Covers Feb 14-18 when we moves south, from the Manglares-Churute area to Buenaventura NP (staying at Umbrellabird Lodge), then to Jorupe with some Moth Mania-photos inserted and a trip down to Zapotillo. That's when the film ends, since we had more adventures in the south than fit into one part. Had to split it up!
Feb 14 starts very wet. We learn that access to Manglares-Churute isn't possible because that same wet weather has been on it for a while. Back-up place Tamarind was a treat, and thankfully the rain stopped! Bird seen at those places (incl views along the highway) are Horned Screamer (photo), Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Pacific Hornero, Northern Violaceous Trogon, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant (photo) and a preening Pacific Royal Flycatcher mightily out of focus...
This AF-thing is a curse that follows me through the trip. The focus tends to pounce on things in the background, even when the background is a small percentage of what's in the frame. I knew there was a way to manage the focus manually but simply hadn't been able to figure it out and the camera lacked good handbook.
It turned out that you have to go online and find the data on the web. Suffice to say I didn't manage that while in Ecuador!
To make up for the tawny blur I have an inserted, perfect photo from my trusted camera!
Anyway, the adventure continues. We drive towards Cuenca and of course stop at El Cajas NP, high altitude habitat. This is THE place to go in the world if you want to see Violet-throated Metaltail. It's also good for many of the other high altitude birds. Despite the downpour beginning anew we got what we came for. It cramped my video style, though, I just took my camera. So from El Cajas: only photos, the best inserted here: Giant Conebill, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Bar-winged Cinclodes, Violet-throated Metaltail, Andean Ruddy-Duck, Tit-like Dacnis and Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant.
Feb 15: the itinerary had place for a rematch at El Cajas, if we needed it. But yesterday was a total success there, so at the crack of dawn (or before that) we aimed for Yunguilla. THE place to go in the world if you want to see Pale-headed Brush-Finch. I actually managed to get a glimpse of it on film! Short, but still, there it is...
You'll see a glimpse of Southern Yellow Grosbeak, too.
At lunchtime we moved on to Buenaventura NP and Umbrellabird Lodge. That's a super place for a birder! The Hummingbird feeders around the dining area are out of this world! The down side is that there is almost always people there, talking, moving chairs and cutlery and what have you. I've tried to lower the volume, but I still want the endless twitter from the Hummers so there it is; endless talking and twittering...
The Red-masked Parakeet is filmed on the way to the lodge.
Hummingbirds frequenting the feeders are: Andean Emerald, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Green-fronted Brilliant, White-necked Jacobin, Brown Violetear, Green Thorntail, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Emerald-bellied Woodnymph, Long-billed Starthroat and White-vented Plumeleteer that I didn't get on film. Non-hummers presented are Bananaquit and Green Honeycreeper.
Feb 16: starts before dawn, sneaking along muddy trails, following the booming voices of the Long-wattled Umbrellabirds. We had crippling view, but it was so dark and flashes was of course frowned upon so no go. I was too busy enjoying the spectacle to remember trying the video, but I got some iffy photos. The same can be said of the tiny Club-winged Manakins lekking under the canopy. Got some sound-track of them though. Not of the Umbrellabirds, sadly. I have inserted photos of these birds, and a qute White-throated Spadebill, but only the soundtrack for the Manakin is correct. Otherwise it's only insects and frogs from a preparing shot at the El Oro-parakeet stake-out. We had info about which nest a pair used, but none appeared. We got the Poison Arrow Frog instead.
When birding the road back to the lodge we ran into the parakeets in a fruit tree. The light was murder, the distance long. No footage, but one photo for ID! Inserted here, of course...
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Birding Ecuador Part V; The South & Southeastby Hummingbirder1208 views
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