by Lawrence Rubey Note: In May 2012 the Bolivian Spinetail was
recorded in the area. It had been recorded here many years ago,
but with no recent observations. We still need to review how
common it is in the area. See
http://birdinggap.blogspot.com/2012/06/dry-andean-valley.html
About three and a half hours northeast of La Paz, Sorata, with
its steep streets and a sleepy atmosphere, is a typical Yungas
town. The town, perched on the hillside at 2700 meters at the
base of snowcapped Mt. Illampu in the Cordillera Real, is quite
charming. But many of the surrounding areas are heavily
distributed. Indigenous vegetation only survives high up on
steep hillsides and in steep ravines. Birds like Golden-billed
Saltator, Azara's Spinetail, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Black-
backed Grosbeak are suggestive of the disturbed, scrub and
hedgerow habitat that dominate. But Sorata is a convenient base
for hiking and trekking and is a lovely getaway from La Paz. The
main attraction is the endemic Berlepsch's Canastero. Detection
o