 |
Chocó Andean Route -Trip Report
From: 13th July 2009. To: 18th July 2009.
Weather: Sunny (the summer in Ecuador it is not a very dry season), cloudy in the afternoons and sporadic light-rain.
Accommodation and Ecosystems: Based at Allpalluta Lodge-Reserve for whole trip, we visited a variety of elevations, ranging from de high temperate cloud-forest of Yanacocha Reserve through the subtropical and foothill forests in the EcoRoute (Tandayapa Valley), Milpe and Mangaloma Reserve in the lowland tropical forest of the Northwest Ecuador.
Tour Summary
July 13th. - We started the tour at the Yanacocha Reserve on the western slope of Ruku-Pichincha Volcano at 3500 masl. The dry season in Ecuador is very windy and it is the time with less activity of birds. In the Inca Trail we found some beautiful birds; we had the company of the Yellow-breasted (Rufous-naped) and Stripe-headed Brush-Finches, tanagers such as: Black-chested and Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Sepia-brown or Sharpe’s Wren, Blackish Tapaculo, Spectacled Redstart and White-throated Tyrannulet, one of the most beautiful hummers the Sword-billed Hummingbirds (a couple), Great Saphirewing, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Shining Sunbeam, a female of Ecuadorian Hillstar, Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, when we were returning we had close view of a juvenile of Carunculated Caracara (Endemic of the Central Andean Páramos). On the drive through the EcoRoute we had a great look at the Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager and Blue-and-black Tanager, Roadside Hawk. We arrived at Allpalluta Lodge-Reserve and after a good meal we took a walk to find around the feeders a: Gorgeted Sunangel (Chocó Endemic), Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, Buff-tailed Coronet, Green Violetear, we also saw a White-sided Flower piercer (in this season in the afternoons this area can get very foggy) and we heard Azara´s Spinetail and a group of Speckle-faced Parrots flying in the middle of the clouds.
July 14th. - This day we set off early in the morning directly to Gallos de la Peña Reserve, after a short walk we saw an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock show, after getting a good look of the lek, we took a walk around the lek and heard a Nariño Tapaculo (Chocó Endemic), in the trail after some callings (Manuel’s vocalizations) we got a perfect view of the rare black morph of Collared Forest-Falcon, this rare raptor is a habitant of the understory of the forest and is the biggest Forest-Falcon. We also picked up more Chocó Endemics such as: Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager and Velvet-purple Coronet. Also Golden Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, the Long-tailed Antbird, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Golden-crowned Flycatcher. A group of Red-billed Parrots and Mealy Parrots were flying very close.
After lunch we took a walk by the EcoRoute and saw some more Chocó Endemics such as: Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet also Turquoise Jay, Grass-green Tanagers.
Buff-tailed Coronet
Toucan Barbet
July 15th.- This day we payed a visit to Mangaloma Reserve in the Lowlands, when we arrived it was very foggy but in a short time this changed to a really sunny day (the sunny days are difficult for birding), but we had the chance to pick-up more birds such as: Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, White-tailed Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Cacique (It is not recognized has a specie by SACC), Broad-billed Motmot, Ornate Flycatcher, a quickly view of Orange-fronted Barbet (Chocó Endemic), Olivaceous Piculet, a Golden-olive Woodpecker was spotted by Anne, in the same dry tree we founds a couple of Guayaquil Woodpeckers. In this forest we were not able to get a view of our two most important targets the Long-wattled Umbrellabird and Banded-ground Cuckoo, but we enjoyed the few birds in this sunny day: White-whiskered and Barred Puffbird, Buff-throated and Black-winged Saltators, Boat-billed, Rusty-margined, Dusky-capped Flycatchers, Yellow Tyrannulet, Gray-rumped Swifts, Pacific Hornero, Band-backed Wren, Bronze-winged Parrots, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Blue-black Grassquit, Variable and Yellow-bellied Seedeaters, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Blue-necked, Blue-gray, Palm and Lemon-rumped Tanagers, Cinnamon Becard, Squirrel Cuckoo, a group of Swallow-tailed Kites.
Broad-billed Motmot
Long-billed Starthroat
July 16th. - Early in the morning when while we were travelling in the car we saw flying a Rufous-bellied Night-Hawk and a group of Sickle-winged Guans. This day we visited Milpe Reserve, the Chestnut-mandible Toucan welcomed us, we could see the Club-winged Manakin displaying itself, and got a quick view of the Golden-winged Manakin, Collared Araçari (the race erythropigyus) also some furnariids such as: Wedge-billed, Spotted, Plain-brown Woodcreepers, a nestling of Rufous-breasted Antthrush, the Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner, a Barred Hawk soaring, the female of a Immaculate Antbird, Slate-throated Redstart, in the feeders the Green-crowned Woodnymph and Purple-bibbed Whitetip.
Barred Puffbird
White-whiskered Puffbird
For lunch we visited the Mirador del Río Blanco Restaurant and Hostel, to have a meal and get beautiful and close up views of: Golden, Silver-throated, Palm, Blue-gray and Lemon-rumped Tanagers, also a Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Black-cheeked Woodpecker and in the hummer feeders: Green Thorntail, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Long-billed Starthroat, Andean Emerald, Green-crowned Brilliant, a flashy view of the Chocó Endemic the White-whiskered Hermit, Thick-billed and Orange-bellied Euphonias. Some “lifers” such as: Great and Cattle Egrets.
In the afternoon we went through Milpe Road and found the Chocó endemic sub-specie (pacifica) the Maroon-tailed Parakeets. After, on the road in Mindo we found the Golden-headed Quetzal, Guira Tanager, Masked Tityra, Bananaquit, we heard the Spotted Nightingale Thrush and Bay Wren, also a Rufous Motmot, in the road returning to Allpalluta we had the chance to view a single Speckle-faced Parrot.
.jpg)
Ornate Flycatcher
July 17th.- This day we took a walk in the main trail of Allpalluta Reserve, this path offers good views of the canopy in the Cloud Forest also good birds such as: the beautiful Crested Quetzal, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Flavescent Flycatcher, Russet-crowned Warbler, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Masked Flower piercer, Band-tailed Pigeon, Chocó Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Hook-billed Kite, Great Thrush, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager. In the afternoon we had a look at the feeders to find some hummers such as: Green Violetear, Speckle Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Gorgeted Sunangel, quick views of Collared Inca. Also in the fruit-feeder in Allpalluta we found the Black-striped Sparrow almost 1000 masl higher than the range indicated in the Ridgely and Greenfield Field guide of Ecuador (2001).
Black-striped Sparrow
Crested Quetzal
In the afternoon it rained so we went to visit the famous hummer feeders in Tonny’s house, on the road we had good views of a White-rumped Hawk, in this place we found: Purple-throated and White-bellied Woodstars, Sparkling Violetear, Booted Racket-tail amongst others. In the “rice-feeder” the Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch and White-tipped Dove. In the tower we finally got good views of the Gray-breasted Wood-Wren. Later we went to try in Chusqueas to findthe Ocellated Tapaculo, unfortunately we could not see it and like the other days just heard it vocalizing.
Booted Racket-Tail
July 18th. - The last day we went to see the famous Antpittas in the Paz de las Aves Reserve. Angel Paz (the Antpitta whisperer) has some names for them, before Angel was able to call these Antpittas these birds were very hard to see but this day we got good views of: Giant Antpitta (María and Cariño), Yellow-breasted Antpitta (Willy, Chocó Endemic), Ochre-breasted Antpitta (Shakira), Rufous-breasted Anthrush (No Name), we could also hear vocalizing the Dark-backed Wood-Quail, other birds that we found were: Olivaceous Piha, Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl (Chocó Endemic), other beautiful Chocó Endemic a male, the Orange-breasted Fruiteater. In the fruit-feeders we found: Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager (Chocó Endemic), Sickle-winged Guans and close to us a very active group of Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. Also saw incredible flocks with: Beryl-spangled, Blue-capped, Golden-naped, Golden Tanagers, Capped Conebill, Black-and-white Becard.
Sickle-winged Guan
Yellow-breasted Antpitta
After this wonderful morning we returned to Allpalluta to have lunch, after lunch we drove to Quito in the road close to the middle of the world where we saw an American Kestrel and a Variable Hawk (light morph). Once in Quito our last one was the Eared Dove.
Photos: all the pictures were taken by Manuel Sánchez in this Chocó-Andean Trip.
Group:
Ann Swartz
Harold Swartz
Manuel Sánchez (guide).
BIRD LIST
A total of 198 species were seen in this trip, the species that were heard but not seen are marked with an “H”. There were species seen only by the leader, these are marked with an “L”.
Chocó Endemics are marked in BOLD RED. Central Andean Páramos endemics are marked in BOLD BLUE. Northern Central Andes endemic are marked in BOLD GREEN.
Endangered Birds according with the IUCN Red List (Global): NT: Near Threatened, VU: Vulnerable.
The Taxonomy and nomenclature of this list follows the SACC (South American Classification Committee).
