Most people see a dead tree and think, “Why don’t they cut that tree down and open up the view?”

But that dead tree is a resting spot for birds – lots of them!! I woke up to a buffet of birds and thanks to MerlinBird ID I identified several new species for my life list!

Without a local guide, I can’t often say if a little brown bird is one particular sparrow or another but I am improving. It’s been a nice mostly private diversion for me on this journey. Since I left on March 4, I’ve added 92 species.

All of these were either in the tree or walking around the grass. So, yes, I chose espresso and binoculars for two days rather than take the gondola to the top of the hill, chocolate tasting or other group activities.

If you go, stay in the new wing at Llao Llao and remember that dead tree has lots of life yet.

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p.s. I have not been able to import all of my birding records into Merlin. If I could, I believe I am closer to 1000 total species. (Still missing Tanzania, Thailand and Costa Rica.)