Overnight Buenaventura.

Guayaquil Woodpecker Photo by Roger Ahlman

Day 2.   Buenaventura all day.

Violet-bellied Hummingbird Photo by Bob Pease

Overnight Buenaventura.

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Green Thorntail Photo by Bob Pease

Day 3.    We spend another day exploring this wonderfully birdy area picking up more species that we haven't seen the other days.

Overnight Buenaventura.

Day 4.   Piñas, Arenillas, Puerto Pitahaya to Alamor.

Morning birding at Buenaventura after which we drive to Arenillas then to the coastal wetlands near Puerto Pitahaya (Where we had the southernmost record for Clapper Rail and 2nd coastal record for Andean Lapwing in Ecuador, June 2004.) Then we head on to Alamor. Back into the Tumbesian region again we shall search the forests around Alamor and Celica for Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Ochre-bellied Dove, Rufous-necked Foliage-gleaner, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Fasciated Wren and Bay-crowned Brush-Finch.

Overnight Alamor.

Day 5.   Alamor to Celica to Zapotillo.

Pacific Pygmy-Owl Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Overnight Zapotillo.

Male Parrot-billed Seedeater
Photo by Roger Ahlman

Day 6.    Zapotillo to Macará.

Watkins Antpitta Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Overnight Macará.

Day 7.    Macará to Sozoranga.

From Macará we head east towards Sozoranga birding the decidous forests along the road for even more Tumbesians. This is a good area for Gray-capped and Little Cuckoo as well as Long-billed Starthroat, Blue-crowned Motmot, the gaudy White-tailed Jay, Red-billed Scythebill, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Blackish-headed Spinetail, Pacific Hornero, Watkin's Antpitta, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Tumbes Pewee, Streaked Flycatcher, One-colored Becard, Masked Tityra, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Plumbeous-backed Thrush, Thick-billed Euphonia, Crimson-breasted Finch and Scrub Blackbird. Around the main plaza in Sozoranga a colony of Chestnut-collared Swallows have found their haven under the church roof.

Just outside this pleasant village small patches of forest still cling to the hillsides and we will be welcomed by a rich chorus. Targets here include the Gray-chinned Hermit which might be split to Porculla Hermit, a good chance of the rare Little Woodstar, Amazilia Hummingbird, the wonderful Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Ecuadorian Thrush, the metallic sounding Black-and-white Tanager and Shiny Cowbird.

Overnight Sozoranga.

Day 8.   Utuana to Loja.

Early morning start as we drive to nearby Utuana, where it is important to arrive at first light when the birds are more responsive. Three specialties are found here and hardly anywhere else in Ecuador; Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant and Piura Hemispingus. We will also concentrate on the following, many of them rare and difficult elsewhere; Andean Tinamou, White-rumped Hawk, Rainbow Starfrontlet, Purple-throated Sunangel, Line-cheeked Spinetail, Chapman's Antshrike, Gray-headed Antbird, Loja Tyrannulet, Jelski's Chat-Tyrant, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush and Black-cowled Saltator.

Later we continue towards Loja making several stops along the road birding for a distinct race of Amazilia Hummingbird (or if split called Loja Hummingird), Three-banded Warbler, chance on Andean Slaty-Thrush, Rufous-naped Brush-Finch and Tumbes Sparrow.

Overnight Loja.

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Day 9.   Podocarpus National Park to Tapichalaca.

We will start our extension before dawn in Podocarpus, at the reknowned entrance of Cajanuma at 2800m. Along the road we might find a Chestnut-crowned Antpitta startled by the headlights from our bus. As we leave the agricultural area entering the forest of this temperate zone we shall search carefully for the rare Bearded Guan, near-endemic to Ecuador, as well as more common birds like Band-tailed Pigeon, Scaly-naped Amazon, White-collared Swift, Buff-winged and Rainbow Starfrontlet, Collared Inca, Flame-throated Sunangel, the highland race of Masked Trogon (sometimes split and called Highland Trogon), Turqouise Jay, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Azara's Spinetail, Pearled Treerunner, Chusquea Tapaculo, White-crested Elaenia, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Brown-bellied Swallow, Plain-tailed Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Russet-crowned Warbler, Blue-backed Conebill, Masked Flowerpiercer, some beautiful Tangara tanagers like Flame-faced, Saffron-crowned and Blue-and-black; four gaudy Mountain-Tanagers, Scarlet-bellied, Lacrimose, Hooded and Buff-breasted; the glistening Grass-green Tanager, Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager, Black-headed Hemispingus, Hooded Siskin, Stripe-headed Brush-Finch and Northern Mountain-Cacique among others.

