Back in Ecuador!!

After an excellent night’s sleep we were ready for a 5.30am breakfast and with a few minutes to spare before heading out we had a quick check of the hummer feeders where a Sparkling Violetear, White-necked Jacobin and Andean Emerald were seen in the early morning gloom. But we were on a mission this morning to get up to Refugio de Las Aves as soon as possible before driving 7+ hours south to Ayampe. Our main reason for coming here was to see antpittas and we were all very excited I can tell you! Upon arrival we had a few stunning Blue-winged Mountain-Tanagers and a Scale-throated Foliage-Gleaner close by, followed by a pair of very nice Ornate Flycatchers. Even better was a roosting Lyre-tailed Nightjar on the bank behind us that I teed up in the scope. Wow!!!!! 

Golden-headed Quetzal

Then a Golden-headed Quetzal flew in and landed on a mossy branch for the briefest of times and 3 Crested Guans were seen. Once the brother of the famous Angel Paz arrived we went to the first stake-out and in no time at all an absolutely hulking Giant Antpitta appeared……. 

Giant Antpitta

 Driving to a different spot, we waited by some hummer feeders that were alive with birds. In a matter of seconds we had seen Velvet-purple Coronet, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Lesser Violetear, White-booted Racket-tail, Andean Emerald, Purple-throated Woodstar, and Violet-tailed Sylph. With a confiding Crimson-rumped Toucanet feeding on bananas right behind us as well, with a Chivi Vireo also present. And then we walked along a trail to a feeding station where an Ochre-breasted Antpitta was waiting for us on an exposed branch on the slope above us. What a little cracker! After a few minutes it was joined by a cracking Moustached Antpitta that hopped out into the open for less than a minute before scurrying away into the dark forest. Keeping a high tempo we drove up to another spot  for a toilet break where Golden Tanager and an Orange-bellied Euphonia were seen and then drove a few more minutes to another antpitta stake-out. Unfortunately Yellow-breasted Antpitta would elude us, despite 3 attempts at a couple of spots but we had a consolation Sharpe’s Wren or three at one of them. 

Moustached Antpitta

Ochre-breasted Antpitta

 Finally we stopped at the main restaurant for a coffee and snacks and more hummer feeders, where we added Speckled Hummingbird, Tawny-breasted Hermit and Brown Inca to our ever growing hummer list. Other sightings this morning included Plumbeous Pigeon, Hook-billed Kite, Slate-throated Whitestart, a Crimson-rumped Toucanet feeding a well grown youngster at a nesting hole, and a Chestnut-capped Brushfinch. 

Purple-bibbed Whitetip

Speckled Hummingbird

White-booted Rackettail (female)

And then it was time to leave 11:45am and head out on the 7+ hour drive to Ayampe in the distant south of Ecuador. 

Crimson-rumped Toucanet

A few roadside birds were seen but a lunch stop gave s Tropical Kingbird, Buff-throated Saltator and House Wren followed by Red-masked Parakeet and Grey-cheeked Parakeet, Pacific Hornero and a few other common species.