Today we went exploring with our taxi driver, heading north of Cusco gaining altitude all the time. At around 4000m, we stopped at Tintero Lake. This proved to be a great area alive with birds. We quickly found Bright-rumped Yellowfinches in the reeds, Andean Geese feeding in the adjacent fields, Short-billed Pipits on the dry ploughed land and Rufous-webbed Tyrant feeding along the lakeshore. As we drove further around the lake, we stopped by a small stream and enjoyed great views of a White-winged Cinclodes. This was a very peaceful and scenic spot to bird, definitely off the beaten tourist track, where time seemed to have stood still. The fields were still being ploughed by hand, corn was being threshed by donkeys and women still wore tradition dress – tall hat, full patterned skirt and woollen stockings. The lake was surrounded by towering snow-capped peaks.
We moved on to our second lake of the day, Lake Huaypo, a shallow area of water with open shorelines. Plenty of birds here again but try as we might, no new birds to add to our list.
Bird species total: 2815
Posted 25 July, Cusco, Peru