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Ecuador: Northern II Ecuador: Northern II Chocó Cloud Forest 3rd to 9th November 2018 (7 days) Eastern Andes: Parámo & Cloud Forest 9th to 15th November 2018 (7 days) Ultimate Amazon: Sumaco Foothills & Rio Napo 15th to 23rd November 2018 (9 days) Inca Jay by Walter Bachmann Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ecuador Trip Report – RBL Ecuador - Northern II 2018 2 Tour Summary Due to its diverse habitat array, ranging from the high Andes to excellent lowland rainforest, north- western South America has the highest avian diversity in the world. Ecuador is fortuitously situated within the heart of this fantastic ecological region, boasting a bird list of nearly 1,700 species! Furthermore, its small size, good infrastructure, unsurpassable scenery and friendly people make Ecuador one of the planet’s most delightful birding destinations. In November of 2018, we birded the north of the country, doing three back-to-back tours starting in the endemic-rich Chocó cloud forests in the west, followed by the high-elevation Páramo in the east, slowly descending through the cloud forests of the vast east-slope, and ending in the mega-diverse Amazon basin. The number of amazing birds and other wildlife that we saw was simply overwhelming. “Very special” was a daily phrase during the tours, and the highlights of our epic Rockjumper trips are further narrated in this report. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Chocó Cloud Forest (3rd - 9th November) Top ten birds as voted for by participants: 1. Rufous-crowned Antpitta 6. Ocellated Tapaculo 2. Toucan Barbet 7. Tanager Finch 3. Andean Cock-of-the-rock 8. Moss-backed Tanager 4. Common Potoo 9. Scarlet-breasted Dacnis 5. Oilbird 10. Swallow-tailed Kite ___________________________________________________________________________________ Our exciting series of Northern Ecuador tours commenced in the north-west of the country, visiting many well-known birding sites in the Pichincha province. Birding began along the higher flanks of the Pichincha volcano at c. 3,600m elevation, where we visited the Yanacocha reserve. Our first stop produced a Red-crested Cotinga in the fog and a rather showy Blackish Tapaculo. At a grassy field, we enjoyed great close-up views of two Paramo Pipits. An adult Black- chested Buzzard-Eagle spotted by Walter was another great catch! The feeders at the reserve’s restaurant were incredibly productive, with fantastic views of Black-chested Mountain Tanagers, Andean Guans, Masked and Glossy Flowerpiercers, Yellow-breasted and Grey-browed Brushfinches, Rufous-collared Sparrow and a female White-lined Tanager (out-of-range, a species from lower elevations). The hummingbird feeders attracted gems like Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Tyrian Metaltail and Sapphire-vented Puffleg. The Sword-billed Hummingbird, with its extraordinary long bill, was an absolute stunner! The Inca trail was birdy, with great mixed-species flocks holding Hooded and Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanagers, Spectacled Whitestart and the superb Golden-crowned Tanager. Along a forest trail, we heard a Chestnut-naped Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle by Walter Bachmann Antpitta, and we even got some brief views of the poorly- Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ecuador Trip Report – RBL Ecuador - Northern II 2018 3 known West-slope race obsoleta! Other highlights along the trail included Superciliaried Hemispingus and a fancy Barred Fruiteater. After a delicious local lunch, we descended the volcano via the old Nono- Mindo road. In the farmland, we watched a stunning male Black-tailed Trainbearer perched on barbwire and Dave got us our first Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant. Lower down in the subtropics, we picked up several goodies, including Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Western Hemispingus and a very confiding Black-capped Tyrannulet. At the Bellavista reserve, we had cracking views of the Olinguito after dinner. This nocturnal and localised mammal was only fairly recently described to science! The following morning, the bird activity at the parking lot was incredible. The lights had attracted insects overnight, resulting in a bird feeding frenzy – a true birding feast! In a short time frame, we got to see many amazing species, most of them foraging at a ridiculously close range. Highlights included Masked Trogon, Great Sapphirewing by Walter Bachmann Strong-billed and Montane Woodcreepers, Golden-crowned and Cinnamon Flycatchers, Smoke-colored Pewee, Blackburnian Warbler, Red-eyed and Brown-capped Vireos, Chestnut-capped and Choco Brushfinches, Russet-crowned Warbler and Slate-throated Whitestart, to name but a few! The hummers at the feeders also caused some excitement, with stunners like Gorgeted Sunangel, Buff-tailed Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, Purple-throated Woodstar and Collared Inca. We then did a forest trail, where most of us got on a rather secretive but vocal Spillman’s Tapaculo. Our main target was a cryptic Common Potoo hidden on its day roost in the middle of the cloud forest – an awesome sighting! At this spot, a few tanagers moved by, including Metallic-green. Our search for the rare White-faced Nunbird was unsuccessful, but White-throated Quail-Dove on the trail made the effort worthwhile. After breakfast we did some road birding, and one of the first birds we got to see was a Tanager Finch – a rare and sought-after Chocó endemic! The party wasn’t over, as a little further down the road we scoped both Golden- headed and Crested Quetzals in the same tree. A Plate-billed Mountain Toucan was another nice treat. In a dense bamboo patch, we got to Gorgeted Sunangel by John Kern see Plain-tailed Wren nicely, an incredible duet singer. After lunch, we hit a significant mixed-species flock with Streaked Tuftedcheek, Pearled Treerunner and Grass-green Tanager, among others. However, the main prize in the flock was without a doubt a Flammulated Treehunter, of which we got great views. On our way down to Mindo, we successfully targeted Ocellated Tapaculo, and some even managed to photograph this stunning bird! In the late afternoon, we enjoyed the busy feeders at Septimo with new hummers including Tawny-bellied and White-whiskered Hermits, Andean Emerald, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Empress Brilliant and the amazing White-booted Racket-tail. Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ecuador Trip Report – RBL Ecuador - Northern II 2018 4 We had a superb day in the western lowlands of Rio Silanche. Our first stops along the entry road to the reserve produced some great birds, including Masked Water Tyrant, Pallid Dove, Pacific Hornero, Bright-rumped Attila, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Common Tody-Flycatcher, One-colored Becard, Pacific Antwren and a male Violet-bellied Hummingbird. A Black- bellied Whistling Duck at a small pond was a surprise, but possibly it was a domesticated individual. We added some interesting birds in the palm plantations, including three Hook-billed Kites hanging out together. Later, we learned that there was an ongoing snail invasion in the plantations, which attracted the kites. A singing male Large-billed Seed Finch, a rare and erratic species, was a great find, and Striped Cuckoo and Yellow Tyrannulet were other nice additions to our list. We also enjoyed a perched Laughing Falcon and a pair of Guayaquil Woodpeckers along the way. Over the years, the habitat in the area has been severely deforested and, sadly, the Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary is now a small island of tall humid forest, a final refuge for many forest species in the area. We started at the canopy tower, where the bird activity was steady and pumping! Several trees around us had fruits which attracted a wide array of species. Yellow-tufted and Blue Dacnises showed really nicely, but Pedro got us on the real superstar: a male Scarlet-breasted Dacnis! This stunning bird perched out in Crested Quetzal by Walter Bachmann the open and we really enjoyed great views of this sought-after Chocó endemic. Other highlights included Red-rumped Woodpecker, Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant, Choco and Brown-capped Tyrannulets, Rufous- winged and Bay-headed Tanagers, Blue-fronted Parrotlet, Purple and Green Honeycreepers, Cinnamon Becard, Spotted and Black-striped Woodcreepers and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift. Bob spotted a splendid male White-tailed Trogon that perched right next to the tower. At the trailhead, we ran into a large mixed-species flock that produced good views of Plain and Streaked Xenopses, Orange-fronted Barbet, Tawny-crested, Dusky-faced and White-shouldered Tanagers, Dot-winged and Checker-throated Antwrens, Slaty-capped Flycatcher, Greenish Elaenia, Plain-brown, Spotted, Black-striped, Streak-headed and Wedge-billed Woodcreepers and Lesser Greenlet. A singing male Blue-black Grosbeak was scoped in the subcanopy. A trail deeper in the forest was also rewarding, with good views of a pair of White-whiskered Puffbird, a male Choco Trogon, Choco Toucan, and a secretive Little Tinamou. On our way out, new species were still being picked up, including some cute Pacific Parrotlets. At Mirador Rio Blanco, we enjoyed a great view over the valley with nice flocks of White-collared Swifts. The tiny Green Thorntails were stealing Scarlet-breasted Dacnis by Walter the show at the feeders. After dinner, we watched a male Bachmann Proboscis Anole (Anolis proboscis), also known as the Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to Ecuador Trip Report – RBL Ecuador - Northern II 2018 5 Pinocchio Lizard because of its long snout, a spectacular and extremely localised species. The next morning, we added an exciting “twitch” to our itinerary because of the recent sighting of the highly sought-after Rufous- crowned Antpitta, also known as Pittasoma or “Gnatpitta”. This near-mythical Chocó lowland endemic had been observed a few days earlier, and the local birders had been successful in attracting it with crickets. We arrived at the Mashpi Shungo reserve after an early departure and hiked up a zigzag forest trail to where the male had recently been observed.
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