Highlands Ecuador Tour

March 5 - 13, 2008

March 5          Arrived in Quito – Gardens at Hotel Quito and Metropolitan Park (Parque Carolina for some)  
March 6          Papallacta (Cayembe-Coca NP, Guango Lodge and Papallacta Reservoir  
March 7          Yanacocha Ecological Preserve (all day)  
March 8          Antisana Ecological Preserve (all day)  
March 9          Calacali, El Pahuma Orchid Preserve, Los Bancos  
March 10          Silanche Sanctuary and Septimo Paraiso  
March 11          Antpitta Farm, Pacha Qundi, Septimo Paraiso  
March 12     Milpe, El Cinto Road and Septimo Paraiso  
March 13          Septimo Paraiso, Pacha Quindi and Tandayapa Valley; back to Quito

The highlands of Ecuador make for a very pleasant and exciting birding trip as well as an accessible introduction to Andean birding. This one was no exception with some very exciting birds being seen, such as Gray-backed Hawk, Wattled Guan, Plushcap and so on. Quito was cloudy and rainy for most of our stay, but we managed (somehow) to dodge every grey rainy day by heading in another direction to go birding. Papallacta was simply wonderful and by the time we reached the bottom of the road to the road, we had seen almost everything! How often does that happen? Guango Lodge is a hummingbird heaven and to watch a Sword-billed Hummer backing off to approach a feeder was truly a wonderful sight. Not many birders make the trek to Antisana but it's a raptor paradise. As well as the regularly occurring Variable Hawk and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, we had a male Cinereous Harrier and eventually, an Aplomado Falcon. While there are not a lot of birds in those high elevations, the quality was very good with Black-faced Ibis (very rare in Ecuador), American Golden Plover, Ecuadorian Hillstar and Andean Condor. A brief stop en route to Mindo produced a male White-tailed Hillstar- quite a surprise as this is a very uncommon bird and was actually a "lifer" for Simon!! Staying at Septimo is always enjoyable as Pablo and Ana Lucia always make you so welcome and the food is very good. We made several early morning excursions for the Black-and-white Owls at the bus stop, but missed them every time- not that the rest of the birding was not excellent! The selection of trogons, warblers and woodcreepers coming to feast on the previous evening's moths was really enjoyable and allowed for some great photography. Then there was the "Antpitta Farm" and the muddy trails that slip-slide their way down to the bottom of the valley. We made it- just, and had great views of Maria, Panchito, Willie, Susan and best of all, Shakira (all were antpittas, of course)!! Then there was the pair of Dark-backed Wood-Quail that fed at our feet- what a great experience. The hummers at Tony and Barbara's house were incredible and tested our powers of identification at every turn with the constant comings and goings of the blizzard of activity. Milpe was also just a little muddy, but the birding was wonderful with mixed flocks being a constant sight. A Tiny Hawk trying to snag a passing tanager was a real bonus as was a Rufous-rumped Antwren that played hide and seek with us. We never did find the Rufous-throated Tanager nest, but had to be happy with Dawn's escapades!! At least the locals found it amusing. A Giant Hummer on the way back to Quito was a lucky find, after I had almost given up hope on finding one.

It was a great week and, despite the weather, we barely missed a bird- I can't wait to go back another year for yet more hummers and antpittas.

Hummingbird Watching near Mindo

Group on Equator

Dark-backed Wood-Quail

Buff-winged Starfrontlet

Quito in the clouds

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