The Abandoned FerroCarril Tobia Colombia

In June of this year, I said goodbye to Colombia. I have had an extraordinary three years living and working in this beautiful country and have been lucky enough to see some of its iconic larger wildlife. Before leaving I took a couple of trips driving out of Bogota down to the warmer climate of the Tobia and Villeta area. In Tobia, clinging to the side of a canyon, alongside the banks of the Reo Negro, is an abandoned railway line or ferrocarril. This is now used for walking and some adventure activities like climbing the waterfalls coming down the canyon wall.  

The Rio Negro

 Tobia Colombia

This path is usually full of butterflies and a particularly good place to see the large blue morpho. So, I spent my last couple of photography trips here.

Morpho helenor peleides Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Morpho helenor peleides on the railway Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

At several points along the canyon wall, there were collections of large spider webs containing an incredible iridescent blue and beige resident.

Unidentified Spider Tobia Colombia

Continuing with the shiny blue theme, many of the butterflies here also had iridescent blue colouration.

Lasaia agesilas agesilas Tobia Colombia

Diaethria gabaza gabaza Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Doxocopa pavon theodora Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Dynamine postverta mexicana Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Dynamine tithia salpensa Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Dynamine paulina thalassina Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

There is a railway tunnel section along the path where bats roost.

Artibeus sps Fruit Bat roost Tobia Colombia

This false coral snake was also on the path but sadly deceased.

Erythrolamprus bizona (Double Banded False Coral Snake) Tobia Colombia

Ferns clung to the canyon walls and there were many colourful flowers.

A Cattle heart butterfly rests on a leaf Tobia Colombia

Kohleria sps  Rio Negro Tobia Colombia

Ferns Tobia Colombia

Here are some of the other butterflies I saw along the path.

Adelpha iphicleola Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Dione moneta Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Parides sps Tobia Colombia

Battus polydamas polydamas Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Battus ingenuus Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Parides sps Tobia Colombia

Laparus doris Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Melete lycimnia reducta (Primrose Flag) Tobia Colombia

Papillio thoas Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Papillio paeon Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

Papilio androgeus male Rio Negro Tobia Colombia

Tegosa claudina Tobia Cundinamarca Colombia

This gentle stroll along the Rio Negro was a nice way to say goodbye to the wildlife of Colombia.

The Rio Negro Colombia