| ECUADOR May 28- June 7, 2010 Napo extension June 7-12, 2010 |
Join on us on a wonderful trip to Ecuador next May 28-June 7.
About Ecuador - Ecuador is one of the richest countries in the world for birds 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 are Cock of the Rock, 3
species of antpittas, Hoatzin, toucans, trogons, motmots and many species of beautiful
hummingbirds and tanagers.
Trogon Tours and Ecuador - Your guide Nate Chappell has a lot of experience photographing
and exploring Ecuador. Nate has done extensive bird photography there and knows the best
areas and techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. Professional
photographer Ken Archer will be co-leading this trip. We will have a full time Ecuadorian
birdwatching guide with us as well. This will be the 5th photography and birdwatching tour
that we have led to Ecuador.
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
or 3 groups. Nate and Ken will lead the photographers and Jairo Sanchez will lead the birders.
Nate will have 2 high speed flash hummingbird setups at each of the lodges that we are staying
at. On several occasions Nate, Ken and the photographers will review images they have taken
and do some image critique. Nate and Ken will be available to answer any photography
questions and offer any advice that may be wanted. Birdwatchers will be led by the very skilled
Jairo Sanchez, birders can expect to see between 250 and 350 species on this trip. Jairo will
do a bird list each evening. Most of all our trips are fun and relaxed. No question is off limits.
Nate, Ken and Jairo will do their best to help make your experience great.
Maximum Participants: 10
Itinerary
Day 1, May 28, Arrival in the evening at Quito International Airport, Transfer to a nice hotel in
Quito.
Day 2, May 29, Drive to Mindo stopping along the way to photograph and bird. That afternoon
we will photograph around the hotel, which has hummingbird feeders that attract many
species. Nate and Ken will set up 2 flash photography stations for photographing the
hummers. Jairo will lead a birding walk on the trails near the lodge. Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge
Day 3, May 30, This morning we will drive to Suamox Lodge which is located in the lowlands.
We will spend a full day there. The lights which are turned on in the evenings at Suamox attract
a lot of insects which in turn in the morning attract a lot of birds coming in to dine on the
insects for breakfast. Antbirds, cuckoos, flycatchers and many others come in. The fruit
feeders at this lodge attract many species of tanagers and other jewels such as the
Red-headed Barbet. Jairo will lead a birding walk here, the forest is good for puffbirds and
jacamars. Hotel: Sachatmia
Day 4, May 31, We will spend the morning photographing and watching the birds which are
attracted to the feeders at Mindo Loma. The banana feeders here attract some other tanager
species such as the Black-chinned Mountain Tanager. After lunch the photographers will
photograph the hummingbirds at the lodge, while Jairo will take the birders down to the river in
Mindo. Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge
Day 5, June 1, The birders will spend the morning at Rio Milpe, an excellent reserve.
Photographers have the option of staying at Sachatamia and photographing hummers and
other species or going to Milpe. Hotel: Sachatmia Lodge
Day 6, June 2, In the morning we will go to a reserve where you can see and photograph Cock
of the Rock, up to 4 species of antpittas at close range and other difficult forest floor dwellers.
In the afternoon photographers have the choice of photographing at the lodge or going into
Mindo with the birders to search for other species. Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge
Day 7, June 3, In the morning we will drive up to the Tandaypa Valley. The high cloud forest
here attracts other species such as Plate-billed Mountain Toucan and Grass-green Tanager.
Hotel: Bellavista Lodge
Day 8, June 4, After breakfast we will head to the highlands of the Andes. On the way to our
next lodge we will stop at Papallacta Pass to search for the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe and a
few other high altitude species. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Guango Lodge, situated at
9,000 feet on the eastern flank of the Andes. Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper can
usually be found at the river here. Hotel: Guango Lodge
Day 9, June 5, Guango Lodge is one of the top places to photograph hummingbirds in the
world. The star of the show is the Sword-billed Hummingbird but many other beautiful
hummingbird species are attracted to the feeders here as well as a few species of
flowerpiercers. Jairo will lead the birders on a morning cloud forest birding walk in search of
species such as the Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan. Hotel: Guango Lodge
Day 10, June 6, After spending the day photographing and viewing the other species at
Guango we will return to Quito. Hotel: A nice hotel in Quito.
Day 11, June 7, Morning transfer to Quito International Airport.
Cost: $2,800 includes all lodging, meals, transportation within Ecuador, guiding, instruction. It
does not include airfare to and from Quito, Ecuador, personal expenses, airport departure fee,
or excess baggage fees. $100 single supplement. To reserve your spot a deposit of $500 is
required. The balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the tour.
NAPO EXTENSION
This extension can be done as part of the May 28-June 7 tour or by itself. If anyone would like
to schedule this extension without the other tour, we can help you add a few days of shooting
in Mindo after the extension finishes. Ken Archer will lead this extension.
Day 1, June 7, We will fly from Quito to Coca. After arriving in Coca, we will board an outboard
canoe for the 4 hour ride down the Napo River to Sani Lodge, in the heart of the Ecuadorian
Amazon. Hotel: Sani Lodge.
Days 2-4, June 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 5, June 11, We will return by canoe to Coca and to Quito by plane. In the afternoon you
can relax at the hotel or go on a trip to an authentic Ecuadorian market. Hotel: A nice hotel in
Quito.
Day 6, June 12, Early morning transfer to the Quito International Airport for your flight home.
Cost - $1,500 includes all lodging, food, transportation and guiding. $300 Single Supplement.
To reserve your spot a deposit of $300 is required. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior
to departure.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this tour or call Nate at
253-512-1060.
