What’s your favourite chicken species?
I really like hummingbirds specifically due to their colours, however my favourite chicken is the Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan as a result of I’ve seen this chicken many occasions within the city the place I used to be born.
What’s your title, and the place do you reside?
My title is Luis Panamá Perugachi, I dwell in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
What are the principle areas or areas you cowl as a chicken information?
I cowl all of Ecuador – the coast, the highlands or Andes, and the Amazon Rainforest.
How lengthy have you ever been a chicken information?
I’ve been a information for about 10 years.
How did you get into chicken guiding?
I began watching birds at my first job after I completed highschool. The job was at an Ecolodge, the place I began studying about birds and crops. This reserve is situated within the western cloud forest of Ecuador. Afterward, I moved to Quito to get my diploma as a Tour Information and to study English.
What are the points of being a chicken information that you simply like greatest?
Being a information has helped me to study and perceive nature higher, and has given me the chance to assist defend among the most biodiverse Ecosystems on the earth. I actually take pleasure in educating folks about crops, timber, birds, and the significance for our well being. I additionally take pleasure in being outside and taking photos of all creatures within the wild, to share with folks from all around the world.
Which points do you dislike most?
I dislike seeing farming growth and habitat loss, the dearth of group to create efficient guidelines to guard nature. Additionally, I dislike seeing how air pollution is affecting rivers and fragile ecosystems, particularly from huge corporations, the place factories can’t be managed to lower the impacts on nature.
What are the highest 5-10 birds in your area that you simply assume are probably the most fascinating for visiting birders?
Andean Condor
Ecuadorian Hillstar
Toucan Barbet
White-faced Nunbird
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Hoatzin
Velvet-purple Coronet
Andean Bear
Spangled Coquette
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Scarlet Macaw
Are you able to define no less than one typical birdwatching journey in your space? Please briefly describe the areas, the important thing birds, and the approximate length of such a visit
All journeys begin in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and all flights arrive right here. I can set up journeys starting from 1 day to 25 days. Under is a top level view of an 8-day, 8-night birding journey of the excessive Andes and the Choco area of Ecuador.
The Ecuadorian Choco bioregion is house to a surprising number of wildlife and crops, lots of which might solely be discovered throughout the Northwest birding path. This encompasses all kinds of habitats, from the temperate forests of Yanacocha to the lowlands of the Rio Silanche Hen Sanctuary, and the cloud forests of Mindo Tandayapa.
Day 1: Our journey begins in Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
Your information will meet you on the airport, and, after a brief introduction, you’ll be transferred to the “Casa del Viajero” in Pifo for dinner and in a single day, this lovely lodge is situated fifteen minutes away from the airport.
Day 2: We’re off to an early begin to benefit from our wildlife viewing expertise, departing at 5:00 AM to Zuro Loma, a brand new reserve within the Excessive Andean and elfin forest, arriving at Zuro Loma round 7:30 am for a scrumptious native breakfast and low.
Zuro Loma is a birder’s paradise, the place we are able to see an in depth number of species; the Equatorial, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, and Barred Fruiteater await us, and you might also see the magnificent Ocellated Tapaculo.
Quite a few hummingbird feeders in regards to the reserve appeal to Sword-billed Hummingbirds, Tyrian Metaltail, Sapphire and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, Black-tailed Trainbearer, and Mountain Velvetbreast, the gorgeous Crimson-crested Cotinga, and the Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager present up round at shut distance.
After just a few hours of birding, we’ll journey for half-hour as much as Yanacocha, situated on the west slopes of Pichincha. That is one in every of many reserves run by Jocotoco Basis to guard critically endangered species just like the Black-breasted Puffleg. Right here, we’ll take a simple nature stroll by the reserve. Yanacocha, situated on the slopes of Pichincha, gives combined flocks with Pearled Treerunners, Hooded and Black-chested, mountain-tanagers, Spectacled Redstart, Supercilaried Hemispingus, Bar-bellied Woodpeckers, White-throated Tyrannulets, Blue-backed Conebill, and Andean Pygmy Owls. The feeding stations additionally appeal to a number of avian guests, just like the Nice Sapphirewing and Shining Sunbeam. We are going to take pleasure in lunch at Yanacocha with its views of the beautiful panorama. After lunch, we’ll proceed to the cloud forest, touring alongside a really well-known eco route, Paseo del Quinde. Alongside the route, we’ll make stops to search for the Plain-tailed Wren, Black-crested Warbler, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Andean Guan, and White-capped Dipper.
Dinner and in a single day at Bellavista Lodge
Day 3: At 6:00 AM, we proceed our birding journey at Bellavista Lodge on among the simpler strolling trails, in search of Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Capped Conebill, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Masked Flowerpiercer, and Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, adopted by breakfast on the lodge.
