8 DAYS.  BIRDING TOUR.

BIRDING IN SOUTH OF ECUADOR

CLOUD FOREST- TROPICAL FOREST-DRY FOREST.

LOJA

Loja is located in the Southern Ecuadorian Andes at 2200 meters above sea level. Temperatures typically range between 12 – 20 ^OC.

HOW TO GET THERE.

From Quito you can  fly with TAME Airlines which provides a service to Loja each day in the morning or you can fly with ICARO in the afternoon. The flight takes 50 minutes and arrives at Catamayo airport, from there travel 30 minutes by road to reach Loja. A taxi is recommended at a daytime cost of $ 3.

  Common birds found in the city itself include Amazilia hummingbird, Fasciated Wren, Pacific Hornero, Tawny-crowned Pigmy-tyrant, Blue-and-white swallow, Shiny Cowbird, Saffron finch, Rufous-collared sparrow and House sparrow.

* CAJANUMA Cloud Forest. (Loja).

The Podocarpus National Park (PNP), with its diverse ecosystems such as the cloud or montane forests in Cajanuma (the western part of the Park), and the tropical rain forests in Zamora (the eastern region), is one of the most important natural refuges for many species of flora and fauna.

  The cloud forest in Cajanuma is located between 2400 and 3100 m above sea level, and is one of the Park’s areas of a high biodiversity. It is considered to be the regards richest and most important site bird biodiversity at this altitude, and is the most easily accessible place to see many of these species.

Cajanuma is one sector of PNP. From here, which is mainly cloud forest, you can see, on clear days,  extensive mountain ranges, the valley of Malacatos and the famous Valley of Longevity in Vilcabamba.

The Climate:  

Winter: Is not very well defined, but the rainy months  are roughly from January to June, especially in march.

Summer: Is presented the months of October to December.  

* BOMBUSCARO (Zamora). Tropical Forest.

  The tropical Forest of Zamora is located at 900 m above sea level, about one and a half hours from Loja.  

The Bombuscaro river  is located in the city of Zamora Chinchipe. Bombuscaro is the second entrance to the Podocarpus National Park. Their ecosystem of humid tropical forest characterizes to this habitat like of high diversity of animal species of flora and fauna, especially of birds, where have been registered more than 350 species approximately

  Climate.

  The temperatures average range from from 18 to 24 °C. Regularly, days are warm and humid with constant pluvial precipitations.  

* RESERVA TAPICHALACA. ZAMORA  

The reserve " Tapichalaca " is located in the Province of Zamora Chinchipe, on the road that drives toward Zumba. 

The reserve Tapichalaca is an area of temperate cloud forest located at around 2400 msnm, with an approximate extension of 5000 hectares. 

This reserve managed by the Foundation Jocotoco", is very important for the conservation of diverse species of plants and animals, now recognized as important also for the protection of the endemic species Gralaria Ridgely, discovered in 1997.

* UTUANA.

Utuana is a reserve for the protection of the Montano forest in the area of  tumbesian endemism in southwestern Ecuador. It is located at 2500 meters above the sea level.

It is a reserve of montane forest managed by the Jocotoco Foundation.

The Gray-headed Antbird, one of the rarest Tumbesian endemics.

Here is found the Gray-headed Antbird, one of the rarest endemics tumbesian sps is found here.

Target size: 1000 ha.

* TAMBO NEGRO.

The dry forest of Tambo negro is located between 600-1000 m above sea level.

This forest of approximately 1600 hectares, is owned by the local farming cooperatives, and is an area of dry forest which has a continuous canopy, primarily of  Ceiba Thichistandra. There are a number of paths through the forest that originate from the path along the seasonally dry river bed of the Quebrada Hueco Hondo.

More than 25 endemic species, 10 of which are endangered, have been seen in Tambo Negro.

  * THE TUNDO RESERVE.

  This private reserve, is located at 1 700 meters above sea level, and is owned and run by the Fundacion  Arcoiris. It is a humid premontane cloud forest dominated by neotropical walnut, (juglans neotropica). The forest supports an unusual mixture of species, including many typical of Andean cloud forests  and others of lowland dry forests.

