Feb. 22  -  Mar. 6, 2022

Another Glenn Bartley bird photography workshop, this one in Southern Ecuador. I’ve never been to the southern part of Ecuador; different habitat and many different birds. It all sounded great, so I went for it. It was a good trip.

(Because this was a bird photography workshop Nancy wanted nothing to do with it. She hates sitting around watching people taking photos of the same birds for hours, so I went alone. I will add that this is the last trip I make without her.)

I flew into Guayaquil, Ecuador on February 21st. Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and the city was devastated early on by the Covid pandemic. The city is still reeling; everyone wears a mask. Although everything I saw of Guayaquil was clean and friendly, the city is known for its violence. So the group met in Guayaquil, spent the night and got out, heading for our first destination.There were only (4) of us amateur bird photographers joining Glenn Bartley and our driver, Wilson.

During our visit to Southern Ecuador we stayed at four different lodges, all four lodges being part of the Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco. The Jocotoco Foundation is a nature conservation group, especially focusing on preserving areas important to bird habitat.

All four lodges were of the eco-tourism lodge type, i.e., very comfortable, clean, good meals, private rooms or cabins with bathroom with all meals at the lodge. I would like to mention the cabin I had in Copalinga was one of the better eco-tourism lodge facilities I have experienced in the neo-tropics; very comfortable and plenty of room for gear and luggage.

Umbrellabird Lodge – Buenaventura Reserve   (click for lodge web site)

Our first lodging had very nice, private cabins. The lodge is located in the lower part of the Buenabentura Reserve at about 1750 feet elevation. The people running the lodge were extremely friendly and helpful. They had fruit and hummingbird feeders attracting an array of birds along a large deck next to the dining area. We did multi-flash setup on the patio often and an unsuccessful hike for the Umbrellabird. A lot of rain.

(Click on photo to view gallery)

Urraca Lodge - Jorupe  (click for lodge web site)

Urraca Lodge is located at Fundación Jocotoco's Jorupe Reserve a few kilometers northeast of the city of Macará, near the border between Ecuador and Peru at 1500 feet above sea level. This area is considered a dry forest habitat. Wonderful birding. Hiking near the lodge was especially rewarding from a birding sense. A wide variety of birds from Guayaquil Woodpecker to Rufous-browed Peppershrike.

(Click on photo to view gallery)

Casa Simpson Lodge - Tapichalaca  (Click for lodge web site)

This lodge is located on the eastern slope of the Andes at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet. This is the only lodge where you can see the Jocotoco Antpitta, and see it we did.

To see the Jocotoco Antpitta we followed a trail off the main road a short distance from the lodge. We hiked a well marked trail, led by a guide from the lodge. The trail was steep and very slippery and muddy because of the recent rain, but it was a good hike through the mountain cloud forest. We reached our destination in about an hour. This was a very small clearing with a bench and covering to protect against the rain, but fortunately the rain held back the entirety of our hike. The guide started calling the antpitta as soon as we arrived in the clearing. Not a recorded playback, but the guide seemed to be calling the bird by a first name; something like “Ricardo … Ricardo”. “Ricardo, where are you, I have paying customers here, and nice worms. Ricardo … Ricardo.” It didn’t take long. This beautiful bird came out and posed for a long time, eating any worm offered. 10,000 shots later we said goodbye and headed out. Beautiful and amazing bird. And a great hike. I was the only one to slip on the way down the trail.

(Click on photo to view gallery)

A note on the history of the Jocotoco Antpitta at the Casa Simpson Lodge – Tapichalaca. The Jocotoco Antipitta was first sighted in 1997 by a team of scientists. The leader of the group, Dr. Robert Ridgely, later realized that something must be done to protect this rare bird. He and others started the Jocotoco Foundation, acquiring land to preserve and protect the surrounding habitat from logging and farming. Today the Foundation in supported by many conservation groups from around the world and maintains over 60,000 acres in reserves throughout Ecuador.

Copalinga Lodge   (click for lodge web site)

The Copalinga Lodge is very close to the Podocarpus National Park in southwest Ecuador. We had little time here, only one day and one night. Birding from the dining area of the lodge was packed with hummingbirds, tanagers, jays and an assortment of other birds. And hiking along the road from the lodge proved rewarding. As mentioned earlier, I especially liked the cabin I had and would like to return and spend a number of days at the lodge and Nation Park.

(Click on photo to view gallery)

(31) new bird species added to my Bird Species Photo Gallery from this trip:

Jocotoco Antpitta, Pale-browed Tinamous, Violet-bellied-Hummingbird, Red-masked-Parakeet, Rufous-headed-Chachalaca, Lemon-rumped-Tanager, Gray-backed-Hawk, White-tailed-Jay, Pale-legged-Hornero, Gray-and-gold-Warbler, Ecuadorian-Trogon, Scarlet-backed-Woodpecker, Fasciated-Wren,  Peruvian-Screech-Owl, Southern-Yellow-Grosbeak, Amazilia-Hummingbird, Ecuadorian-Piculet, Pacific-Parrolet, One-colored-Becard, Pacific-Pygmy-Owl, Rainbow-Starfrontlet, Speckled-Hummingbird, Purple-throated-Sunangel, Rufous-Antpitta, White-faced-Quail-Dove, Rainbow-bearded-Thornbill, Gray-breasted-Mountain-Toucan, Violet-fronted-Brilliant, Coopery-chested-Jacamar, Russet-backed-Oropendola and Sickle-winged-Guan

New Bird Species Gallery:

See Bird Species Catalog on Home Page for photos of all species: