The Elfin Forest Trail reaches 950 m above sea level, and although rocky and very steep in places, is one of my favourite birding trails anywhere. The forest here has only ever been selectively logged and the trees are dripping with bromeliads and orchids, supporting a whole range of animals scarce in secondary forest. A calling male Shrike-like Cotinga (photos 1 & 2) showed very well between posts 850 - 900, with another seen briefly in the same place. At the top of the trail 1 Spotted Bamboowren (photo 3) was eventually coaxed out into a relatively open area of bamboo, and 1 Mantled Hawk, 1 Scale-throated Hermit, 1 Versicolored Emerald, 4 Saffron Toucanet, 1 Yellow-browed Woodpecker, 2 Ferruginous Antbird (photo 4), 1 White-bibbed Antbird, 1 White-throated Woodcreeper, 1 Black-billed Scythebill and a Rough-legged Tyrannulet were seen. Other notables logged include 1 Surucua Trogon, 1 Rufous-capped Motmot, 3 Spot-billed Toucanet, 1-2 White-collared Foliage-gleaner, 1 Pale-browed Treehunter, 1 Azure-shouldered Tanager and a Black-throated Grosbeak. Frustratingly, we failed to see the Fork-tailed Tody-Tyrants recently found on this trail despite hearing them call at close range. The return walk along the Waterfall Trail added a Plain Xenops and a White-thighed Swallow.
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| Above and below: Male Shrike-like Cotinga (Elegant Mourner) at the regular breeding spot at post 850 on the Elfin Forest Trail |
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| Spotted Bamboowren - rubbish photo, tough bird |
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| The brightest coloured Drymophila antbird, Ferruginous Antbird is found at higher altitudes and is often associated with bamboo. |
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