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PERU 2019 - DAYS 9,10
COCK OF THE ROCK LODGE
DAY 1 | DAYS 2,3,4 | DAYS 5,6 | DAY 7 | DAY 8 | DAYS 9-10 | DAYS 11,12,13 | DAYS 14,15,16.17
Cock of the Rock Lodge is on the highway to the entrance of Manu National Park. It has a private conservation area of more than 12,000 acres in the cloud forest at elevations varying between approximately 3500 to 8800 feet (1100 to 2700 m). A lek for Peru's national bird, the Cock of the Rock is on the property.
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There are bungalows on the property with private bathrooms, and each room has two solar lamps which are a blessing after nightfall when the lights go out! This is the very first time I ever stayed in a place that required mosquito netting over the bed. We were getting closer to the jungle.
I was warned about the monkeys. They told me to be sure to keep my pack with my camera equipment closed because the monkeys have been known to come onto the tables in the common area and steal cameras and lenses! I wonder if they prefer Nikon or Canon?
You can't stay at the Cock of the Rock Lodge and not visit the lek of the national bird of Peru. We took a short drive and hiked down to a viewing platform that overlooks the lek and waited. It took a bit of time before we saw any that were in a place where they could be easily photographed, but we were able to get a few pictures.
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This is one very interesting looking bird. The placement of its eyes makes it look like the bird can see 360 degrees around its head, which would make it very hard to sneak up on. I wonder if this is true.
I was able to see one new hummingbird species for me here, although this hummer was very difficult to photograph. This male Geoffroy's Wedgebill fed in one of two huge bushes and fed at each flower for only a second. He was always being chased by a juvenile Long-tailed sylph. When he could perch, he chose a spot deep inside one of the bushes. You can see why he is called a "wedgebill." For more pictures of this bird go to the gallery for this hummer HERE.
Below are the male and female Violet-fronted Brilliant and my nemesis the juvenile Long-tailed Sylph.
