Amazonian Ecuador

Naturetrek Tour Report 27 January - 6 February 2010

Report compiled by Edwin Perez

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon

Tour Leaders: Edwin Perez Jeovani Local Guide Shiripuno Guillermo Local Guide Sunny

Participants: Martin Almer Tymoti Robson David Gregori

Day 1 Wednesday 27th January

Travelling day from the UK

Day 2 Thursday 28th January

Weather Conditions: Sunny to cloudy rainy in the afternoon Starting in Quito, we left the hotel Fuente De Piedra at 6:00am getting to the airport at 6:30am to catch the 35 minute flight to Coca city, a town in the Ecuadorian Amazon with approximately 25.000 inhabitants and with an altitude range of 300 metres above sea level - it is the door to the pristine Amazon rainforest. We did some birding in the garden of the Hotel Auca getting species like Rufous-collared Sparrow, Cattle Tyrant, Vermillion Flycatcher, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Tropical Kingbird, and Rudy Ground Dove.

At 9:00am we went from Coca to the Hoaurani territory in the Cononaco area in the southern part of the Ecuadorian Amazon, and after a 3 hour drive we arrived at the Shiripuno River where we observed other birds like Hook-billed Kite, Yellow-rumped Cacique, and Russet-backed Oropendola. After lunch we got on board a motorised canoe and had a very nice view of the river, the sand bars and the great pristine forest getting birds like Black-billed Thrush, Gray-capped Flycatcher, Drab Water-tyrant, and Pale-vented Pigeon. We arrived at Shiripuno Lodge at 18:00pm, and dropped off our luggage when we saw an Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper and a White-necked Puffbird. After this we had a refreshing shower and dinner was at 19:00pm. At 20:00pm we did the bird list and at around 21:00pm we went off to bed.

Day 3 Friday 29th January

Weather Conditions: Overcast to sunny Breakfast was at 5:30am and by 6am we were walking along the butterfly trail very slowly trying to find some Antbirds - the trail in the morning was active until 9:30am with great views of Dusky-throated Antshrike, Cinereous Antshrike, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Golden-green Woodpecker, Pearly Antshrike, and Yellow- billed Jacamar. After 9:30am the activity went down but there were some sporadic birds for example the stunning Ringed Antpipit, and the very rare Black-tailed Leaftosser. We returned to the lodge to have lunch at 12:30pm until 13:30pm and left the lodge at 14:00pm for a different trail. We had wonderful birds like Scale- backed Antbird, Bi-colored Antbird, Dot-winged Antwren and some others, and at 17:30pm we went back to the lodge, and had dinner at 19:00pm.

Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Day 4 Saturday 30th January

Weather conditions: Sunny Breakfast was at 5:30am, and at 6:00am we had a canoe ride on the Shiripuno River downstream for one hour where we had spectacular views of Dusky-chested Flycatcher, Red Green Macaw, and Chestnut-fronted Macaw. Then the canoe driver turned the canoe upstream to a point where there is a swamp of Maurutia flexuosa Moriche Palm and on the way there we had a spectacular glimpse of a Brazilian Tapir, as well as Blue and Yellow Macaw, Red-bellied Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, and White-eyed Parakeet among others. We then returned to the lodge around 10:30am to walk on one of the trails until 12:00pm when it was time to have our lunch.

In the afternoon we began at 14:30 taking the motor canoe to the clay lick where we found Orange-checked Parrot, and Maroon-tailed Parakeet. We continued along this trail being very lucky to see White-shouldered Antbird, Warbling Antbird, and Sooty Antbird. We returned to the lodge at 18:30pm and had dinner at 19:00pm and did our species list at 20:00 pm.

Day 5 Sunday 31st January

Weather conditions: Sunny Our last morning in Shiripuno lodge, we had breakfast at 5:30am, after leaving our luggage ready outside our cabins. At 6:00am we left the lodge and enjoyed the same canoe ride as the first day and at about 11:00am we arrived at the bridge where our transportation was standing by. We ate our packed lunch and drove back to Coca At 14:00pm we left Coca towards our lodge and after few hours and a trip in a dugout canoe we arrived at the lodge in the early evening. We had dinner at 19:00pm, did the bird list at 20:00pm and went to bed at 21:00pm.

Day 6 Monday 1st February

Weather conditions: Sunny Breakfast was at 5:30am at 6:00am we took the canoe in the direction of the trail that goes to the observation canopy tower, getting there at 7:00am. The morning was very active in terms of birds; Black-headed Parrot, Turquoise Tanager, Gray-crowned Flatbill and the beautiful Plum-throated Cotinga, Spangled Cotinga, and Purple-throated Fruitcrow and other very spectacular birds were seen. We stayed there until 11:00am and then we returned to the lodge for lunch at 12:30pm. We had a short break after lunch and at 14:30pm took the canoe again, going into one of the creeks in the igapo forest - our target birds were Cocha Antshrike and White- chinned Jacamar and we were very lucky as we saw both of them. After this at around 18:00pm we returned to the lodge, and dinner was at 19:00pm.

Day 7 Tuesday 2nd February

Weather Conditions: Sunny Breakfast was at 5:30am and at 6:00am we left the lodge for the Yasuny National Park, one of the biggest protected areas in Ecuador with almost one million hectares, this wonderful nature laboratory was declared a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO due to the several endemic species of plants and animals found there.

2 © Naturetrek January 11

Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Our destination was to visit the parrot licks (clay walls formed naturally in the rain forest after a climate event, they are often located on the white river banks, in this case on the Napo River). We got there around 8:00am with a previous stop on one of the islands to scan for Amazonian Umbrellabird. At the first spot we had some parrots like Mealy Amazon, Blue-headed Parrot, and Dusky-headed Parakeet. After 5 minutes on a motorised canoe and a 20 minute walk we got to the second observatory which is a cliff virtually covered with vegetation and at the bottom there is a bowl with a little stream so the birds come to the ground - the area was pretty active with two species of Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, and Cobalt-winged Parakeet. We also found Yellow-browed Antbird, Golden-headed Manakin, and Great-billed Hermit. After our packed lunch in the afternoon we went to another island, but there was not much activity. We got back to the lodge at 17:30pm.

Day 8 Wednesday 3rd February

Weather Conditions: Sunny Breakfast was at 5:30am with a departure at 6:00am. Due to the inactivity we had on the river island the day before we decided to go back there. We landed at 7:00am and observed Black and White Antbird, Barred Antshrike, White-bellied Springtail, Parkers Springtail, and Castelnau's Antshrike. We returned to the lodge for lunch at 12:30pm and after lunch at 14:30pm we enjoyed a paddle canoe ride around the lake seeing Striated Heron, Anhinga, Rufescent Tiger-heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, Boat-billed Heron, Masked Crimson Tanager, and Red-capped Cardinal. We ended the days activities at 17:45pm, with dinner at 19:00pm.

Day 9 Thursday 4th February

Weather Conditions: Overcast to Sunny Our last morning…breakfast was as usual at 5:30am, and we left the lodge at 6:00am. After 30 minutes we arrived at a welcoming area where we took the motorised canoe towards Coca, and after 2 hours 30 minutes we were in Coca. It took 10 minutes to go to the airport by taxi and we were in the Coca Airport at 10:00am arriving back at Quito at 12:00pm.

