Southern Ecuador 10-29 january 2016 This trip was organized and guided by Roger Ahlman for Zoothera Global Birding. The timing was set to be in the otherwise dry Tumbesian region during the rainy season which is the peak breeding season there. For the remaining part it is less important when to go. The trip was completed without any problems, illnesses or other hick-ups. Weather was also kind to us with no major rainfalls. We did have some time lost to rain and some sites where more sunny than desired. Dense fog was a problem at Saraguro and Cerro Toledo, but all that could be expected during a 3-week trip. The tour consisted of main tour (17 days) and an extension to the coast (3 days). We recorded a total of 685 species (IOC 6.1 taxonomy) out of which 43 were heard only. Among the seen species were no less than 63 species of hummingbirds and 90 species of tyrant flycatchers. Complete checklists for each site can be found at www.ebird.org Report compiled by Roger Ahlman ([email protected]) Participants Roger Ahlman (guide) Nestor Alban (driver) David Todd (main+ext) Graham Tebb (main+ext) David Cousins (main+ext) Stuart Reeds (main+ext) Stephen Davis (main) Anthony Davis (main) Christopher Straw (main) Malcolm Oxlade (main) Itinerary 9 jan The group joined at the hotel in Guayaquil for dinner and information. 10 jan Pre-dawn start from Guayaquil to Manglares-Churute where we had productive birding until it started to get hot. A couple of hours drive uphill took us to El Cajas NP where we had lunch. While waiting for the ordered trout, I taped in the endemic Violet-throated Metaltail. The afternoon was spent in polylepis wood- lands and scrub with Giant Conebill and Tit-like Dacnis. Night in Cuenca 11 jan Morning at Laguna Llaviucu in the lower parts of El Cajas NP. Ecuadorian Rails and several Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucans were the highlights here. After lunch in Cuenca we drove south to a stake-out for White- tailed Shrike-Tyrant which worked well. Afternoon to La Unión for the night. 12 jan Morning in the Yunguilla reserve. A nervous 70 minute wait paid off with a pair of the critically endangered Pale-headed Brushfinches. We then had a long drive to Oña and birded the dry habitat just out of town. Here is where we found the rarity of the trip - a Tennessee Warbler which is the southernmost record for the spe- cies. The afternoon was spent at Huashapampa with several views of Red-faced Parrot and nice flocks. Night in Saraguro where we enjoyed an 8-course gourmet dinner! 13 jan Morning in the fog at the Acanama forest just south of Saraguro. Not much seen but eventually we had great views of a Masked Mountain-Tanager. After lunch we headed south to Copalinga lodge in time for some hummingbirding and the feeding of Gray Tinamou. 14 jan All morning at the Bombuscara section of Poducarpus NP. Good activity with Foothill Elaenia and excellent views of a flock of White-breasted Parakeets among others. Afternoon at the lodge and along the road. At dusk we enjoyed a pair of Blackish Nightjars at a known stake out. Night at Copalinga. 15 jan All morning along the old Loja-Zamora road. Nice birding with Gray-mantled Wren and two more flocks of White-breasted Parakeets. We made a brief stop at a site near Timbara where a Spangled Coquette had been seen but only found another rarity, a Black-billed Cuckoo. Near Paquisha we had lunch and saw Bluish- fronted Jacamar at its only known territory in Ecuador. Black-billed Seed-Finch was also popular among the group. We came to Yankuam lodge in time for some more birding and went straight to the best area for Wetmorethraupis and it didn’t take long before we enjoyed a group of Orange-throated Tanagers and the main target here was bagged. 16 jan All morning along the Shaime road with several different antbirds seen despite a large group and standing on the road. Hairy-crested was the highlight. A pair of Purplish jacamars showed well as did the hoped-for diminutive White-bellied Pygmy-Tyrant. Nestor, the driver, gripped us off with a video he took of a Great Jacamar while we were somewhere else! The afternoon was spent along the road in the Maycu reserve with more Orange-throated Tanagers and a big lingering flock. 17 jan All morning near Nuevo Paraiso at slightly lower altitude and some wetlands. Lots of birds and some rain. Hoatzins were seen as well as Stripe-chested Antwren, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-Gleaner and Cinnamon- throated Woodcreepers among others. We spent the afternoon closer to the lodge with roadside birding. White-browed Antbird called and was eventually seen by everybody. Yellow-cheeked Becard was called in at a stake out and eventually we had good looks at a pair of Yellow-shouldered Grosbeaks before the rain had us quit a bit earlier than expected. 