CERRO TOLEDO - LOJA

A 5am breakfast saw us on the road mega-early and heading up to the giddy heights of 3100m at Cerro Toledo in search of some more southern Ecuador megas. Our minibus got us most of the way up before we had to switch into a pickup van to get to the mist-enshrouded treeline. And boy was it cold with a stiff breeze, combined with visibility down to just a few meters it didn’t look promising. However, the mist did lift somewhat and we had the total good fortune when Jo walked around the opposite corner to the one we were heading towards for a ‘comfort stop’ and when she returned, described seeing one of the key targets up here – Masked Mountain-Tanager. 

Masked Mountain-Tanager..... in the mist

So we raced around the corner and quickly discovered a few stunning Golden-crowned Tanagers, several Pale-naped Brushfinches and a short while later an absolutely crippling Masked Mountain-Tanager appeared in the gloom. We then chased this little flock up and down the road, trying to get better views until eventually it flew below us and landed in a little bare bush. Wow! 

Pale-naped Brushfinch

So with that crippler sorted we began walking up and down a 300m stretch of cloud forest road looking for Neblina Metaltail, but initially could only find a stunning Rainbow-bearded Thornbill perched next to the dirt road. Pretty good compensation though!  

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill.... Wow!

The colours on its beard are absolutely stunning. 

After a long search we eventually found a Neblina Metaltail perched below the road and allowed us some fantastic views. 

Neblina Metaltail

From here we walked down the road for around 7 kilometers picking up a few Glowing Pufflegs, Brown-bellied Swallow, Glossy Flowerpiercer, Plushcap, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, White-banded Tyrannulet, Red-crested Cotinga, Chusquea Tapaculo, Grass-green Tanager, Grey-hooded Brushfinch, a fantastic Flame-throated Sunangel, heard a Greater Scythebill, and finished with a Black-throated Toucanet. 

Black-throated Toucanet

We called in to a small marsh in Vilcabamba to see Plumbeous Rail, but only one of us did! An ice-cream stop was more ‘fruitful’ before we drove to Loja and our hotel stop for the night. One of the quickest owling sessions I have ever experienced happened after dinner, as we drove up to the University in this surprisingly large city. 

Koepcke's Screech-Owl

Hopping out of the minibus, Juan Carlos played the call of Koepcke’s Screech-Owland it immediately flew down towards us across the grassy slope above, landing directly overhead. And there it was! We had superb views before it flew across the road, briefly landing on an open branch once again before flying off.