We proceed exploring the gorgeous and magical cloud forest of Bellavista, interspersed with brief journeys by automotive to some marvelous viewpoints. Now we can be in search of White-throated Quail-Dove, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Gorgeted Sunangel, Collared Inca, Grass-green Tanager, Toucan Barbet, White-faced Nunbird, and Plushcap.
After lunching on the lodge, we proceed to both the Tandayapa Valley or the higher San Luis space to hunt out the Tanager Finch, an emblematic chicken of the cloud forest, Sturdy-billed Woodcreepers, White-winged and Tricolored Brushfinch, Grey-breasted Wooden-Wrens, Slate-throated Redstart, Golden-naped Tanager, and maybe the distinctive Crested Quetzal. Later within the afternoon, we may also attempt to spot Swallow-tailed Nightjars alongside the highway.
We spherical out the day with dinner and in a single day lodging on the Sachatamia Lodge.
Day 4: Refugio Paz de las Aves “.
One other full day of birding begins with a 5:30 AM begin as we journey to the Antpitta sanctuary. Six totally different species are registered within the reserve, together with the magnificent Andean Cock-of-the-rock, who will regale us with an intriguing courtship show. Afterward, we’ll take some brief walks with Angel and Rodrigo, the house owners of the reserve. They’ve pioneered a novel hand-feeding method that has revolutionized birding and are vital figures within the South American birding neighborhood. Some key birds at this refuge are Darkish-backed Wooden-Quail, Chestnut-crowned, Yellow-breasted, Big, Mustached, and Ocher-breasted Antpittas, this refuge can also be a major spot to search for the Olivaceous Piha.
After a few hours of birding, we can be served a scrumptious native breakfast of inexperienced plantain bolones, empanadas, and the very best espresso, a to not be missed expertise in Ecuadorian delicacies! The restaurant additionally has quite a lot of hummer feeders that appeal to Empress Good, Velvet-purple Coronet, Brown Inca, White-throated Daggerbill, and the distinctive Booted-racket Tail, including to the restaurant’s pure ambiance. Close by banana feeding stations appeal to Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Flame-faced and Golden-naped Tanager, and lots of different jewels from the Neotropics.
After breakfast, we’ll spend the remainder of the morning checking the paths once more to catch any species that we’ve not but seen. We then drive to the close by Alambi Hummingbird Paradise for lunch.
Alambi is house to 10 to twenty totally different hummingbird species and colourful tanagers. Frequent guests are Western Emeralds, White-whiskered Hermits, Purple-throated Woodstarts, Topped Woodnymph. The close by Alambi River can also be an excellent place to search for White-caped Dipper, Torrent Tyrannulets, and the enigmatic Torrent Duck.
We then journey to the Sachatamia Lodge for dinner and our in a single day keep.
Day 5: The weird Umbrella Hen and Milpe Sanctuary. We depart from Sachatamia at 5:00 AM to the foothills of the Andes, the place the “23 de Junio” Reserve is situated. That is undoubtedly the very best place to seek for the distinctive and weird Lengthy-wattled Umbrellabird and witness the males of their daybreak courtship show on the highest of the hill. Even within the daybreak gentle, it is possible for you to to see a number of males singing and pumping up their weird wattles. We may also search for Black-chinned Mountain Tanagers, Cloud-forest Pygmy-owl, and Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, and, with luck, we may even see Ornate-hawk Eagles perched close by.
After watching some lifers, we return to the automotive and journey to the Milpe Hen Sanctuary, a part of Mindo Cloud Forest Basis, which promotes forest restoration and conservation.
As we break for lunch at Milpe, we can be once more surrounded by hummingbirds, similar to Inexperienced Thorntails, White-whiskered Hermit, and Inexperienced-crowned Brilliants. After lunch, we’ll proceed birding alongside brief and simple trails, in search of Choco Toucans, Lineated Woodpeckers, Collared Trogons, White-bearded Manakin, White-whiskered Puffbird, Purple-crowned Fairy, Bicolored Antbird, Slaty Antwren, Esmeraldas Antbird, Pallid Dove, Noticed Nightingale-Thrush, and Rufous-fronted Woodquail. We proceed exploring this lovely ecosystem in search of the elusive Membership-winged Manakin, utilizing its raucous and distinct mating sounds to find them. Males produce astonishingly loud beeps by vibrating their feathers at extremely excessive speeds, which assist to find their show spot within the dense forest understory.
Relying on climate situations, we’ll then discover the highway outdoors Milpe, simply earlier than nightfall, hopefully seeing combined flocks of Plain Xenops, Cinnamon Becard, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Buff-fronted and Scaly-breasted Foliage-gleaner, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Golden-bellied Warbler, Noticed Barbtail, Russet Antshrike, Olivaceous Piculet, and Gray-and-gold Tanagers, Lastly, earlier than dinner, we’ll try to identify each Crested Black-and-white Owls close to the parking website.
