Synopsis: A late‑afternoon return to Tandayapa Lodge supplied the right probability to seize hummingbirds of their pure mild—iridescence glowing, wings blurring, and the cloud‑forest ambiance turning each second right into a fleeting spark of coloration.
Ecuador Birding – The place Each Feather Tells a Story
From October 26, 2025 by November 8, 2025 I joined 5 different adventurers and an excellent photographer and birding information (Liron Gertsman) with Eagle-Eye Excursions to Ecuador. This weblog collection highlights the animals (principally birds), individuals and places we encountered over the 14 full days on this lovely land.
A Reflections of the Pure World Weblog Publish Sequence by Jim Acquire
**As a result of excessive decision and high quality of the photographs on this weblog collection it’s extremely really useful
that readers view posts in Panorama Mode on a desktop PC from the precise blogsite at Ecuador Birding**
DAY 11 – Mid-Afternoon
As we made our method again towards Tandayapa Lodge, the forest appeared to exhale, buying and selling the daring colours of tanagers for the quicksilver movement of hummingbirds. We had arrived late the earlier night and slipped out earlier than daybreak that morning, barely glimpsing the grounds—but now, within the delicate return of afternoon mild, the place revealed itself. A fruit platform stood just under the principle constructing, nonetheless carrying the quiet vitality of the morning’s guests; farther downslope, the moth mild hung like a small beacon the place evening creatures had gathered solely hours earlier than.
Across the nook, a broad patio opened right into a swirl of feeders, every one alive with wings slicing the air in speedy, iridescent arcs. Earlier than the flash setups got here into play, we birded these grounds whereas Liron ready for the upcoming session, capturing the hummingbirds as they honestly lived within the second—suspended between mild and movement within the pure glow of the Andean foothills.
Purple-bibbed Whitetip
From the dim understory, a tiny violet spark lifted into view, its white‑tipped wings flashing like indicators within the shade…
The Purple‑bibbed Whitetip is a examine in delicate iridescence—darkish, velvety plumage that all of a sudden ignites with a flash of amethyst when the sunshine hits its throat good. Its crisp white tail suggestions flick like punctuation marks because it hovers, giving the hen a pointy, virtually staccato presence across the feeders. Regardless of its small measurement, it defends its favourite flowers with stunning ferocity, darting out and in like a tiny shadow edged in violet fireplace.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Then got here a burst of heat coloration—a fiery tail chopping by the inexperienced as a Rufous‑tailed Hummingbird claimed its nook of the backyard…
Daring, brash, and endlessly energetic, the Rufous‑tailed Hummingbird is the unapologetic bully of the feeders. Its coppery tail flares like a warning flag because it fees at something that dares method its chosen perch. The emerald physique glows with a metallic sheen, and its fixed chattering provides a energetic soundtrack to the backyard’s chaos.
Inexperienced-crowned Good
A second later, a bigger form swept in, the Inexperienced‑topped Good glowing like polished emerald within the softened mild…
The Inexperienced‑topped Good lives as much as its identify—massive, highly effective, and gleaming with deep emerald tones that appear carved from rainforest mild. Its daring white leg puffs give it a regal, virtually decorative look because it perches upright, surveying the feeders like a guardian. When it takes flight, the wings beat with a deliberate, muscular rhythm that units it other than the smaller, jittery species.
White-booted Racket-tail
Simply above the feeders, a White‑booted Racket‑tail flickered previous, its twin paddles dancing behind it like ornaments in movement…
Few hummingbirds are as immediately charming because the White‑booted Racket‑tail, with its tiny white “boots” and lengthy, delicate tail streamers ending in excellent spatules. It strikes with a dancer’s grace, hovering in place with easy poise earlier than drifting sideways like a drifting petal. The males typically carry out fast, pendulum‑like swings, flashing their tail ornaments in a quiet present of magnificence.
Andean Emerald
From the sting of the patio, an Andean Emerald drifted ahead, its glassy greens catching each stray thread of afternoon solar…
The Andean Emerald is a clear, luminous hen—snow‑white underparts paired with a shimmering inexperienced again that catches even the faintest mild. It approaches the feeders with a delicate, virtually cautious method, dipping out and in with exact, economical actions. Its delicate presence affords a second of calm amid the frenetic vitality of the bigger species.
Buff-tailed Coronet
With a sudden whir of wings, a Buff‑tailed Coronet arrived—daring, brassy, and completely unbothered by the commotion round it…
The Buff‑tailed Coronet arrives like a burst of kinetic vitality, wings whirring loudly because it flares its buffy tail and flashes its rusty wing linings. It typically perches boldly on uncovered branches, pumping its wings in a speedy, fluttering show that appears equal elements territorial and theatrical. Its deep inexperienced plumage glows with a bronzy sheen, giving it a rugged, mountain‑cast magnificence.