Day 10/11 Friday 5th to Saturday 6th February

Journey back to the UK

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Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Bird List

Common Name Scientific Name 1 Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus. 2 Anhinga Anhinga anhinga. 3 Rufescent Tiger-heron Trigrisoma lineatum. 4 Cocoi Heron Ardea Cocoi. 5 Great Egret Arde Alba. 6 Snowy Egret Egreta Thula. 7 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. 8 Striated Heron Butorides striatus. 9 Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax. 10 Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius. 11 Black Vulture Coragyps atratus. 12 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura. 13 Greater Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes melambrotus. 14 Osprey Pandion haliaeatus. 15 Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax unciatus. 16 Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus. 17 Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis. 18 Plumbeous Kite Ictinia plumbea. 19 Slender-billed Kite Rostrhamus hamatus. 20 Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens. 21 Slate-colored Hawk Leucopternis schistacea. 22 Roadside Hawk Buteo Mgnirostris. 23 Ornate Hawk Eagle Spizaetus ornatus. 24 Black Caracara Daptrius ater. 25 Red-throated Caracara Ibicter americanus. 26 Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima. 27 Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans. 28 Speckled Chachalaca Ortalis guttata. 29 Common Piping Guan Pipile pipile. 30 Gray-necked Wood Rail. Aramides cajanea 31 Sungrebe Heliornis fulica. 32 Grater Yellow Legs Tringa melanoleuca. 33 Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia. 34 Pied Plover Hoploxypterus cayanus. 35 Collared Plover Charadius collaris. 36 Yellow-billed Tern Sterna superciliaris. 37 Pale Vented Pigeon Columba cayennensis. 38 Ruddy Pigeon Columba subvinacea. 39 Plumbeous Pigeon Columba plumbea. 40 Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti. 41 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi. 42 Blue And Yellow Macaw Ara ararauna. 43 Scarlet Macaw Ara macao. 44 Red And Green Macaw Ara chloroptera. 45 Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara severa. 46 Red-bellied Macaw. Orthopsittaca manilata. 47 White-eyed Parakeet Aratinga leucophthalmus. 48 Dusky-headed Parakeet Aratinga weddellii. 49 Maroon-tailed Parakeet Pyrrhura melanura. 50 Cobalt-winged Parakeet Brotogeris cyanoptera. 51 Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet Touit huetii. 52 Black-headed Parrot Pionites melanocephala.

Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Common Name Scientific Name 53 Orange-cheeked Parrot Pionopsitta barrabandi. 54 Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus. 55 Yellow-crowned Amazon Amazona ochrocephala. 56 Orange-winged Amazon Amazona amazonica. 57 Mealy Amazon Amazona farinose. 58 Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana. 59 Greater Any Crotophaga major. 60 Smooth-billed Ani. Crotophaga ani. 61 Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin. 62 Tropical Screech Owl Otus choliba. 63 Tawny-bellied Screech Owl Otus watsonii. 64 Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata. 65 Great Potoo Nyctibius grandis. 66 Common Potoo. Nyctibius griseus. 67 Pauraque Nyctidromus albicolis. 68 Ladder-tailed Nightjar Hydropsalis climacocerca. 69 Gray-rumped Swyft Chaetura cinereiventris. 70 Lesser Swallow-tailed Swyft Panyptila cayannensis. 71 Neotropical Palm Swift Tachornis squamata. 72 Rufous-breasted Hermit Glausis hirsute. 73 Pale-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes niger. 74 Great-billed Hermit Phaethornis malaris. 75 White-bearded Hermit Phaethornis hispidus. 76 Straigth-billed Hermit Phaethornis bourcieri. 77 Blue-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus. 78 Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata. 79 Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata. 80 Black-tailed Trogon Trogon melanurus. 81 Amazonian White-tailed Trogon Trogon viridis. 82 Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata. 83 Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona. 84 Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle Americana. 85 Green And Rufous Kingfisher Choroceryle inda. 86 American Pygmy Kingfisher Choroceryle aenea. 87 White-eared Jacamar Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis. 88 Brown Jacamar Brachygalba lugubris. 89 Yellow-billed Jacamar Galbula albirostris. 90 White-chinned Jacamar Galbula tumbacea. 91 Purplish Jacamar Galbula chalcothorax. 92 White-necked Puffbird Notharchus macrorhinchos. 93 Black-fronted Nunbird Monasa Nigrifrons. 94 White-fronted Nunbird Monasa morphorus. 95 Yellow-billed Nunbird Monasa flavirostris. 96 Swallow-winged Puffbird Chelidoptera tenebrosa. 97 Scarlet-crowned Barbet Capito aurovirens. 98 Gilded Barbet Capito auratus. 99 Lemon-throated Barbet Eubucco richardsoni. 100 Golden Collared Toucanet Selenidera reinwardtii. 101 Chestnut Eared Aracari Pteroglossus castanotis. 102 Many-banded Aracari Pteroglossus pluricinctus. 103 Ivory-billed Aracari Pteroglossus azara. 104 Lettered Aracari Pteroglossus inscriptus. 105 Chanel-billed Toucan Ramphastus vitellinus. 106 White-throated Toucan Ramphastus tucanus. 107 Lafresnayes Piculet Picummus lafresnayi. 108 Golden Green Woodpecker Piculus chrysochlorus.

Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Common Name Scientific Name 109 Red Stained Woodpecker Veniliordis affinis. 110 Spot-breasted Woodpecker Chrysoptilus punctigula. 111 Chestnut Woodpecker Celeus elegans. 112 Scale-breasted Woodpecker Celeus grammicus. 113 Cream-colored Woodpecker. Celeus flavus 114 Ringed Woodpecker Celeus torquatus. 115 Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus. 116 Yellow-tufted Woodpecker Melanerpes cruentatus. 117 Crimson-crested Woodpecker Campephilus malanoleucos. 118 White-bellied Spinetail Synallaxys propinqua. 119 Parkers Spinetail Cranioleuca vulpecula. 120 Ruddy Foliage Gleaner Automolus rubiginosus. 121 Black-tailed Leaftosser Sclerurus caudacutus. 122 Plain Brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa. 123 Wedge-billed Woodcreeper. Glyphorynchus spirurus. 124 Spot-throated Woodcreeper Deconychura stictolaema. 125 Long-billed Woodcreeper. Nasica longirostris. 126 Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper Dendrexetastes rufigula. 127 Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes certhia. 128 Straight-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus picus. 129 Striped Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchos obsoletus. 130 Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchos guttatus. 131 Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus. 132 Cocha Antshrike Thamnophilus praecox. 133 Castelnaus Antshrike Thamnophilus cryptoleucus. 134 Plain-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus schistaceus. 135 Mouse-colored Antshrike Thamnophilus marinus. 136 Dusky-throated Antshrike Thamnomanes ardesiacus. 137 Cinereous Antshrike Thamnomanes caesius. 138 Pearly Antshrike Megastictus margaritatus. 139 Amazonian Streaked AntwrenMyrmotherula brachyuran. 140 Long-winged Antwren Myrmotherula longippenis. 141 Gray Antwren Myrmotherula menetriesii. 142 Dot-winged Antwren Microrhopias quixensis. 143 Black-faced Antbird Myrmoborus myotherinus. 144 Warbling Antird ypocnemis cantator. 145 Yellow-browed Antbird Hypocnemis hypoxanta. 146 Spot-backed Antbird Hylophylax naevia. 147 Scale-backed Antbird Hylophylax poecilinota. 148 Banded Antbird Dichrozona cincta. 149 Black And White Antbird Myrmochanes hemileucus. 150 Silvered Antbird Sclateria naevia. 151 Plumbeous Antbird Myrmeciza hyperythra. 152 White-shouldered Antbird Myrmeciza melanoceps. 153 Sooty Antbird Myrmeciza fortis. 154 White-plumed Antbird Pithys albifrons. 155 Bicolored Antbird Gymnophitys leucaspis. 156 White-lored Antpitta Hylopezus fulviventris. 157 Chestnut-belted Gnateater Conopophaga Aurita. 158 Rusty-belted Tapaculo Liosceles Thoracicus. 159 Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet Tyrannlus elatus. 160 Mottle-backed Elaenia Elaenia gigas. 161 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher Mionectes oleaginous. 162 Ringed Antpipit Corythopis torquata. 163 Double-banded Pygmy Tyrant Lophotriccus vitiosus. 164 Yellow-browed Tody Flycatcher Todirostrum chrysocrotaphum.

Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Common Name Scientific Name 165 Rufous-tailed Flatbill Ramphotrigon ruficauda. 166 Gray-crowned Flatbill Tolmomyias poliocephalus. 167 Eastern Wood Pewee. Contopuns virens. 168 Drab Water Tyrant Ochthornis littoralis. 169 Cattle Tyrant. Machetornis rixosa 170 Vermillon Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus. 171 Cinnamon Attila Attila cinnamomeus. 172 Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus ferox. 173 Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus. 174 Lesser Kiskadee Philohydor lector. 175 Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua. 176 Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis. 177 Gray-capped Flycatcher Myiozetetes granadensis. 178 Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculates. 179 Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius. 180 Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus. 181 Black-tailed Tityra Tityra cayana. 182 Plum-throated Cotinga Cotinga Mainana. 183 Spangled Cotinga Cotinga cayana. 184 Bare-necked Fruitcrow Gymnoderus foetidus. 185 Amazonian Umbrellabird Cephalopterus ornatus. 186 Golden-headed Manakin Pipra erythrocephala. 187 White-crowned Manakin Dixiphia pipra. 188 Blue-crowned Manakin Lepidothryx coronata. 189 White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus. 190 Striped Manakin Machaeropterus regulus. 191 Dwarf Tyrant Manakin Tyranneutes stolzmznni. 192 Violeaceous Jay Cyanacocorax violaceus. 193 Yellow Green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis. 194 Black-billed Thrush Turdos ignobilis. 195 Lawrenses Thrush Turdus lawrencii. 196 Gray-breasted Martin Progne chalybea. 197 Sand Martin Riparia riparia. 198 White-winged Swallow Tachycineta albiventer. 199 White-banded Swallow Atticora fasciata. 200 Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis. 201 Black-caped Donacobius Donacobius atricapillus. 202 Thrush Like Wren Campylorhynchus turdinus. 203 Coraya Wren Thryothorus coraya. 204 House Wren Troglodytes aedon. 205 White-breasted Wood Wren Henichorhina leucosticte. 206 Musician Wren Cyphorinus arada. 207 Southern Nightingale Wren Microcerculus marginatus. 208 Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata. 209 Green Honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza. 210 Orange-headed Tanager Thlyposis sordida. 211 Orange-bellied Euphonia Euphonia Xanthogaster. 212 Rufous-bellied Euphonia Euphonia rufiventris. 213 White-lored Euphonia Euphonia chrysopasta. 214 Turquoise Tanager Tangara Mexicana. 215 Opal-rumped Tanager Tangara velia. 216 Opal-crowned Tanager Tangara callophrys. 217 Paradise Tanager Tangara chilensis 218 Green And Gold Tanager Tangara schrankii. 219 Swallow Tanager Tersina viridis. 220 Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus.

Ecuador - The Andes & Amazon Tour Report

Common Name Scientific Name 221 Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum. 222 Silver-beaked Tanager Ramphocelus carbo. 223 Masked Crimson Tanager . Ramphocelus nigrogularis 224 Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea. 225 Gray-headed Tanager Eucometis penicillata. 226 Fulvous-crested Tanager Tachyphonus surinamus. 227 Magpie Tanager Sissopis leveriana. 228 Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens. 229 Red Caped Cardinal. Paroaria gularis. 230 Caqueta Seedeater Sporophila murallae. 231 Chestnut-bellied Seedeater Sporophila castaveiventris. 232 Rufous Collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capenssis. 233 Yellow-browed Sparrow Ammodramus aurifrons. 234 Yellow-rumped Cacique Cacicus cela. 235 Solitari Cacique Cacicus solitarius. 236 Crested Oropendola Psarocolius decumanus. 237 Russet-backed Oropendola Psarocolius agustifrons. 238 Olive Oropendola Psarocolius bifasciatus. 239 Velvet-fronted Grackle Lampropsar tanagrinus. 240 Oriole Blackbird Gymnomystax mexycanus.