About Ecuador - Ecuador is one of the richest countries in the world for birds 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 are Cock of the Rock, 3
species of antpittas, Hoatzin, toucans, trogons, motmots and many species of beautiful
hummingbirds and tanagers.
Trogon Tours and Ecuador - Your guide Nate Chappell has a lot of experience photographing
and exploring Ecuador. Nate has done extensive bird photography there and knows the best
areas and techniques for seeing and photographing the birds there. Professional
photographer Ken Archer will be co-leading this trip. We will have a full time Ecuadorian
birdwatching guide with us as well. This will be the 5th photography and birdwatching tour
that we have led to Ecuador.
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
or 3 groups. Nate and Ken will lead the photographers and Jairo Sanchez will lead the birders.
Nate will have 2 high speed flash hummingbird setups at each of the lodges that we are staying
at. On several occasions Nate, Ken and the photographers will review images they have taken
and do some image critique. Nate and Ken will be available to answer any photography
questions and offer any advice that may be wanted. Birdwatchers will be led by the very skilled
Jairo Sanchez, birders can expect to see between 250 and 350 species on this trip. Jairo will
do a bird list each evening. Most of all our trips are fun and relaxed. No question is off limits.
Nate, Ken and Jairo will do their best to help make your experience great.
Maximum Participants: 10
Itinerary
Day 1, May 28, Arrival in the evening at Quito International Airport, Transfer to a nice hotel in
Quito.
Day 2, May 29, Drive to Mindo stopping along the way to photograph and bird. That afternoon
we will photograph around the hotel, which has hummingbird feeders that attract many
species. Nate and Ken will set up 2 flash photography stations for photographing the
hummers. Jairo will lead a birding walk on the trails near the lodge. Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge
Day 3, May 30, This morning we will drive to Suamox Lodge which is located in the lowlands.
We will spend a full day there. The lights which are turned on in the evenings at Suamox attract
a lot of insects which in turn in the morning attract a lot of birds coming in to dine on the
insects for breakfast. Antbirds, cuckoos, flycatchers and many others come in. The fruit
feeders at this lodge attract many species of tanagers and other jewels such as the
Red-headed Barbet. Jairo will lead a birding walk here, the forest is good for puffbirds and
jacamars. Hotel: Sachatmia
Day 4, May 31, We will spend the morning photographing and watching the birds which are
attracted to the feeders at Mindo Loma. The banana feeders here attract some other tanager
species such as the Black-chinned Mountain Tanager. After lunch the photographers will
photograph the hummingbirds at the lodge, while Jairo will take the birders down to the river in
Mindo. Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge
Day 5, June 1, The birders will spend the morning at Rio Milpe, an excellent reserve.
Photographers have the option of staying at Sachatamia and photographing hummers and
other species or going to Milpe. Hotel: Sachatmia Lodge
Day 6, June 2, In the morning we will go to a reserve where you can see and photograph Cock
of the Rock, up to 4 species of antpittas at close range and other difficult forest floor dwellers.
In the afternoon photographers have the choice of photographing at the lodge or going into
Mindo with the birders to search for other species. Hotel: Sachatamia Lodge
Day 7, June 3, In the morning we will drive up to the Tandaypa Valley. The high cloud forest
here attracts other species such as Plate-billed Mountain Toucan and Grass-green Tanager.
Hotel: Bellavista Lodge
Day 8, June 4, After breakfast we will head to the highlands of the Andes. On the way to our
next lodge we will stop at Papallacta Pass to search for the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe and a
few other high altitude species. In the late afternoon we will arrive at Guango Lodge, situated at
9,000 feet on the eastern flank of the Andes. Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper can
usually be found at the river here. Hotel: Guango Lodge
Day 9, June 5, Guango Lodge is one of the top places to photograph hummingbirds in the
world. The star of the show is the Sword-billed Hummingbird but many other beautiful
hummingbird species are attracted to the feeders here as well as a few species of
flowerpiercers. Jairo will lead the birders on a morning cloud forest birding walk in search of
species such as the Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan. Hotel: Guango Lodge
Day 10, June 6, After spending the day photographing and viewing the other species at
Guango we will return to Quito. Hotel: A nice hotel in Quito.
Day 11, June 7, Morning transfer to Quito International Airport.
Cost: $2,800 includes all lodging, meals, transportation within Ecuador, guiding, instruction. It
does not include airfare to and from Quito, Ecuador, personal expenses, airport departure fee,
or excess baggage fees. $100 single supplement. To reserve your spot a deposit of $500 is
required. The balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the tour.
NAPO EXTENSION
This extension can be done as part of the May 28-June 7 tour or by itself. If anyone would like
to schedule this extension without the other tour, we can help you add a few days of shooting
in Mindo after the extension finishes. Ken Archer will lead this extension.
Day 1, June 7, We will fly from Quito to Coca. After arriving in Coca, we will board an outboard
canoe for the 4 hour ride down the Napo River to Sani Lodge, in the heart of the Ecuadorian
Amazon. Hotel: Sani Lodge.
Days 2-4, June 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 5, June 11, We will return by canoe to Coca and to Quito by plane. In the afternoon you
can relax at the hotel or go on a trip to an authentic Ecuadorian market. Hotel: A nice hotel in
Quito.
Day 6, June 12, Early morning transfer to the Quito International Airport for your flight home.
Cost - $1,500 includes all lodging, food, transportation and guiding. $300 Single Supplement.
To reserve your spot a deposit of $300 is required. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior
to departure.
Contact - Email us at nchappell@trogontours.net if you are interested in this tour or call Nate at
253-512-1060.
| BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT |
| GIANT ANTPITTA |
| LONG-TAILED SYLPH |
| SWORD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD |
| BLACK-FRONTED NUNBIRD |
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