Here is another tour for the hummingbird lover. A return client sent me a list of some 22 hummingbirds she wants to see in Ecuador. So I set up an itinerary for her with nine days of birding.
She is OK with, allowing for a few other birders to join, as long as it doesn't interfere with the main objectives. Right now, there is one additional birder joining, who has never been to South America before. We could accommodate max three additional birders.
Well, first of all, one has to consider that a 9 day birding trip covering so much ground will not give a complete list of birds seen for the areas we cover. Therefor, there will be a focus, apart from all the hummingbirds, on birds that are special in one way or another. It could be iconic birds such as Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Toucan Barbet, or Cock-of-the-Rock. We will also try for rare birds such as Imperial Snipe, Banded
Ground-Cuckoo, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Rufous-crowned Antpitta and Crescent-faced Antpitta.
Additionally, we make a visit to Angel Paz's feeding station for various Antpittas and Ocellated Tapaculo.
If you resonate with any of the categories below, this trip is for you.
Below follows an outline of the itinerary. In general we shall be staying at very good hotels. In a few places one can save some money by staying at less expensive lodging, without it affecting the results of the birding.
Hummingbirds and other targets in Ecuador Feb 18-27.
Feb 18. Arrival in Quito in the afternoon evening. Stay close to the airport in order not to get caught in traffic.
Feb 19. Very early start to Reserva Yanacocha area to look for Imperial Snipe before dawn, and also to look for Black-breasted Puffleg, both at tree-line as well as the feeders lower down. It is an altitudinal migrant, so we should not be too optimistic finding it on the feeders. Purple-backed Thornbill should be easier. General birding here gives a number of other hummers including Glowing Puffleg and
Sword-billed Hummingbird, mountain-tanagers and flowerpiercers.
We'll bird until midmorning and then continue to the Tanadayapa area for lunch. After lunch we continue to
Mashpi Lodge where one client will be staying
(extremely expensive at around $1000 per night in double occupancy!!! You don't have to stay here). All of us shall do some birding in the Mashpi reserve together with local guide. Those of us who prefer less costly lodging will either travel back to San Miguel de los Bancos or stay at less expensive lodging nearby.
Feb 20. While the Mashpi client is birding with a local guide at
Mashpi Lodge looking for her key hummers such as
Western Emerald, Tooth billed hummingbird, Green crowned Brilliant. the rest of us will bird nearby areas where we also have a chance to see the same hummers. There are a lot of other birds to look out
for. Special effort will be given to find
Banded Ground Cuckoo, Rufous-crowned Antpitta (Pittasoma) and
Long-wattled Umbrellabird if there are any recent reports from this general area. All are of course very difficult, but certainly birds to look out for.
After lunch, we'll pick up the client staying at the Mashpi Lodge and continue to Septimo Paraiso at the Mindo entrance where we will stay.
Choco Daggerbill, Gorgeted Sunangel, Hoary Puffleg and
Rufous-gaped Hillstar are target hummers, but there shall be also a number of other beautiful hummers such as
Empress Brilliant and
Velvet-purple Coronet, and classic birds such as
Toucan Barbet and
Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan.
Feb 21. We shall make a very early start to to visit Angel Paz's place for several species of Antpittas, and Ocellated Tapaculo coming to worm feeders. Also, Andean Cock of the Rock is here.
After a late lunch we'll drive to Guango Lodge past Papallacta pass. Hopefully we have time to look for Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe at the pass if the weather permits.
Feb 22. We spend the the morning around Guango Lodge to look for Gorgeted Woodstar, Glowing Puffleg and Mountain Avocetbill. We can also make an excursion up to the Papallacta pass again if necessary, or drive up into the Papallacta reserve for Crescent-faced Antpitta. After lunch we travel to Wild Sumaco Lodge for a two night stay.
Feb 23. Full day at Wild Sumaco visiting feeders both high and low. White-tailed Sicklebill, Spangled Coquette, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Lazuline Sabrewing, Pink -throated brilliant, Black-throated Brillant, Rufuos-vented Whitetip, Napo Sabrewing and many more.
Night at Wild Sumaco.
Feb 24 Morning at Wild Sumaco and then drive to Gareno Lodge. We shall look for Olive-spotted Hummingbird on the way. Gareno is lowland Amazonian rainforest. Loads of birds here. It is also a well known as a place to see Rufous Potoo.
Feb 25. Gareno Lodge in the morning when the Fiery Topaz is easiest. We may stop at Tamandua Ecolodge to look for Spangled Coquette which is difficult at Wild Sumaco, and then continue to Complejo La Molienda beyond Macas at the bottom of the for birders famous Gualaceo-Limon road.
Feb 26. The top of Gualaceo road is good for Masked Mountain-Tanager. We continue to drive to Cuenca and on to Cajas NP in the afternoon for the endemic Violet-throated Metaltail. Also Tit-like Dacnis and Giant Conebill here. Night in Cuenca.
Feb 27. Drive to Cerro de Arcos for the beautiful endemic Blue-throated Hillstar in morning and in the afternoon Little Sunangel near Saraguro. The Saraguro area is also good for the rare Red-faced Parrot.
One can fly back this evening to Quito. There is a flight at 5.20 PM (tight), one at 7.42 pm and another at 8.14 pm. One of the latter is best to have time for both hummers. Flight time is 50 minutes to Quito.
Price for the tour in double occupancy in very good hotels is US$2995 with a minimum of 5 people in the group. The price includes all food, lodging, transport and guiding. It does not include entrance fees, bottled drinks to meals or tips.
Should there just be three people then the price is $3500. Single room occupancy is available too, but check with me for the price of the supplement.
