2011 Ecuador Andes Bird Photo Tour

TOUR OVERVIEW

Ecuador is one of the truly spectacular places on Earth to see and photograph birds. This very safe country is about the size of Michigan but hosts twice as many bird species as all of North America excluding Mexico. During our week-long photo tour to both slopes of the Andes, we'll visit several of the best places in Ecuador to photograph birds. On the west slope we'll visit a unique private refuge near Mindo where the owner has conditioned extremely rare and secretive antpittas to come into the open for food. We'll photograph the beautiful Andean Cock-of-the-Rock on a lek where gaudy males gather for mating displays, about 20 species of hummingbirds coming to lodge feeders, and other beautiful birds such as Toucan Barbet and Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan. On the east slope we'll visit Guango Lodge and Reserve, a wonderful place to photograph additional hummingbirds including the extraordinary Sword-billed Hummingbird and a wide variety of other higher elevation birds. Throughout the tour we'll stay at fine eco-lodges and enjoy excellent meals.

PHOTOS OF SOME POSSIBLE SPECIES ON TOUR

TOUR ITINERARY

DATE	ACTIVITY	MEALS	ACCOMMODATIONS
1-Sat 11/26	Arrive in Quito.	None	Hotel Sebastian
2-Sun 11/27	Transfer to Tandayapa Valley. Photograph hummingbirds on veranda and forest birds on trails.	BLD	Tandayapa Bird Lodge
3-Mon 11/28	Morning at Tandayapa. Mid-day transfer to Bellavista. Afternoon photograph birds at feeders and around veranda at Bellavista.	BLD	Bellavista Lodge
4-Tue 11/29	Morning photograph Cocks-of-the-Rock and antpittas at Refugio Paz. Afternoon photograph birds at Bellavista.	BLD	Bellavista Lodge
5-Wed 11/30	Morning photograph birds at Bellavista. Afternoon transfer to Quito.	BLD	Hotel Sebastian
6-Thu 12/01	Photograph birds in Papallacta Pass and at Guango Reserve.	BLD	Guango Lodge
7-Fri 12/02	All day photograph hummingbirds at feeders and birds in Guango Reserve.	BLD	Guango Lodge
8-Sat 12/03	Morning photograph birds in Guango Reserve. Afternoon transfer to Quito.	BLD	Hotel Sebastian
9-Sun 12/04	International flights home.	B	None

TOUR MAP

TOUR DESCRIPTION

DAY 1 - QUITO

International flights arrive by evening. Everyone meets at the Hotel Sebastian, reached by taxi from the airport. Those arriving a day early have free time to explore the city. Night in Quito.

DAY 2 - TANDAYAPA BIRD LODGE

Depart early for Tandayapa Valley on the west slope of the Andes, arriving by about 8:00 AM. Remainder of morning and afternoon photograph hummingbirds and fruit-eating birds coming to feeders. Tandayapa Bird Lodge is perhaps the best place in the world to see and photograph hummingbirds, and we'll take full advantage. Those with the inclination can spend part of the morning and afternoon walking the forest trails near the lodge with our guide to photograph birds in the forest. Night at Tandayapa Bird Lodge.   Show Likely Species

DAY 3 - TANDAYAPA & BELLAVISTA

Optional early visit to a hide near the lodge. A number of secretive birds sometimes visit a composting area behind the hide where they can be photographed. Then walk a trail through the forest and around the ravine below the lodge. Late morning transfer to Bellavista Lodge located on a ridgeline between the Mindo and Tandayapa Valleys. Its higher elevation attracts several birds not found in the valleys below. The lodge is one of our favorites in Ecuador, as both food and hospitality are superb. Remainder of day photograph hummingbirds coming to feeders and forest birds around the veranda. Night at Bellavista.   Show Possible Species

DAY 4 - REFUGIO PAZ & BELLAVISTA

Extremely early departure for half hour drive to Refugio Paz, where the owner has conditioned several species of antpittas to come out on the trail for food. Following a 20-minute hike down a somewhat steep trail, we'll reach a blind where we can observe male Andean Cocks-of-the-Rock displaying in the understory. We must be there by first light so as not to disturb the birds. Despite the low light, it's possible to photograph these beautiful birds using slow shutter speeds. Later Angel will treat us to close-up views of extremely rare and locally distributed antpittas. Remainder of morning photographing birds along forest trails on the property and hummingbirds visiting feeders. Afternoon relax and photograph birds around Bellavista Lodge including hummingbirds at feeders. Night at Bellavista.   Show Possible Species

DAY 5 - BELLAVISTA CLOUD FOREST

Morning photograph birds around Bellavista Lodge. Several trails traverse the ridgeline and are not especially difficult. These give us access to the cloud forest where we may find and photograph birds of deeper forest that don't appear near the lodge veranda. We can also spend the morning around the lodge, where bird activity is always good and a nice variety of species can be photographed. After lunch transfer to Quito. Night at Hotel Sebastian.

