Jay, Lynn,
Jean, and I rose early to walk back down to the Puente Ruinas to look
and listen for Lyre-tailed Nightjar. We weren't successful with the
looking, but were with the listening. Though I was carrying my lucky
nightjar gloves, there was no need to attempt to pick up the nightjar.
(If you were on Jay's 2005 summer tour of Costa Rica, you'd understand
that last comment.)
On the walk
back I began to realize that I was a hurtin' puppy, with body aches,
chills, and a fever. Nonetheless I managed to walk along the Urubamba
River for the morning's birding. For her birthday present, I let Chris
carry her scope (she insisted).
The morning's
birding was fun. I successfully identified a Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet
all on my own as I straggled behind the group. We got to see a group
of Andean Cocks-of-the-Rock. We solved the mystery of the Maroon-chested
Chat-Tyrant. Most of us (but not me) were able to see the Fasciated
Tiger-Heron.
Well, a combination
of Lucretia's folk remedy, the "Lucky Beans" so nicely latched
on my wrist by Lynn, and a dose of cipro put me back on the mend.
Maybe the lucky bulls made me better, too.
I spent the
early part of the afternoon resting by the pool at Machu Picchu Pueblo
Hotel, watching the Blue-gray and Spangle-cheeked Tanagers, and the
various hummingbirds. This chap raked up all the fallen leaves by
poolside. Not even ten seconds after he was done, a big wind picked
up, and a number of leaves equal to what he had just raked dropped
from the trees.
I was happy
to be feeling on-the-mend, as we were heading back down to Ollantaytambo
to base there while birding Abra Malaga.
On
to Day 7: Abra
Malaga, west and east slopes
Peru
2006 Trip Home
This
page was last updated on 27 July 2006.
Contact Geoff Williamson
with any comments, updates or suggestions.