Synopsis: A quiet last morning at Guango Lodge eased us from the acquainted rhythm of cloudforest birds right into a dramatic excessive‑Andean crossing, the place stark volcanic landscapes and sweeping vistas carried us towards the cliffs of Tambo Cóndor and the promise of a brand new chapter within the journey.
Ecuador Birding – The place Each Feather Tells a Story
From October 26, 2025 by means of November 8, 2025 I joined 5 different adventurers and an impressive photographer and birding information (Liron Gertsman) with Eagle-Eye Excursions to Ecuador. This weblog sequence highlights the animals (principally birds), individuals and places we encountered over the 14 full days on this stunning land.
A Reflections of the Pure World Weblog Submit Collection by Jim Achieve
**Because of the excessive decision and high quality of the pictures on this weblog sequence it’s extremely advisable
that readers view posts in Panorama Mode on a desktop PC from the precise blogsite at Ecuador Birding**
DAY 10 – Mid-Morning
The subsequent morning at Guango Lodge started with a well-recognized rhythm—quiet, observational, and stuffed with return visits from birds that had develop into companions over our days within the cloudforest. The moth mild, nonetheless glowing faintly within the cool air, drew in a small gathering of early risers.
Sturdy‑billed Woodcreeper
From the dim glow of the moth mild, a heavy‑billed silhouette clung to the closest trunk.
The Sturdy‑billed Woodcreeper labored the bark with gradual, deliberate precision, its highly effective chisel‑like invoice completely fitted to prying bugs from deep crevices. Its wealthy brown plumage blended seamlessly with the moss‑coated trunk, damaged solely by faint streaking alongside the throat. Even within the half‑mild, its dimension and methodical actions gave it a commanding presence among the many early risers.
Nice Thrush
Beneath the moth mild’s halo, a assured form strode into view.
The Nice Thrush moved with its ordinary daring assurance, its vivid yellow invoice glowing in opposition to the cool, shadowed understory. Bigger and darker than most thrushes, it carried itself with a grounded, virtually territorial calm because it inspected the clearing. Every hop and pause felt purposeful, as if it have been surveying a website it knew intimately.
Rufous‑collared Sparrow
From the sting of the clearing, a crisp flash of rufous and white flickered into the sunshine.
The Rufous‑collared Sparrow darted out and in of view, its sharp facial sample catching the primary hints of daybreak. Its actions have been fast and inquisitive, pausing solely lengthy sufficient to ship a couple of vivid notes of tune. Regardless of its small dimension, its daring collar and assured demeanor made it one of the charismatic regulars of the morning gathering.
Turquoise Jay
Above us, a burst of electrical blue swept by means of the cover.
A pair of Turquoise Jays moved overhead with their attribute mixture of boldness and curiosity, flashing sensible blues and blacks as they hopped between branches. Their calls carried simply by means of the nonetheless air, including a energetic edge to the quiet clearing. Ever the investigators, they paused often to examine the scene under, as if evaluating the morning’s exercise.
Andean Guan
Then, from the forest shadows, a hulking kind stepped into the open.
The Andean Guan lumbered into view, its massive, heavy physique and deep chestnut tones contrasting with the mushy greens of the understory. Its gradual, deliberate actions and mushy grunts added a contact of wildness to the in any other case light morning rhythm. Regardless of its dimension, it moved with stunning grace, navigating the low branches with practiced ease.
Buff-tailed Coronet
From the shadowed perch, a flash of emerald and buff erupted into movement.
On the hummingbird feeders, the morning belonged to the Buff‑tailed Coronet, which defended its perch with the standard flared‑tail bravado. Its metallic greens and chestnut undertones glowed every time it pivoted within the mushy mild, a last reminder of the cloudforest’s jewel‑tone palette earlier than our departure.
Crossing the Andes Towards Tambo Cóndor
Leaving Guango behind, we started the lengthy drive westward, climbing as soon as extra into the excessive Andes. The panorama shifted rapidly—cloudforest giving technique to open páramo, then to the stark volcanic expanses of Antisana, the place the earth feels uncooked and newly shaped. The street carried us throughout rolling plains of golden grass, previous lava fields and distant snow‑capped peaks, the air thinning once more as we rose properly above 11,000 ft.
Carunculated Caracara
Excessive on a steep hillside, a lone caracara perched in a distant tree, its fiery face watching over the páramo under.
Birdlife right here felt sparse however dramatic. A Carunculated Caracara stood sentinel on a distant tree, its daring black‑and‑white plumage and fleshy facial wattles unmistakable even at vary. It watched over the windswept plain with the calm authority of a chook completely tailored to excessive elevation life.
The surroundings grew grander with every passing mile, and because the street curved towards the cliffs and canyons of the Papallacta area, the anticipation constructed. By noon we rolled into Tambo Cóndor, perched on its dramatic overlook—a spot the place the Andes open vast and the sky feels impossibly shut.
NEXT UP: EB#56 “The Excessive Andes Unfold: Our First Moments at Tambo Cóndor“
Further Pictures
Earlier Ecuador Birding Weblog Posts:
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EB55 – Leaving Guango Behind: Birds, Volcanoes, and the Lengthy Drive to Tambo Cóndor
by Jim Achieve
A quiet last morning at Guango Lodge eased us from the acquainted rhythm of cloudforest birds right into a dramatic excessive‑Andean crossing, the place stark volcanic landscapes and sweeping vistas carried us towards the cliffs of Tambo Cóndor and the promise of a brand new chapter within the journey. This weblog sequence chronicles Jim Achieve’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador.
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EB54 – Life within the Whitewater: Torrent Geese of the Papallacta River
by Jim Achieve
A breathless, excessive‑altitude chase alongside the river changed into a triumphant, arduous‑received encounter with Torrent Geese, ending the day at Guango Lodge with the exhilaration of lastly photographing one of many journey’s most coveted species. This weblog sequence chronicles Jim Achieve’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador.
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EB53 – Again to the Cloudforest: A Mild Afternoon at Guango Lodge
by Jim Achieve
In October 2025, Jim Achieve joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its wealthy biodiversity and gorgeous landscapes over 14 days. The weblog sequence chronicles his experiences with birds and nature.
*This Ecuador Birding weblog put up was formed and polished with the help of Microsoft Copilot, serving to carry readability and a constant movement to my area notes and dictated reminiscences.
**Until in any other case indicated within the picture caption, all pictures (>99%) are mine.