NOTES Family Genus Species & Subspecies English Name CRACIDAE Chamaepetes goudotii Sickle-winged Guan ODONTOPHORIDAE Odontophorus melanonotus Dark-backed Wood-Quail VU/H ARDEIDAE Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret Ardea alba Great Egret CATHARTIDAE Cathartes aura Turkey Vulture Coragyps atratus Black Vulture ACCIPITRIDAE Chondrohierax uncinatus Hook-billed Kite Elanoides forficatus Swallow-tailed Kite Accipiter striatus ventralis Plain-breasted Hawk L Leucopternis princeps Barred Hawk Buteo magnirostris Roadside Hawk Buteo leucorrhous White-rumped Hawk Buteo polyosoma Variable Hawk FALCONIDAE Herpetotheres cachinnans Laughing Falcon H Micrastur semitorquatus Collared Forest-Falcon Phalcoboenus carunculatus Carunculated Caracara Falco sparverius American Kestrel COLUMBIDAE Patagioenas fasciata Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas subvinacea Ruddy Pigeon Zenaida auriculata Eared Dove Leptotila verreauxi White-tipped Dove PSITTACIDAE Pyrrhura melanura pacifica Maroon-tailed (Chocó) Parakeet Pionus sordidus Red-billed Parrot Pionus tumultuosus seniloides Speckle-faced Parrot Pionus chalcopterus Bronze-winged Parrot Amazona farinosa Mealy Parrot CUCULIDAE Piaya cayana Squirrel Cuckoo Crotophaga ani Smooth-billed Ani STRIGIDAE Glaucidium nubicola Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl VU CAPRIMULGIDAE Lurocalis rufiventris Rufous-bellied Nighthawk APODIDAE Streptoprocne zonaris White-collared Swift Chaetura cinereiventris Gray-rumped Swift TROCHILIDAE Phaethornis yaruqui White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus Tawny-bellied Hermit L Colibri thalassinus Green Violetear Colibri coruscans Sparkling Violetear Heliangelus strophianus Gorgeted Sunangel Discosura conversii Green Thorntail Adelomyia melanogenys Speckled Hummingbird Oreotrochilus chimborazo Ecuadorian Hillstar Metallura tyrianthina Tyrian Metaltail Eriocnemis luciani Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis mosquera Golden-breasted Puffleg Aglaeactis cupripennis Shining Sunbeam Coeligena torquata Collared Inca Coeligena lutetiae Buff-winged Starfrontlet Ensifera ensifera Sword-billed Hummingbird Pterophanes cyanopterus Great Sapphirewing Boissonneaua flavescens Buff-tailed Coronet Boissonneaua jardini Velvet-purple Coronet Ocreatus underwoodii Booted Racket-tail Urosticte benjamini Purple-bibbed Whitetip Heliodoxa rubinoides Fawn-breasted Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa imperatrix Empress Brilliant Heliomaster longirostris Long-billed Starthroat Chaetocercus mulsant White-bellied Woodstar Calliphlox mitchellii Purple-throated Woodstar Thalurania fannyi Green-crowned Woodnymph Amazilia tzacatl Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia franciae Andean Emerald TROGONIDAE Pharomachrus auriceps Golden-headed Quetzal Pharomachrus antisianus Crested Quetzal Trogon chionurus White-tailed Trogon Trogon personatus Masked Trogon MOMOTIDAE Electron platyrhynchum Broad-billed Motmot Baryphthengus martii Rufous Motmot GALBULIDAE Galbula ruficauda Rufous-tailed Jacamar H BUCCONIDAE Nystalus radiatus Barred Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis White-whiskered Puffbird CAPITONIDAE Capito squamatus Orange-fronted Barbet NT SEMNORNITHIDAE Semnornis ramphastinus Toucan Barbet NT RAMPHASTIDAE Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii Chestnut-mandibled Toucan Ramphastos brevis Chocó Toucan Aulacorhynchus haematopygus Crimson-rumped Toucanet Andigena laminirostris Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan NT Pteroglossus torquatus Collared Aracari PICIDAE Picumnus olivaceus Olivaceous Piculet Melanerpes pucherani Black-cheeked Woodpecker Colaptes rubiginosus Golden-olive Woodpecker Campephilus pollens Powerful Woodpecker H Campephilus gayaquilensis Guayaquil Woodpecker NT FURNARIIDAE Furnarius leucopus cinnamomeus Pacific Hornero Synallaxis azarae Azara's Spinetail H Synallaxis brachyura Slaty Spinetail H Cranioleuca erythrops Red-faced Spinetail Anabacerthia variegaticeps Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Philydor rufum Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner Xenops minutus Plain Xenops Xenops rutilans Streaked Xenops Dendrocincla fuliginosa Plain-brown Woodcreeper Glyphorynchus spirurus Wedge-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius Spotted Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes souleyetii Streak-headed Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes lacrymiger Montane Woodcreeper THAMNOPHILIDAE Dysithamnus mentalis Plain Antvireo H Myrmotherula schisticolor Slaty Antwren Drymophila caudata Long-tailed Antbird Myrmeciza immaculata Immaculate Antbird FORMICARIIDAE Formicarius rufipectus Rufous-breasted Antthrush GRALLARIIDAE Grallaria gigantea