Ecuador day 5

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

The valley of Angel Paz's - Refugio Paz de Las Aves

Giant Antpitta - this is Maria. (image by EJP)

17 February - Sunday. A very early start today, leaving the lodge at 4.45am to drive to the Refugio Paz de Las Aves (also known as Angel Paz’s). Before dawn with our head-torches on, we negotiated the muddy trail down to the Cock of the Rock lek viewed from behind a low screen. In the approaching dawn we were rewarded with good views of 3 males calling and displaying. When the birds departed we walked down a forest trail and the guide (and owner of the land) who had accustomed various birds to the presence of humans by a careful program of feeding, was able to call a Yellow-breasted Antpitta into close view.

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock - male
Composite from images taken at San Diego Animal Park in 2008

Giant Antpitta comes in to feeding tray with worms

Babara and Eric on the path following our viewing of the Giant Antpitta

Back at another observation site the calling produced a pair of Giant Antpittas which one by one collected their supply of worms – and provided superb opportunities for close watching but photography was difficult in the dim light and the need not to use flash. As if on cue 5 Dark-backed Woodquail joined in the feeding a little further back up the trail (a group known as the Spice girls!) and nearby 5 Sickle-winged Guans flew quietly away at our approach.

Angel Paz's place

Ablutions block; Eric for the use of

The Mitsubishi on the left is known as 'Maria' and was paid for from the accumulated
small entrance fees charged to see the Giant Antpitta of the same name!

Barbara waiting for breakfast!

Bolones. The one at the top has a bite out of it!

By mid-morning we were ready for the al fresco breakfast which was provided, including the best Bolones yet and an amazing array of local fruits. We walked on higher ground and up a ridge following the road where Tree Tomatoes were being grown and we were lucky to see a stunning Orange-breasted Fruiteater.

Remnant and regrowth rainforest on the slopes and old pastures
or paddocks now intended for return to tropical rainforests

Rural activities along the road near Angel Paz's

Fruiting berries

Tree Tomato (upper image by EJP)

Digiscoped image of Orange-breasted Fruiteater (Canon Ixus 800IS + Leica scope)

Bromeliads everywhere!

Further along the morning walk

Returning to the El Mirador for a late lunch we watched the bird feeders, and the river 150 metres below, from the rear patio of the lodge. In spite of the rain at 4.30pm we walked part of the Milpe road area, where we planned to enter the reserve the next morning.

Our motel - El Mirador Rio Blanco (EJP)

View of the river from the motel patio - El Mirador Rio Blanco (EJP)

Black Vulture

Green Thorntail

Green Thorntail

Green-crowned Brilliant - female

Pale-mandibilled Aracari (Ecuadorian Endemic)

Choco Toucan

Plumbeous Pigeon

Black-cheeked Woodpecker - male

Lemon-rumped Tanager

Part of vesper flight of White-collared Swifts drifting past the patio at El Mirador at about 4:30pm

White-whiskered Hermit

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Green Thorntail

Green-crowned Woodnymph



Today at the hummer feeders

With a total of 107 species logged and the bonus of visiting a site with lekking Cock-of-the-Rock followed by superb views of Giant Antpitta this was undoubtedly another very good day. Birds seen only today included Sickle-winged Guan, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Green Thorntail, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Scaled Fruiteater, Olivaceous Piha, Giant Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, White-winged Brush-Finch and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Not encountered at any other time but heard today were Barred Forest-Falcon, Flavescent Flycatcher and Narino Tacapulo. Specially numerous today was Barred Parakeet (again!), Bronze-winged Parrot, White-collared Swift, Green-crowned Woodnymph, Andean Emerald, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager and Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager.