Northern Birding Tour

Arrive at the International Airport, Quito. Most flights arrive in the evening. Transfer to a hotel in Quito.

On this day, we descend to the lower elevations of the foothill zone at two important private reserves strategically situated, run by Mindo Cloudforest Foundation: Rio Silanche & Milpe Bird Sanctuary. This important reserve of Rio Silanche, a vital part of a forest corridor in the region, hosts a mix of primary forest and a regenerating plantation. we´ll try for Plumbeous Forest-Falcon, Dusky Pigeon, Rose-faced and Bronzed-winged Parrots, Pale-mandibled Aracari and Choco Woodpecker. Here you have access to a 50 ft. canopy tower platform where you can relax and let the birds come in to view.! At Milpe reserve we can try for Choco Toucan, Choco Trogon, Long-wattled Umbrellabird and the fascinating Club-winged Manakin. Milpe is recognized as an Important Bird Area in Ecuador. It is a small reserve located at an elevation of 3500 feet. Milpe’s flagship bird is surely the Club-winged Manakin, a lek of which they have on their land.
On late afternoon, return to Sachatamia lodge for dinner and accommodation. (BLD)

You'll leave from the lodge very early in the morning. The birding area includes a small side road that heads to the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, a small, local reserve where the owners have set a system of feeders that attract some of the more localized species, like Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant. Mashpi is a secondary road that passes through the cloud forest in the northwestern foothills that has gained notoriety for its impressive collection of Chocó endemic bird species. Such as: Orange-breasted Fruiteater, Moss-Backed Tanager, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, Glistening-green Tanager, Indigo Flowerpiercer, Pacific Tuftedcheek, Orange-Breasted Fruiteater, Black Solitaire, Glistening-Green Tanager, Indigo Flowerpiercer, and the very rare Choco Vireo. The afternoon is somewhat flexible depending on the weather, we can visit a private farm to see the Oilbird, or go to another local site like Milpe for other foothill species. Overnight and dinner at Sachatamia Lodge. (BLD)

Today we will start very early in the morning at 04:30 am and head off to Paz de las Aves that is a small, private reserve near Mindo where Angel Paz the owner of this magical place, has developed a way to hand-feeding several elusive species like Giant, Yellow-Breasted, Chestnut-Crowned, Moustache, Ochre-Breasted Antpittas with amazing success. This place is a highlight in this tour.

At sunrise, we will also visit an active Andean Cock of the Rock Lek to admire the amazing displays of males. Some birds You'll see in the forest are Golden-headed quetzal, Olivaceous Piha, Toucan Barbet, Black-chinned Mountain-tanager, Golden-Winged Manakin and Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Nariño Tapaculo among others. After a typical breakfast served in the reserve, we will enjoy the spectacular Velvet-purple Coronet, Brown-Violetear and Empress Brilliant at hummingbird feeders. Around the property we can also see Beryl-spangle tanager, Golden tanager.

On our way back to Quito, we will stop at Calacali and try looking for some dry forest birds like White-tailed shryke-tyrant and Tufted tit-tyrant. Return to Quito for an overnight at our local hotel.

This trip will take you through great scenery in the Ecuadorian High Andes. The roads border Antisana National Park. Therefore, the birdlife is great, and the scenery is quite amazing. The altitudinal range covered is over 3600 M. We spend the entire day in the area, watching for Andean condors (should be easy!) and other beautiful birds and if we have luck the marvelous Spectacled Bear.

Pick-up from Hotel in Quito at 6:00 AM to the east where the Antisana Volcano is located. On clear days, the views of the Antisana glaciers are dazzling. Our first stop is in a local restaurant, Tambo Condor to use the bathrooms and have a cup of coffee. There we can observe giant hummingbirds and the astonishing Ecuadorian hillstar at the feeders. Then, we continue to the strategically located observation point of Chakana Reserve where we can look for Andean Condor nests and the spectacled bear that used to walk around the “Peñón del Ishco” that is just in front of the balcony. We can also see some other species such as the endemic Carunculated Caracara, Variable Hawk.
A traditional lunch at Tambo Condor is available. In the afternoon, we continue to Antisana reserve where you will have the opportunity to see the snowcapped volcano and visit Mica Lake where we will see some other bird species like black-faced ibis, Andean lapwing, and Andean gull, as well as mammals like Andean fox or Andean rabbits.

After lunch, we’ll drive over the Andes and stay at Guango Lodge for the night, which is beside a rushing river that often has Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper. On late afternoon we will enjoy the spectacular set of hummingbird feeders which attract Collared Inca, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tourmaline Sunangel, White-bellied Woodstar, Long-tailed Sylph and Chestnut-breasted Coronet.

Today we'll go to Cayambe Coca National Park situated near Papallacta Pass on a very high elevation, a tundra-like habitat. If the weather allows, we may head up to the top, where the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe is seen. We also check the Polylepis woodland where we can try for Giant Conebill, Black-backed Bush Tanager, White-chinned Thistletail, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Pearled Treerunner, Golden-crowned Tanager, Pale-naped Brush-Finch, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant.

On the way down on clear days, there is one of the best spots to see and photograph the snow-capped Antisana, and we can skulk for Masked Mountain-Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Black-backed Bush-Tanager, and Agile Tit-Tyrant, and we should start scanning the sky for Variable Hawk, Carunculated Caracara and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, that may soar overhead.

It will be time to return to Quito. Overnight at a hotel in Quito.

Breakfast in the morning and transfer out to the airport. End of services.