Birding Ecuador Bonanza Tour - 4 Days

Early morning (05.30 a.m.) departure from Quito for high elevation reserves: the usual choice is the new Zuroloma Reserve.. those who want to hike and explore further might choose Yanacocha Reserve instead. Many high elevation hummingbird species to look for, including the unbelievable Sword-billed Hummingbird, as well as Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, and highland species of tanagers, such as the Black-chested Mountain-Tanager, and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager, and also Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch. Antpittas include the Chestnut-naped Antpitta and the Rufous Antpitta. (The endangered Black-breasted Puffleg finds refuge at this elevation .. rather elusive, but always hopeful!) As we drop down the highly scenic Nono Road, Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper, Black Phoebe and more are attracted by the rushing stream.

Lunch at a hummingbird and tanager garden at lower elevation (1700 meters) in the Tandayapa Valley. A true hummingbird spectacle, including White-necked Jacobin, White-bellied Woodstar, and Green-crowned Woodnymph. Then Tanagers, Euphonias, Red-headed Barbet, often Crested Quetzal, and more. Late afternoon, we arrive at Bellavista. The hummingbird feeders will be the first attraction – Buff-winged Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Gorgeted Sunangel, Booted Racket-tail and more.

Dinner

Evening: mammal opportunities right near the Lodge: the delightful Olinguito, the first new species of mammal to be discovered in the Americas in the past 35 years, as of 2013 , might come in, as well as Kinkajoo and more!

Exclusive private transport and exclusive private birding guide. Meals: B(reakfast),L,D

6.15: Early morning birding. Chances for Strong-billed Woodcreeper, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Turquoise Jay, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, White-sided and Masked Flowerpiercer, Masked Trogon, and many more, all around the lodge. You hardly need to walk any distance to see a great variety of birds!

Some mornings the elusive Tayra (giant weasel) comes in to a feeding station right at the Lodge!

8:00h. Breakfast

9.30h. Birding morning to get to know Bellavista´s best: Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Green and Black Fruiteater and tanagers like the Grass-green Tanager and the Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager- a favourite at this elevation. You will go to see the specific area where the range-restricted Tanager-Finch is found .. a true target bird!

13.00h. Lunch

After lunch, birding explorations along the ridge road, for Rusty-winged Barbtail, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Pearled Treerunner, Black-capped Hemispingus, tanager flocks and more. And in the forest, such birds as Powerful Woodpecker, Golden-headed Quetzal, Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant, and maybe the Ocellated Tapaculo.

19.00h. Dinner

Night birds? Guides have sometimes located the roost of the strange Common Potoo…, and we can look for owls, which can sometimes be a challenge in the dense forest.

Exclusive private birding guide. Transport*** Overnight: Bellavista Lodge Meals: B,L,D

This morning we visit a nearby Photographer´s Paradise, within our immediate region, both with species new to us, and above all photography options set up specifically for the avid amateur (or professional) photographer´s joy. For beauty and colour try: Golden-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager; Flame-faced Tanager, Red-headed Barbet and likely some great toucans.

The lower Tandayapa Valley is our target this afternoon, looking for Beautiful Jay, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Scaled Fruiteater, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant.

Elevation is everything, which explains why there is such an amazing bird diversity in this area of steep-sided mountains….

Exclusive private birding guide. Transport*** Overnight: Bellavista Lodge Meals: B,L,D

5.00 a.m.: Early start (50-minute drive) down to a reserve where an active Andean Cock-of-the.-Rock lek is a big attraction. A short hike takes us down to the lek, and as the day gradually dawns, the remarkable brightly coloured males squawk, preen and prance! If a female shows up !!!????!!

Photography options and a lightbox breakfast is provided. Then the owner of this reserve takes us into the forest, and calls out a variety of normally difficult forest birds: Dark-backed Wood-Quail, the difficult Rufous-breasted Antthrush, but the targets are perhaps the antpittas: Giant Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta! A hot breakfast, with the local speciality of “bolones”, is served at the house, where birds like Crimson-rumped Toucanet and Toucan Barbet are often seen in the trees.

A short drive takes us to a hummingbird reserve where the greatest beauty is the Velvet-purple Coronet. Back for a late lunch in Bellavista. After lunch, we will head back to Quito, aiming for arrival around 17.00 p,m.

Meals: B, L