This geographically tiny area is rich in biological diversity and home to some of the worlds most spectacular and colorful birds. Mindo, part of ecuadors cloud forest, represents a key site for birding in ecuador, because the warm climate and rich natural landscape make this area an ideal place for birds to live all year round. Day 1 the northern ecuador section of our ultimate ecuador birding tour begins this evening in the quito area, where we will stay overnight at a pleasant rural guesthouse. The reserve was created as an important ecological corridor between antisana, cayambecoca reserve above papallacta pass, and lower elevation reserves on the east slope. For this bird watching tour you will visit tandayapa, yanacocha reserve, home to the blackbreasted puffleg. Ecuador birds tours quito day tours birding tours ecuador.
The antisana reserve is the most impressive andean mount near quito and sanctuary of wild andean condor, andean ibis, giant hummingbird, cara cara and other spectacular birds. The variety of ecosystems, habitats and impressive mountain scenery creates a perfect location for birding and wildlife. In recent years, giant, yellowbreasted, moustached, chestnutcrowned and ochrebreasted antpittas have been habituated to eat provided earthworms by the deservedly famous local farmer and his. In the garden we might see eared dove, blueandwhite swallow, cinereous conebill, goldenrumped.
The ecuador bird watching trips all birding destinations. Yes, ecuador has about twice as many birds as are typically seen in us guides, but because of the added text this book isnt going to be a practical travel book. I received this book as a gift in 2016 xmas because i have a birding trip to ecuador planned later this year. Jocotoco foundation, one of ecuadors most recognized conservation organizations has established this strategic protected reserve and protects 960 hectares of pristine high altitude polylepis and cloud forest. Yanacocha is the last refuge of the emblematic bird of quito. Home to over 500 bird species and a vast diversity of other wildlife like many different species of butterflies, mindo is named an iba important bird area and most of its forests are. Antisana private birding tours wildlife photography day tour. Antisana reserve tour is one of our top birding tours in ecuador with birds of prey, andean condor, paramo grasslands and andean forest and unique endemic plants. The andes with paramos over an active chain of volcanoes, pacific, choco, tumbes, the amazon rainforest. Andean gull and blackfaced ibis photo by roger ahlman.
The antisana volcano has a height of 5,704 meters 18,714 feet. You are driven from quito for very productive and scenic birding in and around the antisana reserve, below antisanas snowcapped peak. Ive still got a lot of room in my pack and birding is a must while im down there. Select the key info tab or click here for our itinerary plus space requests, status, fees, limits, and guides for any. Arrive to yanacocha, a mossclad temperate forest and polylepis woodland on the side of volcan pichincha located at an altitude of approximately 10,000 ft. Northern ecuador birding paradise hummingbird and antpitta extravaganza 20202021.
Add to your ecuador tour would you like to extend your ecuador visit with a day or more of additional birding or cultural options with a local guide. November 1415, 2009 the months of september through december are usually cold and wet in the highlands, but this year the weather has been shockingly clear and sunny. At laguna micacocha look for silvery grebe, yellowbilled pintail, andean coot, gull, and lapwing, and lesser yellowlegs, as well as carunculated caracara and blackfaced ibis. This is surely one of the best places for bird watching in ecuador, not least for the wide variety of hummingbird species that can be seen there. Depart from the hotel early in the morning for mindo via the yanacocha and quinde ecoroute for birding. Day after day the storm clouds fail to appear in the afternoon, and the sun blazes on as the air pollution in quito builds to insupportable levels. I have 15 years experience as a birding and nature guide in the andean mountians, amazon jungle, cloud forests and highlands of ecuador. Mindo birding tour private bird tours day and multyday. A forest blind, a ten minute walk from the lodge, allows for great opportunities to see some very shy cloudforest species up close, such as whitethroated quaildove, russetcrowned warbler, zeledons antbird, streakcapped treehunter, strong. The antisana reserve is a failry new protected area located in the eastern andes of ecuador.