  The Tundo Nature Reserve is a 158 ha. private reserve which lies on the southern slopes of the Jatumpamba massif.

  The reserve ranges from 1400 to 2100 m in atitude, and includes 15 ha of agricultural land.

A total of 140 bird species were recorded in the Tundo Nature Reserve. Twenty-six restricted-range species were recorded of which 22 are confined to the Tumbesian Zone

ITINERARY.

  DAY 1.

  After our welcome meeting in the airport in Catamayo will drive to Loja, for the lodging of the passengers.   

  In the hotel we will have a breakfast, and inmediately leave for Cajanuma, a drive of about 20 minutes.

We begin our observation of birds in the access road of the Podocarpus National Park Podocarpus which leads to the visitor center. This path has an extention of  3 Km, and is an excellent site for birdwatching and takes about 2 or 3 hours to complete,  depending on the time you spend watching birds. Commonly seen species are: the Bearded Guan, Masked Trogon, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, White crested Elaenia, Russet-crowned warbler, Azara’s Spinetail, and in the bamboo thickets nearby, you can  find the Rufous-naped Brush Finch.

Other species you can  find are Grass-green Tanager, Lacrimouse-mountain Tanager, Buff-breasted mountain Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Hooded Mountain Tanager, red Hooded Tanager. Depending of the flowering season of specific plants we will see hummingbirds like the Rainbow Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltail, Flame-throated Sunangel, Collared Inca, Glowing Pufleg, Green Violetear, and depending on our luck and the time of  year and if the passiflora plant (taxo) is in bloom, the Sword-billed Humingbird may be encountered. 

A wide variety of other species such as the Barred Fruiteater, Golden Plumed Parakeet, Black and Chestnut Eagle, Black-chested Buzzard Eagle Smoky-bush Tyrant, White-banded Tyrannulet, Black Capped Tyrannulet can also be seen. 

You can often hear the Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan and occasionally be lucky enough to see it. The Tawny-breasted  Tinamou is among the more elusive species, which can often be heard.

Once in the visitor centre we will take a short break before continuing our adventure on the paths “Oso de Anteojos” and Bosque Nublado”

Depending on climatic conditions we will take the path “Lagunas del Compadre”, this path climbs steeply  in parts and is normally muddy. It takes approximately an hour and  half to arrive at the Páramo at an altitude of 3200 msnm

Along this trail we may see Buff-winged Starfrontlet, listen to Chusquea Tapaculo and, depending on the time of year, we will hear the Ocellated Tapaculo and with a bit of luck, see it.  Further along the trail at slightly higher elevations, we will look for the Neblina Metaltail,  Masked-mountain Tanager, and Plush-capped Finch. Once on the Páramo, the high grasslands, you may see the Pale footed Swallow and others like the Many-striped Canastero.

Depending on the climatic conditions we will have lunch by the trail on the grassland ridge or homely in the visitor’s centre.

In the afternoon we will continue observing birds on the main highway, at 6 o’çlock  in the afternoon we will return to Loja and the Hotel to enjoy a luxurious evening meal and night’s rest for our next day in Cajanuma.

DAY 2.

After an early breakfast, we will leave again for Cajanuma to continue looking for other species of birds that we have not seen yet.

We will park at the visitor center and from there look for Antpittas such as the Undulated Antpitta, Chesnut-naped Antpitta and Rufous Antpitta.

 Depending on the climatic conditions will have a lunch in the Visitor’s Centre, to continue observing birds the rest of the day along the access road.   

After this, we will go to Vilcabamba, for an overnight stay in hotel, we will have dinner, and we will plan for the next day.

  DAY 3.

  After breakfast, we will leave for Tapichalaca Reserve in the province of Zamora. After 1 hour and half of trip we will arrive to the visitors center for our lodging.  

Our first impression will be the presence of many humingbirds species by the feeders around the house, amongst these Amethyst-throated Sunangel, chesnut-breasted Coronet, Collared Inca. After this we will begin our journey of the paths around the reserve. Other species that commonly are seen are, several tanagers like White-capped Tanager, Lacrimouse-mountain Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, and other species like Orange-banded Flycatcher, Ocellated Tapaculo, Azara's spinetail and  Rufous Wren.

