Up to high elevations today, hoping to see Condors among other things, but not expecting to see a Spectacled Bear, a species in grave danger.

From across the other side of the wide valley, a Condor roosting spot, where the Condor poop has turned the rocks white.

As we were watching the Condors soar above us, someone noticed, across the other side of the wide valley, a Spectacled Bear,

A Carunculated Caracara, a bird of prey.

Found some Andean Ibis, as we were watching, they took off, circled round again, and I took the above picture as they came back in to land.

Up very early this morning to be in time for the commotion at a lek where the Andean Cock-of-the-rock males gather to scream and dance and compete for females.

The females were difficult to see and even harder to photograph, being hidden in amongst the branches

Female Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Giant Antpittas, the largest of this family, about 25 cm tall.

Yes this is a bird! The Common Potoo resembles the broken end of an old tree-trunk, which is I guess a good way to avoid being eaten.

Lyre-tailed Nightjar. The guides pointed the bird out to me, and, even though I was looking straight at it, I couldn’t see it there.

Close-up of the head area

Easy to see why this one is called the Moustached Antpitta.

Early morning, just about dawn we sat in a hide at the lodge.

This female Long-Wattled Umbrellabird was happy to find tasty moths. (Only the male has the long wattle)

Next up in the morning was the stocky Broad-Billed Motmot who also appreciated the moths

This is about the 4th Woodcreeper we have seen, they are all very similar, but I was reliably informed that this one is officially called the Plain Brown Woodcreeper.

This Red-headed Barbet had taken a big mouthful of banana

Thick-billed Euphonia feeding a juvenile

Green Honeycreeper, this is the female who showed up first,

Followed 30 minutes later by the male Green Honeycreeper

Back at Sachatomie the female Red-headed Barbet appeared, I caught her also with her mouth full as she jumped from one perch to another a little higher on the branch. As you can see her head is yellow!

More usual approach to birding today, no feeding stations in the morning, walking around the bird sanctuary, the mist was fairly thick, partially obscuring the birds in the photos.

Yellow-throated Toucans

Collared Aracari picking fruit

Masked Water Tyrant

Torrent Tyrannulet

Silver-throated Tanager, this one was at a feeder next to a restaurant. Another endemic.

Another amazing day, this time with several Endemics (birds only found in the local area, between the Eastern and Western Andes) and couple of rarities

Moss-backed Tanager

Rufous-throated Tanager

Rose-faced Parrot

Slate-throated Redstart

Scaled Fruiteater, male and female

Medium sized Hummingbird, Collared Inca. The hummingbird in the header image is a smaller Gorgeted Sunangel.

Masked Trogon

Golden-collared Honeycreeper

Male and Female Flame-rumped Tanager

Flame-faced Tanager

Speckled Hummingbird, a tiny hummer, only about 3 cm long

Trip to Zumo Loma, then to La Reserva Yanacocha. Saw the Buzzard Eagle on the way. Then the remaining Tanagers and Antpittas at the 2 reserves. They set up feeding stations, mostly with Bananas to attract the Tanagers. Late afternoon back to Sachatamia Lodge.

Black-chested Buzzard Eagle

Blue-capped Tanager

Yellow-breasted Brushfinch

Chestnut-naped Antpitta

Equatorial Antipitta

Black-chested Mountain Tanager

Scarlet-breasted Mountain Tanager

Andean Guam

Arrived in Quito, then taken to Hacienda Jiminita. Immediately starting seeing new bird species in the grounds of the Hacienda, spent the afternoon in Quito, then returned ready for an early start tomorrow.

13 November 2022

Vermilion Flycatcher

Golden-bellied Grosbeak

Great Thrush

Blue and Yellow Tanager

Sparkling Violetear, the first Hummingbird, likely to be many more!