Brown Inca
Out of the shadows, a Brown Inca materialized, its dusky plumage absorbing the sunshine till a single white crescent gave it away…
The Brown Inca is unassuming however elegant, cloaked in velvety chocolate‑brown feathers that soak up the cloud‑forest mild. A small white shoulder patch stands out like a signature mark, and its calm, deliberate actions give it a monk‑like serenity. It typically hovers quietly on the edges of the feeders, avoiding battle whereas nonetheless holding its personal.
White-necked Jacobin
Then, in a flash of unpolluted blue and crisp white, a White‑necked Jacobin swept by like a streak of sky pulled into the forest…
The White‑necked Jacobin is pure spectacle—sapphire‑blue head, crisp white collar, and a gleaming white stomach that flashes like a beacon because it darts by the clearing. It flies with daring, sweeping arcs, typically pausing mid‑air to pivot dramatically earlier than diving towards a feeder. Its confidence is unmistakable, and its presence all the time appears to raise the vitality round it.
Fawn-breasted Good
From a shaded perch close to the patio feeders, a Fawn‑breasted Good eased into view, glowing with the nice and cozy mild of late afternoon…
The Fawn‑breasted Good carries a quiet radiance, its heat buffy chest catching the delicate cloud‑filtered mild like a banked ember. Iridescent greens alongside the crown and again shift subtly because it turns, revealing flashes of deeper brilliance beneath its in any other case light palette. It strikes with a relaxed, deliberate confidence—by no means as aggressive because the coronets, but by no means timid among the many swirl of feeders. When it hovers, the distinction between its heat breast and shimmering upperparts turns into virtually luminous, a delicate glow suspended in movement. Within the late‑day hush of Tandayapa, it felt like one of many forest’s extra contemplative jewels, content material to shine with out demanding consideration.
Brown Violetear
From the dim fringe of the balcony, a delicate whirr introduced a customer cloaked in delicate shimmer…
The Brown Violetear is a examine in understated magnificence—principally earthy browns at first look, however alive with hidden iridescence when the sunshine catches good. Its violet ear patches flash like tiny amulets, showing and disappearing because it turns its head. At Tandayapa, it typically perches a bit farther again than the bolder species, surveying the feeders with a relaxed, virtually regal persistence. When it lastly strikes, it does so with easy, deliberate confidence, slipping between shadows and sunbeams as if it belongs to each worlds directly.
Purple-throated Woodstar
Lastly, a tiny blur hovered into place—a Purple‑throated Woodstar, extra firefly than hen, suspended on impossibly speedy wings…
Tiny, bumblebee‑like, and impossibly fast, the Purple‑throated Woodstar zips by the air with a delicate, insect‑like hum. When it pauses, the male’s throat ignites with a superb violet glow, a jewel‑vibrant flash that vanishes as shortly because it seems. It typically hovers immobile for a number of seconds—an uncanny stillness—earlier than taking pictures off in a blur.
Because the final of the hummingbirds drifted again into the forest shadows, the sunshine across the lodge started to melt into the cool, blue tones of late afternoon. Our group gathered as soon as extra on the patio, the air buzzing with discuss of iridescent throats, tail streamers, and the unattainable pace of wings we may barely see. That was exactly why we have been right here. In only a few minutes, we’d step into a unique type of hummingbird world—one formed not by pure mild, however by the frozen brilliance of excessive‑pace flash images. It was time for Liron’s class, and time to discover ways to seize these tiny miracles in methods the human eye may by no means witness by itself.
NEXT UP: EB#70 “Behind the Scenes: My Picture Processing Course of — From Obtain to Gallery Show“
Further Images
Earlier Ecuador Birding Weblog Posts:
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EB69 – Illuminating the Iridescence: Hummingbirds of Tandayapa Lodge By way of Forest Gentle
by Jim Acquire
A late‑afternoon return to Tandayapa Lodge supplied the right probability to seize hummingbirds of their pure mild—iridescence glowing, wings blurring, and the cloud‑forest ambiance turning each second right into a fleeting spark of coloration. This weblog collection chronicles Jim Acquire’s experiences with birds and nature.
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EB68 – Extra Colourful Songbirds at Guaycapi
by Jim Acquire
Because the hummingbirds pale into the background, a contemporary wave of brilliantly coloured tanagers swept by Guaycapi Lodge, setting the stage for a day of dazzling forest jewels This weblog collection chronicles Jim Acquire’s experiences with birds and nature.
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EB67 – Brilliants, Woodstars, Coronets and Extra: A Hummingbird Spectacle at Guaycapi
by Jim Acquire
A late‑morning surge of iridescent wings reworked Guaycapi Lodge right into a residing kaleidoscope, as a vibrant wave of hummingbirds swept in to say the stage simply moments after the tanagers pale into the cover. This weblog collection chronicles Jim Acquire’s experiences with birds and nature.
*This Ecuador Birding weblog put up was formed and polished with the help of Microsoft Copilot, serving to convey readability and a constant circulate to my subject notes and dictated recollections.
**Until in any other case indicated within the picture caption, all pictures (>99%) are mine.