We started this Venezuelan tour in the north-east of the country after an overnight near Caracas. The firts afternoon saw us in the dry cactus desert of the Araya Peninsula settling into our first Venezuelan birds, including Vermilion Cardinal, Yellow-shouldered Parrots, Northern White-fringed Antwrens and a host of wetland birds on the lagoons like Black Skimmers and Caribbeain Flamingo.The next few days were a real contrast as we travelled to the mountains, firstly Cerro Humo. This mountain hosts a fine selection of range restricted birds but unfortunately the weather played a big part in the day's proceedings. We were greeted at the refuge (the highest point that you can drive to) by strong winds and rain and the omens were not good to say the least. Venezuelan Parakeets showed immediately but our hike up Cerro Humo was uncomfortbale to say the least with little seen due to the poor weather.
Despite better weather the other endemic hotspot of Cerro Negro was hardly better. The morning started well with Groove-billed Toucanet, Scarlet-fronted Parakeets, Rufous-shafted Woodstar, Green-tailed Emerald and best of all a couple of Handsome Fruiteaters. Not a sniff from the threatened Grey-headed Warbler and White-throated Barbtail and Venezuelan Sylph were heard only.
