Ecuador: Southwestern Andes & Lowlands Apr 01—11, 2011
Posted by Paul Greenfield
Paul Greenfield
Paul Greenfield grew up near New York City and became interested in birds as a child. He received his B.F.A. from Temple University where he was an art major at the Tyler S...Related Trips
Ecuador's southwestern region is a fascinating mix of habitats, climates, and ecosystems crammed into a very small area. It is also one of high endemism with many unique, rare, and range-restricted species found from the cold, high Andean páramo to the sometimes stiflingly hot coastal lowlands—species tied to the two richest endemic bioregions on Earth: the Tumbesian and Chocó Endemic Centers. Although, weather-wise, this year's trip was somewhat different from VENT's first Southwest Ecuador tour in 2009, these nine field days did not disappoint in the slightest. We had excellent looks at many of the regional target species and especially enjoyed two wonderful lodges and great birding all around. Our first day took us through basically every life-zone possible—a fitting initiation to a journey that would be filled with contrasts and diversity.
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White-tailed Jay— Photo: Paul Greenfield |
We were fortunate to get great looks at some important regional specialties: the rare and endemic Pale-headed Brush-Finch, with a world population of only some 100 individuals!; Violet-throated Metaltail, with its tiny world range found just west of the city of Cuenca; El Oro Parakeet, rather recently discovered along a very narrow altitudinal strip in the foothills of southwestern Ecuador; the beautiful Tit-like Dacnis, a species with only two, quite separate populations in Ecuador; and Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, another range-restricted, endemic hummingbird species. We enjoyed excellent sightings of many Tumbesian endemic species as well, with highlights including Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Gray-backed Hawk, Red-masked and Gray-cheeked parakeets, Pacific Pygmy-Owl, Tumbes Swift, Baron's Hermit, Amazilia and Loja hummingbirds, Ecuadorian Trogon, Ecuadorian Piculet, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Blackish-headed Spinetail, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded foliage-gleaners, Chapman's and Collared antshrikes, Watkin's Antpitta, Loja Tyrannulet, Baird's Flycatcher, Slaty Becard, White-tailed Jay, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Gray-and-gold Warbler, Drab Seedeater, Tumbes Sparrow, Chestnut-collared Swallow, Fasciated Wren, Long-tailed Mockingbird, White-edged Oriole, and Saffron Siskin.
At Buenaventura and at a cocoa grove south of Guayaquil we found some important Chocó endemic species as well. We were thrilled to find displaying Club-winged Manakins, and enjoyed great views of two male Long-wattled Umbrellabirds, along with specialties like Orange-fronted Barbet, Slaty-winged Foliage-gleaner, Esmeraldas Antbird, Rufous-throated Tanager, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Black-winged Saltator, and Ochre-breasted Tanager.
High Andean specialties found at El Cajas, Utuana, and above Sozoranga included Carunculated Caracara, the stunning Rainbow Starfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, Blue-mantled Thorntail, Chestnut-winged Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spinetail, the fabulous "punk-rocking" Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Jelsky's Chat-Tyrant, and Black-cowled Saltator, among many other species.
Additionally, we observed a pair of Little Woodstars, the male in all its breeding plumage, returning repeatedly to a prominent perch at Yunguilla Reserve; an Ornate Hawk-Eagle that flew in to the understory and perched at close range as we were enjoying our first looks at Long-wattled Umbrellabird; and many other interesting and new species. The coastal marshlands and an area of somewhat abandoned shrimp ponds provided excellent looks at a variety of wetland and open country species, including Horned Screamer, White-cheeked Pintail, Cocoi Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Gray-hooded Gull, Savanna Hawk, Snail Kite, Slate-colored Coot (a bit out of range), Wattled Jacana, and Masked Water-Tyrant.
This journey brought with it tremendous variety—in scenery, climates, habitats, birds, and experiences. The relatively new Urraca Lodge, at Jorupe Reserve, was a wonderful place to spend a few days, with excellent birding right from the cabins and dining area, along trails, and along the entrance road; while Umbrellabird Lodge, at Buenaventura Reserve, holds one of the most fabulous hummingbird feeding stations in Ecuador—with literally hundreds of these tiny (and not so tiny!) flying jewels, along with daily visits by Rufous-headed Chachalacas to feed on plantain bananas placed out for them. This all set the stage for an exciting and birdy nine-day adventure.