Antisana as an important bird area and is part of the nature conservancys condor bioreserve. Many lodges have recorded sightings of 400 or more different species in the vicinity. Mindo is one of the best places in the world for birding. American birding association ecuador birding bash 2020. I was also featured as part of the lonely planet guide to tourism in ecuador. Ecuador may 2019 birdwatching sites access and info updates. Our birdwatching programs takes you to one of the most remarkable birding sites of ecuador like.
Here are opportunities to see many high altitude and local specialties, which are absent or difficult at other sites, many of which are at their northern limit. An early departure from quito brings you to the western entrance of antisana ecological reserve, just about 30 miles southeast from quito, with a mixture of habitats from montane forest below and paramo grassland above. Something that makes this place wonderful is the contact with undisturbed nature apart from crowded touristic places and its beautiful andean scenery. Bird tour company providing top bird guides, itineraries and logistics for your visit to the andes and amazon. Bird checklist for antisana reserve exotic birding. The republic of ecuador in southamerica is one of the 17 megadiverse groups world wide. Antisana tours from quito antisana hiking and birding tours. Welcome to the birding blog i maintained during the years that i lived and birded in ecuador. Altitude range altitude ranges from 1400 to 5,704 meters 4593 18,714 feet above sea level. For superb birding in ecuador it does not get much better than a visit to the cloud forest in mindo or the surrounding area.
Antisana is just a worthy glimpse in the heart of the andes between 10500 ft to 15000 ft a. Antisana andean birding birdwatching, andes and amazon, bird. Birdquest has operated ecuador birding tours since 1989. A forest blind, a ten minute walk from the lodge, allows for great opportunities to see some very shy cloudforest species up close, such as whitethroated quaildove, russetcrowned warbler, zeledons antbird, streakcapped. Actually, i only became a birder after a few years of exploring this country, from the high andes to amazonia, and being regularly confronted by its remarkably diverse avifauna, almost in. It includes 20 new bird species that have been registered in ecuadorian territory to date march 2017. Actually, i only became a birder after a few years of exploring this country, from the high andes to amazonia, and being regularly confronted by its remarkably diverse avifauna, almost in spite of myself. Some significant negatives i found are listed below. Birding antisana ecological reserve december 12, 2010 by corey 15 comments having already shared the gorgeous scenery we queens birders encountered when we went into the high elevation grasslands in ecuador i would be remiss if i failed to also bring up the birds. Check out the various possibilities on our ecuador. After a week on the western slope of the lower andes we will climb up in elevation to the antisana ecological reserve. Then you will go to maquipucuna reserve to find goldenheaded quetzal, crimsonrumped toucanet, violettailed sylph, and broadbilled motmot. There was a lot of outdated information on the various websites, trip reports and books i used for. During birding tours in ecuador you can expect to see around 400 bird species.
Join one of our tours and enjoy ecuador birds tours to the fullest. The presence of the andes mountains from north to south forming valleys in between the west and the east andes chain crossed by the equator line, makes up different ecosystems both eastern andean slopes and western andean slopes. We offer first class service in one of the best areas for birdwatching in the world with local english speaking licensed birding guides with experience in all ecuador. Our drive up and up and up into antisana ecological. Upon arrival to the reserve we will make strategic stops to observe different flora and fauna and natural treasures that antisana offers. The papallacta pass is between two protected areas the cayambecoca and antisana ecological reserves, these areas assure the preservation of unique habitats and unique bird species. This entry was posted in birding, ecuador and tagged antisana volcano, birding, birds, cock of the rock, ecuador, mindo, quito. Flora and fauna edit the mountain tapir tapirus pinchaque is one of the rare animals found in antisana ecological reserve. It does indicate whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the iucn and also whether it is. You may opt to take the amazonian ecuador section of our ultimate ecuador birding tour as a standalone tour. Antisana ecological reserve is a newly created reserve located at about 12,000 ft elevation in the eastern andes of ecuador. Antisana bird photos, bird list, contact information.
