journeys we’ve been on we think about the issues we skilled, the ruing of missed alternatives tends to be saved for nighttime conversations after a couple of drinks maybe. Visiting Guyana introduced with it the unavoidable expectation of seeing some thoughts boggling species – some endangered, some emblematic, others downright weird.
Earlier than we boarded the flight to Guyana we already knew that chances of seeing one of many goal species was slashed to close zero. I had lengthy yearned of seeing a wild Harpy Eagle and was genuinely thrilled to listen to about an energetic nest not too removed from the place we might be staying. The truth is, going to view this nest was on the itinerary. Nonetheless, because the date drew nearer, there was a small difficulty. Rain. Extra particularly, the dearth thereof. Guyana (and the higher Amazonian area) was on the time present process an intensive drought, which finally lower off some indigenous communities in some international locations. Selfishly, I used to be a bit disillusioned that the dearth of water turned our two-hour commute through river to see the nest of the mighty Harpy Eagle right into a no-go. The potential of being stranded in unreachable jungle in one of many final true wildernesses on Earth was just too nice. And so, we dipped on considered one of our targets.
One other species we had on our goal listing was the Endangered Solar Parakeet. After having fun with daybreak on the Rupununi we headed to the distant village of Karasabai simply on the border with Brazil to seek for these spectacularly vivid parakeets inside a couple of shallow valleys. We drove slowly, we walked much more slowly, combing the stunted vegetation for any signal of vibrant yellow, orange, and inexperienced. We stored our ears peeled, solely talking in hushed tones, for at any second we anticipated to listen to the tell-tale screeches of those birds. However there have been no parakeets, solely a wholesome serving to of Solar.
Shiny, however not the proper shade or mixture – and even household. Nonetheless a notable sighting, nonetheless, as this Orange-backed Troupial was a model new chicken for me.
Brown-crested Flycatcher partially hidden within the roadside vegetation. These thorny shrubs hid a plethora of birds, together with two small doves, Widespread Floor Dove (beneath) and the even smaller Plain-breasted Floor Dove (additional beneath).
That morning wore on, and nonetheless there was solely the Solar, so intense it appeared as if the clouds all shied away from obscuring it. There have been different birds, in fact – Brown-throated Parakeets that flew previous low and rapidly threw us for a heart-pounding loop. Blue-backed Manakin, Inexperienced-backed Trogon, and White-bellied Piculet have been all fairly energetic within the vegetation. However nonetheless, no signal of the famed Solar Parakeet.
Inexperienced-backed Trogon (above) and Guianan protect endemic White-bellied Piculet (beneath).
After lunch, we continued our search, this time on the banks of a river the place a resident household assured us that the birds handed by way of repeatedly. Which birds? The brilliant yellow birds!
The panorama was flat with small hills, many of those hills have been truly termite mounds.
And so we perched on the steep banks and waited. This time, the solar mirrored off the river and baked us from beneath as effectively. A Sooty-capped Hermit fed close by, adopted by a quick look from a Blue-tailed Emerald. Apart from the 2 hummingbirds, it was exceptionally quiet. We occupied ourselves trying on the reverse financial institution, with the understanding that there was Brazil, a whole different nation with its personal cadre of uncooperative birds. Finally, we threw within the towel and shuffled again to the autos. Air con at the moment was significantly better than gazing an countless sky. Leaves swaying within the wind would beckon weary eyes with the promise of a chicken being chargeable for the movement. Leon, our trusted buddy and information, instructed us at that time that this was the primary time in all his years of guiding that the Solar Parakeets didn’t present.
Sooty-capped Hermit (above) and Blue-tailed Emerald (beneath).
Properly, another likelihood to see one thing that was on the “must-see” listing, I believed. There was a identified lek for the famed Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock that was a brief hike away from the roadway. A forest path with enclosing vines and branches on both aspect step by step ascended to some extent the place the foliage gave strategy to large boulders, and right here I instantly knew I used to be in the correct place to see this iconic species. In spite of everything, there have been already rocks.
We took our seats on particular person rocks on a reasonably steep incline, stuffed with swooping lianas and twisted vines. And waited. Sometimes, there can be not less than one male already on the lek, at the same time as human observers can be getting in place. No birds but. The ruthless solar started to wane because it sank nearer to the horizon. Shiny whites gave strategy to light, dappled golden blobs which danced furiously every time the wind blew. I up to date my digital camera settings to cope with the altering gentle. And waited. Nonetheless, nothing. Not even a feather drifted previous. Nonetheless, it was nonetheless a magical expertise sitting within the jungle.
I didn’t assume I’d dip on a resident, sedentary, and supposedly unmissable chicken – however alas, such is the attractive unpredictability of nature. Fortuitously, the journey wasn’t over, and we heard of one other lek in one other village that we have been but to go to.
