The Andes extension May 31 & Jun 1
Typical cloud forest habitat
May 31st - Yanacocha & Alambi Cloudforest reserve
So, on 31st May we met up with our guide for this part of the trip, one Juan Carlos Calvachi, probably the best birder in Ecuador - this was definitely evidenced as we visited the various locations, his knowledge of calls and jizz getting us on to all the birds. We left the hotel after an early breakfast and set off in the comfortable coach, heading up into the cloud forest areas above Quito. Our final destination would be the Septimo Paraiso lodge just outside the town of Mindo. However, first port of call was the Yanacocha Reserve, about an hours drive north of Quito and situated at approx 10,000ft. After spending some time here walking the trails, we headed to nearby Alambi Cloudforest Reserve in the Tandayapa Valley, at a lower altitude of c.5000ft, where again we spent a good time walking and birding the trails. Hence we were able to see a good number of species, from both habitat types. Turkey and Black Vultures were the first birds of prey, and as elsewhere in the Americas, these were common throughout. Throughout these few days hummingbirds and tanagers were to feature prominently, and at these two sites alone we saw 23 species of hummer and 7 tanagers. Hummers seen only on this day were the incredible Sword-billed Hummingbird, Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Purple-backed Thornbill and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. Other 'this day only' highlights were Choco and Yellow-breasted Brushfinches, White-throated Tyrranulet, Smoky Bush-tyrant, Rufous Wren and Spectacled Whitestart. The photo above shows typical habitat. After this mouthwatering start we eventually got to our accommodation, the lovely Septimo Paraiso [7th Paradise] lodge , where we had a very tasty dinner.
So, on 31st May we met up with our guide for this part of the trip, one Juan Carlos Calvachi, probably the best birder in Ecuador - this was definitely evidenced as we visited the various locations, his knowledge of calls and jizz getting us on to all the birds. We left the hotel after an early breakfast and set off in the comfortable coach, heading up into the cloud forest areas above Quito. Our final destination would be the Septimo Paraiso lodge just outside the town of Mindo. However, first port of call was the Yanacocha Reserve, about an hours drive north of Quito and situated at approx 10,000ft. After spending some time here walking the trails, we headed to nearby Alambi Cloudforest Reserve in the Tandayapa Valley, at a lower altitude of c.5000ft, where again we spent a good time walking and birding the trails. Hence we were able to see a good number of species, from both habitat types. Turkey and Black Vultures were the first birds of prey, and as elsewhere in the Americas, these were common throughout. Throughout these few days hummingbirds and tanagers were to feature prominently, and at these two sites alone we saw 23 species of hummer and 7 tanagers. Hummers seen only on this day were the incredible Sword-billed Hummingbird, Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Purple-backed Thornbill and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. Other 'this day only' highlights were Choco and Yellow-breasted Brushfinches, White-throated Tyrranulet, Smoky Bush-tyrant, Rufous Wren and Spectacled Whitestart. The photo above shows typical habitat. After this mouthwatering start we eventually got to our accommodation, the lovely Septimo Paraiso [7th Paradise] lodge , where we had a very tasty dinner.
Mashpi road/track
Jun 1st - Mashpi Road
Mashpi Road is a relatively recently worked birding area, only 17-20km NW of Mindo. We spent the whole day here birding at various locations along the road [which is 37km long, so plenty of places to visit]. New bird highlights included 4 Swallow-tailed Kites, Roadside Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, about 100 White-collared Swifts, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Green Thorntail, Empress Brilliant, Velvet Purple Coronet, Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, a female Red-rumped Woodpecker [the only one seen], Rose-faced Parrot, Spotted Barbtail, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Strong-billed and Spotted Woodcreepers, Russet Antshrike, Checker-throated Antwren and Esmerelda's Antwren [the last three species the only ones seen], Orange-breasted Fruiteater [again the only one], Barred Becard, Choco Warbler, Black Solitaire, the only Moss-backed Tanagers seen, and 13 other species of Tanager, and a Barred Puffbird just above our heads was nice. It started off quite misty [se the Black Solitaire photo!] but it soon burned off.
Mashpi Road is a relatively recently worked birding area, only 17-20km NW of Mindo. We spent the whole day here birding at various locations along the road [which is 37km long, so plenty of places to visit]. New bird highlights included 4 Swallow-tailed Kites, Roadside Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, about 100 White-collared Swifts, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Green Thorntail, Empress Brilliant, Velvet Purple Coronet, Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots, a female Red-rumped Woodpecker [the only one seen], Rose-faced Parrot, Spotted Barbtail, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, Strong-billed and Spotted Woodcreepers, Russet Antshrike, Checker-throated Antwren and Esmerelda's Antwren [the last three species the only ones seen], Orange-breasted Fruiteater [again the only one], Barred Becard, Choco Warbler, Black Solitaire, the only Moss-backed Tanagers seen, and 13 other species of Tanager, and a Barred Puffbird just above our heads was nice. It started off quite misty [se the Black Solitaire photo!] but it soon burned off.
There's a dozen photos of birds in the gallery below, but there are many more in the main galleries.
