Day one in the Andes: Santa Eulalia Valley, Peru.

The drag up to the from coast at Lima to the mountains starts along the main highway where the city soon gives way to more rural looking landscapes. As we turned off the highway and headed up the valleys in the lower Andean mountains we took to a dirt track. We soon stopped for a breather and stretch of the legs. The party consisted of Elis, Renzo and me, plus Augusto Bazan and Paula Quiros a charming couple who had joined us for the trip to help out with the driving logistics.

Elis and me at a stop in the Santa Eulalia valley.

Renzo, Augusto and Paula

On the way up, in order to acclimatise slowly we stopped several times and at each stop we took the opportunity to look for birds. Most of the birds kept their distance from the road sadly so although Elis' instinct on these occasions is to 'go in' after them, along this road that was often too dangerous.

Band-tailed Seedeater

Bare-faced Ground-Dove

Black-winged Ground-Dove

Adult Chiguanco Thrush

Juvenile Chiguanco Thrush

Cinereous Conebill

Collared Warbling-Finch

Giant Hummingbird

Mourning Sierra-Finch

Purple-collared Woodstar

Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch

Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant

The ascent was spectacular and at times rather alarming, but we arrived safely at our stop for the night, Huachupampa.

Huachupampa town square.

As we drove into town we stopped to admire this Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle.

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Upon arrival Elis and I took a stroll around the back of the hostel to see what we could find.

American Kestrel

Female Golden-bellied Grosbeak

Male Golden-bellied Grosbeak

Female Golden-bellied Grosbeak

There were also a number of mountain plants to admire.