| ECUADOR Andes to Amazon August 1-12, 2009 |
Join on us on a wonderful trip to Ecuador August 1-12 of this year.
About Ecuador - Ecuador is one of the richest countries in the world for
birdwatching and bird photography. Over 1,550 species of birds have
been recorded in Ecuador, the fourth highest total of any country in the
world. Ecuador is much smaller than the 3 countries with the highest list
totals, making it probably the richest country in the world for birds.
Spectacular birds that participants have an excellent chance of seeing and
photographing include Hoatzin, antpittas, macaws (including Military),
toucans, potoos, the San Isidro Mystery Owl and many species of
beautiful hummingbirds and tanagers.
Trogon Tours and Ecuador - Your guides, Nate Chappell and William
Perez have a lot of experience photographing, birding and exploring
Ecuador. William Perez will be in charge of birdwatching and he has been
a top Ecuadorian birding guide for years. Nate Chappell has done
extensive bird photography there and knows the best areas and
techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. We also use
local guides.
What to Expect - Photographers can expect to get great opportunities
with many different species of birds, insects if they wish and a few species
of mammals. We will often split up into 2 groups, one of
photographers and one of birders. I find this works very well because for
example its much easier for 4 photographers to photograph
a toucan nest than 8 at the same time. The same goes for birders, if you
are 4th on the trail you have a much better chance of seeing the bird than
if you are 8th in line. Nate will do some flower hummingbird setups on the
trip. On several occasions Nate and the photographers will review images
they have taken and do some image critique. Nate will be available to
answer any photography questions and offer any advice that may be
wanted. Birdwatchers will be led by the very skilled William Perez, birders
can expect to see between 250 and 300 species on this trip. William will
do a bird list each evening. Most of all our trips are fun and relaxed.
No question is off limits and both William and Nate have great
senses of humor (at least that's what they think!). Non
photographer/birder spouses generally really enjoy our trips.
Maximum Participants: 10
Itinerary
Day 1, August 1, Arrival in the evening at Quito International Airport,
Transfer to a nice hotel in Quito.
Day 2, August 2, Today we will find some high altitiutde species in the
Papallacta Pass area on the way to our first lodge, Guango Lodge.
Papallacta Pass is an excellent place to look for Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe.
In the afternoon we will photograph and watch the many beautiful
hummingbird species which are attracted to the feeders at Guango Lodge.
I will show the photographers my one flash technique for stopping
hummingbirds in flight. Lodge: Guango Lodge.
Day 3, August 3, In the morning we will bird and photograph around the
lodge. The birders will go on an early morning hike in the temperate forest
with Willie, while me and the photographers will concentrate on the
hummingbirds (including Sword-billed) and flowerpiercers which are
attracted to the feeders there. In the afternoon we will drive to the nearby
Cabanas San Isidro. Lodge:Cabanas San Isidro.
Day 4, August 4, Today we will bird and photograph around the lodge.
The veranda off the back porch of the lodge is an excellent place to watch
flocks of tanagers pass through. There are Chestnut-crowned Antpittas,
which are quite tame. Inca Jays are one of the most beautiful residents of
the area. In the evenings we will search for the San Isidro Mystery Owl, a
large black and white strix owl, which is quite possibly a new species or
race. There are a pair here which can be found hunting for large insects
near the lodge most nights. The birders will take an afternoon trip to the
Guacamayos Ridge to look for specialty species such as White-capped
Tanager. Lodge: Cabanas San Isidro
Day 5, August 5, After breakfast, morning photography and birding
we will head off toward our next lodge Wild Sumaco. Along the way we
will try to catch up with some large tanager flocks in the good forest which
is left along Loreto Road. In the afternoon we will arrive at Wild Sumaco.
This is a fairly new lodge on the lower eastern slope of the Andes that
has drawn rave reviews. It is the best place to see and photograph the
endangered Military Macaw in Ecuador. The fruiting trees off the
veranda often provide good views of Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan
and Paradise Tanager among other stunners. Lodge: Wild Sumaco.
