Amazonian Extension, Ecuador
June 10 - June 14, 2009
Leader:
Mark Welford
Ecuador is the size of the state of Georgia, yet 1,540 species of birds have been recorded in the country. On this Ventures trip, we'll spend nearly all our trip at the Napo Wildlife Center. This new indigenously owned lodge boasts a bird list of 568 species. To illustrate just how diverse this lodge is the following have been seen: 51 species of antbirds, 7 species of tinamous, 19 species of parrots, parakeets, parrotlets and macaws, 8 species of owls, 7 species of trogons, 11 species of puffbirds and nunbirds, 17 species of woodpeckers, the list and numbers just go on and on. Moreover, the world's largest and most reliable populations of Zigzag Herons occur at the Center.
With the recent publications of The Birds of Ecuador and Birds of Northern South America: an identification guide, there is not a better time to visit this small, yet wonderfully diverse, Andean nation. Our accommodation will be comfortable and convenient to the best birding spots. The food is excellent and the people very friendly. If you have never been to South America before, this trip to Ecuador will open your eyes to the beauty and diversity that is South America.
Price includes: All transportation throughout (with driver), all accommodation, all meals, entrance fees and gratuities (except for leader/guide), trip information, packet & bird checklist, and guide/leader service throughout.
Not included: Round-trip airfare from the US to Ecuador or internal flights to and from Coca, airport departure tax, alcoholic beverages, any meals specified in the itinerary, laundry, and other items of a personal nature.
Cost of Venture: $TBA per person with single room supplement of $TBA
Day
1 (June 10)
Coca to Napo Wildlife Center
We'll pick-up new participants at Coca airport at noon, while scanning
for Pearl Kite, return to our hotel to pickup participants from the Loreta Road
trip, and then make our way to the river to catch the Napo Wildlife Center
ferry. We can expect to see on the boat trip Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, many
heron species, Sand-colored Nightjar, several kingfisher species and terns, On
the walk into the Center we'll have our first try for Zigzag Heron. We should
also get Great Potoo on its day roost site. Night in Napo Wildlife Center
Day
2 (June 11)
Napo Wildlife Center
Following an early breakfast, we will hike up the 120 ft canopy tower for
the first of many such visits. Flocks of colorful
tanagers pass right through the canopy of the tree, Blue-and-yellow Macaws fly
past, both species of large toucans are possible here, and occasionally Harpy
Eagles and Crested Eagles are observed. Today we'll arrange a night hike to look
for Black-banded and Crested Owls and Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl.
Night in Napo Wildlife Center
Day
3 (June 12)
Napo Wildlife Center
After breakfast we hike to the nearest parrot lick and blind,
Saladero de Loros. This lick is typically visited by hundreds of individuals of
Mealy Parrot, Yellow-crowned Parrot, Orange-winged Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot,
Dusky-headed Parakeet, and occasional White-eyed and Cobalt-winged parakeets. If we can arrange a boat, we'll spend a couple of
hours locating island specialties such as Dark-breasted, White-bellied and
Rusty-backed Spinetails, and Castlenau's Antshrike. Night in Napo Wildlife
Center
Day
4 (June 13)
Napo Wildlife Center
After an early breakfast, we'll hike to the parrot lick
and blind in the forest, Saladero de Pericos. A thousand or more Cobalt-winged
Parakeets typically visits this lick, some Orange-cheeked Parrots are also found
here, as are Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets and the occasional Scarlet and
Red-and-Green Macaws. After the lick we'll try to locate army ant-swarms
and their obligate ant-swarm following antbirds such as Black-spotted and
Reddish-winged Bare-eye. If we are really luck we also get a Ground-Cuckoo.
Night in Napo Wildlife Center
Day
5 (June 14)
Return to Coca and US
We'll get up early return via boat to Coca and
then catch the noon-day flight to Quito and return to US.