Note from Kevin: The text for our Hummingbird Photo Safari trip report was written by Lukas Padegimas, an intern invited to join our trip which took place in August 2011.
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| White-tipped Purplebib |
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| White-necked Jacobin |
After getting up around eight, we had breakfast and watched all the brilliant hummingbirds come to the feeders. Here, the group got great pictures of Violet-tailed Sylphs, White-necked Jacobins, Collared Incas, and many others.
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| Crimson-rumped Toucanet |
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| Several Bluish Long tailed skippers (Urbanus viterboana) were seen along our walk as well. |
Our bird walk up the main road began soon afterward. Along the way, we saw both the Crimson-rumped Toucanet and the Choco Toucans flying over and landing to provide us with wonderful views. A mixed flock of Blue-winged Mountain Tanagers and Golden Tanagers also greeted us along the way. We found another Anole and a Red-headed Barbet surprised us in a tree when we were observing a Tropical Kingbird in a nearby bush.
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| Booted Racquet-tail |
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| Brown Inca |
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| Green-crowned Woodnymph |
After a short break, part of the group continued taking pictures at the feeders, finding more great hummers, while the others followed a butterfly trail filled with clearwing varieties of butterflies and more heliconias. We saw an Andean Motmot moving through the trees and heard both Quetzal species (Crested and Golden-headed), but the birds remained elusive as yet.
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| Cattle Hearts (Parides arcas) are one numerous species both inside and outside the butterfly house. |
After lunch, we drove fifteen minutes downhill to the “butterfly house” on the outskirts of Mindo. This town has become a great place to live, with many employment opportunities thanks to the ecotourism industry. The butterfly house is part of this success story: it is on a property owned by a local family which raises butterflies for “release and export.”
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| Brown Violetear |
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| Brown Violetear |
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| Green-crowned Woodnymph |
Around the property are many hummingbird feeders which attract numerous Green-crowned Woodnymphs and Brown Violetears. Sitting under the warm sun and watching the numerous colorful species fight over a spot at the flowers and feeders was absolutely priceless. We then went inside the butterfly house and enjoyed the huge Morpho and Owl Eye Butterflies as they landed on our fingers. The greenhouse was filled with these butterflies which fully covered the trees and rotten fruit feeding stations.
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| Female Cock-of-the-Rock seeking a nesting location. |
After the butterfly house, our group birded along a dirt road with less traffic, next to a quickly flowing river. As we walked across the bridge, Edison spotted a female Cock of the Rock. I spotted a Ringed Kingfisher flying across the river, which landed in a snag for all to view. Then a Basilisk put on a show on a rock in the middle of river – the second species of lizard we saw on this trip. While numerous Cattle Egrets flew past us, Kevin spotted a Bronze-winged Parrot as it made a circle over our heads and continued on its way up river. I wondered why he was alone, aren’t parrots generally social creatures? As the silhouette disappeared against the setting sun, a Purple-crowned Fairy was spotted feeding on a few flowers before flying off into the a patch of dark trees. This forest hummingbird is not a common visitor here out in the open.
Further along the road, we found several Flame-faced Tanagers, a Bananaquit, and more tyrants. As darkness descended, we made our way further up road in the hopes of seeing the unusual Lyre-tailed Nightjar: a nightjar that loves to feed in an area next to exposed cliffs of mud. The male nightjar has an extremely long tail. However, we only saw two females flying through the darkness and then landing in tree branches and in the tiny recessions inside the cliff.
After observing the nightjars we returned to the lodge to enjoy another excellent dinner. By the time we all returned to our cabins, the nighttime insects entered their most active stage around the lights along the 1/8 of a mile long boardwalk leading to the “birdhouse” where we have our suites. Amongst the numerous moths and cicadas that swarmed the bright light, there were also huge bugs closely related to Dobson flies. These monsters are about three times as big as your typical Dobson however. Happy dreams after that!
Text © Lukas Padegimas
Photos © Kevin Loughlin
