TOM'S HOME PAGE SOUTH AFRICA Sept/Oct 2008 OAXACA March 2009 NORTHERN ECUADOR Feb 2009 SOUTHERN ECUADOR Jan 2009
For a complete trip report and list from our Jan/Feb 2008 trip CLICK HERE
A few photos from previous Ecuador trips that Tom has led...
Barred Fruiteater, male |
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Empress Brilliant (female) and Yellow-breasted Antpitta |
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Immaculate Antbird and Chestnut-breasted Coronet (male) |
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Violet-tailed Sylph (male) and Masked Trogon (male) |
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Good things come in small packages. And so it is with the wonderful compact country of Ecuador. Roughly the size of Arizona, this tiny Latin jewel boasts a list of nearly 1600 species of birds, the fourth largest list of any country on the planet. The source of this diversity is the extremely varied topography and the long term stability of the tropics which has favored specialization. By changing elevation we will gain access to tropical, subtropical, and temperate forests and paramo (the equivalent of alpine habitat or tundra). The Andes bisect Ecuador and by accessing these life zones on both the west and east slopes of the Andes we will greatly increase the bird life we discover.
If you love hummingbirds, this is the trip for you! Ecuador has become the most outstanding destination in the world for viewing and photographing hummingbirds. On this trip, we can expect to get outstanding close views of over 50 species of hummingbirds! Just a few of the spectacular hummers we should find include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Booted Rackettail, Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed and Long-tailed Sylphs, Great Sapphirewing, Collared Inca and Tourmaline Sunangel. Others that we have a good chance of seeing include Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, Napo Sabrewing, Wire-crested Thorntail, Empress Brilliant and Purple-bibbed Whitetip. At several of the lodges we stay at, the photography opportunities for hummingbirds are excellent.
Antpittas are sure to be another highlight of this trip. As any experienced
tropical birder will tell you, this group of birds is notoriously difficult to
see. Denizens of the under storey and shade, they are often heard at
tantalizingly close range. All too often in the past, it is only the leader who
glimpses the bird, or perhaps one or two lucky participants in the right spot at
the right time who get that fleeting view. And often these views were after
extended playback to tease the bird into the open. Well that has all changed! On
our 2007 tour we got excellent views of no fewer than six species of antpittas
while hearing at least two more species. Angel and Rogrido Paz have unlocked the
key to experiencing antpittas really well and we will spend a morning with them
searching for these delightful birds. In addition, several other lodges we
use have begun to learn the same tricks from Angel and Rodrigo. In 2007, we got
good views of Giant, Yellow-breasted, Moustached, Tawny, White-bellied and
Chestnut-crowned Antpittas. On the scouting trip, Slate-crowned, Rufous and
Scaled Antpittas were also seen.
Another highlight of this tour is a reasonable chance to see many exceptionally
rare species that are seldom encountered. For example in 2007, on this same
itinerary, we had SCOPE views of ALL the following species: White-faced Nunbird,
Moss-backed Tanager, Choco Trogon, Purple-throated Fruit Crow, Black-billed
Mountain Toucan, Rufous-banded Owl, Orange-breasted Falcon, Masked Mountain
Tanager, Olivaceous Piha and Golden-collared Toucanet!!!! Add to this good views
of the globally endangered Black-breasted Puffleg, a flock of three Rufous-bellied
Seedsnipe, two Scaled Fruiteaters, Purple-chested Hummingbird, and point blank
views of Giant Antpitta and Dark-backed Wood Quail, and it becomes clear what
the enormous potential is for this trip.
In the past decade, Ecuador has emerged as one of the most accessible and birder friendly countries in the world. The wonderful birder friendly lodges now found throughout our itinerary are the icing on the cake. What more could you ask for than comfortable accommodations, hours of operation matching those of birders, great food and great birding right on the grounds? And because we spend four nights at our main lodge in the west and three nights at our main lodge in the east, participants can easily take a morning, an afternoon, or a full day to simply relax and enjoy the grounds of the lodges. And there is surely no place in the world with better opportunities for spectacular views of hummingbirds than the eco-lodges of Ecuador.
