Ecuador 2017 - Trip summary and species list

Isla de la Plata

 Over the last 4 weeks I have been fortunate enough to travel around Ecuador and see some very beautiful landscapes, see amazing birds, and meet lovely, welcoming people. My trip is coming to an end, I'm flying home to Australia tomorrow, but before I go I wanted to post a recap on some of the things I've seen and done!

Paramo environment in Chimborazo Province

 In 4 weeks I visited cities, the coast, the sierra, paramo, tropical forest and probably many more different environment types than I even realised. I visited the middle of the world (the equator) and the end of the world (the swing at Baños).

Los Frailes, Manabi Province

I visited 9 out of 24 provinces, and saw 154 different bird species. The map below shows the provinces I visited in colour, the different shades represent the number of bird species I saw in each province, yellow being the fewest and the most species seen in the red provinces. Excellent birding locations Isla de la Plata and La Segua ended up making Manabi the winner in terms of bird species seen there (55 in two days), and the Ecuasal Salt Lagoons ensured that Santa Elena wasn't far behind (39 species in one day).

Map of Ecuador Provinces visited

I visited the country's capital Quito, and was amazed by the size of the city and how steep some of the streets were, and loved the colourful houses and buildings.

Quito, Pichincha Province

 I saw the highest mountain in Ecuador, Chimborazo, also the farthest point from the centre of the Earth due to equatorial bulge.

Chimborazo at dusk, Chimborazo Province

 I walked through beautiful forests, and saw huge trees, stunning flowers, and breath-taking waterfalls.

Small waterfall in Baños, Tungurahua Province

It has been an amazing trip. I have loved spending time with my great friends that I have missed since they left Australia, and it has been fantastic to see their beautiful country that I had heard so much about. And although I have seen and done so much... there's still so much to see next time I visit!