DAY 6 - PAPALLACTA PASS

Depart early for the eastern Andes, stopping at selected sites as we ascend the pass. We usually find and photograph several higher elevation hummingbirds as well as ovenbirds that inhabitat the scrub habitat along the road. At the top of the pass drive up a gravel road to the radio towers where Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe is often found nearby. It's possible to see Andean Condor soaring above the valley from this vantage point, though sightings are quite rare. Arrive at Guango Lodge mid-day. After lunch photograph hummingbirds at lodge feeders and birds in the garden around the lodge. Night at Guango Lodge.   Show Possible Species

DAY 7 - GUANGO RESERVE

The grounds around Guango Lodge consist of gardens, forest edge, and a nearby whitewater river. During an easy morning walk, photograph whatever birds we can find. The trail along the river is best place to photograph the unusual Torrent Duck. Mid-day photograph hummingbirds staging near feeders. Afternoon photograph birds in the gardens. Night at Guango Lodge.   Show Possible Species

DAY 8 - GUANGO RESERVE

Morning photograph birds in the gardens around the lodge. After lunch depart for Quito, stopping in Papallacta Pass to look once again for Andean Condor and photograph any species we may have missed coming in. Arrive in Quito before dark. Night at Hotel Sebastian in Quito.

DAY 9 - END OF TOUR

Tour ends with breakfast at the hotel. International flights home.

ACCOMMODATIONS DURING TOUR

HOTEL SEBASTIAN

Hotel Sebastian is an elegant hotel located in the heart of New Town in Quito just 15 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from Colonial Quito. It offers a warm and cozy atmosphere where guests can relax and enjoy their stay. The Bar Cafe offers informal dining while the Mistral Restaurant on the premises offers exquisite Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Rooms are nicely decorated, roomy, and full of light. They feature queen or twin beds, cable TV, and private bath with hot water showers.

TANDAYAPA BIRD LODGE

Tandayapa Bird Lodge claims to be the only hotel in the world designed by birders, owned by birders, and run by birders for birders. It was built in a pasture at the top of a steep driveway in the Tandayapa Valley. Plantings since the lodge was built in 1999 have converted much of the pasture back into forest. The lodge owns the best remnant tract of forest remaining in the Tandayapa Valley. It operates several hummingbird feeders around the veranda which attract 18-25 species of hummingbirds. It is probably the best place in the world to see hummingbirds, and for that reason it is visited by bird photo groups as well as birders. Trails above the lodge and around the ravine below the lodge offer spectacular birding. The lodge itself is quite comfortable and consists of a main dining area and 12 bedrooms with spacious balconies. A separate building below the main building has several additional rooms. All rooms feature hot water, electricity, and private bathroom. Most rooms have 2 double beds and a private balcony.

BELLAVISTA CLOUD FOREST LODGE

Bellavista Cloud Forest is a private nature reserve and lodge located on a ridge between the Mindo and Tandayapa Valleys on the western slope of the Andes. The lodge is a 4-story geodesic dome that affords guests a view of the forest canopy from above as well as a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountain peaks. Meals are superb and feature vegetarian meals, chicken, and trout. Each double room in the dome features private baths and private balconies overlooking the forest. Additional rooms have been newly constructed along the entrance onto the property.

GUANGO LODGE

Guango Lodge is a relatively new lodge developed by the owners of Cabanas San Isidro. It is located near the town of Papallacta at an elevation of about 9000 ft. on the east slope of the Andes. The food is very good and unique. On cloudy (and rainy) days and at night, it can get cold, so it's a good idea to bring warm clothing and rain gear. Verandas offer very nice views. The dining room area features a sitting room with a fire place where visitors can sit and relax. Hummingbird feeders attract a wonderful variety of higher elevation species typical of the high Andes. Rooms are very charming and feature the original and typical arquitecture of the area. Walls are made out of stone while round roofs are made of wood. All rooms have 2 double beds and hot water showers.

TOUR LEADER

Laura L Fellows is co-founder of Exotic Birding LLC with Jim Wittenberger and conducts most of our tours as leader and tour coordinator. She has worked as a professional photographer since 1983. Laura's vision as a bird photographer is to portray birds and other animals as they live and behave in their natural environments. She published her vision of such "Environmental Portraits" in the December 2007 issue of Nature Photography magazine. Her photos have been used in biology textbooks and on professional websites. Before embarking on her current venture with Exotic Birding, Laura had 16 years professional experience as a commercial photographer and advertising studio manager for an internationally recognized studio in Atlanta. In that capacity she organized, coordinated and executed major photography assignments for numerous national advertising campaigns on location in the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and many states in the US. She founded and directed a photography workshop program in the Tuscany region of Italy, where she lived for 3 years. Through her efforts the workshop attracted many internationally renowned photographers as guest instructors. She speaks fluent Italian and is now gaining familiarity with Spanish. She has lectured as an invited speaker in the art department at the University of Georgia and many photo clubs, has exhibited her photographs in galleries, and has curated 5 photography exhibitions in the USA and Italy. Laura has enjoyed a life-long love and fascination for birds and nature. Some of her many photographs can be seen throughout our website.

BIRDING GUIDE

We'll be using a well-trained, qualified birding guide who lives in country and works through lodges where we stay or free-lances with international tour operators. Our guides are adept at finding even very secretive species and are experts at identifying birds by calls and songs as well as visual field marks. We may use two guides when a single guide has sufficient expertise for only a portion of the entire tour itinerary.