| Day 1: Arrival to Quito Participants will fly to Quito (most flights arrive in the late evening). No matter your flight plans, we will have a representative meet you outside of the customs gate and take you to the local hotel. Day 2: Milpe Reserve & Special Spot for Green Thorntail and More Morning: An early start for the Milpe reserve will be good to get to the birding. Our guide will know a number of good bird watching stops along the way. These stops will make the short trip go by even faster, as at each stop will add a number of life birds for each trip participant. The main destination for the morning will be the Milpe Bird Sanctuary in the Andean Foothills. This sanctuary is located in a Birdlife International Important Bird Area (IBA), Los Bancos—Milpe. The sanctuary has an altitudinal range from 3350-3770 feet and includes two small rivers that converge in a steep, forested valley. Many birders consider this one of the finest sites in all of Ecuador. Once in Milpe, we will have all morning and most of the day to find numerous hummingbirds, beautiful tanagers and other Ecuadorian birds. The following hummingbirds should be found: White-whiskered Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, Green-crowned Woodnymph, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, and Green-crowned Brilliant. Some of the surprises in the past have also included Purple-crowned Fairy (nesting at times), White- necked Jacobin and Purple-throated Woodstar. Many of the most spectacular Choco Endemics occur here: Plumbeous Forest-Falcon, Moss-backed Tanager, Choco Trogon, and Club-winged Manakin. At some point, we may see Chocó Toucans and Pale-mandibled Araçaris in the more open areas. We will have some time to look for these species. This sight is long famous for good tanager viewing days. The road hosts good mixed flocks, and new trails in the reserve allow access to the forest. We can expect a host of tanagers, including Ochre-breasted Tanager, Rufous- throated Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, and we may get lucky and find the dazzling Grey-and-gold Tanager. Over twenty species from this spectacular family are possible here in a day. We may have time to cool off at nearby restaurant where up to a dozen species of tanager come to feed on the bananas put out for them. Several species which come here include Emerald Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, and several others. A number of hummingbird species (including Green Thorntail) can be seen here. In addition, we may find Crimson-rumped Toucanet. This both leisurely and productive stop is a hit with all bird watchers. Once the birding has slowed down in the Milpe area, we will then head towards Mindo Mindo is the historic home of birding in northwest Ecuador and has long been famous. We may find a few more excellent species before the day is done includeing Blue- necked Tanager, Golden Tanager, Beryl-Spangled Tanager. On the first day of most trips in Ecuador, the group has seen more than a dozen tanager species. Our focus on hummingbirds should give us a good start at nearly 15 to 20 species. We may total 80 to 100 species this first day. The lodging will be at a nice eco-lodge (one of our customer's favorites) in a nice preserved forested area. The birding is great at the lodge too. Getting to bed at a reasonable hour is a good idea to start in the morning early. Day 3: Refugio Paz de las Aves The day begins just before dark, as we drive to Paz de las Aves for an early start. Up arrival, we walk to the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek. Besides seeing and hearing these beautiful birds, we will also see several other species, such as Toucan Barbet and perhaps Crimson-rumped Toucanet. Hummingbirds seen here include Empress Brilliant, Brown Violetear, Tawny-bellied Hermit, Collared Inca and several others. The Refugio is world famous (and put on many top birders top 10 spots in the world list) for opportunities to see Antpitta species. With some luck, we will be able to see Giant Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, and Moustached Antpitta. We may also see Dark-backed Wood Quail, Golden-headed Quetzal, another six more hummingbird species, and much more. Fawn-breasted Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, and more seem fill every new opening with new bird species. Like many other parts of Ecuador, large flocks of multiple species can be found. On the 2007 