MONTANE ECUADOR

Small-group tour for superb subtropical birding while based at lovely San Isidro Lodge, located among the birds of the east slope, plus two days in west slope subtropics at the comfortable and birdy Tandayapa Birding Lodge.

2008
I. June 23-July 2 with Mitch Lysinger
II. July 28-August 6 with Mitch Lysinger

2009
I. June 12-21 with Mitch Lysinger
II. July 30-August 8 with Mitch Lysinger

$2650 ($100 discount if combined with GALAPAGOS or ECUADOR'S AMAZONIAN RAINFOREST: SACHA LODGE; 2008 fee).
10 days
From Quito. Limit: 8
Fine to good (and rather basic) lodging, easy to moderate terrain, cool climate, moderate to high elevation. Our staff travel agents can book your air travel for this tour. Contact us at (800) 728-4953 for more information. Our July tours are part of a series of summer Ecuador tours that include MONTANE ECUADOR, AMAZONIAN ECUADOR: SACHA LODGE, and GALAPAGOS; two or three of these tours may be combined.

See our triplist for 2007 triplist (II) or 2007 triplist (I) or 2006 triplist (II) or 2006 triplist (I).

Purple-bibbed Whitetip
by guide John Rowlett

Here’s the pitch. When it comes to avifauna, the subtropical zone of the Andes, suspended between about 4500-8000 feet, is simply one of the richest and most enjoyable areas to bird anywhere in the world. And Ecuador’s subtropics offer perhaps the greatest montane birding that can be compressed into a short tour.

Here’s the story. There are two cordilleras that transect most of Ecuador from its northern border with Colombia to its southern border with Peru. These mountain barriers yield two humid subtropical slopes, one that falls away into Amazonia off the eastern cordillera and another falling toward the Pacific along the western cordillera. Eastern and western outer slopes combine to produce a staggering array of species in spectacular surroundings and ideal temperature.

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker,
by guide Mitch Lysinger

Here’s the tour. Our first two days will be spent on the beautiful western slope, where Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, Gorgeted Sunangel, Violet-tailed Sylph, Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager, and other west-slope specialties are regular. Crossing the eastern cordillera, we’ll bird in stands of Polylepis, then leisurely bird the road to Papallacta and beyond. Possibilities include Andean Condor, Chimborazo Hillstar, Tawny Antpitta, Giant Conebill, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Black-backed Bush-Tanager, Red-hooded Tanager, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Tourmaline Sunangel, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Masked Trogon, Turquoise Jay, Black-billed Peppershrike, and Hooded and Scarlet-bellied mountain-tanagers, to name a few.

Our destination is the fantastic San Isidro Lodge, located among Golden-headed Quetzals and White-bellied Antpittas at 6800 feet. This lodge is ideally situated on a remarkable ridge that is just teeming with birds, and many of the most fabulous species to be found in the Neotropics are resident in the nearby environs. Black-billed Mountain-Toucan (our third possible Andigena!), Slate-crowned Antpitta, colorful hummingbirds and tanagers, White-rimmed Brush-Finch, and many more are all very real possibilities, and we will have three full days to enjoy this place, its tasty meals, and courteous accommodation.

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Contact our office by e-mail in Austin, Texas at fieldguides@fieldguides.com.

1+ 800-728-4953
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1+ 512-263-0117 (fax)

Field Guides Incorporated, 9433 Bee Cave Road, Building 1, Suite 150, Austin, TX 78733

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