Bird Treks - A Quality Birdwatching Tour Company

Darwin’s Galapagos Archipelago

with a pre-cruise extension to Ecuador

Price: $4498.00 from Quito, Ecuador    

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Northern Ecuador

The Birds of the Andes & Northwest Lowlands

With more than 1600 species of birds, over 16,000 known plants, and almost 400 species of mammals, Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.  Considering its relatively small size, it may harbor more species per square mile than any other country.  This trip begins in the northwestern lowlands, foothills, and cloudforest where we'll visit Tinalandia, Septimo Paraiso, and Tandayapa Lodges.  We’ll also visit two superb reserves managed by the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation – the Rio Silanche and Milpe Reserves – as well as the must-see “antpittas and more” show at the home of Angel Paz.  In the northwest, we’ll find a great variety of species, including several regional endemics.  Possibilities include Pallid Dove, Dusky Pigeon, Bronze-winged and Red-billed Parrots, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Choco Warbler and Toucan, Pacific Antwren, Scarlet-browed and Rufous-winged Tanagers, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Red-faced Spinetail, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-toucan, possibly four to six species of antpittas, many tanagers, and perhaps two dozen species of hummingbirds.  We then travel to the eastern slope of the Andes to the temperate forests of Guango Lodge.  At almost 9000 feet, Guango is a great spot for Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, various mountain-tanagers, Gray-breasted Mountain-toucan, several species of chat-tyrants, and many hummers, including the bizarre Sword-billed.  We’ll make an afternoon visit to Papallacta Pass, climbing as high as 14,000 feet to look for high Andean specialists such as Ecuadorian Hillstar, Plumbeous Sierra-finch, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle, Variable Hawk, Tawny Antpitta, two species of cinclodes, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, and others.  We then travel to Cabanas San Isidro which, at about 6500 feet, is the transition zone between temperate and subtropical habitats.  From the comfortable lodge, which has great rooms and sumptuous food, we’ll explore the adjacent trails and also make a day trip to the Guacamayos Ridge and the Jocotoco Foundation’s Narupa Reserve for Amazonian species.  In this area we’ll search for species that occur only on the eastern slope, as well as more widespread species including White-capped Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Rufous-crowned Tody-flycatcher, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Inca Jay, Black-billed Peppershrike, Barred Becard, Andean Solitaire, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Saffron-crowned and many other Tanagers, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, Coppery-chested Jacamar, and as many as 10 species of hummingbirds.  We’ll finish with a day trip to the wilds of the Antisana Reserve where we’ll spend time in elfin forest and paramo on our way to Laguna Micacocha.  In addition to spectacular scenery, we’ll have chances to see Ecuadorian Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Cinereous Harrier, Carunculated Caracara, Paramo Pipit, Paramo Ground-tyrant, Plumbeous Sierra-finch, Silvery Grebe, and Andean Condor.  The tour will be led by Mark Pretti.

Price: $3450.00 from Quito, Ecuador    

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SOUTHERN ECUADOR

JOCOTOCO RESERVES AND COPALINGA LODGE

We’ll begin our trip in the dry interior of Loja Province where we’ll visit three outstanding Jocotoco Foundation Reserves in the south and southwest, as well as Copalinga Lodge in the east.  Our first stop will be Tapichalaca Lodge, home of the Jocotoco Antpitta and a suite of interesting cloud forest species such as Bearded Guan, Black-throated Tody-tyrant, Barred Fruiteater, the rare Red-capped Tanager, and many more.  While at Tapichalaca, we’ll enjoy their busy hummingbird feeders – Flame and Amethyst-throated Sunangels, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Buff-winged Starfrontlet – and also visit lower elevations in the Rio Maranon drainage where lowland and Amazonian species can be found.  From Tapichalaca, we’ll head to the eastern slope and Copalinga lodge, one of my favorite spots in Ecuador.  Copalinga harbors a mix of highland and lowland species including Andean Slaty-thrush, Wire-crested Thorntail, Coppery-chested Jacamar, Striped Manakin, Black-striped Puffbird, and more.  Leaving Copalinga, we’ll travel to the western slope and the Buenaventura Reserve, one of the birdiest spots in the country.  Home to the rare and endangered El Oro Parakeet, Buenaventura also hosts hundreds of other species, including Brownish Twistwing, Gray-backed Hawk, Uniform Antshrike, Ochre-bellied Dove, Barred Puffbird, Tumbes Pewee, and a lek of Long-wattled Umbrellabirds.  Our final stop will be the tropical deciduous forest of the Jorupe Reserve where Tumbesian endemics abound.  On the grounds and along the trails of the beautiful lodge, we’ll look for Pale-browed Tinamou, Gray-cheeked Parakeet, West Peruvian Screech-owl, Watkin’s Antpitta, White-tailed Jay, White-edged Oriole, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, and other unique birds.  Mark Pretti is the leader of this tour.

Price: $3400.00 from Quito, Ecuador    

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