trip we found a flock with over 20 different species, proving over one hour of fantastic bird watching. We will try a short walk to try to find several more bird species and hopefully find one of these large flocks. After enjoying the Refugio all morning and take a nice lunch, we will head back towards Bellavista and the Tandayapa Valley. We will have a chance to bird around Bellavista, and perhaps find some of their speciality species, including Crested Quetzal, Masked Trogon, Grass-green Tanager, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Thick-billed Euphonia and much more. Their feeders usually have 6 to 10 hummingbird species and several will be new to our trip list, including Sparkling Violetear, Andean Emerald, Speckled Hummingbird, Fawn- breasted Brilliant, Collared Inca, and Buff-tailed Coronet. We should be nearing 25 hummingbird species and over 150 bird species at the end of our second day of birding. Day 4 - Bellavista Birding & Tandayapa Valley Hummingbirds On the fourth day, we will start birding early at the areas surrounding our lodge. We will try a different direction than on our first afternoon here, and some of the species we are more likely to see include Yellow-bellied Chat- Tyrant, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Plain-breasted Hawk, Blue and White Swallow, Plain-tailed Wren, Sickle-winged Guan, Plumbeous Pigeon, Glossy-black Thrush, Red- billed Parrot, Turquoise Jay, Spectacled Whitestart, Band- winged Nightjar (hopefully more than a song), White- collared Swift, Russet-crowned Warbler, Dusky Bush- Tanager, Rufous-chested Tanager, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Powerful Woodpecker, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Montane Woodcreeper, Golden Tanager, Azara's Spinetail, Flame-faced Tanager, Red-faced Spinetail, and Beryl-spangled Tanager, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Blue-and-black Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Spillmann's Tapaculo, Chestnut-capped Brush- Finch, Green-and-black Fruiteater, White-winged Brush- Finch, Streak-necked Flycatcher, White-sided Flowerpiercer, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Masked Flowerpiercer, Cinnamon Flycatcher, and Smoke-coloured Pewee. Several hummingbird feeders in the area can be accessed, and we are likely to add an additional six to twelve species to the trip list here, including Velvet-purple Coronet, Sparkling Violetear, Buff-tailed Coronet, Gorgeted Sunangel, Purple-bibbed White-tip, Fawn- breasted Brilliant, Booted Racket-Tail, and Purple- throated Woodstar, Andean Emerald, Speckled Hummingbird, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Brown Inca. Other birds which we may find in the area include Rufescent Screech-Owl, White-faced Nunbird, Cloud Forest Pygmy-Owl (likely to hear), Swallow-tailed Nightjar, and Ocellated Tapaculo. We will also look for Crested Quetzal, Plushcap, Tanager Finch, and the Beautiful Jay. We will end the evening back at the lodge (and likely find Common Potoo that night near the lodge). By the end of three days of birding, we will likely 30 hummingbird species on our trip list (and starting to get close to 200 species). Day 5: Yanacocha High Mountain Hummingbirds We will start early to reach Yanacocha. We may take a few birding breaks on our way up the mountain to briefly stretch our legs. The early start will be well worth it for the very special hummingbirds at the Yanacocha Reserve or “Inca Ditch”. Yanacocha is famous for high elevation hummingbirds (such as Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Sapphire- vented Puffleg and Golden-breasted Puffleg), and we will likely add several more species to our trip list. This is a 2 kilometre walk. We will go slow and enjoy the birds and several hummingbird feeders on the way to the top. After lunch and during out trip back to Quito, we will also stop along the way to bird some additional key habitat in the mountainous and foothills areas above Quito. Here we will look for Giant Hummingbird, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Collared Woodstar and Grassland Yellow- Finch. We will also add several birds to our trip list, including White-crested Elaenia, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Brown-bellied Swallow, Black-crested Warbler, Masked Flower-Piercer, Glossy Flower-Piercer, Black Flower-Piercer, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Stripe-headed Brush-Finch, Hooded