18 jan Morning was spent along the road north of Yankuam at a productive spot with Red-billed Tyrannulet and Gray-headed Kite. A stop later gave Black-throated Hermit and another stop gave Slender-billed Xenops and a second territory of Bluish-fronted Jacamar! We then had a long drive over the mountains to Malacatos and a colony of Chestnut-collared Swallows nesting on the church. At Vilcabamba we had great views of a Plumbeous Rail. 19 jan Early departure for Cerro Toledo. Just when we came up to the higher parts the fog rolled in. There were pockets with better visibility and here we had good looks at Rainbow-bearded Thornbill and the local Ne- blina Metaltail. A Paramo Tapaculo was taped out into view for everybody. After packed lunch we headed down to Tapichalaca lodge with Rufous-capped Thornbill along the road. Other guests here called our atten- tion to a Sora walking about in the garden! 20 jan We started with Orange-banded Flycatcher at the start of the Quebrada Honda trail. The White-throated Quail-Dove came in obligingly to be fed and then it was time for the Jocotoco Antpitta. It took a good 20 minutes wait (somewhat nervous for me) before the local ranger had called one in. When it had had its share of worms, a Chestnut-naped Antpitta came in for the left-overs and a surprise Chestnut-crowned Antpitta had a brief look at the feeding station. Higher up I taped in a pair of Slate-crowned Antpitta and a Rufous Antpitta completed the full hand of Antpittas seen for the morning! Afternoon was spent near Valladolid lower down in very trashed habitat, but when the rain eased up we saw several Marañon Thrushes, Black- faced Tanager and Rufous-fronted Thornbird. Late afternoon at Quebrada Honda with great looks at Golden- plumed Parakeets coming in to their nest boxes. 21 jan This was mainly a traveling day but it started with a twitch down the road for the paynteri subspecies of White-winged Brushfinch, a likely to-be split. After great views of a pair at the only known territory in Ec- uador (very limited distribution in north Peru), we headed a little higher up and had excellent views of High- land Elaenia before heading back up to the lodge and to load the van and start the journey to the Tumbesian part of the tour. In the Utuana-Sosoranga area it was a dense mist but we still went down the track at El Tundo to try for Gray-headed Antbird. No response from them but we did see Black-cowled Saltator. At Jorupe people got a nice doze of ticks/lifers with many new Tumbesian endemics. 22 jan All day in the Jorupe reserve with Ochre-bellied Dove and Pale-browed Tinamous coming in to the feeders. Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, Slaty Becard and Blackish-headed Spinetails were just some of the speciali- ties seen before lunch. After lunch we went up a side valley and had views of a Watkin’s Antpitta. 23 jan Early departure for Utuana at higher altitudes. Clear blue skies are not ideal here but that’s what we had to make do with. Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant was readily seen along the track. Near the end a pair of Piura Hemisp- inguses, a pair of Chapman’s Antshrikes and very briefly a Grey-headed Antbird were seen from the same spot. The hummingbird feeders had the expected Rainbow Starfrontlet and Purple-throated Sunangels. On the way back we finally connected with a responsive pair of the fancy Black-crestedTit-Tyrant to every- body’s delight. Leisurely birding at Jorupe in the afternoon with no real targets left. 24 jan Another early start for the garbage dump at Zapotillo in the lowlands. Black-and-white Tanager was one of the targets here and we soon had a response from one which eventually came in to a brief view. Tumbes Sparrows and Hummingbirds were more obvious. Just before we should leave I made one more effort for the Tanager along the road and a more responsive individual showed well for everybody with some males Crimson-breasted Finches as a supporting cast. A few hours drive north took us to Puerto Jelí at the edge of the mangroves. The group had for some reason given up on Rufous-necked Wood-Rail but we came here at low tide and I soon found a bird walking about on the mud at the edge of the mangroves for everyone to enjoy.