The tour begins on February 8th, 2009 in Quito, Ecuador and ends February 19th, 2008 in Quito, Ecuador. If participants wish to add a few days before or after the tour this would be a good time to tour the city of Quito. Arriving in Quito a few days early would allow you to take a day trip to world famous Otovalo market. The itinerary is arranged so you can take in the full market at Otavalo on Saturday, if you arrive early.
In terms of International airfare, participants should plan on arriving in Quito in time for dinner on February 8th, 2009 (we will get together at 6pm). Our hotel is a convenient fifteen minute transfer away from the Quito airport. Departures should be scheduled for February 19th, 2009. Transfers are available from our hotel throughout the morning.
There will be three leaders for this group. Tom Hince and Bruce DiLabio will be
assisted by a resident bilingual Ecuadorian guide. Galo Real is an experienced Ecuadorian guide whose love and
enthusiasm for the natural and cultural history of his country abounds.
Galo lives in northern Ecuador with his wife Rho Ann (who manages the well known
San Isidro lodge) and daughter Aster. Galo and Tom enjoy working together,
and co-led the March, 2007, and January, 2008 trips to this same region of Ecuador.
Tom has guided trips throughout North America, Ecuador, Cuba, Venezuela, Costa
Rica, Tanzania, South Africa, and
Australia. He and his wife Lily own a guest house just minutes from world
renowned Point Pelee National Park, in Ontario, Canada. Here in the peak of spring migration they offer packages that give a
window into the magic of songbird migration. Tom takes great pride is showing
people insights into the magic of how birds live.
Tom and Bruce are lifelong friends and anyone participating in this trip should be aware of their tendency reminisce and to tell stories. This is particularly true now that both have passed the half century mark!
The focus of the trip will be birding, but we will also use opportunities to take in other fauna and flora. We also realize that this is likely one of the few, if only, times that most participants will visit this region. Where feasible we will stop for photography of scenic viewpoints, occasional souvenir shopping, and other key points of interest.
This trip is best described as easy to moderate in terms of difficulty. The majority of birding will be done from the bus or from short walks on trails. All of our lodges have good birding on the grounds, if participants want to take a day off and recharge. We will be in the field from before sunrise to late afternoon to take advantage of the best activity. On several days, we will walk longer forest trails with moderate slopes. To tackle these trails, participants should be in good physical condition and able to walk several miles of up and down trails. Please keep in mind that all activities are optional, and that the bus is never far away.
The majority of this trip will take place at elevations between 1000 and 2000 metres (ie. 3000 to 6000 feet). However, some portions of the trip are at higher elevations. When birding on two days (Yanacocha on Day 1, Antisana and Papallacta on Days 7 and 8 ) we will only be taking short, or slow level walks, or birding right from the bus. All participants should check with their physician regarding their personal situation with higher elevations. Quito itself is relatively high (2850 metres). The microwave towers at Papallacta are the highest point we will visit on the tour (elevation here is about 4400 metres but we typically are only here for twenty minutes).
All accommodations on this itinerary are clean, comfortable and high quality lodges or hotels. I have personally inspected and stayed at all properties we use.
We will have a dedicated driver and a bus (likely 22 seater or larger and air conditioned). This will allow for room for passengers and luggage, and lots of horsepower for mountainous areas. Having a dedicated driver will also mean that someone is always with the bus to ensure any items left with it are secure.
The cost of this trip is US $3650 per person, based upon double occupancy. This price includes the items listed below beginning in Quito, Ecuador on February 8th, 2009 and concluding on February 19th, 2009 morning in Quito.
This price is based upon double occupancy and includes 11 nights accommodations (double occupancy); ground transportation beginning with transfer from airport on Day 1 and ending with transfer to airport on Day 12; all meals beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 12 (ie 11 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners); services of three tour leaders from Day 1 to Day 12 (including one fully bilingual resident Ecuadorian); tips for hotel and restaurant staff and Ecuadorian guide and bus driver; entrance fees to Yanacocha, Tony Nunnerys, Mindo Loma, Milpe Reserve, Angel Paz Antpitta reserve, Antisana reserve, Guacamayos Ridge trail; drinks (water, pop, juice) while in the field; use of scopes; group photo (digital file); trip highlights photo CD; checklist for use in the field; full trip report.