  Some other species can be seen and/or in many cases, heard, such as the Chusquea Tapaculo, and the Ash-colored Tapaculo.

  If luck is with us we will be able to see the Chesnut-crested Cotinga, as well as the famous Jocotoco Antpitta discovered only few years ago. 

  At around noon we will have a lunch in the Visitor’s Centre, and in the  afternoon go to the town of Valladolid, a trip which takes approximately 20 minutes.

  The town and it’s surroundings presents a landscape characterized by open spaces, where grasses and remain of primary and secondary forest prevail in regeneration.   

  We will continue our bird-spotting in the countryside surroundings of the town where we will be able to observe species such as the Marañon Thrush, Blue Dacnis, Black-faced Dacnis, White-faced Tanager, Spotted Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Streaked Saltator, as well as a variety of humingbirds present at the feeders like Andean Emerald and Sparkling Violetear.

At 17:00 hours we will return to the reserve to observe some night species present in the surroundings. 

  In the night we will enjoy dinner and a rest for next day inside the reserve.

  DAY 4.  

Early in the morning after breakfast, we will begin our day with a stroll along the paths around the reserve, looking for species that we have not previously seen.

After lunch will go to Loja and Zamora for an overnight stay in the hotel, and immediately leave to visit the site “La fragancia”, on the old highway Loja-Zamora, to begin our observation of birds along the highway. 

  This is another special place for birdwatching.  The view from the road is impressive enough, but to top it off, you can see birds such as the Roadside Hawk, Guira Tanager, Glitering-throated Emerald, Guira Tanager, Silver-beaked Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Ecuatorial Graytail, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, and, with luck, we will see the Lanceolated Monklet. Other species such as Olivaceous Greenlet, Dusky spinetail, Line Antshrike, Grayish Saltator can be heard and often seen.

In the afternoon we will return to Zamora to have dinner and a rest, ready for the next day in which we will stay the whole day in the Podocarpus National Park .

  DAY 5.

  Early in the morning, we´ll head for the Bombuscaro entrance of thePodocarpus National Park (PNP).  While walking along the access road to the visitor center, close to the farms in cultivated zones and when the Inga edulis tree is flowering you can see the Wire-crested Thorntail, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Green Violetear, and maybe the elusive Spangled Coquete.

Also we can encounter the white-banded Swallow, Long-tailed Tyrant, Mottle-backed Elaenia, and flocks of tanagers such  as Black-faced Dacnis, Swallow Tanager, Guira Tanager, Orange-eared tanager, Paradise Tanager, Blue necked Tanager, Bay headed Tanager.  You can also hear species such as the Dark-breasted Spinetail, Lined-Antshrike, and Blackish Antbird, and depending the time of the year, the noisy Speckled Chachalaca may be heard, and with a bit of luck may be seen. 

  By the Bombuscaro River you can find the White-capped Dipper, and we should look for Torrent Duck, Green Kingfisher and the Amazon kingfisher.

The trail heading to the Visitor’s centre from the end of the access road, is a great place for birdwatching.  During the 30 minute walk we will look for the Coppery-chested Jacamar, White-breasted Parakeet and see species such us Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Ornate Flycatcher, a variety of tanagers like the Golden-eared Tanager, Golden Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Bay-headed Tanager, Flame-crested Tanager, Common-bush Tanager, Yellow-throated Bush Tanager, Subtropical Cacique; and,  if we are lucky, we will find the Andean Cock of the Rock and Amazonian Umbrellabird.

We'll search for several Rio Bombuscaro specialities including Ecuadorian Piedtail and Highland Motmot.

At around noon we will have a box lunch inside the PNP enjoying the landscape of the forest.    

The rest of the afternoon we will continue observing birds along the trails and return to Zamora and the Hotel in the evening.

  DAY 6.

  After our breakfast we will go again to the site “La Fragancia”, for later, to leave for Loja and Sozoranga. 

