Seven Day Birders' Itinerary
DAY 1
Pick up at your hotel at 8:00a.m.
We will drive for about an hour N.W. of Quito to the picturesque village of Yungilla, which is situated at about 8000 ft. in the Andes. Yungilla has a population of about 300 people, most of whom participate in growing organic fruits and vegetables which are now being shipped abroad.We will stay overnight at the comfortable hostel here.
After arriving and check in we will bird along the wooded one kilometer trail adjacent to the hostel. Here there are higher elevation birds which are easy to see such as…..Plushcap, Tricolored and White- winged Brush Finches, S. Yellow Grosbeak ,Black-capped Hemispingus, Blue-capped, Blue and Black and Rufous-chested Tanager, Plain-tailed Wren, Turquoise Jay, Speckled Hummingbird, Collared Inca, Black-tailed Trainbearer and with some luck the magnificent Sword-billed Hummingbird.
After lunch we can visit the small factories where local jam, cheese and pottery are made.
Before dinner we will walk along a scenic dirt road with magnificent views of the volcano Chimborazo.
DAY 2
An early breakfast at 6:00 a.m. then we will drive for about an hour up another scenic road to Ali Mountain to look for Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and the beautiful Scarlet-bellied, Hooded, Buff-breasted and Grass Green Tanager's and Gorgeted Sunangel.
Return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch we will drive for about 2-1/2 hours to the trailhead leading up to Santa Lucia where the lodge sits at about 7000 ft. in the cloud forest. We will arrive in time to check in, have a hot shower, and dinner by candlelight.
DAY 3
In the morning we will have an early start birding around the lodge, or watch the hummingbird feeders for species such as….. Empress, Fawn-breasted and Green – crowned Brilliant, Booted Racket-tail, Violet-tailed Sylph, Sparkling Violetear and Tawny-bellied Hermit. Ecuador has a total of 130 species of hummingbirds.
After breakfast we will bird along the main trail at a leisurely pace encountering many mixed flocks of birds which will include some of the 50 species of tanagers. You will hear the calls of the Rufous- breasted Antthrush, Giant, Scaled,
Moustached and Yellow – breasted Antpitta. ( seasonal ) and with some luck and with the help of tapes, you will be able to see them. Most probably you will also see the beautiful Toucan Barbet, Golden- headed Quetzal, Golden and Club- winged Manakin.
We will walk to an open area which is good for spotting hawks and eagles like the Barred and Roadside Hawk and the Black- and -Chestnut and Ornate Hawk Eagle.
Return to the lodge for a 1:00 p.m. lunch.
After lunch you may choose to sit and relax in the hammocks, hike the self guided trail or head down to the banana plantation where it is possible to see the family of White – faced Nunbirds in the cecropia trees half way down the trail
DAY 4
Today after an early breakfast we will head down to the Cascade Trail. This is a favorite for many people. The trail descends steeply into thick primary forest with giant trees, bromeliads ,epiphytes and orchids clinging to the trees. Along the way we will pass beautiful waterfalls…….the water cascading to the river below, our final destination. This is also a good place to find the Giant Antpitta, the vunerable Dark- backed Woodquail and it is also home to the Cloud Forest Pygmy Owl.
After passing numerous waterfalls, we reach our destination at the river where there is a crystal clear pool for swimming and time for lunch. Here, it is likely you will spot the rare White- tailed Hillstar or a White- capped Dipper
After lunch we will walk back slowly to the lodge for a shower and a nap if need be.
DAY 5
Today depending on the weather you have a choice…. To visit the fantastic Cock-of-the-Rock lek.
In the summer months June – August when the weather is dry, you can have an early lunch and then hike about 1-1/2 hours for the 2:00 p.m. performance. Or if it is the rainy season you can leave at 4:00 a.m. to be there at dawn for the 6:00 a.m. performance, this is the best. It is well worth the effort and will be the highlight of your trip.
Santa Lucia is proud of this huge lek of 30+ birds, which was discovered about five years ago. Along the way you will encounter a lek of the Club-winged Manakin, a sight to see as the colorful little birds perform a dance along a horizontal branch…..clicking their wings to attract females.
The Cock-of-the-Rock lek is on a high ridge. First, just a couple of birds appear, sounding off their high pitched raucous cry, but soon there are dozens of these bright red Cotingas….all screaming, bobbing and bowing their heads…..dancing on the branches in the nearby trees in front of you. The noise is deafening, but is a sight you will never forget.
At night around the lodge, you will be likely to hear Mottled Owl, Rufescent Screech Owl and maybe the Common Potoo.
DAY 6
Today for those of you who feel energetic and want the chance to see some more of the higher elevation birds we can have an early breakfast at 5:30 a.m. and head for the birding tower which is about a 3 hour hike up the main trail to an elevation of about 8500 ft. It is important to reach the tower before the clouds roll in so from the top of the tower you can get a magnificent view of the surrounding volcano's. Also at this elevation you will have the chance of seeing more raptors such as Great Black Hawk, Black – chested Buzzard Eagle and Crested Eagle. This is also a good place to spot the Plate-billed Mtn.Toucan, Beautiful Jay, Gorgeted Sunangel, Spillman's Tapaculo and with some luck Tawney-breasted Tinamou.
We can eat a boxed lunch here and return to the lodge in the afternoon.
DAY 7
An early start to walk down the main trail to bird at the Maquipucuna Reserve, to see the lower elevation birds. We will have a boxed breakfast to take along.
Maquipucuna is a huge reserve, the Omachaca River runs along the perimeter where you will see torrent tyrannulets and maybe Torrent Ducks. We will spend the morning looking for birds such as ….. Choco Toucan, Rufous-breasted and Blue-crowned Motmot, Masked and Black-crowned Tityra, White-whiskered and Barred Puffbird, White-winged, Swallow and Buff-breasted Tanagers, Yellow Tufted Dacnis, Spotted Nightingale Thrush, Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, One-colored Becard, Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant, Scaly-throated Foliage Gleaner and many many others.
Before and during lunch you can have the chance to watch the hummingbird feeders for species such as…. White-necked Jacobin, Green-crowned Woodnymph and White-whiskered Hermit
After lunch we will head back to Quito, arriving late afternoon.
Note :All luggage will be taken up from the trailhead to the lodge and back via mules.
Price per person including tax …….$750
For more information please email Sally Johnsen at empidonax@netzero.net or phone 520-399-4050 U.S.A.
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