Southern Ecuador: Andean Gems of the South.
Dates: 4 – 17 January 2009. Led by Colin Bushell with assistance from local guides.
A tour concentrating on some of Ecuador’s rarest birds in a variety of habitats from Paramo to cloud-enshrouded montane forests and scrub. Although we’ll search for some really special birds we will encounter many widespread South American species in mixed flocks and these will keep us busy for sure as wave after wave of tanagers, tyrant-flycatchers or foraging antbirds pass by. The highlight of this tour will be our stay at Tapichalaca however. Apart from the opportunity to see Jocotoco Antpitta, the reserve boasts a fine array of species like White-capped Tanager and a host of hummingbirds. Other attractions include a good selection of Choco species (such as Club-winged Manakin and Long-wattled Umbrellabird) plus the opportunity to explore a selection of South America’s finest habitats from Paramo to montane cloud forest.
Group size: Maximum 8 participants.
Price: £2250.00.
Single room supplement: £175.00.
Includes: Accommodation in hotels and lodges, all transfers and ground transport, meals, and services of Toucan Birding Tours leader and local guides, tips to drivers and local guides.
Not included: International flights to Quito (contact us for information regarding flights), airport departure tax, and drinks.
ITINERARY.
Day 1. Arrival in Quito where we assemble at the Hotel Sebastian.
Days 2 & 3. Early flight from Quito – Cuenca (where we’ll spend the first night). We’ll spend the rest of the day and early the next morning in El Cajas National Park. A short drive from the city finds us in Paramo habitat where we’ll look for the endemic Violet-throated Metaltail and Tit-like Dacnis and Giant Conebill in the Polylepis trees. Open areas may hold Stout-billed Cinclodes and Tawny Antpittas. Birding transfer in the late morning of day 3 to Loja, where we’ll spend the night.
Day 4. Early birding the Cajanuma area within the limits of the Podocarpus National Park. We’ll be in search of some of the birds of humid cloud forests here including Bearded Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Red-hooded Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia and Plushcap. Afternoon transfer to Copalinga Lodge.
Days 5 & 6. Two full days in the Bombuscaro area of the Podocarpus National Park. The mosaic of primary, premontane cloud forest and secondary growth allows a variety of species to be seen (the birdlist for the area boasts around 300 species). Bombuscaro is noted for two species in particular, the White-breasted Parakeet and Coppery-chested Jacamar. Whilst these birds will be our focus attention, there will be plenty more to keep us occupied with Lanceolated Monklet, Black-streaked Puffbird, Highland Motmot, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Ecuadorian Piedtail and Foothill Antwren all possible. We have a good chance of seeing Blue-rumped Manakin here too. All nights Copalinga Lodge.
Day 7. This morning we’ll spend some time birding the Bombuscaro before transferring to Tapichalaca where we’ll spend 3 nights.
Days 8 & 9. Tapichalaca is famous for the recently described Jocotoco Antpitta and our chances of seeing this rare bird have been enhanced with the wardens feeding the antpittas with worms. The reserve is home to many desirable species though and time will be spent in search of White-capped Tanager, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Orange-banded Flycatcher, Masked Saltator, Streaked Tuftedcheek and Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager. Hummingbirds visiting the feeders may include Flame-throated Sunangel, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Chestnut-breasted Coronet and Long-tailed Sylph.
Day 10. After an early morning birding session at Tapichalaca we’ll depart for Buenaventura.
Days 11 & 12. The forested hills of Buenaventura are now a reserve and protect a mixed avifauna of Choco and Tumbesian birds. Local species such as the rare El Oro Parakeet (discovered in 1980), Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Club-winged Manakin and the incredible Long-wattled Umbrellabird are known from this reserve. We’ll visit a lek of the latter species and with luck see several males of this strange cotinga displaying.
Day 13. Early birding at Buenaventura before our birding transfer back to Loja where we’ll stay the night.
Day 14. Early flight back to Quito. Connections with homebound flights or overnight in Quito (not included in tour price).
PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE YOUR FLIGHT TO ECUADOR UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED DEPARTURE CONFIRMATION OF THIS TOUR FROM TOUCAN BIRDING TOURS.
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