Tropical Birding - Trip Report Ecuador Photo Tour, February 2018 A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour Ecuador Photo Tour 11-20 February 2018 TOUR LEADER: Alex Luna Report and photos by Alex Luna Booted Racket-tail at Tandayapa Bird Lodge Ecuador is a top destination for many birders and bird photographers, which is unsurprising considering there are almost 1700 species of birds in a country that you can cross from border to border in about 12 hours by car. Our journey took us through mega-diverse areas, starting with the enchanting landscapes of the Antisana Reserve, where the Antisana Volcano (18,714 ft) towered overhead, majestic Andean Condors soared, and flocks of the rare Black-faced (Andean) Ibis strutted over the grasslands. Descending onto the eastern slope of the Andes, we travelled to Guango lodge, which was our base for two nights. During our stay, we visited the notoriously misty Papallacta antennas, and with great luck the weather cleared, so we were able to take some good photos of Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. The hummingbird feeders in the lodge also provided us with some specialties such as the incredible Sword-billed Hummingbird, a family of Torrent Ducks along the river, and a view of the colorful Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan. To appreciate a different variety of species, we continued our trip across the Andes to the western slopes, staying at Tandayapa Bird Lodge for five days. Located in one of the richest regions in flora and fauna of the world, we set out to discover the Chocó region. We made the most of the spectacular natural wonders that Tandayapa Lodge has to offer, visiting the forest www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110
[email protected] p.1 Tropical Birding - Trip Report Ecuador Photo Tour, February 2018 blind that allowed us to observe species like the Rufous Motmot, Russet-crowned Warbler, Spotted Barbtail, and more.