Ecuador Hummingbird Photo Safari 2011 (Part 6)

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.

Collared Inca

Masked Flowerpiercer

Andean Guan

Following breakfast, almost everyone went on a bird walk along the river. Along with seeing many Cinnamon flycatchers, Spectacled Redstarts, and Russet-crowned Warblers, we also saw a family group of Andean Guans jumping amongst the branches of a tall dead tree as they ate berries. Guans look like brown chickens with really long tails. Further down trail, we had great looks of Hooded and Saffron-crowned Tanagers moving through the trees. Following the mixed flock experience, we found ourselves standing on a bridge over the mountain river.

Female Torrent Duck

Male Torrent Duck

Brilliant views of the landscape induced a discussion on how everyone wanted to acquire the small red house in this rustic setting – up on a hill in between two waterfalls and the river. Another Turquoise Jay flew by. On the water, we spotted a pair of Torrent Ducks. They swam further and further upriver against these massive rapids with what seemed to be little effort. Later, we also had a glimpse of a White-capped Dipper as he flew towards a the opposite bank.

On our way back, we spotted a Red Brocket Deer. When I saw the tiny creature at night yesterday, I didn’t think it was a White-tailed Deer. It was too dark. Now, Edison positively identified the creature for us. We had two hours to spare before lunch. At that time, I went down to the magical river. Once again, the Torrent Ducks were there. This time, they went down stream. With their huge feet, they would either dive or hit the water above surface and swim short distances to large boulders. There, they would call out and seem hyperactive as they shook and stomped this feet. After a few minutes, they vanished downstream.

Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan with dead rodent at feet and fur in bill.

As it was time to return, I made my way back up to the lodge when I noticed that there were Turquoise Jays calling. A number of them flew down from different trees to an opening where a fallen log stood. On the ground, a large bird seemed to be eating something. I guess, just like the Blue Jays at home, Turquoise Jay also have the same tendency to bully large birds. However, it wasn’t a raptor that sat on the log, it was a brilliant Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, actually, no, there were two Gray-breasted Mountain Toucans. As one of them raised its bill, I noticed a large brown furry object about a foot in length – a huge dead rodent!

In the past few days, all the Toucan-like birds we saw ate fruit, seemed to be weary of human attention, and looked extremely peaceful. This little pair craved that little chunk of meat. I didn’t see them kill the rat, but before my eyes, they began to rip it apart. After a few minutes, I alerted everyone back at the lodge and the whole group came down to see the sight. The Jays flew and so did one of the Toucans. The other one remained – fully emptying the bag of fur of its contents before flying off into the forest about thirty minutes later.

Long-tailed Sylph

Black Agouti

After lunch, we departed on an hour’s drive down to a lodge called San Isidro. This lodge is located at an elevation of 6,800 ft above sea level. However, the temperature is much warmer than in Guango. It overlooks a valley of forest and has been a decent location for finding Spectacle Bears in the past. We didn’t see any, but after settling in, some of us went up to an overlook where a rainbow shown over the mountain forest. Suddenly, a chatter erupted. From below, a group of about 50 Speckle-faced Parrots flew from the canopy and flew north.

In the short amount of daylight we had left, we headed to the feeders, where we found a Black Agouti feeding on corn. This rodent looks like a hybrid between a rat and a kangaroo minus the long tail. Interesting is the term to describe it. There are far more Long-tailed Sylphs chasing each other around than in Guango too. Up in the taller trees, the chatter of Inca Jays never ceased. They were obnoxiously loud, but beautiful birds. The overlook above the jungle canopy was probably one of the most interesting places to sit and observe what went on around. Parrots occasionally flew in groups of two or three on to different feeding areas as the night began to descend.

Following the bird list, our group went to dinner. Along the way, we spotted the famous San Isidro Owl which sat in a tree overlooking the road between the cabins.