Around the headquarters, trails through the dense forest give us a chance for Chestnut -naped, Rufous and Undulated Antpitta. Other rare possibilities include Tawny-brested Tinamou, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, White-throated Quail-Dove, the threatened Golden-plumed Parakeet, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Barred Fruiteater, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Red-hooded Tanager and Yellow-billed Cacique.

As we climb higher to the elfin forest, with stunted and gnarled trees and bushes, we finally reach the páramo; an alpine like habitat where the Mouse-colored Thistletail lives. Though a strenuous hike our effort might result in seeing some very rare and sought after species such as Neblina Metaltail, Chestnut-bellied Cotinga and the gorgeous Masked Mountain-Tanager.

In the afternoon we bird our way south to Quebrada Honda and we will stay 2 nights at the comfortable Tapichalaca Lodge.

Night at Tapichalaca Lodge.

Jocotoco Antpitta Photo by Roger Ahlman

Day 10-11.   Tapichalaca and Quebrada Honda.

This recently established reserve became famous when Robert Ridgely found a striking new species of Grallaria; the Jocotoco Antpitta. A foundation was started soon after and now the Jocotoco Foundation protects several important bird areas in Ecuador; Quebrada Honda being one of them.

Our main target is of course to see the amazing Jocotoco Antpitta which is not always easy! Not so difficult are the many hummingbirds abounding around the feeders; Tawny-bellied Hermit, White-bellied Woodstar, Shining Sunbeam, the spectacular Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Glowing Puffleg, Tyrian Metaltail, the local Rufous-capped Thornbill and Amethyst-throated Sunangel are some of the species here. Other birds that we might see are White-capped Parrot, Chestnut-collared Swift, Powerful Woodpecker, Crested Quetzal, Emerald Toucanet, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Rufous Spinetail, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Uniform Antshrike, Long-tailed Antbird, Ash-colored Tapaculo, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Rufous Wren, Spectacled Whitestart, White-sided Flowerpiercer, hoping for two of the more outstanding Tanagers; the radiant Golden-crowned Tanager and the rare White-capped Tanger as well as Beryl-spangled Tanager, Plushcap and Superciliaried Hemsipingus.

We spend another day birding this marvelous cloud forest picking up more species that we haven't seen the other days and giving us a better chance at the Jocotoco Antpitta.

2 nights at Tapichalaca Lodge.

Green-and-black Fruiteater
Photo by Roger Ahlman

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Day 12.  Tapichalaca to Loja.

Morning birding around Tapichalaca and after lunch we head back to Loja for an afternoon and evening visit to Cajanuma. We will search for species we've missed before and later at night trying for some Owls and Nightjars. Cajanuma is a great place to see Rufous-banded Owl as well as White-throated Screech-Owl. Band-winged Nightjar is common and there is a good chance for the amazing Swallow-tailed Nightjar.

Overnight Loja.

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Day 13.  Loja to Quito or continue on extension.

Extension - Bombuscaro, Saraguro and Cuenca Area.

Torrent Duck Photo by Charlie Vogt

Day 13-15.  Loja to Zamora.

Today we bird the road between Loja and Zamora, with a stop at the Park Station Rio San Francisco, and the lower part of the old road. As we reach the lower subtropical zone of the eastern foothills a whole new range of birds abound. Today we will especially be on the look out for Sickle-winged Guan, Red-billed Parrot, the rare Rufous-vented Whitetip, Greenish Puffleg, Golden-headed Quetzal, Highland Motmot, Yellow-vented Woodpecker, Rufous-breasted and Pale-edged Flycatcher, Dusky Piha, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Golden-winged Manakin. Also good chances on some gorgeous but uncommon Tanagers like Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Chestnut-vented Conebill, Blue-browed, Rufous-crested and Vermilion Tanager as well Yellow-whiskered Bush-Tanager.