The trip cost specifically does NOT include transportation to and from Quito, Ecuador; alcoholic beverages; departure taxes for international air tickets (approx US$ 42 from Quito airport per person); phone calls; laundry; or items of a personal nature; or any items not specifically listed as inclusions above. In some cases where the bus driver or bilingual guide provide you with special personal services or exceptional service, it is appropriate to provide them with a tip. Please note that your tour fee DOES include a tip on behalf of our group.
Meals are included in the cost of this trip. Where possible we will do our utmost to
accommodate dietary restrictions, and to offer several options to participants.
However at several of our lodges, dinners are provided on a set menu basis
(though there is some variety). Here is a guide to how meals will generally work:
1 The majority of breakfasts will be early and sit down meals at our
accommodations. However, on several mornings we will take box breakfasts
and eat these in the field.
2 To maximize time in the field approximately half of the lunches will
be box lunches in the field. Where at all feasible, we will have sit down
hot lunches (about half the days).
3 Dinner will be a sit down meal. In most of our accommodations
dinner will be country style with one main course or a set menu meal. For the
nights in Quito participants will be able to choose from several options from
the hotel menu.
4 Cold beverages will be available to participants during the day while birding.
A single supplement of US $550 applies if you do not wish to share a room, or if a room mate cannot be found. In some cases, shared accommodation may still be necessary depending upon lodging capacity (though we will do our utmost to avoid this). Single accommodations will be given on a first come, first served basis (in some cases the number of single rooms is limited).
Full payment is due 120 days prior to the commencement of the trip.
Up to 120 days prior to the beginning of the trip: If you cancel, the deposit is
non refundable.
After 120 days to 60 days prior to the beginning of the trip: Funds paid up to
fifty percent of the entire trip cost is forfeit. The balance paid beyond this
is fully refundable.
Within 60 days of the beginning of the trip: The entire cost of the trip is
forfeit.
It is strongly recommended that participants purchase trip cancellation insurance from an independent agent.
Prior to sending any deposit, please contact Tom by email to confirm your interest. A US $500 per person deposit is required to hold space on the tour (. Full payment of the trip fee is due 120 days prior to departure. PLEASE DO NOT BOOK AIRFARE until you are notified that the trip is confirmed.
I'm sure I've forgotten some important details, so please don't hesitate to give me a call, or drop me an email (I read my email every few hours during the workday). You can contact me at (519) 825-9070 or peleetom@netcore.ca
The trip focuses on northern Ecuador with time split almost equally between the
west and east slopes of the Andes. On both slopes we will explore habitats from
paramo down to tropical zones.
| Feb 08
(Day 1)
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Arrival in Quito. Today participants can check into the Quito Sheraton at any time after 2 pm. The hotel offers a free shuttle which we will schedule for participants. At 6 pm, we will meet for introductions, drinks and dinner. Tom will give the group a briefing on the trip and go over some basic housekeeping items. PLEASE NOTE : due to flight schedules participants may wish to arrive a day early to ensure they do not miss the group briefing. This also will you an extra day to adjust to altitude. We can book additional nights at the Sheraton for early arrivals. Hotel: Quito Sheraton Meals included: Dinner |
| Feb 09
(Day 2) |
After an early sit down breakfast, we will check out and head northwest
for our first full day of birding. Our primary destination this morning
is the Jocotoco foundation reserve at Yanacocha. This site provides
excellent access to temperate forest, an increasingly difficult habitat
to access. We will spend the morning walking
on a mostly flat wide open track for about 2.5 km (round trip 5 km). Along the route
hummingbird feeders attract a variety of species including Black and
Green-tailed Trainbearers, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Sapphirewing,
Shining Sunbeam, Sparkling Violetear, Mountain Velvetbreast,
Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Buff-winged
Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltail and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill. The
forests along the track also support good mixed species flocks with
possibilities including Rufous Wrens, Scarlet-bellied, Hooded and Black-chested
Mountain Tanagers, Crowned and Rufous-breasted Chat Tyrants, Tawny
Antpitta, Smoky Bush Tyrant, Green and Black, and Barred Fruiteaters,
Andean Guan and Glossy, Black and Masked Flowerpiercers. After a
box lunch we will descend the old Nono Mindo road making periodic stops
along the way. Possibilities on our descent include White-capped Dipper,
Turquoise and Beautiful (rare) Jay, Red-crested Cotinga, several species
of tapaculos and Plate-billed Mountain Toucan. We should arrive at
our lodge in time to walk the grounds and enjoy the array of
hummingbirds at lower altitude. Night and dinner at Septimo Paraiso lodge.
