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Arden & I recently made our second trip to Ecuador birdwatching. Our first trip was to upper Ecuador and this one was to the southern part especially the SE corner.
It is always exciting to see more birds of the world and add to our life list. I also treasure seeing species that we have seen before. Sometimes you get a better view the second time and sometimes it is worse (which makes you appreciate the first time). The more times you see a species the more you are able to recognize it and it also helps ID other species. Eddy focused his skills on the endemics and let the other species fall into place. We saw the Jocotoco Antipitta that was discovered 10 years ago. This is a species I thought I would never see since it lives high in the wet forest of the Andes. The land was bought and a foundation called Jocotoco Foundation was created. They now have 8 preserves in Ecuador. Just 7 days before we got there, the cook in the lodge had finally had success at feeding the antpitta (a species heard a lot but rarely seen) worms. He would call the bird and then throw cut up worms in the undergrowth in his "feeding" place at the same time each day. We saw his 4th success at feeding it. WOW!!!
This trip took us to many temperate zones and it's different species of birds. We were on the coast, at several dry forests and many rain or cloud forests of the Andes Mountains. Our guide asked me at one point which I preferred. I had to say I liked the dry forests but know that many birds live in the wet areas. It is really hard to photograph birds in the rain. Sometimes we were in fog so thick it was hard to see the trees let alone the birds in them. When the clouds would lift and you would see a bird nice and clear it would be great but I am afraid that wiping rain from your binoculars and camera, hiding under layers of rain gear is not my idea of great fun. I sort of got use to it after awhile though and then it was time to come back home….. to rain!!!
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TWET.html (WA)
http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/OBOL.html (OR)
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