Lemon-browed Flycatcher Photo by Bob Pease

We explore one of the richest habitats on earth; the eastern foothills of the Andes. Several threatened species are harbored in these forests of Podocarpus National Park and three are near-endemics to Ecuador; the beautiful White-breasted Parakeet Coppery-chested Jacamar and the Foothill Elaenia; a recently described species that was first found here. The birdlist here is impressive and too long to exhaust in a few days of birding, but we will endeavor to find such extraordinary birds as Spot-winged Parrotlet, Black-streaked Puffbird, Lanceolated Monklet, Equatorial Graytail, Black-billed Treehunter, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, White-streaked Antvireo, Rufous-rumped Antwren, gaudy Tanagers like the incredible Paradise Tanager but also Green-and-gold, Golden-eared, Yellow -bellied and Spotted Tanager as well as Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch and Orange-billed Sparrow.

Around the feeders of Copalinga several species of hummingbirds come and visit, which are normally quiet difficult to see in these dense forests;

Fasciated Tiger-heron Photo by Roger Ahlman

Violet-fronted and Black-throated Brilliant, Green Hermit, and chance of the little-known Spangled Coquette, Wire-crested Thorntail and Amethyst-throated Woodstar.

We'll finish this rich day with some owling as several nightbirds can be seen here; Band-bellied Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl as well as Blackish Nightjar.

We bird for treats such as Plain-backed Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, White-crowned Tapaculo, Marble-faced Bristl-Tyrant, Orange-crested Flycatcher, chance on the spectacular Amazonian Umbrellabird, Blue-rumped Manakin, Gray-mantled Wren, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush and Bronze-green Euphonia.

3 nights at Copalinga Lodge, the best designed lodge for birders around.

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Day 16.  Bombuscaro to Loja.

We'll continue birding Bombuscaro all morning before we head back towards Loja looking for more birds like Olive-backed Woodcreeper Golden-crowned Tanager, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet, Chestnut-bellied Thrush and Olivaceous Siskin. Maybe a Spectacled Bear will show itself, it has been seen here several times.

Overnight Loja.

Day 17.  Loja to Girón.

In the morning we bird the forest of Huashipampa, just outside Saraguro. Here we have a good possibility to see the endangered Red-faced Parrot and also second chances of Bearded Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, several species of Antpittas and Tapaculos and Orange-banded Flycatcher.

As we head further north we shall look for Mountain Caracara, Black-winged Ground-Dove, White-browed Chat-Tyrant and the Azuay race of Streak-backed Canastero.

Overnight Girón.

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Pale-headed Brush-Finch Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Day 18.  Girón to Cuenca.

This morning we shall look for Ecuador's and one of the world's most threatened species, the Pale-headed Brush-Finch. Rediscovered here by Niels Krabbe, this is the only known population of this Ecuadorian endemic. The land is owned by the Jocotoco Foundation and hopefully more populations will be found in the near future. Also present are Drab Seedeater, Rufous-chested Tanager and a chance of Buff-fronted Owl.

Night in Cuenca.

Day 19.  El Cajas.

Rufous-capped Thormbill Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Night in Cuenca.

Day 20.  Gualaceo to Limón.

Early start as we head for the pass along the Gualaceo-Limon Road. We are now on the eastern cordillera and the humidity is prevalent. Misty weather and rain are normal so we will be lucky to have a clear day. Our main target this morning is the garish Masked Mountain-Tanager and this is one of the best places to see it in Ecuador. Also possible are Viridian Metaltail, Mouse-colored Thistletail, Many-striped Canastero, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant and Glossy Flowerpiercer. Lower down we shall look for Andean Guan, Black -throated Tody-Tyrant and even a chance of such rare birds as Peruvian Antpitta and Masked Saltator.

Night in Cuenca.

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Photo by Janos Olah Jr.

Day 21.  Cuenca to Quito.

Early morning flight from the Cuenca airport back to Quito, and transfer to your hotel or your next flight home.

Tour Information

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Included: All lodging, meals, expert bilingual birdguide, transportation and hotel transfer.
Not included: Last night dinner; drinks; tips.
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