Antisana is a stratovolcano of the northern andes, in ecuador. Birding in the ecuadorian andes, day 5 believesteve. Location antisana ecological reserve is situated in the napo and pichincha provinces in ecuador region along the snow capped antisana volcano peaks in the andes area it covers 120. Antisana ecological reserve napo province 2020 all you. Audobon society, bird life international, international conservancy, cornell university, paul greenfield and robert ridgely and others. From here, on a clear day, we can see all the way back up to snowcapped volcan antisana and the origins of a birders dream. Best of ecuador birding tours birdwatching tours birdquest. December 21, 2009 here are some extra shots from our morning in the high andes at antisana. Days 35 there are many excellent birding places around mindo and certainly one of the highlights is a visit to angel pazs property. We were not forewarned that the gate closed at 2, no exceptions. Extensive use of filler material appendix vi 39% 119 of 307 pages of the book is made up of bird lists from various ne ecuador.
It does indicate whether each species is globally threatened or endangered according to the iucn and also whether it is migratory, very rare, or accidental in the country. Dec 12, 2010 birding antisana ecological reserve december 12, 2010 by corey 15 comments having already shared the gorgeous scenery we queens birders encountered when we went into the high elevation grasslands in ecuador i would be remiss if i failed to also bring up the birds. In particular, the yasuni national park is one of the best places for birdwatching in ecuador, and it is one of the worlds most biodiverse places. Were so glad you decided to book with our company and we hope you can visit us in the near future to pamper you again. Oct 18, 2017 this entry was posted in birding, ecuador and tagged antisana volcano, birding, birds, cock of the rock, ecuador, mindo, quito.
The most beautiful yet the trickiest volcano of andes. Yanacocha reserve is located just 1 hour northwest of quito, along the famous hummingbird route in the old nonomindo road. Pay only 20% to book a birdwatching tour of your choice. The snowcovered top of antisana volcano is located at 18,886 ft a. The ecuadorian amazon is another superb place for birding in ecuador.
They are the ones who seriously made a milestone in ornithology of ecuador. Join us in one of our unparalleled birding expeditions and enjoy ecuador to the fullest. Im more concerned about getting a goodhelpful book. Papallacta b,l,d you will be picked up in a private transportation from your hotel and driven through a great birding corridor known as the papallacta pass. Swordbilled hummingbirds usually come to the feeders at yanacocha as well as guango on the extension nick athanas day 3. Reserva ecologica antisana is a protected area in ecuador situated in the napo province, quijos canton and archidona canton. Antisana national park condor reserve ecuador birds tours.
Mindo birding tour private bird tours day and multy. The table below lists species recorded at this locale but does not indicate frequency of occurrence there. The hotelslodges are mostly of good or medium standard. Advance birder we can organize your private tailormade birding tour. Birding in antisana ecological reserve, farewell dinner. Flora and fauna edit the mountain tapir tapirus pinchaque is one of the rare animals found in. There are a host of great birds in ecuadors paramo and we did our best to see all of them. We arrived at the entrance of antisana at 5 minutes past 2 and were refused entry on may 1. Ecuador birding tours ecuador birdwatching tours birdquest.
All our ecuador bird watching trips are focused and run along on the major bioregions of south america. An early departure from the hotel in quito brings us to the western entrance of antisana ecological reserve, a mix of elfin forest below and grassland paramo above. On this page we have andean lapwing wing stretching, a yellowbilled pintail, and a pair of plumbeous sierrafinches, a common bird at antisana. Best place to spot andean condors, best isolated landscape above the tree line and enjoy a great local food locro soup, sweet corn with small endemic potatoes and faba beans. Ecuador birdwatching birdwatching birding birdwatching. Location antisana ecological reserve is situated in the napo and pichincha provinces in ecuador region along the snow capped antisana volcano peaks in the andes.
In total there are thought to be more than 500 bird species in the mindo area. Birds of western ecuador, princeton university press birds of western ecuador is an excellent new photographic field guide by nick athanas and paul greenfield. The use of glasses, telescopes or binoculars often proves indispensable. Birds of western ecuador, princeton university press. Get inspired by nature and see many high altitude wildlife specialties along the way, including ecuadorian hillstar visiting the chuquiragua bushes, the iconic and vulnerable blackfaced. Antisana presents one of the most challenging technical climbs in the ecuadorian andes. Bird watching is an activity to observe birds with the eyes in their living environments for fun or purposes of scientific studies. Some birders see birdwatching as passion or practice it for recreational reasons.
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