The day began in the rain at 5:00 a.m. Leaving the house required a tremendous effort, but we made it thanks to the great spirit of the team—Rubén and Carlos—who didn't hesitate to head out despite the weather. After breakfast, we boarded the traditional rural transport of the region, the classic Jeep Willys, heading up to the Bellavista sector. 

We got off at the designated crossroads and walked for about 10 minutes under the rain until we found shelter at the local rural school. We stayed there for a good while, simply observing the environment and listening to the rain. 

Although it wasn't our highest count for the day, the thick sub-Andean canopy gifted us two incredible sightings: a Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) actively foraging along the wet bark, and a fleeting but unmistakable glimpse of a Golden-collared Manakin (Manacus vitellinus) moving through the understory. We walked through very narrow trails completely swallowed by the vegetation. The landscape here is truly beautiful: a lush display of neotropical nature where the foliage creates authentic green tunnels.

The day remained cloudy and dark. These low-light conditions in the cloud forest severely limited the effectiveness of my current binoculars. Trying to appreciate the true colors and field marks of birds like the Warbler and the Manakin in this dense, wet environment is a struggle. In order to properly appreciate these neotropical species under an overcast canopy, it became evident that we need better optical equipment—specifically, 12x50 high-luminosity binoculars and a proper telephoto lens.

What was truly spectacular today was the sheer abundance of water. There were streams, creeks, and small waterfalls everywhere. We learned that the 'El Venado' waterfall is located nearby, but we decided to save that visit for the dry season, as the trail becomes too difficult and unsafe during the heavy rains.

At 1,350 meters above sea level, the ecosystem is drastically different from the urban core of Viterbo down in the valley at 1,000 meters. Today, it was remarkably evident how species distribution and plant life change in just a 350-meter altitudinal gradient.

Field Notes by Gustavo Henao (Curator of the Viterbo Avifauna Checklist) alongside the Coclí Birding Club.