Birding and Photography Adventure

Tour Leaders: Edison Buenaño, Brian Zwiebel, and Rob Ripma November 28-December 12, 2021

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com Join Sabrewing owners Rob Ripma and Brian Zwiebel on an exciting Ecuadorian adventure. We have long talked about running a tour with both Rob and Brian on the same trip as guides with Rob leading the birders and Brian leading the photographers. This allows couples or friends that have slightly different inter- ests to enjoy the same trip at the same lodges while still doing what they most enjoy. On this tour, we will visit both slopes of the Andes as well as dropping into the Amazon to visit the phenomenal Napo Wildlife Center. Whether you are a birder or a photographer, this trip is for you!

Itinerary Overview: November 28: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel in Quito November 29: Zuro Loma and Yanacocha Reserve – Transfer to Septimo Paraiso November 30: Refugio de la Paz December 1: Santa Rosa Reserve and Milpe bird Sanctuary December 2: Mashpi and Oilbird Caves – Transfer to Guango Lodge December 3: Guango Lodge and Elfin Forest December 4: Birding/Photo at Guango Lodge and Transfer to Cabañas San Isidro December 5: Full Day at Cabañas San Isidro December 6: Loreto Road and Transfer to Wildsumaco December 7: Full Day at Wildsumaco December 8: Morning at Wildsumaco and Transfer with Birding to Napo Wildlife Center December 9-11: Napo Wildlife Center December 12: Return to Coca, Flight to Quito, Departarture from Quito on Overnight Flight Detailed Itinerary: November 28: Arrival and Transfer to Hotel in Quito

-Overnight: San Jose de Puembo Garden Hotel

November 29: Zuro Loma and Yanacocha Reserve - Transfer to Septimo Paraiso

Whole Group: After breakfast, we will drive to the Zuro Loma. This new reserve has become quite the wonderful location for birding and photography. Some of the highlight for us will be many hummingbirds including the spectacular Sword-billed Hummingbird, Ocellated Tapaculo, Chestnut-naped , and many more.

Once we are finished here, we’ll head to Yanacocha Reserve at 11,483 feet. Yanacocha is famous for its high-elevation specialties, and we will spend the rest of the morning here. Birders will spend time along the Trocha Inca Trail while photographers spend time at their feeder setup. Here we will see at least ten species of hummingbirds and the mixed feeding flocks we’ll encounter will add many more

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com tantalizing to the list! Possibilities include Barred Fruiteater, Great Sapphirewing, Golden- breasted and Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and much more. We will enjoy a picnic lunch while taking in the grandiose mountain vista, after which we will begin the drive to Mindo via the Old Nono-Mindo Road, birding along the way. This road offers spectac- ular views of the forest and excellent birding, with the possibility of such sought-after birds such as Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper. We will then arrive at the Septimo Paraiso Lodge in Mindo, where we will spend the next three nights. -Overnight: Septimo Paraiso

November 30: Refugio de la Paz

Whole Group: Early this morning, we will head to Paz Sword-billed Hummingbird de las Reserve to observe Andean Cock-of- the-Rocks at their lek, where males assemble during the mating season and engage in competitive displays that attract females. Afterwards, we will join Angel (the owner of the reserve) as he draws his "charges" in for breakfast, Maria the Giant Antpitta, Willi the Yellow-breasted Antpitta, and Susan the Moustached Antpitta! We’ll have a wonderful breakfast as we watch feeders for more of the common birds of this area. This can be a great photography spot as well. From here, we will make plans for the rest of the day based on current conditions. -Overnight: Septimo Paraiso

December 1: Santa Rosa Reserve and Milpe Bird Sanctuary

Today, we will visit Santa Rosa Reserve which his lo- cated at 6,000ft elevation in the and is the best place to see and photograph many Choco endem- ics such as Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Gorgeted Sunangel, Empress Brilliant, and with some luck, the rare Hoary Puffleg. Many other species call this wonderful reserve home including Choco and Chest- nut-capped Brush-Finches, Stripe Treehunter, Strong- billed and Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Golden-naped and Flame-faced Tanagers, Blue-winged Mountain-Tan- ager, Green-and-black Fruiteater, and if we are lucky Scaled Fruiteater. Giant Antpitta

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com In the afternoon, we will visit Milpe Bird Sanctuary. We’ll have time to enjoy their feeders near their visitor center and for the birding group (and any photographer that would like to) to hike some of the trails. The main target will be Club-winged Manakin. Other highlights here could include Gold- en-winged and White-bearded Manakins, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, and more! -Overnight: Septimo Paraiso

December 2: Guango Lodge and the Elfin Forest

Whole Group: After breakfast, we will travel to the Mashpi Bird Sanctuary where we will visit two fruit feeding stations. Many species visit these feeders, but our main targets for the morning will be Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, and Moss-backed, Glistening-green, Rufous-throated, and Beryl-spangled Tanagers. Then, we will travel to the Oilbird Cave in hopes of seeing this enigmatic bird before crossing through Quito to the eastern slope and Guango Lodge. -Overnight: Guango Lodge

Oilbird

December 3: Guango Lodge and the Elfin Forest

Birding Group: Early this morning, we will drive to the Elfin Forest to look for rare and such as Masked Mountain-Tanager, Paramo Tapaculo, and Agile Tit-Tyrant, among others. We will allow time to revisit the Polylepis Forest to clean up on any missed target species before head- ing back to Guango Lodge.

