Ecuador Hummingbird Photo Safari 2011 (Part 7)

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.

Green (Inca) Jay

A few of us woke well before dawn to search for the Rufous-bellied Nighthawks that fly at twilight. It was raining and continued to do so for the next two hours, but half a dozen Nighthawks made an appearance, swooping through the sky just above the trees surrounding the clearing. After about fifteen minutes they disappeared. Inca Jays began to call.

Rufous-crowned Tody Flycatcher

Pale-edged Flycatcher

Montaine Woodcreeper

For the next hour, our group continued birding the area. A great mixed flock surrounded us. The leaders were of course, the Inca Jays. However, in the shrubbery below, several tiny Rufus-crowned Tody Flycatchers stole the show with their bright colors and kinglet-like behavior. Another highlight was the Pale-edged Flycatcher. After about thirty minutes, Edison spotted a Barred Becard – another tiny bird belonging to a different family.

White-bellied Antpitta

At 7:30am, we followed a local guide to a spot where yet another antpitta has been trained to appear in exchange for food. After a few whistles, a White-bellied Antpitta showed up and ate all the dispersed worms. It stayed around for five minutes.

Streaked Tufted-cheek on the nest.

Following the morning birding, we had breakfast. Afterward we birded along the main road leading to the preserve. The clouds began to disappear and a few Barred Parakeets flew overhead. On our walk, we saw a Long-tailed Antbird as it wandered in some thickets. In another set of thickets, several Black-crested Warblers appeared momentarily before disappearing deep into the greenery. 

One of the many clearwing spp. of butterflies seen along our path.

Since the road consisted of gravel and mud, it attracted hundreds of different butterflies. The butterflies also had the propensity to land on people, to the delight of all. As everyone admired the butterflies, three White-rumped Hawks spiraled overhead. Two of these hawks still had juvenile plumage while another was a heavily battered adult. Towards the end of the walk, a Crested Quetzal flew over the road. As we searched, we found a Masked Trogon instead, though the Quetzal continued to call deeper in the forest.

We then decided to take the bus a short distance to a ranch where a Southern Lapwing can be found. We saw one. After returning to the lodge and having lunch, we had a two hour break before the next planned birding adventure. I decided to take a trail that went through the jungle towards some waterfalls. Three mixed flocks tuned their various melodies while I walked along the heavily grown-over trail. Leaf cutter ants carried their cargo in a straight line on the path before me. I couldn’t stop noticing that there were lots of large beetle wings and beetle heads strewn about everywhere I went. I wondered, “who eats these beetles?”

Several streams ran through the trail and many tree ferns and palms filled the forest floor. Numerous strangler figs covered the trees and the vast biodiversity of life was felt everywhere. At the waterfalls, a two inch long beetle scurried quickly across the trail – a survivor since many beetle wings of the same size lay scattered about around him. The feeling of the jungle – one doesn’t know what to expect at every corner. Everything is new, unusual, and different.

Bronzy Inca

While some stayed by the feeders to photograph hummers, the afternoon bird walk went down a different trail. Just as we descended halfway down, the slight sprinkling that had started a few minutes earlier turned into a downpour. The only birds we saw were a flock of Speckle-faced Parrots called in alarm and flew from the trees right above our heads. Perhaps these parrots used to be hunted – they are extremely wary of humans. The few of us that weren’t prepared for the rain improvised by using the “jungle umbrella leaves” as cover. Unlike the plants at the high elevations, the leaves of this plant lack the numerous thorns. The leaves can easily hide a standing person below them and hence carry the name “jungle umbrellas.” They worked well.

A Long-tailed Sylph with an odd bill deformity.

Long-tailed Sylph

Before dinner, our group saw several Russet-backed Oropendolas moving through the trees around the cabins. We also saw a Scarlet-rumped Cacique. Caciques are related to blackbirds and have blue irises – an unusual trait for a bird. At the end of the day, we again saw a San Isidro Owl and concluded the day with the bird list.