In a single day and dinner at Sachatamia Lodge.
Day 6: We depart from Sachatamia Lodge at 5:00 AM to Rio Silanche and Rancho Suamox, this time to discover the Chocó-lowland Rainforest of the Western Andes Foothills. Right here is one other good spot to seek for different Choco specialties from our viewing area atop a cover tower, in search of Moustached/Griscom’s Antwren, Stub-tailed Antbird, Black-tipped Cotinga, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Blue-tailed Trogons, Dusky Pigeon, Orange-fronted Barbets Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Grey-and-gold Tanagers, Choco Tyrannulet, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Barred Puffbird, and Choco Toucans.
After having fun with a packed lunch, we transfer to the following birding spot in Rancho Suamox. Rancho Suamox is the best location to search for the elusive Brown Wooden-rail, a brand new customer to the world. As well as, the feeders right here appeal to Dusky-face Tanagers, Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, Silver-throated Tanagers, and Purple-chested Hummingbird.
In a single day and dinner at Sachatamia Lodge.
Day 7: We depart from Sachatamia Lodge at 5:00 AM to Mashpi Amagusa Reserve and Oildbird Cave in the direction of Quito.
We are going to test a moth-trap feeder close to Amagusa entrance, specializing in recognizing Black Solitaires, Broad-billed Motmots, Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrants, and hopefully the Rufous-brown Solitaire.
Breakfast can be in Amgusa, adopted by a brief stroll alongside a secondary highway in search of Buffy Tuftedcheeks, Orange-breasted Fruiteaters, White-throated Daggerbills, Rufous-rumped Antwren, Indigo Flowerpiercer, and Uniform Treehunter, We then transfer to the feeding stations in Amagusa, an unbelievable space for images. Many diversified tanagers may be seen, amongst them being Glistening-green, Moss-backed, Rufous-throated, and Black-chinned Mountain-Tanagers.
There are additionally nice alternatives to {photograph} the Violet-tailed Sylph, Empress Good, and Velvet-purple coronet jewels of the Chocó bioregion.
We stay at Amagusa for lunch; whereas we take pleasure in our meal, hopefully, the beautiful Rose-faced Parrot might present up by the banana timber close by. After lunch, we drive to the city El Chontal to see the weird and nocturnal Oilbird, a protracted drive, however well worth the journey. The roosting caves at El Chontal permit us to see greater than a dozen people on the rocky partitions.
Time allowing, we might cease by one other small reserve to attempt to encounter extra species on our option to the lodge.
Dinner and in a single day at “Resort Casa del Viajero” in Pifo.
Day 8: Antisana Nationwide Park and Tambo Condor.
Leaving from Resort Casa del Viajero at 5:30 AM, we’ll journey to Antisana, house of the most important inhabitants of Andean Condors, the emblematic chicken of Ecuador. We are going to drive in the direction of the western highland plains and paramo ecosystems, checking the Condor’s roosting and nesting cliffs. A lot of the birding can be by automotive, driving slowly alongside gorgeous landscapes and majestic volcanoes, viewing Andean Ibis, Carunculated Caracaras, Paramo Pipits, and Chestnut-winged Cinclodes. As well as, this reserve is the best place to seek for the Ecuadorian Hillstar, a hummingbird endemic to Ecuador.
Relying on climate situations, we can also take a brief stroll to la Mica Lake to see Silvery Grebes, Andean Geese, Andean Gulls, Plain-capped Floor Tyrants, Many-striped Canasteros, and Andean Tit-Spinetail. Afterward, we’ll search for Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles, Variable Hawk, and Andean Lapwings.
Lunch can be at Tambo Condor, which serves excellent native Andean meals, similar to Locro de papas, trout, choclo, mellocos, habas con queso.
After lunch, we’ll test the restaurant hummer feeders, hoping to get pictures of the Big Hummingbird, together with Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, Eared Dove, and Black Flowerpiercer. We may also have one other alternative to view Condors, because the proprietor of Tambo Condor normally is aware of the place they’re perched on the cliffs in entrance of the restaurant.
Late afternoon, we’ll drive again to both your lodge to proceed your keep in Quito or on to the airport to your subsequent vacation spot, the Amazon Rainforest.
What different strategies are you able to give to birders fascinated by your space?
Ecuador has no seasons, so birding is nice all 12 months round, keep away from April may be very moist and September may be very sunny dry. All the time deliver a digital camera as gorgeous birds are round at a really shut distance Convey mosquito repellent, sunscreen, comfy strolling sneakers, a hat, and a cap.
If is your first time in South America, take the Western basic route. Everybody loves this route.
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is fascinated by birding with you, how can they greatest contact you?
I may be reached through WhatsApp at +593 997 892 484. It’s also possible to go to my web site at https://www.naturequestecuador.com