Viewing page 159 of 170

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

(2)

All very active, flitting about.  The [[underlined]] cinereum [[/underlined]] definitely probing in bark of Polylepis.  Group quite highly integrated.  Moves off after a few minutes.  Can't see who is in lead.

COMMENT:  I should image that there is only one flock in this whole area (2 patches of woods – see below).

See Sooty Thrush alone

8:28.  See [[underlined]] cinereum [[/underlined]] approximately where flock seen earlier.  This individual is either alone or perhaps on outskirts flock.  Quiet.  Gleaning leaves as well as feeding on bark.

Almost all the birds here are very shy.

CC(S) here largely gray below apart from rufous UTC.

Flush more [[underlined]] bonariensis [[/underlined]] definitely alone.

Stop observations here ca. 9:00 a.m.

NOTE:  The patches of Polylepis here are small, roughly rectangular, perhaps 300 ft long, 50 ft wide, very close to houses.  In this particular area there are 3 patches quite close together.  Looking at the distant landscape, it would seem that patches are usually more scattered.

The altitude here should be 3900-4000 m. according to the forestry department in Huánaco.  According to the altimeter of Craig Morris, we are at 12,700 ft.  In any case we are way up into the puna.  Polylepis occurs much higher than any other native tree of the Andes