ECUADOR PHOTO TOUR JANUARY 13TH - 23RD 2012
WOW!!! That just about sums up our latest tour to Ecuador. With visits to world famous Tandayapa Lodge where we photographed over 20 species of hummingbirds, Masked Trogons from 3 feet away, as well as such beauties as Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Red-Headed Barbets, Scaled Fruiteater, Montane Woodcreeper, and dozens of others within arms reach.
Though it was hard to pull away from a place where you could easily spend your entire time, we had other target species on our list. Milpe Reserve, just an hours drive away is one of the best places to see and photograph the Club-winged Manakin as it "dances" on its lek to attract females. We were rewarded with at least three males displaying in view as well as great looks at the feeders of Saffron-crowned Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, both Orange-breasted and Thick-billed Euphonia, Black-winged Saltators and others.
The biggest treat was extended looks at the rare and elusive Tiny Hawk that was eating prey high in the canopy. A bird rarely seen, let alone almost never photographed, allowed everyone to get some shots in. WOW indeed.
From there we headed to the high Paramo of Antisana Preserve. At 15,000 feet it is one of the best locations to look for roosting and soaring Andean Condor. Although the altitude is high, the birding is easy.
The birding and photography is right from the road, which is flat and easy to walk on. Specialties there include the critically endangered Black-faced Ibis, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing, Andean Teal, Silvery Grebe and the Ecuadorian Hillstar. On our second day there (two days minimum is a must) we were rewarded with a Condor taking off from the ground and soaring 100 feet over our heads for fantastic photo ops. WOW again.
In addition to that, we also had extended looks at Giant Hummingbirds feeding on freshly blossoming flowers.
The final stop on this ten day tour was San Isidro Lodge. A welcome respite from the high altitude. At 6,000 feet, it is known for the San Isidro Mystery Owl.
Originally thought to be a Black-banded Owl, it has yet to be determined if it is a separate species due to different vocalizations. Whatever it is ultimately called, we had killer looks at it as it called and sat on the wires not 20 feet from us. We also had great looks at Crested and Golden-headed Quetzal, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Inca Jay, more Masked Trogons, Russet backed Oropendelas and others. With rain moving in on the last day, we headed to lower elevations in Baeza to try and find some sun. 
Not only did we find better weather, but we hit the jackpot with great looks at the very rare and elusive Golden-collared Honeycreeper.
Even our guide was excited!!! Not thinking we could see anything better than that, we didnt expect to be wowed by two sightings of Andean Cock of the Rock flying over our heads. What a great end to a great trip. . Tours are available for this great itinerary to Northern Ecuador for either birding or photography or both. Limit 8 people per trip, with a vehicle that has a sliding window for each person, excellent guides and good accommodations.
We are adding Southern Ecuador next year. Join us!!!!
Visit the gallery (Ecuador 2012) for a look a some of the highlights
Good Birding To All
Rick Greenspun
Sarasota Birding Guide
May 2011, Texas (Rio Grande Valley)
Birds that winter in South and Central American funnel through South Texas on their way into N. America. If you are lucky, a few Mexican specialties get caught up in the migration and find their way into south Texas along with the other migrants. Rarities like the Crimson collared Grosbeak, Blue Mockingbird and Slate throated Redstart have been recorded. Though unlikely to happen often, you can still rely on seeing some birds that you will not see anywhere else in North America . White tailed Hawk, Northern beardless Tyrannulet, Varied Bunting, Altimira and Audubon's Oriole, Hook billed Kite, White tipped Dove are just a few of the regularly seen specialties.
This May we were lucky to witness a warbler fallout at South Padre Island that included 15 species of warblers and 6 different flycatcher species as well as four thrush species. A rare Black vented Oriole( normally seen only in southern Mexico to Nicaragua made a brief appearance on the island before vanishing.
Birding and photography opportunities are unlimited.
Rick Greenspun
Sarasota Birding Guide
Visit the Gallery from our Recent Trips and then give me a call to arrange your custom tour.
February 2011, Ecuador
Though we started on an ominous note of rain and mud slides upon our arrival, we improvised and made the best of the day by heading for cover at the wonderful Mindo Loma lodge. A covered veranda afforded us the opportunity to see some great birds at the feeders, even though the weather was less than perfect. Beauties such as the Flame-faced and Golden Tanagers were regular visitors as well as Crimson-rumped Toucans, Woodcreepers, Spinetails, Hummingbirds and Flower-piercers. After lunch we were rewarded with close up views of a Common Potoo perched on a snag with his eyes wide open!!! All in all, we logged some 25 species of birds at this fabulous location.
Then it was onto higher elevations at Guango Lodge and and Papallacta pass. Guango Lodge offers the chance to see lots of hummingbirds in all their glorious colors as well as killer looks at Torrent ducks( male and female) Turquoise Jay, Andean Guan, and a great mixed flock of tanagers, Chat-tyrants, foliage cleaners and many others.
Though Papallacta pass is cold and sparsely vegetated, it affords the opportunity to see the rare Ecuadorian Hillstar Hummingbird and the Rufus- bellied Seedsnipe. Both birds presented crippling good views.
Next on the birding hit parade was one of my favorite stops; Antisana Reserve. Run by a private foundation called the Jocoto Foundation, it offers stunning panoramas of high paramo landscape with a back drop of three snow capped volcanoes. and if the scenery was not enough, we had good looks at 6 Andean Condor, Aplomado Falcon, Black-faced Ibis, Andean Lapwing and Gull and literally dozens of Carunculated Caracara within very close proximity. We also lucked out on the road in and had multiple views of the Giant Hummingbird!!!!
Though it is hard leaving a place like that, we had another fabulous lodge to get to; the San Isidro Lodge. The lower elevation was a warm relief from chilly high country, but we didn't have to sacrifice good birds just to be warm. The lodge has mercury vapor lights that it leaves on at night and in the morning swarms of birds turn out to feast on the insects that were attracted to the lights the previous night. Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers, Oropendelas, Woodcreepers, Masked Trogon, Inca Jay and even some familiar N. American warblers like the Blackburnian and Canada were in good numbers. There is also a small group of Cock -of-the-Rocks on the property and even though they are in dense forest, we had good looks at them on the Lek. We also were fortunate to see the famous and recently discovered San Isidro mystery owl. Though it appears to be a Black-banded Owl, the vocalization is unlike any owl known, hence the mystery!!
Whether you are at 12,00 feet in the high paramo of the Andes, or lowlands of the Amazon, you can be assured that every day is a great day in Ecuador. With 1600 species of birds in a country the size of Colorado, its not hard to see hundreds on a one week trip. And as a bonus, out of the 212 species we logged in 5 days, we were able to photograph an astounding 72% of them. Ecuador awaits. Check out the gallery and then give us a call to book your tour. The next tour is Jan 13th, 2012 and there are only two spots left!!!!
Rick Greenspun
Sarasota Birding Guide
Visit the Bird Gallery and call us for tour information. ENJOY