The feeders at Guango allow "in-your-face" views of many highly sought-after hummingbirds, including Sword-billed Hummingbird! Other special hummers include Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Mountain

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com Velvetbreast, Tourlamine Sunangel, and Mountain Avocetbill. We will walk the nearby trails looking for mixed flocks and also check the Papallacta River for Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper.

Photo Group: The photo group will spend the day photographing around the Guango Lodge proper- ty. We’ll have a multi-flash setup for hummingbird photography and there are plenty of other species around to work on. Some of the many hummingbirds we will photograph include Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Tourlamine Sunangel, Long-tailed Sylph, Collared Inca, and Sword- billed Hummingbird.

If the conditions look right at Papallacta, the group will attempt to see and photograph Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe high in the mountains. The air is thin, but we will take it slow as we work our way in to position to photograph this species bird. -Overnight: Guango Lodge

December 4: Birding at Guango Lodge and Transfer to Cabañas San Isidro

After an early breakfast, we will spend the morning in the forest around the lodge looking for Black- capped Hemispingus, Barred Becard, Turquoise Jay, Lacrimose and Hooded Mountain-Tanagers, and the rare, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan. After lunch, we will head downslope to San Isidro Lodge. -Overnight: Cabañas San Isidro

December 5: Full Day at Cabañas San Isidro

Birding Group: We will spend the day exploring the trails around the lodge property, looking for such gems as Crested Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and Inca Jay. Few birds can compete with the tanagers when it comes to "feathered jewels", and we will search for as many as we can find, including White-capped, Saf- fron-crowned, Golden-naped, Beryl-spangled, Blue- and-black Tanagers, and Blue-winged Mountain-Tan- ager. Come nightfall, we will search for the "San Isidro Owl", the lodge's famous "mystery owl" which may eventually be designated a new species!

Photo Group: After a chance to photography White-bellied Antpitta, we’ll spend some time explor- ing lodge parking lot for good photo ops. Many insects are attracted to the lighting overnight and a number of species come in to feed on them each morning. Once we are finished here, we will spend time at the lodges feeders which will provide good chances to photo- graph quite a few species. Buff-tailed Coronet

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com After dark, we hope to photograph the "San Isidro Owl", the lodge's famous "mystery owl" which may eventually be designated a new species! -Overnight: Cabañas San Isidro

December 6: Loreto Road and Transfer to Wildsumaco

After an early breakfast, we will drive to the Loreto Road in the foothills of the Andes, known for its wide variety of birds such as Paradise, Orange-eared, Golden-eared, and Magpie Tanagers, Blue- naped Chlorophonia, Cliff Flycatcher, Orange-breasted Falcon, and Golden-collared Toucanet. We will enjoy the mix flocks here and along our journey to Wildsumaco. -Overnight: Wildsumaco

December 7: Wildsumaco

Wildsumaco is one of the most exciting places to go birding in Ecuador. This incredible lodge has a huge diversity of species and both our birding and photo groups will have a busy day.

Birding Group: After an early breakfast, we’ll spend the day exploring the trails and main road look- ing for mixed flocks, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Gray-tailed Piha, and Blue-rumped Manakin. We will enjoy at least 15 species at the hummingbird feeders, included Napo Sabrewing, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Many-spotted Hummmingbird, Booted Racket-tail (orange legs), and much more. At dusk, we will try for Band-bellied Owl and Foothill Screech-Owl.

Other species we hope to see include Chest- nut-crowned Gnateater, Golden-collared Toucanet, White-tipped Sicklebill, Blackish Rail, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Yellow-breasted Antwren, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Coraya Wren, Foothill Antwren, Ru- fous-breasted Piculet, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, and more species of tanagers such as Magpie, White- lined, Silver-beaked, Blue-browed, Orange-eared, Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Golden-eared.

Photo Group: The photo group will start their morning with the birding group at the daily antpitta feeding. From here, we will work our way along the trails back to the lodge stopping for any good photo ops that might present themselves. After returning to the lodge, Wire-crested Thorntail we’ll have time to spend time shooting at the lodge feeders. In the afternoon, we’ll move to a second set of hummingbird feeders that tend to attract addi- tional species. We’ll spend the afternoon here enjoying this special spot. -Overnight: Wildsumaco

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com December 8: Morning at Wildsumaco and Transfer with Birding to Napo Wildlife Center

We’ll have time for some final birding and photography around the lodge this morning as well as time to pack up to begin the final leg of our journey.