Siskin, and more. Day 6: Papallachta Pass, Guango Reserve and Sani Isidro On the sixth day, we will try to find several high elevation hummingbird species near the top of Pappallachta Pass and at several other spots along the way. In the late morning, we will then enjoy excellent humminbird species at Guango Lodge (about halfway through the 2/3 hour drive that day) before heading towards San Isidro Lodge. This day will likely add another 8 to 12 hummingbird species, including Ecuadorian Hillstar, Green Violetear, Mountain Velvetbreast, Bronzy Inca, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Tourmaline Sunangel, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail, Long- tailed Sylph and White-bellied Woodstar. We may even find a few special humminbirds like Purple-backed Thornbill and/or Blue-mantled Thornbill. We may also get lucky at Guango with Glowing Puffleg, and/or Mountain Avocetbill. As we travel over Pappallachta Pass, we should find a few high elevations species that day as we pass through a mix of elfin forest below and grassland páramo. The former yields many high elevation cloud-forest and treeline species such as Pearled Treerunner, White-throated Tyrannulet, Tufted Tit-tyrant, Unicolored (Blackish) Tapaculo, Plain-colored Seedeater, Cinereous Conebill among others. Beyond and above, the páramo proper yields Bar-winged Cinclodes, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black- billed Shrike-Tyrant, Páramo Pipit and Plumbeous Sierra- Finch. Here we also see Ecuadorian Hillstar feeding on the orange thistle-shrubs (Chuquiragua) while Many-striped Canasteros and Andean Tit-Spinetails skulk in the bushes. Tawny Antpittas call all around. We will have time to find some of these species. Higher up on the plateau, we may find Páramo Ground- Tyrant, Black-winged Ground Dove, Carunculated Caracaras, Variable/Puna Hawks and more. Given good visibility, we have a good chance of seeing Andean Condor, one of the largest populations found in Ecuador as well as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. With more luck we might see the rare Cinereous Harrier and Aplomado Falcon (subspecies pichinchae). We may find other species more common on the east slope of the Andes like Red-crested Cotinga, Spectacled Whitestart, Brown-bellied Swallow, Cinereous Conebill, Blue-backed Conebill, Black Flowerpiercer, Plain-collared Seedeater, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, and Hooded Siskin. We may also get better looks at Pearled Treerunner, White-crested Elaenia, White-banded Tyrannulet, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Turquoise Jay, Mountain Wren, Citrine Warbler, Mountain Cacique, and Superciliaried Hemispingus. As we travel around and over the pass, we can access tundra-like páramo and scattered patches of Polylepis woodland. Lower down, elfin forest and montane cloudforest occur. These areas support interesting species, including Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Band-tailed Seedeater, Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch, Black-billed Shrike- Tyrant, Caranculated Caracara, Black-chested Eagle, Puna Hawk, Plain-breasted Hawk, Rufous-naped Brush- Finch, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Andean Condor, Giant Conebill, Black-backed Bush-Tanager, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Andean Tit-Spinetail and others. We will spend the night at San Isidro Lodge, and we should find their local Owl species (similar to Black-and- white Owl, but not yet split as a new species). By the end of the sixth day, we should likely have 40 hummingbird species on our trip list and close to 300 bird species overall. Day 7: Guacamayos and/or San Isidro and then Loretto Road to Wild Sumaco Guacamayos Trail is near San Isidro and is the ideal start of the day, if trail conditions are good. The rocks here can be slippery and trail conditions can deteriorate for a variety of reasons. Though few (if any) hummingbirds will be found along this trail, we will consider taking this very birdy trail, filled with a number of nice east Andes specialities. As an alternative, we may bird some of the trails at San Isidro. Once it warms up in the morning (and the birding slows down), we will head towards Wild Sumaco. A few birding stops along the way can be productive, including one for Cliff Flycatcher (a spectacular species). Another spot has a nice short walk to a fantastic waterfall, wonderful