Yanacocha

 October 15, 2021

Another pre-dawn breakfast and then a drive to the Yanacocha Reserve, on the slopes (2500-3500m) of Pichicacha, a set of 5 volcanic peaks of which one is active (last erupted in 1999). Much of the slope is deforested to support the local dairy farming industry. Native trees become shorter and scrubbier as the elevation increases; the only tall trees are introduced species such as eucalyptus, cedar and pine. While much of the farmland feels quite dry, the upper level on the mountain is part “montane” and part cloud forest. Yanacocha is a reserve run by an international group that is buying land all over the world to protect specific bird species (but a lot of other species benefit too). In this case the focus species is a hummingbird, the black-breasted puffleg. 

We walked about three miles into the reserve, which was unusually quiet. We saw many fewer species of birds than on previous days, but those we saw were spectacular and specific to the local eco region. Examples include several mountain tanagers, and some amazing hummingbirds. Many of the hummingbirds are very aptly named, as shown by the photo of the Sword-billed Hummingbird below.  We also added an Ecuadorian Rabbit (actual name is white-tailed rabbit) to our mammal list. 

The weather today was very unsettled, periods of sun in between many stretches of mist and fog. The mist was so dense that there was no sense staying up on the mountain. Instead we drove back roads and saw more local and endemic birds on our way back to the lodge. We got in just before a big thunderstorm hit- thunder at 9,000 ft is really loud!

Pictured: Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, female Sword-billed Hummingbird, Yellow-breasted Brush Finch 

.