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| Feb 10
(Day 3) |
After an early breakfast at our lodge, we will head to the Angel Paz
antpitta reserve. Arriving in darkness, we will wind our way down a
forest trail to arrive at an Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek before first
light. Up to ten males regularly display here at first light. We will
spend most of the rest of the morning searching with Angel and his
brother Rodrigo for Giant, Yellow-breasted and Moustached Antpittas,
Dark-backed Wood Quail and other forest residents such as Scaled
Fruiteater, Golden-headed Quetzal and Powerful Woodpecker. In mid
morning, we will enjoy hot coffee and home made bolones and empanadas
before heading to our next stop at Mindo Loma reserve. The hummingbird
and fruit feeders here often attract Violet-tailed Sylph, Velvet-purple
Coronet, Buff-tailed Coronet, Brown Inca and Golden-naped Tanager and
Black-chinned Mountain Tanagers. Our destination for the afternoon
will be weather dependent but could be either Tony Nunnerys feeders or
Milpe reserve and Rio Los Blancos. Night and dinner at Septimo Paraiso
lodge.
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| Feb 11
(Day 4) |
Another early breakfast this morning followed by a quick trip to the Y
of Mindo. We will spend the first hour and a half of light here watching
the lights by the highway corner. These lights attract large numbers of
moths overnight and an amazing variety of birdlife comes in for a
breakfast of moths! Birds that might partake of this bounty include
Toucan Barbet, Masked Trogon, Strong-billed and Montane Woodcreepers,
Tricoloured Brushfinch and Blue-winged Mountain Tanager. The rest
of the day will be spent exploring nearby Milpe road and reserve. This
road provides access to lower altitude forest patches and farm land with
strong tropical affinities. Targets along this road include
Green-crowned Woodnymph, Green Thorntail, Green-crowned Brilliant, Choco
Trogon, Choco Toucan, Moss-backed and Ochre-breasted Tanagers,
Bronze-winged Parrot, Rufous Motmot, Red-headed Barbet, Pale-mandibled
Aracari, several species of foliage-gleaners, Pacific Hornero,
Immaculate Antbird, Esmeraldas Antbird, Club-winged Manakin and Choco
Warbler. The species list will soar today with over a hundred species
possible. We will have a picnic lunch at the Milpe reserve, returning to
our lodge in late afternoon. Night and dinner at Septimo Paraiso.
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| Feb 12
(Day 5) |
Depending upon weather, we will either revisit sites from Days 2, 3 or 4
or make an early start and spend the entire day birding Rio Silanche
(the most likely option).
The Rio Silanche area gives us access to more lowland tropical zone
species and the possibility of several Choco zone specialties such as
Scarlet-and-white Tanager, Emerald Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager and
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis. Other forest species that are possible here
included Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Broad-billed Motmot, several species
of trogons, Band-tailed Barbthroat and Buff-rumped Warbler. The site we
will bird is one of the few accessible areas of good lowland forest
remaining in northwest Ecuador. Fortunately the site is protected in a
Jocotoco foundation reserve. Again we will take a box lunch but will return to our
hotel by mid afternoon. Participants will have a chance to bird the
grounds and freshen up before our final dinner at Septimo. Night and
dinner at Septimo Paraiso.
