Fun Birding Tours in SE Arizona with Birding Guide Richard Fray » ecuador

Ecuador 16: Gracias y Adios

Richard — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:00:04 +0000

The last full day, and much of it was to be spent travelling. After marvelling at the Turquoise Jays around the patio before light, we took an early breakfast, fed the antpitta again, and hit the road.

We headed back over the Papallacta Pass, and once more we were in luck; the weather was fine. [...]

Ecuador 15: Guango

Richard — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:02:43 +0000

After yesterday’s washout we had to make the most of our remaining morning at Wildsumaco, so we were again out bright and early and heading for a new trail. We’d heard it was quite muddy, so took up the lodge’s kind offer of wellies (rubber boots). Good decision! Another good decision was leaving the still [...]

Ecuador 14: Wildsumaco

Richard — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:28:59 +0000

We had a full day at Wildsumaco, so got out early to make the most of it. We hadn’t gone too far before it started to rain, and that set the tone for the rest of the day. The camera was safely tucked underneath the rain jacket, and the binoculars steamed up, making the huge [...]

Ecuador 13: Hangover

Richard — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:35:06 +0000

The morning after the night before. Wine bottles and cigarette ends everywhere. The disturbing feeling that anything – anything - might make you vomit at any moment. There’s only one cure, when in Ecuador, for these symptoms. And it’s simple – all you need is a big, fat breakfast, a new antpitta (White-bellied – that’s [...]

Ecuador 12: San Isidro

Richard — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:07:51 +0000

We had a full day in the San Isidro area, so the morning was spent birding the Guacamayos Ridge Trail. Another chunk of primo cloud forest, and once again it was hard work. But we scored with a few great birds – Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Greater Scythebill and Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant were all special ones and not at [...]

Ecuador 11: Papallacta Pass

Richard — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:27:06 +0000

A change of scenery was on the cards today as we set off from Quito early and headed towards our next destination, San Isidro. En route we would take in our highest birding of the trip, the paramo habitat of Papallacta Pass. Reaching an elevation of more than 14,000 feet, we would be at the [...]

Ecuador 10: Back to Loja, Quito

Richard — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 06:57:47 +0000

Once more it was time to pack our bags and head off to pastures new. We took the opportunity to get out early and were immediately justified in doing so by getting great views of a splendid Barred Antthrush in the trail at first light, one of the birds of the trip. We added a couple [...]

Ecuador 9: Quebrada Honda

Richard — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:53:42 +0000

A bit like the day after Angel Paz, today was going to have a hard time living up to yesterday. But we were going to give it a good go anyway.

We spent the morning birding the famous Quebrada Honda trail. It was hard work! A Slate-crowned Antpitta was calling and Mr. Schofield led Rob and [...]

Ecuador 8: Jocotoco

Richard — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:25:21 +0000

Mr. Schofield seemed excited this morning – something special must be on the cards…

The reserve at Tapichalaca, like Yanacocha and several other world class birding sites in Ecuador, is managed by the excellent Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco, a relatively new environmental organization. We’d seen the word Jocotoco all over the place, and even stuffed [...]

Ecuador 7: Tapichalaca

Richard — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:09:29 +0000

We left the hotel early, took a taxi to the airport and caught a flight to Loja in southern Ecuador. En route we had superb views of the iconic volcano Cotopaxi as dawn broke above the clouds.

The legendary Mr. Schofield had arranged for a 4×4 pickup to take us for an incredibly uncomfortable (for [...]

Ecuador 6: Yanacocha

Richard — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 06:09:00 +0000

It was time to leave Mindo and progress to the next exciting section of the trip. Today was going to be about travelling, with our first high elevation birding en route. We had an early breakfast, said our goodbyes to the lovely staff at Sachatamia Lodge, and headed back up the Old Mindo Road. [...]

Ecuador 5: Silanche is golden

Richard — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:00:24 +0000

Today couldn’t possibly live up to yesterday, could it?

No. But never mind, it was still good. We left the lodge early and drove to Rio Silanche, another great cloud forest reserve. We started at the tower, where our view of the canopy wasn’t interupted by much bird action, although we did see both Green and [...]

Ecuador 4: Angel Paz

Richard — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:14:43 +0000

Mr. Schofield had promised us great things today. We would meet Angel Paz…

Refugio Paz de las Aves was created by Angel Paz and his brother Wilson Rodrigo. They planned to clear their plot of cloud forest for agriculture but then, somehow, discovered that antpittas loved disemboweled earthworms! Instead they set up the reserve – no mean feat, [...]

Ecuador 3: Cloud Forest

Richard — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:59:39 +0000

Today saw our first “proper” cloud forest birding, and it was impressive. We spent the morning birding around the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve. It was often raining and usually misty – there’s a clue in the name, I guess. But, wow! What a place. The birding was great, with new species everywhere and one of the [...]

Ecuador 2: Quito to Mindo

Richard — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:44:52 +0000

I met the rest of the group – my brother Rob Fray, Micky Maher and our esteemed leader, Richard Schofield – at the airport and we collected our rental car. It was finally time for some birds! It was also my first chance to see Quito in daylight; it’s a very impressive city. We headed out of [...]

Ecuador 1: Tucson to Quito

Richard — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:38:22 +0000

A long, uneventful day of travelling saw me arrive in Quito late at night. I learnt my first lesson the hard way – it’s better to ask how much the taxi will be before you get in!

One more for the continent list

Richard — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:50:13 +0000

Tomorrow morning Melanie will drop me off at Tucson Airport for a flight to Houston, and on to Quito, Ecuador. I’ve never been to South America before so I’m rather excited – my 4th continent! On Monday morning I’ll meet up with my brother Rob Fray, Micky Maher and Richard Schofield, who are flying in [...]