butterflies, and often White-tailed Hillstar. This fast moving hummingbird comes zooming in to the feeders there. My favourite feeders in Ecuador are those at Wild Sumaco. Besides the feeders, the grounds of the lodge have well kept bushes attracting additional hummingbirds, including Wire-creasted Thorntail (well-dressed), Violet- headed Hummingbird (beautiful) and Gorgeted Woodstar (a tiny wonder of a bird). Some of the hummingbirds we should find at Wild Sumaco include Brown Violetear, Fork- tailed Woodnymph, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Black-throated Brilliant, Gould's Jewelfront (spectacular), and Booted Racket-tail (buffy eastern version). This will be a great finish to the day (and put the trip list of hummingbirds nearing or exceeding 50 species). Our total trip list should be well above 300 species, as well. Day 8: Wild Sumaco Reserve We will have an early breakfast and get over to a nearby part of the reserve in the morning. We will start with a short birding walk, adding a number of species (and perhaps Paradise Tanager, Coppery-chested Jacamar, and much more). We may even pick up some hard-to-find humminbird species, like Black-eared Fairy. In 2010, we found a flock of over 40 species in the morning here; so, fantastic birding can just come explode here. The real joy for hummingbird fans will be the feeders at the research station here. Species like Green Hermit, Napo Sabrewing, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Ecuadorian Piedtail, Gould's Jewelfront and more can be found here. This is a cozy place to enjoy group birding. We will likely take a break from the feeder here before coming back to try for anything which we may have missed. The Ecuadorian Piedtail can take a second visit. There are several other trails in the area which will prove to be worthwhile birding before it gets too hot. After lunch, we will head towards Coca. We may have time for a few birding breaks on our way to the airport their. We will take a late afternoon flight (likely 5 PM) back (only about 30 mintues) back to Quito. Day 9: Departure Home Most trip participants will fly home in the early morning, getting back to their home that day. I am sure you will enjoy your flights home, thinking of the pleasant memories of an excellent and worthwhile birding trip. Notes and Optional Extension Choices: This trip is only $2,290 for the 9 days and 8 nights. You can easily add another 3 to 5 days of birding in the Amazon Basin, for just over $1,000. Or, Galapagos trips range from $3,000 to well over $5,000. |
| Detailed Itinerary |
| Murray Cooper |
| Great Sapphirewing by Harry Fuller |
| Velvet-purple Coronet by Harry Fuller |
| White-bellied Antpitta by J. Drummond |
| Collared Inca (and in nest) by Murray Cooper |
| Murray Cooper |
| Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager by J. Drummond |
| by Harry Fuller |
| Masked Flowerpiercer by M. Cooper |
| Fawn-breasted Brilliant by Murray Cooper |
| Green-crownded Woodnymph by J. Drummond |
| Gould's Jewelfront by Lelis Navarette |
| Murray Cooper |
| Swordbilled Hummingbird by J. Drummond |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by John Drummond |
| Pacific Hornero by John Drummond |
| Long-tailed Sylph by Harry Fuller |
| Orange-breasted Fruiteater by John Drummond |
| Green-crowned Woodnymph by Harry Fuller |
| Long-wattled Umbrellabird by Murray Cooper |
| Photo by Harry Fuller |
| 9 Days in Ecuador: January and November |
| Mindo, Milpe, Paz de Las Aves, Bellavista, Tandayapa Valley, Yanacocha and then Papallachta Pass, Guango, San Isidro and Wild Sumaco and More Extensions to Galapagos Islands and Amazonian Basin |
Ecuador: Hummingbirds & More
Details for 9 Day Trip
| Gorgeted Woodstar by Lelis Navarrete |
| Purple-crowned Woodnymph by Murray Cooper |
| Empress Brilliant by Lelis Navarette |
| Golden-headed Quetzal by M. Cooper |
| Booted Racquet-Tail (female) by Harry Fuller |
| Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer by Murray Cooper |
| White-bellied Woodstar by John Drummond |
| Maroon-tailed Parakeet by John Drummond |
| Chestnut-breasted Coronet by Harry Fuller |
| Double-toothed Kite by J. Drummond |
| Bay-headed Tanager by John Drummond |
| Tourquoise Jay by J. Drummond |
| For more information or to sign up for one of our trips, call Charles or Alison at 888-203-7464 or Charles directly at 720-320-1974 or by email at info@PIBird.com. |
| More Details on This Trip |
