Southern Ecuador

Our Southern Ecuador birding tour begins in Quito. When you arrive in Quito, you will be met at the airport and taken to a hotel close to the airport in order to take an early flight south the next morning. We meet for an evening meal to discuss the adventure ahead.

After a short flight to Santa Rosa, we will spend the morning in La Tremladera wetlands and Santa Rosa coastal mangroves. Lots of great wetland birds to see here, possibly even a Horned Screamer.

We will arrive in Buenaventura in the late afternoon, but will arrive in time to perhaps see the nesting Pacific Royal-Flycatcher and enjoy the dozens of hummingbirds at the feeders.
Buenaventura is an important reserve in Ecuador as it protects one of the last remaining large patches of forest in a region where over 80% of the forest has been removed. The reserve encompasses an isolated mountain ridge with a localized high rainfall resulting in also a globally significant bio-diversity hotspot of endemics. Two highly endangered birds species are protected here, the El Oro Parakeet and the Ecuadorian Tapaculo. Recent studies have found locally endemic frogs, snakes, and many plant species – all new to science with in the last 20 years. The conservation work of Jocotoco has reforested over 1500 ha over the last 20 years with stunning results. Local and regional governments have acknowledged the reforestation work as a model for community water protection. You'll hear more about that on our trip. Night in Umbrellabird lodge.

We will spend a second day at Buenaventura birding the lower elevations looking for Pacific Royal-Flycatcher, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, and Pale-mandibled Ariacari. If we are very lucky, we might see Buenaventura's resident Ornate Hawk Eagle, a species that seems to have returned with all the reforestation. Night in Umbrellabird lodge.

At first light of dawn, we will go to the lek of the Long-wattled Umbrellabird – this means getting up early, but it is worth it! The Ecuadorians call this bird "Pajaro del Toro" "The bird of the bull" because of it's amazing cow-like call! After breakfast, will head to the upper elevations of Buenaventura to look for the El Oro Parakeet and the Ecuadorian Tapaculo. While these birds are uncommon and difficult to find, during our search we are sure to see many other great birds like Pacific Tuftedcheek, Gray-backed Hawk, Rufous-throated Tanager, Club-winged Manakin, and many others. Night in Umbrellabird lodge.

After breakfast, we will drive to Jorupe Reserve and Urraca Lodge, about a 4 hour drive. The lodge is located in Tumbesian lowland deciduous forest. This forest is characteristically hot with a rainy seasons commencing in November through March and a very dry season from May through October. Characteristic species include Henna-hooded Foliage-Gleaner, Olivacious Siskin, Pacific Elaenia, Black Becard, Grey-backed Hawk, Pale-browed Tinamou, and Whilte-tailed Jay. Night at Urraca Lodge.

In the mornings we will head up to Utuana where there is Tumbeasian subtropical cloud forest. This forest has many similar characteristics than the lowland deciduous forest, but as it is located at higher elevations, it is cooler and is has more cloud cover. The forest is also older and there are numerous old-growth trees remaining on the property. There is more moisture and epiphytes and many of the trees retain their leaves longer than the lower elevation forests. Characteristic species include the Gray-headed Antbird, Rusty-breasted Antipta, Pirua Hemispingus, and Jelski's Chat-tyrant. Specialties we will look for include the Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, the Purpule-troated Sunangel and the Rainbow Starfrontlet. This will be one of the few places we will visit with old-growth trees.

On one afternoon we will visit the Peru border to look for Comb Duck and other open country birds. Nights at Urraca Lodge.

In the early morning we will linger around Urraca Lodge watching the White-tailed Jays, Pale-browed Tinamous and White-tailed Orioles as we enjoy some coffee or tea before our drive to Tapichalaca. Night in Casa Simpson.

We will start at lower elevations perhaps as far as Palanda. OK, this is list padding and a chance to get warm! Many species from the Maronon Valley occur at the upper limits of their range here. Many birds are common, but some like the Straw-backed Tanager are hard to see throughout their range in South America. If we have time and our group has interest, we can stop at Palanda which has one of the oldest known archeological sites in the Amazon basin. Night at Casa Simpson.

This trail is located in Upper Elevation (>2100 m) East Slope very wet temperate forest. This region is characterised by significant amounts of rain, often falling as a continuous light drizzle over many days. Owing to cloud cover and rain, the area is often surprisingly cool. The configuration of the mountain slopes has created a localized wetter area favoured by the Jocotoco Antpitta and numerous other endemics like the Tapichalaca Glass Frog (known only from two small watersheds) and Bromeria logipes – a plant discovered in the mid 1800s and not found again until it was discovered by Jocotoco researchers. Characteristic species include: Jootoco Antpitta, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Grey-breasted Mountain Toucan, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Andean Potoo, Olivacous Piha, Plushcrown, Occellated Tapaculo and many others. If we are lucky, we may see Mountain Tapir – with the cessation of hunting, Tapichalaca is now one of the best places to see this and other mammals. Around the lodge you will be charmed by a variety of hummingbirds including the Collared Inca, the Amethyst-throated and Flame-throated Sunangels.

In the afternoon we will head downslope to Lower Elevation (below 2000 to 1200 m) wet subtropical forest. Found along the lower slopes of Cerro Tapichalaca these forests are heavily degraded and recovering. Most characteristic species are still found here and seem to be increasing due to the Jocotoco's reforestation efforts. Characteristic species here included: White-breasted Parakeet, White-winged Brush-Finch, White-capped Tanager, Red-crested Cotinga. Night at Casa Simpson.

In the morning we will drive to Loja. On arrival in Loja, will look for Pacific Parrotlet and Red-breasted Meadowlark around the airport and then head into Loja for breakfast. From there will be about a 3 hour trip to Copalinga.

On arrival in Loja, will look for Pacific Parrotlet and Red-breasted Meadowlark around the airport and then head into Loja for breakfast. From there will be about a 3 hour trip to Copalinga. The grounds around the lodge are great for hummingbirds like Wire-crested Thorntail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, and Spangled Coquette. We will see flocks of tanagers and other east slope birds, but our main effort will be to try to see the Gray Tinamou! At night, hopefully we will see Blackish Nightjar and the Band-bellied Owls that are in the trees around the lodge. Nights at Copalinga Lodge.

In the morning we will walk the forest trails close to the lodge and find many dazzling birds like Paradise Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, Andean Motmot, Red-headed Barbet as well as more specialized local species including White-breasted Parakeet, Foothill Elaenia, Olive Finch, Equatorial Graytail, and Ecuadorian Piedtail.
We will fly to Quito and spend the night.

In the morning, we will head to Antisanilla and Volcan Antisana. Be prepared for getting up as high as 4000 m! This spectacular high altitude paramo is one of the best places to see Andean Condor. This is also a small population here of the very rare Andean Ibis, migrant shorebirds like Baird's Sandpiper (in late August it is a stopover for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper on its way south to Argentina) and several high altitude hummingbirds including the spectacular Andean Hillstar and Giant Hummingbird! Jocotoco's Antisanilla Reserve is also the best place in the world to see wild Andean Bears – we can't promise anything, but keep your eyes out for this, and for other mammals like Andean Fox and Pumas! We will have a late lunch at Tambo Condor and then return to the hotel to get ready to return home. Night in Quito.

Breakfast together. Our Southern Ecuador birding tour ends today as we make our flight connections home.