Back in Quito

As of this past weekend my mom and I decided that we had been at San Isidro for long enough, over two weeks, and that it was time to move on elsewhere.  So now we're in Quito again, with blessed internet service, after having spent a night at Guango Lodge on the way up, a really wonderful place.

I would highly recommend both San Isidro and Guango Lodges to anyone who likes nature, and of course, birds. The feeders at Guango usually have 1-2 Sword-billed Hummingbirds at them, along with around 10 other species that can be seen in a matter of 15 minutes or so. 

San Isidro has great trails, great bird diversity, beautiful scenery, and also is centrally located to a lot of good birding places.

Today we made plans to head out to Sani Lodge in the Amazon on Monday, which involves a 45 minute plane ride from Quito to Coca, and then a 3 hour canoe ride down the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon. Basically what that means is from Monday until Friday, when we return, there will be possibilities of up to 500 species, of almost anything you can imagine. The specialties of Sani are Rufous Potoo and Cocha Antshrike, the former incredibly local and hard to pin down, yet they have a reliable day roost for it, and the latter being endemic to Ecuador, and also very rare and local.

In addition to that, they have the standard canopy tower and Hoatzins loafing around the cabins all day, or so I have heard. I cant wait!

Anyways, all this internet has enabled me to put up pictures, which there are far too many for this blog, but the better ones can be seen at: http://picasaweb.google.com/goshawk227/EcuadorNovember152008January152009#.

Also, below I have compiled a list in taxonomic order, thanks to eBird, that lists all the species seen so far on this trip, all 335 of them. Of those, 278 are lifers, so I'm pretty happy.

On a side note, I'm up to 35 species of hummingbird and 33 different tanagers now.

After Sani we're still unsure what we're doing until January 3rd, when my moms friend comes down and joins us for the final two weeks in Mindo. We shall see!

I'm pushing for the southern part of the country, such as Loja, for reasons of bird diversity, but my mom doesnt seem too keen on that. One of the more recent possibilities is a little coastal town of Ayampe, which has good birding, warm weather, and hopefully quaintness, to keep us all happy. It's located near the coastal mountain range, a good river for birding, and an island not far off shore that is sort of a "mini-Galapagos", a place where Waved Albatross breeds, and stuff like that.

In any case, wherever we go and whatever we do, it's a great country to be in. The people are incredibly friendly, the food is cheap, lodges abound, and the birds are wonderful.

