ECUADOR 3–18 August 2008 25 January–9 February 2009 3–18 August 2009 Leader: Tony Nunnery

Ecuador has an extraordinary variety of habitats, from lowland tropical rainforest to the Paramo high up in the Andes and from the Pacific coast to the temperate subtropical forests. It has a species list of about 1550, over half of the South American total. We will be concentrating on the north of the country and should see over 450 species during the trip.

Day 1 Scheduled flight to Quito where we will be met by a representative of Neblina Forest and transferred to an excellent hotel.

Days 2–3 We will be met by our local guide and driver for an early start for the fifty mile drive northwest to the Tandayapa Pass. This may take us all day because we will have to make frequent stops to birdwatch! The Nono Mindo road winds down the western slope of the Andes through the lush cloud forest of the temperate and sub-tropical zones. Dense montane habitat hugs the roadside along the entire route as we descend from 3000 to 1200 metres. Mixed foraging flocks of birds will appear from time to time including a veritable rainbow of tanagers, flower-piercers, brush-finches and flycatchers. Other species we will be looking for during the two days include Torrent Duck, Ornate Hawk-eagle, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Fasciated Tiger-heron, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, Toucan Barbet, Spotted Barbtail, Uniform Treehunter, Beautiful Jay and Snowy-throated Kingbird. Of the hummingbirds, Booted Racket-tail is one of the most spectacular and we will see many others including Green-fronted Hummingbird and Empress Brilliant, Brown Inca and Hoary Puffleg. We can hardly miss some of the colourful tanagers and manakins and new birds will be coming thick and fast! Two nights at Bellavista Lodge.

Days 4–5 Today we transfer to the Mindo area, birding en-route. We will be spending the rest of the day and all next day birding around the Mindo area exploring the many forest trails. New birds may include Plain-breasted and Barred Hawks, Barred Forest-falcon, Wattled Guan, White-throated and Uniform Crakes, Sunbittern, Scaly-naped Parrot, Little Cuckoo, Black-tailed Trainbearer, the endemic Plain-billed Aracari, Powerful and Scarlet-backed Woodpeckers, Tawny-throated Leaftosser and a myriad of tanagers. One of the highlights will be a visit to an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek. After our evening meals we will look for owls including Mottled and Rufous-banded, nightjars including Band-winged and Lyre-tailed and maybe even a Gray Potoo. Two nights at Mindo Gardens.

Day 6 After breakfast we will return to Quito, birding at a number of sites en-route looking for species we may have previously missed. Night in Quito.

Day 7 Today we fly to Sacha Lodge in the eastern lowlands. It isn't straightforward, however, as the nearest we can get is 100 km away, so the flight is followed by a three-hour motorised canoe journey along the River Napo! We bird all the way down the river looking for Sand-coloured Nighthawk, Pied Plover and Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns. The lodge, which is situated in humid rainforest near La Selva Lodge, has six main trails radiating out from it as well as a boardwalk, a dugout canoe route, a superb canopy tower taking up to 12 persons and a new canopy walk. The unspoiled habitat means that there is a huge diversity of birdlife, although, as in all rainforests, birds are not always easy to see! Some of the species we can expect to see here include Salvin's and Nocturnal Curassows, Spix's Guan, Blue-and-yellow and Red-bellied Macaws and Harpy Eagle. Four nights at Sacha Lodge.

Days 8–10 We will spend each day with a local guide exploring the trails around the lodge. There are simply too many birds that we may see to list them all but the highlights may include Hoatzin, Zigzag and Agami Herons, Scarlet Macaw, Dusky-shouldered and Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets, Orange-cheeked Parrot and White-throated, Golden-green, Ringed and Rufous-headed Woodpeckers. The understorey contains many skulking birds which follow the Army Ants and include Rio Suno, Dugand's and Chestnut-shouldered Antwrens, Yellow-browed, Black-and-white, Banded, Dot-backed and White-plumed Antbirds, Black-spotted and Reddish-winged Bare-eyes, Ochre-striped Antpitta and Chestnut-belted Gnateater. Flycatchers are abundant and include Yellow-browed Tody-flycatcher, Golden-winged Tody-tyrant, Brownish Twistwing, Cinnamon Attila and Sulphury Flycatcher to name but a few! There are Purple-throated, Plum-throated and Spangled Cotingas, whilst the amazing Amazonian Umbrellabird is often found along the edge of the river.

One day we will take a motorised canoe and visit a parrot salt-lick on the banks of the river, frequented by spectacular numbers of Blue-headed, Mealy and Yellow-crowned Parrots. On the way back to the lodge we will stop on an island for a couple of hours searching for roosting Ladder-tailed Nightjar and the very local Black-capped Donacobius.

Day 11 After early morning birding and breakfast, we sadly have to leave Sacha Lodge by the same means that we arrived! We return to Quito for one night.

Day 12 We head eastwards into the Andes until we reach the Paramo habitat above the tree line at about 4000 metres. The scenery here is spectacular with views of the Andes including many dormant volcanoes. Because of the altitude, however, birding can be hard work, although the rewards are great with many new species that are truly montane such as Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Andean and Noble Snipes, Giant Hummingbird, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Chimborazo Hillstar, Mountain Velvetbreast, along with Giant Conebill, White-capped Dipper, Andean Tapaculo and Andean Tit-Spinetail. Overnight at Papallacta.

Day 13 We continue our journey down the eastern slope of the Andes to a completely different avifaunal area at San Isidro. Along the edges of pasture, on the entrance road and forest trails we will have many birding opportunities in this wonderful sub-tropical zone. Long-tailed Antbird, Bi-coloured Antwren, Speckle-faced Parrot, Crested Quetzal, Inca Jay, Mountain and Subtropical Caciques and Golden-eared, Grass-green and Orange-eared Tanagers are just a few of the many possibilities in this richest of areas. Night at San Isidro.

Day 14 After some more early morning birding we retrace our steps westwards towards Quito. As we do so, however, we will not lose any opportunity to add new species to our tally and the scenery will once again be spectacular as we take most of the day traversing the Andes. Overnight in Quito.

Day 15 An optional early-morning visit to a volcano to look for Andean Pygmy-owl and Black-chested Mountain-tanager before we drive to the international airport for our overnight return flight to the UK or for the extension to the tour.

Day 16 Arrival back in London.

General Information Although Ecuador straddles the equator, the climate can be somewhat variable because of the large range of altitudes. In the lowland forests it can be hot and humid and, although we are going in the relatively dry season, it can rain at any time. On the Paramo, however, it can be very cold in the early morning. There are a number of health requirements and you are advised to refer to your doctor for specific advice. The itinerary is fairly relaxed and the physical effort required is mostly light. Walking at high altitude can be more strenuous however, and, at times, heat and humidity may be tiring.

Group size Minimum number for tour to run: 2; maximum group size: 8 with 1 leader.

Birdfinders can also offer an alternative tour or additional extension to the Galapagos Islands. Please contact us for full details.

Top