Giant Antpitta NT Grallaria ruficapilla Chestnut-crowned Antpitta H Grallaria flavotincta Yellow-breasted Antpitta Grallaricula flavirostris Ochre-breasted Antpitta RHYNOCRYPTIDAE Scytalopus latrans Blackish Tapaculo H Scytalopus vicinior Nariño Tapaculo H Scytalopus spillmanni Spillmann's Tapaculo H Acropternis orthonyx Ocellated Tapaculo H TYRANNIDAE Camptostoma obsoletum Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet Mecocerculus leucophrys White-throated Tyrannulet Capsiempis flaveola Yellow Tyrannulet Zimmerius chrysops Golden-faced Tyrannulet Phylloscartes ophthalmicus Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant Myiotriccus ornatus Ornate Flycatcher Lophotriccus pileatus Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant Myiophobus flavicans Flavescent Flycatcher Myiobius barbatus Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher Contopus fumigatus Smoke-colored Pewee Sayornis nigricans Black Phoebe Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Myiozetetes cayanensis Rusty-margined Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus Golden-crowned Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua Boat-billed Flycatcher Tyrannus melancholicus Tropical Kingbird Myiarchus tuberculifer Dusky-capped Flycatcher COTINGIDAE Pipreola jucunda Orange-breasted Fruiteater Rupicola peruvianus Andean Cock-of-the-rock Snowornis cryptolophus Olivaceous Piha Querula purpurata Purple-throated Fruitcrow PIPRIDAE Masius chrysopterus Golden-winged Manakin Machaeropterus deliciosus Club-winged Manakin Manacus manacus White-bearded Manakin TITYRIDAE Tityra semifasciata Masked Tityra Pachyramphus cinnamomeus Cinnamon Becard Pachyramphus albogriseus Black-and-white Becard VIREONIDAE Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo CORVIDAE Cyanolyca turcosa Turquoise Jay HIRUNDINIDAE Pygochelidon cyanoleuca Blue-and-white Swallow Orochelidon murina Brown-bellied Swallow Atticora tibialis White-thighed Swallow TROGLODYTIDAE Microcerculus marginatus Scaly-breasted Wren H Troglodytes aedon House Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus Band-backed Wren Thryothorus nigricapillus Bay Wren H Cinnycerthia olivascens Sharpe's Wren Henicorhina leucophrys Gray-breasted Wood-Wren TURDIDAE Myadestes ralloides Andean Solitaire H Catharus dryas Spotted Nightingale-Thrush H Turdus fuscater Great Thrush THRAUPIDAE Ramphocelus flammigerus icteronotus Lemon-rumped Tanager Thraupis episcopus Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis palmarum Palm Tanager Thraupis cyanocephala Blue-capped Tanager Buthraupis montana Hooded Mountain-Tanager Buthraupis eximia Black-chested Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus igniventris Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus somptuosus Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager Anisognathus notabilis Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager Chlorornis riefferii Grass-green Tanager Tangara cyanicollis Blue-necked Tanager Tangara vassorii Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara nigroviridis Beryl-spangled Tanager Tangara gyrola Bay-headed Tanager Tangara parzudakii Flame-faced Tanager Tangara arthus Golden Tanager Tangara icterocephala Silver-throated Tanager Cyanerpes caeruleus Purple Honeycreeper Hemithraupis guira Guira Tanager Conirostrum albifrons Capped Conebill Diglossa lafresnayii Glossy Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa cyanea Masked Flowerpiercer INCERTAE SEDIS Chlorospingus semifuscus Dusky Bush-Tanager Mitrospingus cassinii Dusky-faced Tanager H Coereba flaveola Bananaquit Saltator maximus Buff-throated Saltator Saltator atripennis Black-winged Saltator EMBERIZIDAE Zonotrichia capensis Rufous-collared Sparrow Volatinia jacarina Blue-black Grassquit Sporophila corvina Variable Seedeater Sporophila nigricollis Yellow-bellied Seedeater Oryzoborus angolensis Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch L Arremonops conirostris Black-striped Sparrow Arremon brunneinucha Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Arremon torquatus Stripe-headed Brush-Finch Atlapetes latinuchus Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch PARULIDAE Parula pitiayumi Tropical Parula Myioborus miniatus Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus melanocephalus Spectacled Redstart Basileuterus chrysogaster chlorophrys Chocó Warbler Basileuterus nigrocristatus Black-crested Warbler Basileuterus coronatus Russet-crowned Warbler Phaeothlypis fulvicauda Buff-rumped Warbler L ICTERIDAE Cacicus uropygialis microrhynchus Scarlet-rumped Cacique Dives warszewiczi Scrub Blackbird FRINGILLIDAE Euphonia laniirostris Thick-billed Euphonia Euphonia xanthogaster Orange-bellied Euphonia
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