Day 6, August 6, We will have a full day at Wild Sumaco today. The
hummingbird feeders here attract a different mix of species which includes
such rarities as Napo Sabrewing and Black-fronted Brilliant. We will check
a couple of day roosts of Great Potoo and in the evening spend some time
owling and spotlighting for mammals and insects. Lodge: Wild Sumaco.
Day 7, August 7, Today will be our longest travel day as we have a 2
hour car ride down the eastern slope to Coca and then a 4 hour outboard
canoe ride to Sani Lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Of course we will
keep our eyes open for birds and photo ops along the way.
Lodge: Sani Lodge.
Days 8-10, August 8-10, We will have 3 full days at the superb Sani
Lodge. Much of our photography and birding will be done from canoes
in the oxbow lakes and streams which surround the lodge. Hoatzin are
numerous along with Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Ringed Kingfishers and
many other species. Sani Lodge has an excellent tower which will get us
eye level with canopy species. It's a great spot to observe and photograph
Scarlet and Blue and Gold Macaws, among many others. On one of these
days we will take a boat trip to a parrot clay lick where parrots often
congegrate in large numbers. In the evenings we will spotlight for Black
Caiman and other species from the canoes and for mammals and insects
in the forest, bring your macro gear as its great for insect photography.
Lodge: Sani Lodge
Day 11, August 11, After a morning in the tower or on the oxbow lake, we
will return to Coca by outboard canoe and fly back to Quito. We will
spend our afternoon and evening at Hosteria San Jorge, which has its
own set of beautiful hummingbirds including Shining Sunbeam and
Green-tailed Trainbearer. Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge.
Day 12, August 12, Morning transfer to Quito International Airport.
Extensions available - We can help you plan another week in
Ecuador. The choices include a trip to the Galapagos Islands or
some time in Mindo, including Angel Paz's antpitta farm.
Cost - $3,100 includes all lodging, food, transportation (including flight)
inside Ecuador, park fees and guiding. It does not include airfare to and
from Quito, Ecuador. $400 Single Supplement. To reserve your place a
20% nonrefundable deposit is required. The remaining balance is due by
May 15, 2009.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this
tour or call Nate Chappell at 253-512-1060.
About Ecuador - Ecuador is one of the richest countries in the world for
birdwatching and bird photography. Over 1,550 species of birds have
been recorded in Ecuador, the fourth highest total of any country in the
world. Ecuador is much smaller than the 3 countries with the highest list
totals, making it probably the richest country in the world for birds.
Spectacular birds that participants have an excellent chance of seeing and
photographing include Hoatzin, antpittas, macaws (including Military),
toucans, potoos, the San Isidro Mystery Owl and many species of
beautiful hummingbirds and tanagers.
Trogon Tours and Ecuador - Your guides, Nate Chappell and William
Perez have a lot of experience photographing, birding and exploring
Ecuador. William Perez will be in charge of birdwatching and he has been
a top Ecuadorian birding guide for years. Nate Chappell has done
extensive bird photography there and knows the best areas and
techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. We also use
local guides.
What to Expect - Photographers can expect to get great opportunities
with many different species of birds, insects if they wish and a few species
of mammals. We will often split up into 2 groups, one of
photographers and one of birders. I find this works very well because for
example its much easier for 4 photographers to photograph
a toucan nest than 8 at the same time. The same goes for birders, if you
are 4th on the trail you have a much better chance of seeing the bird than
if you are 8th in line. Nate will do some flower hummingbird setups on the
trip. On several occasions Nate and the photographers will review images
they have taken and do some image critique. Nate will be available to
answer any photography questions and offer any advice that may be
wanted. Birdwatchers will be led by the very skilled William Perez, birders
can expect to see between 250 and 300 species on this trip. William will
do a bird list each evening. Most of all our trips are fun and relaxed.
No question is off limits and both William and Nate have great
senses of humor (at least that's what they think!). Non
photographer/birder spouses generally really enjoy our trips.
Maximum Participants: 10
Itinerary
Day 1, August 1, Arrival in the evening at Quito International Airport,
Transfer to a nice hotel in Quito.
Day 2, August 2, Today we will find some high altitiutde species in the
Papallacta Pass area on the way to our first lodge, Guango Lodge.
Papallacta Pass is an excellent place to look for Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe.
