Ecuador day 2

Rio Santa Rosa. Three torrent species here today:
Torrent Duck, Torrent Tyrannulet, White-capped Dipper

One of the White-capped Dippers (image by EJP)

14 February - Thursday. Having arrived around 6pm last evening to comfortable rooms and a good dinner we took an early walk around the Lodge before breakfast. Running past the buildings is a fast-flowing river (the Rio Santa Rosa) – a sound not easy to sleep with if you’re not used to it! But on the credit side we found 3 ‘torrent’ species within a few minutes, namely White-capped Dipper, Torrent Tyrranulet and a female Torrent Duck. After breakfast we walked the Arrieros trail with intermittent showers until mid-morning turning to steady, heavy rain until late afternoon. We were glad to get back for lunch; not that the rain deterred the 7 species of hummingbirds visiting the feeders and the Rufous and Broad-billed Motmots nearby.

The Ballast road leading to Maquipucuna Lodge

Birding along the Arrieros trail to the east of Maquipucuna Lodge
and here above the Rio Santa Rosa

Nest with three nestlings of the Golden-crowned Flycatcher
under the bridge at entrance to Maquipucuna Lodge

Look at the mandibles on this beast!

Huge grasshopper -approx. 10cm long!

We managed a walk before dusk and were rewarded with close views of a Golden-headed Quetzal plus 3 Pacific Horneros during the day. Even at this lower altitude of 1330 metres (4360 feet) the rain kept us chilly at 18°C.

White-necked Jacobin

Green-crowned Brilliant

Green-crowned Brilliant

Buff-tailed Coronet

White-whiskered Hermit

Green-crowned Woodnymph

Rufous Motmot (image by EJP)

Our total species list for today was 93. We encountered Barred Parakeet in good numbers and would do so again over the next few days. We also see good numbers of White-necked Jacobin, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, Lemon-rumped and Swallow Tanagers. Other birds which we see today and regularly over the next few days include: White-collared Swift,Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Swallow-tailed Kite, Turkey Vulture, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Ecuadorian Thrush, Bay Wren (most days only heard!). Bananaquit, Blue-grey Tanager, Palm Tanager and Buff-throated Saltator. Several species are not seen again. These include: Crested Guan, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Buff-fronted Parrotlet, Band-rumped Swift (10+ seen), Yellow Tyrannulet, Streaked Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush (only heard) and Yellow-rumped Cacique.