Ian

Highland Tinamou
Torrent Duck
Speckled (Andean) Teal
(Andean) Ruddy Duck
Andean Guan
Wattled Guan
Sickle-winged Guan
Silvery Grebe
Neotropic Cormorant
Fasciated Tiger-Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture
Andean Condor
Osprey
Hook-billed Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Semicollared Hawk
Sharp-shinned (Plain-breasted) Hawk
Barred Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-backed (Puna) Hawk
Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle
Black-and-chestnut Eagle
Collared Forest-Falcon
Buckley's Forest-Falcon
Carunculated Caracara
American Kestrel
Orange-breasted Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
Slate-colored (Andean) Coot
Spotted Sandpiper
South American Snipe
Noble Snipe
Andean Gull
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Plumbeous Pigeon
Ruddy Pigeon
Eared Dove
White-throated Quail-Dove
White-eyed Parakeet
Chestnut-fronted Macaw
Military Macaw
Barred Parakeet
Red-billed Parrot
Speckle-faced (White-capped) Parrot
Scaly-naped Parrot
Squirrel Cuckoo
Smooth-billed Ani
White-throated Screech-Owl
Mottled Owl
Rufous-banded Owl
Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
Swallow-tailed Nightjar
Lyre-tailed Nightjar
Andean Potoo
White-chested Swift
Spot-fronted Swift
Chestnut-collared Swift
White-collared Swift
Short-tailed Swift
Gray-rumped Swift
Tawny-bellied Hermit
Gray-chinned Hermit
White-tipped Sicklebill
Green-fronted Lancebill
Napo Sabrewing
Green Violetear
Sparkling Violetear
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Glittering-throated Emerald
Speckled Hummingbird
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Violet-fronted Brilliant
White-tailed Hillstar
Buff-tailed Coronet
Chestnut-breasted Coronet
Shining Sunbeam
Ecuadorian Hillstar
Mountain Velvetbreast
Bronzy Inca
Collared Inca
Buff-winged Starfrontlet
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Tourmaline Sunangel
Greenish Puffleg
Black-tailed Trainbearer
Tyrian Metaltail
Viridian Metaltail
Blue-mantled Thornbill
Mountain Avocetbill
Long-tailed Sylph
Wedge-billed Hummingbird
White-bellied Woodstar
Gorgeted Woodstar
Masked Trogon
Golden-headed Quetzal
Crested Quetzal
Blue-crowned (Highland) Motmot
Coppery-chested Jacamar
Red-headed Barbet
Emerald ( Andean) Toucanet
Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan
Black-billed Mountain-Toucan
Golden-collared Toucanet
White-throated Toucan
Lafresnaye's Piculet
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker
Yellow-vented Woodpecker
Bar-bellied Woodpecker
Smoky-brown Woodpecker
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker
Powerful Woodpecker
Stout-billed Cinclodes
Bar-winged Cinclodes
White-chinned Thistletail
Azara's Spinetail
Dark-breasted Spinetail
Rufous Spinetail
Ash-browed Spinetail
Many-striped Canastero
Spotted Barbtail
Pearled Treerunner
Streaked Tuftedcheek
Montane Foliage-gleaner
Lineated Foliage-gleaner
Black-billed Treehunter
Striped Treehunter
Flammulated Treehunter
Streaked Xenops
Tyrannine Woodcreeper
Strong-billed Woodcreeper
Olive-backed Woodcreeper
Montane Woodcreeper
Lined Antshrike
Bicolored Antvireo
Blackish Antbird
White-backed Fire-eye
Long-tailed Antbird
Plain-backed Antpitta
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
Chestnut-naped Antpitta
White-bellied Antpitta
Tawny Antpitta
Slate-crowned Antpitta
Ash-colored Tapaculo
Blackish Tapaculo
Long-tailed Tapaculo
Spillmann's Tapaculo
Paramo Tapaculo
Ocellated Tapaculo
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
White-tailed Tyrannulet
White-banded Tyrannulet
Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet
Tufted Tit-Tyrant
White-crested Elaenia
Torrent Tyrannulet
Streak-necked Flycatcher
Slaty-capped Flycatcher
Rufous-breasted Flycatcher
Variegated Bristle-Tyrant
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant
Ecuadorian Tyrannulet
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet
Golden-faced Tyrannulet
Ornate Flycatcher
Bronze-olive Pygmy-Tyrant
Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant
Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher
Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Fulvous-breasted Flatbill
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Cliff Flycatcher
Flavescent Flycatcher
Handsome Flycatcher
Olive-chested Flycatcher
Smoke-colored Pewee
Western Wood-Pewee
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Black Phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher
Smoky Bush-Tyrant
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant
Long-tailed Tyrant
Pale-edged Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Lemon-browed Flycatcher
Golden-crowned Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Dusky Piha
Barred Becard
Masked Tityra
Red-crested Cotinga
Green-and-black Fruiteater
Black-chested Fruiteater
Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater
Andean Cock-of-the-rock
Plum-throated Cotinga
Olivaceous Piha
Green Manakin
Brown-capped Vireo
Olivaceous Greenlet
Black-billed Peppershrike
Green (Inca) Jay
Violaceous Jay
Turquoise Jay
Blue-and-white Swallow
Brown-bellied Swallow
White-thighed Swallow
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Black-capped Donacobius
Thrush-like Wren
Rufous Wren
Sharpe's (Sepia-brown) Wren
Plain-tailed Wren
Coraya Wren
House Wren
Mountain Wren
Sedge (Grass) Wren
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
Wing-banded Wren
Chestnut-breasted Wren
White-capped Dipper
Andean Solitaire
Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Pale-eyed Thrush
Black-billed Thrush
Chestnut-bellied Thrush
Great Thrush
Glossy-black Thrush
Tropical Mockingbird
Tropical Parula
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Canada Warbler
Slate-throated Redstart
Spectacled Redstart
Black-crested Warbler
Russet-crowned Warbler
Three-striped Warbler
Bananaquit
Magpie Tanager
Rufous-crested Tanager
Black-capped Hemispingus
Oleaginous Hemispingus
Black-eared Hemispingus
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager
Cinereous Conebill
Blue-backed Conebill
Capped Conebill
Giant Conebill
Plushcap
Black-backed Bush-Tanager
Common Bush-Tanager
Short-billed (Yellow-whiskered) Bush-Tanager
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager
White-lined Tanager
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Silver-beaked Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Palm Tanager
Hooded Mountain-Tanager
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager
Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager
Grass-green Tanager
Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager
Yellow-throated Tanager
Orange-eared Tanager
Golden-naped Tanager
Black-capped Tanager
Blue-necked Tanager
Spotted Tanager
Blue-and-black Tanager
Beryl-spangled Tanager
Blue-browed Tanager
Paradise Tanager
Bay-headed Tanager
Golden-eared Tanager
Saffron-crowned Tanager
Flame-faced Tanager
Golden Tanager
Black-faced Dacnis
Golden-collared Honeycreeper
Swallow Tanager
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch
Caqueta Seedeater
Black-and-white Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied (Lesser) Seed-Finch
Band-tailed Seedeater
Plain-colored Seedeater
Glossy Flowerpiercer
Black Flowerpiercer
White-sided Flowerpiercer
Deep-blue (Golden-eyed) Flowerpiercer
Bluish Flowerpiercer
Masked Flowerpiercer
Pale-naped Brush-Finch
Slaty Brush-Finch
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Grayish Saltator
Golden-bellied (Southern Yellow) Grosbeak
(Northern) Mountain Cacique
Scarlet-rumped (Subtropical) Cacique
Russet-backed Oropendola
Crested Oropendola
Thick-billed Euphonia
Golden-rumped Euphonia
Golden-bellied Euphonia
Bronze-green Euphonia
Orange-bellied Euphonia
Blue-naped Chlorophonia
Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia
Hooded Siskin
Olivaceous Siskin

335 species as of yet