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| Feb 13
(Day 6)
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After breakfast we will check out and bid farewell to the friendy staff
of Septimo Paraiso. The entire morning will be spent birding the
Tandayapa valley with our first stop being the upper ridge trail. While
it is still cool and active we will search mixed species flocks for
Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, the scarce Western
Hemispingus, Grass-green Tanager, Green and Gold Fruiteater, and several
species of furnarids. During our 2007 tour we had all these plus
stunning views of Andean Pygmy Owl, White-faced Nunbird, Plushcaps,
Western Hemispingus and Powerful Woodpecker! Other goodies that we
will search for include Ocellated Tapaculo and the extremely local
Tanager Finch. In late morning we will descend back down the valley to
visit the hummingbird and nectar feeders at Bellavista lodge and Tony
Nunnerys. Tonys yard has attracted over 40 species of hummingbirds with
almost twenty species being found daily! These sites are good places to
fill in a few species such as Gorgeted Sunangel, Western Emerald,
Purple-bibbed Whitetip and Brown Violetear. After eating our box
lunches, we will make our way back to Quito arriving in late afternoon.
Breakfast at Septimo, box lunch, dinner and night at Sheraton, Quito.
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| Feb 14
(Day 7) |
With nearly a week of mid altitudes under our belts, we will now move on
to two days at higher altitudes. This morning we will depart the city
after an early hot buffet breakfast at the Sheraton. We will ascend the
eastern side of the central valley and eventually enter Antisana
reserve. This private reserve protects not only Antisana volcano (a
truly spectacular sight if we get a clear day) but some great high
altitude paramo habitats. Our targets today will include Carunculated
Caracara, American Kestrel, Aplomado Falcon, and possibly Cinereous
Harrier. If we are lucky, and the weather co-operates, there is a
possibility of finding Andean Condor here as well. The high valleys are
also home to the endangered Black-faced Ibis, and our chances of finding
this odd bird are good. We will also spend time working the lakes in the
reserve for Andean Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail,
Silvery Grebe and Andean Ruddy Duck. The lake edges are excellent places
to spot both cinclodes, as well as Paramo Pipit, Andean Gull, and
possibly snipes. In late morning we will descend from Antisana and then
make our way north and then again ascend the Andes, but this time
towards Papallacta pass. This is the main corridor for trade and
transport into the Amazon basin beyond these mountains. As we ascend the
mountains, we will stop to search for specialties such as Andean Siskin,
Cinereous Conebill, Tufted Tit-tyrant, Blue and Yellow Tanager, Giant
Hummingbird, White-crested Elaenia, Red-crested Cotinga, Black-tailed
Trainbearer and again, the possibility of Andean Condor. Depending upon
weather at the pass, we may also make a brief ascent to the microwave
towers to search for Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. However, this will depend
on weather and how well our schedule has proceeded on the day. In late
afternoon we will descend down the eastern slope to the town of
Papallacta and then take a side road to our accommodations for the night
- the delightful Termas de Papallacta. This wonderful hotel with hot
springs is a delight nestled in the high mountains. Breakfast at
Sheraton, box lunch, dinner and night at Termas de Papallacta.
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| Feb 15
(Day 8)
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After a hot breakfast, we will work either ascend to the pass and look
for high altitude species we are still missing, or bird the reserve and
valley beyond the hotel. If the sun is out, we have a
good chance of catching an Andean Condor or Black-chested Buzzard Eagle
soaring across the valley. Continuing upslope we will keep our eyes open
for Andean Gull, Carunuculated Caracara and the first of many Great
Thrushes. As we near the pass we may bump into Bar-winged Cinclodes,
Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian Metaltail or Andean Siskin. Weather at the pass
itself is often poor, but if conditions are suitable we will continue
briefly up to the microwave tower above the pass. Here we will take a
short walk to search for the elusive Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, which
inhabits the most inhospitable ridges and peaks of the Andes.
Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Tit-spinetail, Many-striped Canastero,
Paramo Ground Tyrant and Blue-mantled Thornbill may also be seen on the
road above the pass. This is also a reliable area for the Tawny
Antpitta. Temperatures here can be cold and with the wind and
often present cloud cover, it can be brisk to say the least! As we
descend the east slope, it should begin to warm up. If the visibility is
good, we will stop to search patches of Polylepis woodland for Giant
Conebill, Black-backed Bush Tanager, Masked Mountain Tanager, White-chinned Thistletail and
others. We will arrive at Guango lodge in time for a late but welcome
hot lunch. Here we will also spend several hours watching the feeders
and birding the surrounding temperate forests for several species of
Hemispingus, Torrent Ducks, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan and Capped
Conebill. The hummingbird feeders here also regularly attract
Tourmaline Sunangel, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast and
Chestnut-breasted Coronet. Scarce but possible species include the
bizarre Mountain Avocetbill and Glowing Puffleg. We will arrive at San
Isidro lodge (our home for the next three nights) in late
afternoon. Breakfast at Termas, hot lunch at Guango, dinner and
night at San Isidro lodge.
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| Feb 16 and 17
(Days 9 and10)
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We will spend two full days exploring the sites near wonderful San
Isidro Lodge. This comfortable site makes an ideal base for exploring
subtropical forest on the east slope. One of the primary sites we will
visit is the Guacamayos trail. Possibilities here include Green and
Black, and Black-chested Fruiteaters, Greater Sythebill, Slate-crowned
Antpitta, Black-billed Mountain Toucan, several species of Tapaculos,
and a host of tanagers. The grounds and trails around the lodge itself
provide superb birding. The lights here attract many moths, and in the
morning a host of birds gorge themselves on the bounty. In 2007 we
picked up Mountain Cacique, Andean Solitaire, Brown-capped Vireo,
Pale-edge and Golden-crowned Flycatchers, Barred Becard, San Isidro
'Mystery' Owl (an undescribed owl species), Masked Trogon,
Highland Motmot, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Inca Jay, Montane
Woodcreeper, and Black-billed Peppershrike this way! San Isidro also
provides us with our best chance of seeing White-bellied and
Chestnut-crowned Antpittas, which we have an excellent chance of getting
here. We will also do a short night walk for the 'Mystery' Owl
and also to try our luck for elusive Rufous-banded Owl (scope views in
2008). Meals and
nights at San Isidro lodge.
On one of our two days at San Isidro, we will depart early and spend the entire day birding the upper reaches of the Loreto road (upper tropical zone forest). Because we will have dropped in elevation we will encounter a whole new suite of tanagers, as well as many showy species such as toucans and aracaris. The combination of rich patches of forest, plantations and subsistence farming along the road will make the species total high today. Just a few of the many target species that have made this road famous include Lined Antshrike, Olivaceous Siskin, Paradise, Turquoise, Spotted and Magpie Tanagers, Lafrayesne's Piculet, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Lesser Seed Finch, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Golden-collared Toucanet, Orange-breasted Falcon, Fiery-throated Fruiteater, Black Caracara and Scaled Pigeon. There is even a slim chance of Amazonian Umbrellabird today. In late afternoon we will return to San Isidro for our final night at this wonderful lodge. Box breakfast and lunch, dinner and night at San Isidro.
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| Feb 18
(Day 11)
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Depending upon our success on the previous mornings, we will vary the
schedule for our last full morning of birding. We may spend three or
four hours on Guacamayos ridge trail or we might just bird the lodge
grounds which are often more birdy, and where participants can track
down birds more easily. In either case, we will say goodbye to San
Isidro in mid to late morning and ascend the Andes. We will stop at
Guango again on our return journey for another wonderful hot lunch.
Depending upon weather at Papallacta, we will have another chance to
bird the paramo before descending to Quito in mid afternoon. We will
endeavour to get back to the hotel by 4 pm this afternoon giving
participants lots of time to repack for tomorrow's return journey. This
evening we will enjoy a final farewell dinner at the Sheraton in Quito.
Breakfast at San Isidro, lunch at Guango, dinner and night at
Sheraton.
|
| Feb 19
(Day 12) |
Today participants can take the courtesy hotel shuttle to connect to their departing flights. Buffet breakfast and transfer to airport included. |
For more information call Tom at (519) 825-9070 or peleetom@netcore.ca
TOM'S HOME PAGE SOUTH AFRICA Sept/Oct 2008 OAXACA March 2009 NORTHERN ECUADOR Feb 2009 SOUTHERN ECUADOR Jan 2009