  In the town of Catamayo we will have lunch, then continue our journey toward Sozoranga for our lodging, and immediately leave to Utuana.   

In Utuana we will find species  such as the Plain-breasted Hawk, Rufous-necked Foliage Gleaner, Chapman’s Antshrike, Black-cowled Saltator. We will also look for the Gray Headed Antbird,  one of the rarest species found in the reserve.

  Other species that we could find here are the Variable Hawk, Raimbow Starfrontlet, Green-tailed Trainbearer, White-banded Tyrannulet, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant.

  At dusk we will return to Sozoranga for an overnightstay in the hotel.  

Please Note:  

To be near Utuana and the reserve Tundo Reserve we will stay in a small Hotel in the town of Zosoranga.  

This hotel has the basic services but is not luxurious.

For our meals in Sozoranga there is a small restaurant with typical food of the region.

  DAY 7.  

Early in the morning we will drive toward Tambo Negro.

  Tambo Negro is on the road from Sozoranga to Macará, just after the town of Sabiango, we will travel 30 minutes to Tambo Negro. To arrive at this place we will have to cross the river Sabiango on foot, !for this end we will provide rubber boots to make it a safe & dry crossing!. Don’t worry, the flow in summer time is very low. We will them follow the path toward the communal house that is the access to the forest.  

There are currently no visitor  facilities at Tambo Negro. However there are a number of paths throught the forest which provide a flat and easy walk into the forest.

  Several species can be seen here such as:

Savanna Hawk, Pacific Pygmy-Owl, Pacific Parrotlet, Grey-cheeked Parakeet, Ecuadorian Piculet, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Pacific Hornero, Blackish Spinetail, Collared Antshrike, Fasciated Wren. We may see White-tailed Jay, Gray-breasted Flycatcher, Pacific Elaenia, Ochraceous Attila, One-colored Becard, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Ecuadorian Thrush, White- edged Oriol, and the Yellow-rumped Cacique.

  We will look for other scarcer species a little but rare to see such as Pale-browed Tinamou, 

  The Rio Sabiango is a good place to see waterbirds such us the Neotropic Cormorant, Ringed Kingfisher and Killder.

  At around noon we will share/enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest and later return to Zosoranga and to go to the reserve El Tundo, which takes one hour by car. The 1 km gravel access road leading to the main entrance is an excellent site for birdwatching and takes about 2 or 3 hours to complete. We will have the entire afternoon for birding in the Tundo Reserve along the main road.

  During our walks, we will probably see the common species such as the Harris hawk, Variable Hawk, Baron’s Hermit, Gray-chinned Hermit, White-vented Plumleeter, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Rufous-necked Foliage Gleaner, Loja Tyrannulet, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Silver-backed Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Blue-capped tanager, Ecuadorian Thrush, Plumbeous-back Thrush, Gray and gold Warbler, Three-banded Warbler, Scrub Blackbird and Watkin’s Antpitta.  

Among other possible species are the Ecuadorian Trogon, Montane Woodcreeper, Fawn-breasted Tanager, and we may hear and maybe see the Scaled Antpitta and Golden Headed Quetzal.

  Rare birds like the Gray-backed Hawk, Red-masked Parakeet, Chapman´s Antshrike and others birds such us Elegant-crescent Chest may be found here. Others like the Rufous-headed Chachalaca can be heard.

  Among the mammals occasionally encountered here are the common Guayaquil Squirrel.  

Also there are currently no visitor  facilities at  Tundo.  

DAY 8.

After our breakfast we will visit  Quebrada Suquinda, near the town of Sozoranga. This habitat has characteristics similar to the reserve El Tundo. We will be able to look for  endemic species that we have not found yet, such as the Elegant-crescent Chest and White-winged Brush Finch.   

After lunch in Zosoranga, we will return to the Quebrada Suquinda site to continue observing birds up until around 4 o'clock. We will return to Loja for an overnight stay in the  hotel, where we will have the dinner.

Contact us.

ARATINGA AVENTURAS

BIRDWATCHERS.

Lourdes 14-80 entre Sucre y Bolivar

Telfax: 07-582434

LOJA-ECUADOR.

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