In the afternoon we will photograph and watch the many beautiful
hummingbird species which are attracted to the feeders at Guango Lodge.
I will show the photographers my one flash technique for stopping
hummingbirds in flight. Lodge: Guango Lodge.
Day 3, August 3, In the morning we will bird and photograph around the
lodge. The birders will go on an early morning hike in the temperate forest
with Willie, while me and the photographers will concentrate on the
hummingbirds (including Sword-billed) and flowerpiercers which are
attracted to the feeders there. In the afternoon we will drive to the nearby
Cabanas San Isidro. Lodge:Cabanas San Isidro.
Day 4, August 4, Today we will bird and photograph around the lodge.
The veranda off the back porch of the lodge is an excellent place to watch
flocks of tanagers pass through. There are Chestnut-crowned Antpittas,
which are quite tame. Inca Jays are one of the most beautiful residents of
the area. In the evenings we will search for the San Isidro Mystery Owl, a
large black and white strix owl, which is quite possibly a new species or
race. There are a pair here which can be found hunting for large insects
near the lodge most nights. The birders will take an afternoon trip to the
Guacamayos Ridge to look for specialty species such as White-capped
Tanager. Lodge: Cabanas San Isidro
Day 5, August 5, After breakfast, morning photography and birding
we will head off toward our next lodge Wild Sumaco. Along the way we
will try to catch up with some large tanager flocks in the good forest which
is left along Loreto Road. In the afternoon we will arrive at Wild Sumaco.
This is a fairly new lodge on the lower eastern slope of the Andes that
has drawn rave reviews. It is the best place to see and photograph the
endangered Military Macaw in Ecuador. The fruiting trees off the
veranda often provide good views of Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan
and Paradise Tanager among other stunners. Lodge: Wild Sumaco.
Day 6, August 6, We will have a full day at Wild Sumaco today. The
hummingbird feeders here attract a different mix of species which includes
such rarities as Napo Sabrewing and Black-fronted Brilliant. We will check
a couple of day roosts of Great Potoo and in the evening spend some time
owling and spotlighting for mammals and insects. Lodge: Wild Sumaco.
Day 7, August 7, Today will be our longest travel day as we have a 2
hour car ride down the eastern slope to Coca and then a 4 hour outboard
canoe ride to Sani Lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Of course we will
keep our eyes open for birds and photo ops along the way.
Lodge: Sani Lodge.
Days 8-10, August 8-10, We will have 3 full days at the superb Sani
Lodge. Much of our photography and birding will be done from canoes
in the oxbow lakes and streams which surround the lodge. Hoatzin are
numerous along with Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Ringed Kingfishers and
many other species. Sani Lodge has an excellent tower which will get us
eye level with canopy species. It's a great spot to observe and photograph
Scarlet and Blue and Gold Macaws, among many others. On one of these
days we will take a boat trip to a parrot clay lick where parrots often
congegrate in large numbers. In the evenings we will spotlight for Black
Caiman and other species from the canoes and for mammals and insects
in the forest, bring your macro gear as its great for insect photography.
Lodge: Sani Lodge
Day 11, August 11, After a morning in the tower or on the oxbow lake, we
will return to Coca by outboard canoe and fly back to Quito. We will
spend our afternoon and evening at Hosteria San Jorge, which has its
own set of beautiful hummingbirds including Shining Sunbeam and
Green-tailed Trainbearer. Hotel: Hosteria San Jorge.
Day 12, August 12, Morning transfer to Quito International Airport.
Extensions available - We can help you plan another week in
Ecuador. The choices include a trip to the Galapagos Islands or
some time in Mindo, including Angel Paz's antpitta farm.
Cost - $3,100 includes all lodging, food, transportation (including flight)
inside Ecuador, park fees and guiding. It does not include airfare to and
from Quito, Ecuador. $400 Single Supplement. To reserve your place a
20% nonrefundable deposit is required. The remaining balance is due by
May 15, 2009.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this
tour or call Nate Chappell at 253-512-1060.
| BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT |
| SAN ISIDRO MYSTERY OWL |
| LONG-TAILED SYLPH |
| CHESTNUT-CROWNED ANTPITTA |
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