San Isidro and
San Isidro and
Eastern Lowlands, Ecuador
May 31 - June 10, 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 start the trip in Quito, cross the Eastern Andean Cordillera, and drive
down the Baeza and Loreta roads to Coca on the Napo River seeing a dazzling
array of tanagers, flycatchers, antpittas and hummingbirds. We will search for
Central Andean Paramo endemics such as Carunculated Caracara and Black-backed Bush-finch and Ecuador-Peru East Andean endemics
such as Foothill Elaenia, Black-chested Fruiteater, Bicolored Antvireo and
Coppery-breasted Jacama.
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 Loja, 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 (May 31) Quito
We'll arrive in Quito at noon from Miami on our Lan Ecuador flight and
freshen up at our hotel before heading out to bird the local area. We should see
a good selection of local birds including Black-tailed and Green-tailed
Trainbearer, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Sparkling Violet-ear, Great Thrush, Rufous-collared
Sparrow and Hooded Siskin. Night in Quito
Day
2 (June 1)
Papallacta Pass
Following an early breakfast, we drive up to Papallacta Pass (c.13, 000').
Birding is good along the old road and could include Shining Sunbeam, Blue-and-yellow
Tanager, and if we are lucky Andean Condor and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. The
road to the antennas is good for Bar-winged and Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black-billed
Shrike-Tyrant, Many-striped Canastero and Tawny Antpitta, while the area
immediately around the antennas is an excellent spot for the localized Rufous-bellied
Seedsnipe. We will also bird down the east side of the pass, stopping at a range
of wooded and wetland habitats for: White-chinned Thistletail, Andean Gull, and
Silvery Grebe. Lunch is at Guango
Lodge that is renowned for its hummingbird feeders. We could get Tourmaline
Sunangel, Golden-bellied and Glowing Puffleg, Long-tailed Sylph, Sword-billed
Hummingbird and many more. In the surrounding forest are Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan,
Dusky Piha, Red-hooded and White-capped Tanagers, Tyrannine Woodcreeper and
Turquoise Jay. Night in Termas Papallacta
Day
3 (June 2)
Papallacta Pass
After breakfast we will try to pick-up the beautiful Golden-crowned
Tanager, while three Mountain-Tanagers are possible Black-chested, Hooded and
Scarlet-bellied. We'll drive down to the Papallacta Lake to look for the
enigmatic Ocellated Tapaculo. In the afternoon, we'll return to the pass to look
for such birds as the Giant Conebill, Carunculated Caracara and Andean Condor,
and search for mixed-species flocks that here include the rare Black-backed Bush-Tanager
and Black-headed Hemispingus. Night in Termas Papallacta
Day
4 (June 3)
Drive to San Isidro
After an early breakfast, we'll drive along the Baeza road looking for
flocks. We'll stop at one spot for Dusky Piha where Red-hooded and White-capped
Tanagers are possible. Once at San Isidro we'll check out their hummingbird
feeders. We should locate some of the following: Bronzy Inca, Chestnut-breasted
Coronet, Long-tailed Sylph and Gorgeted Woodstar. Night at San Isidro
Day
5 (June 4)
San Isidro
We'll get up early and visit the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
lek. After a late breakfast, we spend the rest of the day searching for some of
the most elusive eastern slope birds as Barred Antthrush, Highland Tinamou,
Greater Scythebill, Bicolored Antvireo, Peruvian and Giant Antpittas, and White-rimmed
Brush-Finch. San Isidro is, in recent years, the best site on the east slope in
Ecuador to see the White-faced Nunbird. We will also visit the Huacamayos ridge
in the late afternoon to search for Black-billed Mountain-Tanager, White-rimmed
Brush-Finch, and stay through the
early evening to look for the elusive Andean Potoo and Lyre-tailed Nightjar.
Night at San Isidro
Day
6 (June 5)
San Isidro
Today, we'll spend some time on getting some of San Isidro's antpittas
– these include: Chestnut-crowned, White-bellied and Slate-crowned
Antpittas. We'll also look for Sickle-winged Guan, Crested and Golden-headed
Quetzals, Masked Trogon, Highland Motmot, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Streak-capped
and Striped Treehunters, Variegated Bristle-Tyrants, Black-chested Fruiteater,
Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, lots of colorful
tanagers species and several cacique species. In the evening, we'll going owling
for Rufous-banded, Mottled and San Isidro's mysterious Strix (Ciccaba) Owl. Night at San Isidro
Day
7 (June 6)
Drive to Wild Sumaco
At the beginning of the Loreta Road, Dark-breasted
Spinetail and Olive-chested Flycatcher are common in the adjacent secondary
forest. In the richer, rainforest patches we'll search for Golden-eyed
Flowerpiercer and Spot-winged Parrotlet, while at one of the prominent road cuts
we'll look for Cliff Flycatcher and Orange-breasted Falcon. Arriving in the late
afternoon at Wild Sumaco we'll set about searching for its many fantastic birds.
Military Macaw is a possible fly-over here, while both Coppery-chested Jacamar
and Chestnut-tipped Toucanet are residence close to the lodge. Waiting for
dinner we'll check-out the hummingbird feeders which should yield Many-spotted
Hummingbird, Green Hermit and Fork-tailed Woodnymph. If we are lucky we may also
get Napo Sabrewing, Black-throated Brilliant, Ecuadorian Piedtail, and Violet-headed
Hummingbird. Night at the Wild Sumaco Lodge
Day
8 (June 7)
Wild Sumaco
After an early breakfast will find us searching for Wild Sumaco
specialties such as Rufous-naped Greenlet, Gray-tailed Piha,
Foothill Elaenia, Ecuadorian and the rare White-fronted Tyrranulet, and Lemon-browed
Flycatcher. Around the lodge we should find the resident Dusky Spinetail. Along
the trails and road we will hope to locate Striolated Puffbird, Equatorial
Graytail, Lined Antshrike, Short-tailed Antthrush and maybe the Black-and-white
Tody-Tyrant. Flying or soaring overhead we could be treated to Black Hawk-Eagle
or one of several Swift species. In the late evening, we will try for Rufescent
and Foothill Screech-Owl and Blackish Nightjar. Night at the Wild Sumaco Lodge
Day
9 (June 8)
Wild Sumaco
We utilize our second day to search for more of Sumaco's great birds –
over 325 species have been observed on the lodge's 500 acres.
In particular we'll search for Fiery-throated and Scarlet-breasted
Fruiteaters, Night at the Wild Sumaco Lodge
Day
10 (June 9)
Drive to Coca
The
lower Loreta Road will give us access to many Amazonian bird species at the very
edge of their range. We'll look for more open country species such as Pearl
Kite, White-eared Jacamar, ani's, seedeaters and vultures. In suitable habitat,
we will try for Blackish Rail. The lower road also supports Red-winged Wood-Rail,
Chestnut-eared and Many-banded Aracaris, White-throated Woodpecker, Collared
Puffbird, Troupial and Green Oropendola. Night in Coca
Day
11 (June 10)
Return to Quito and US
We will head back to Quito after lunch for our early
evening flight back to the US.
Due
to weather and other conditions, this itinerary is subject to change.