After leaving Wildsumaco, we’ll make the drive to the Coca port where we’ll will take a comfortable covered motorboat ride along the Napo River. Approximately 2 hours later, and after spotting some birds along the way, we’ll arrive at Napo Wildlife Center's first welcoming area which is complete with restroom facilities.

We’ll switch watercraft and take a magical and peaceful 2-hour dugout-canoe ride along a narrow creek where motorized vehicles are prohibited. The Añangu stream connects to the lake where the lodge is located. Along the way, we'll see our first Hoatzins and get a taste for the diversity of the re- gion, with birds perhaps including Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Sungrebe, Red-bellied Macaw, and Green- and-rufous Kingfisher. We’ll reach our final destination by arriving at the lodge in the late afternoon. -Overnight: Napo Wildlife Center

December 9-11: Napo Wildlife Center

Napo Wildlife Center is an incredible location for both birders and photographers. Over the next 3 days, we will all have to opportunity to enjoy everything this amazing place has to offer. Some of our activities will be done as a full group while other times we will split up between our birding and photo groups. Some of our activities will include the following.

Sunrise in the Canopy Tower: On one or two mornings, we will visit the very sturdy canopy tower which offers privileged access to a world apart from the rest of the rainforest. Flocks of oropendolas, aracaris, tanagers, and euphonias roam the canopy in search of fruit. Spangled and Plum-throated Cotingas sing from the treetops while raptors perch on vantage points to dry off in the morning sun. White-browed Purpletufts and Crowned Slaty Flycatchers compete for insects, numerous parrots and macaws fly by or drop in if there is a fruiting tree nearby, and many other species wander past (and through!) the towering tree.

Parrot Clay Licks: Several clay licks (or "saladeros") exist on the NWC lands. Here we should see (and hear!) the spectacle of hundreds of parrots and parakeets coming in to eat clay. It's a unique sight to see, and it never gets old! The river-edge forest, where we'll visit the local community that built and expertly runs the lodge, is home to numerous other species such as Turquoise and Magpie Tanagers, Rufous-headed Woodpeckers, and Swallow-winged Puffbirds.

Blackwater Creek and Lake by Canoe for otters, caimans, monkeys, and birds: We'll enjoy numerous canoe rides around the lake by the lodge and along adjacent creeks, where the songs of Silvered and Plumbeous Antbirds reverberate through the flooded forest. Birds we will be seeking here include the poorly known Zigzag Heron, a specialist called the Point-tailed Palmcreeper

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com Orange-crested Manakin, and the striking Long-billed Woodcreeper. Plenty of different species of monkeys and the impressive giant river otter are also highlights.

Night Walks: We can spend time exploring the forest at night for a wonderful variety of creatures including amphibians, reptiles, and insects. This should lead to some wonderful photo opportunities.

Exploring the Islands of Río Napo: The islands in the Río Napo support a varied avifauna distinct from that found on the "mainland" only a few hundred yards away! Island specialties we hope to see include the Black-and-white Antbird, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, and at least three species of spin- etails. Plus, more "expected" river birds such as the Capped Heron, Collared Plover, and Yellow-billed Tern will surely make an appearance.

Terra Firma Hiking Trails: Good forest trails offer access to another component of the avifauna with woodcreepers, antbirds, and tinamous particularly well represented. We should be able to encounter the vocally striking Screaming Piha and the visually striking Black-necked Red-Cotinga. Keep your eyes peeled, cameras charged, and binoculars at the ready. -Overnight: Napo Wildlife Center

Lemon-throated Barbet

December 12: Return to Coca, Flight to Quito, Departarture from Quito on Overnight Flight

Today will be spent making the trip back to Quito from Napo Wildlife Center. Upon our return to Quito, you can either book overnight flights home (this is a very common flight option) or we can help you arrange for lodging in Quito for flights the following day.

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com Trip Details: Cost: Price per person (double occupancy), from Quito, Ecuador: $7,499 Single Supplement: $1,500 Minimum Participants: 6 Maximum Participants: 10 Price Includes: Price Does Not Include: 3 Expert Guides Airfare to and from Quito, Ecuador Ground Transportation in Ecuador Airport Taxes All Lodging Passport and Visa Fees All Meals Alcoholic Beverages Park Entrance Fees Personal Items Flights within Ecuador Travel Insurance Tips Deposit: A deposit of $500 per person is required to hold your spot on this tour. The remaining balance is due no later than 3 months prior to the scheduled start date of the tour (August 28, 2021).

If you have any questions about this tour or would like to sign up for it, please contact Rob at [email protected], by phone at 317-324-8505, or register through our website at sabrewingnaturetours.com.

Responsibility/Disclaimer Statement: Sabrewing Nature Tours acts only as an agent for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, trans- portation, sightseeing, activities, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Sabrewing Nature Tours and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other incident which may be caused by the negligence, defect, de- fault of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which they are provided. Sabrewing Nature Tours is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours/trips arranged by Sabrewing Nature Tours. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.

757 Howe Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 | 317-324-8505 [email protected] | www.SabrewingNatureTours.com