TRIP BIRD SPECIES LIST ***UPDATED***

1              Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis

2              Fulvous Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor

3              White-cheeked Pintail - Anas bahamensis

4              Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps

5              Chilean Flamingo - Phoenicopterus chilensis

6              Red-billed Tropicbird - Phaethon aethereus

7              Magnificent Frigatebird - Fregata magnificens

8              Nazca Booby - Sula granti

9              Blue-footed Booby - Sula nebouxii

10           Neotropic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus

11           Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga

12           Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis

13           Peruvian Pelican - Pelecanus thagus

14           Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis

15           Cocoi Heron - Ardea cocoi

16           Great Egret - Ardea alba

17           Snowy Egret - Egretta thula

18           Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea

19           Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor

20           Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis

21           Striated Heron - Butorides striata

22           Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea

23           White Ibis - Eudocimus albus

24           Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus

25           Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus

26           Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura

27           Swallow-tailed Kite - Elanoides forficatus

28           Snail Kite - Rostrhamus sociabilis

29           Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinicus

30           Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata

31           Limpkin - Aramus guarauna

32           Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus

33           American Oystercatcher - Haematopus palliatus

34           Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola

35           Snowy Plover - Charadrius nivosus

36           Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus

37           Wattled Jacana - Jacana jacana

38           Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica

39           Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres

40           Sanderling - Calidris alba

41           Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla

42           Wilson's Phalarope - Phalaropus tricolor

43           Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius

44           Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca

45           Willet - Tringa semipalmata

46           Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes

47           Grey-hooded Gull - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

48           Grey Gull - Leucophaeus modestus

49           Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla

50           Kelp Gull - Larus dominicanus

51           Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica

52           South American Tern - Sterna hirundinacea

53           Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus

54           Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis

55           Elegant Tern - Thalasseus elegans

56           Rock Dove - Columba livia

57           Band-tailed Pigeon - Patagioenas fasciata

58           Ecuadorian Ground-Dove - Columbina buckleyi

59           Croaking Ground-Dove - Columbina cruziana

60           White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi

61           Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata

62           Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani

63           Groove-billed Ani - Crotophaga sulcirostris

64           Squirrel Cuckoo - Piaya cayana

65           Peruvian Pygmy-Owl - Glaucidium peruanum

66           White-necked Jacobin - Florisuga mellivora

67           Tawny-bellied Hermit - Phaethornis syrmatophorus

68           Brown Violetear - Colibri delphinae

69           Sparkling Violetear - Colibri coruscans

70           Green Thorntail - Discosura conversii

71           Tyrian Metaltail - Metallura tyrianthina

72           Green-crowned Brilliant - Heliodoxa jacula

73           White-bellied Woodstar - Chaetocercus mulsant

74           Purple-throated Woodstar - Calliphlox mitchellii

75           Crowned Woodnymph - Thalurania colombica

76           Amazilia Hummingbird - Amazilia amazilia

77           Andean Emerald - Amazilia franciae

78           Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - Amazilia tzacatl

79           Golden-headed Quetzal - Pharomachrus auriceps

80           Masked Trogon - Trogon personatus

81           Andean Motmot - Momotus aequatorialis

82           Broad-billed Motmot - Electron platyrhynchum

83           Collared Aracari - Pteroglossus torquatus

84           Yellow-throated Toucan - Ramphastos ambiguus

85           Choco Toucan - Ramphastos brevis

86           Ecuadorian Piculet - Picumnus sclateri

87           Black-cheeked Woodpecker - Melanerpes pucherani

88           Scarlet-backed Woodpecker - Veniliornis callonotus

89           Golden-olive Woodpecker - Colaptes rubiginosus

90           Lineated Woodpecker - Dryocopus lineatus

91           White-winged Parakeet - Brotogeris versicolurus

92           Pacific Parrotlet - Forpus coelestis

93           Collared Antshrike - Thamnophilus bernardi

94           Plain-brown Woodcreeper - Dendrocincla fuliginosa

95           Streak-headed Woodcreeper - Lepidocolaptes souleyetii

96           Pale-legged Hornero - Furnarius leucopus

97           Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet - Camptostoma obsoletum

98           Ornate Flycatcher - Myiotriccus ornatus

99           Common Tody-Flycatcher - Todirostrum cinereum

100         Smoke-colored Pewee - Contopus fumigatus

101         Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans

102         Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus

103         Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant - Agriornis montanus

104         Masked Water-Tyrant - Fluvicola nengeta

105         Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant - Ochthoeca fumicolor

106         Sooty-crowned Flycatcher - Myiarchus phaeocephalus

107         Boat-billed Flycatcher - Megarynchus pitangua

108         Social Flycatcher - Myiozetetes similis

109         Streaked Flycatcher - Myiodynastes maculatus

110         Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus

111         Andean Cock-of-the-rock - Rupicola peruvianus

112         One-colored Becard - Pachyramphus homochrous

113         Rufous-browed Peppershrike - Cyclarhis gujanensis

114         Blue-and-white Swallow - Pygochelidon cyanoleuca

115         Grey-breasted Martin - Progne chalybea

116         House Wren - Troglodytes aedon

117         Fasciated Wren - Campylorhynchus fasciatus

118         Tropical Gnatcatcher - Polioptila plumbea

119         Ecuadorian Thrush - Turdus maculirostris

120         Black-billed Thrush - Turdus ignobilis

121         Great Thrush - Turdus fuscater

122         Long-tailed Mockingbird - Mimus longicaudatus

123         Three-striped Warbler - Basileuterus tristriatus

124         Buff-rumped Warbler - Myiothlypis fulvicauda

125         Slate-throated Redstart - Myioborus miniatus

126         Spectacled Redstart - Myioborus melanocephalus

127         Black-eared Hemispingus - Hemispingus melanotis

128         Flame-rumped Tanager - Ramphocelus flammigerus

129         Blue-and-yellow Tanager - Pipraeidea bonariensis

130         Blue-grey Tanager - Thraupis episcopus

131         Blue-necked Tanager - Tangara cyanicollis

132         Golden Tanager - Tangara arthus

133         Cinereous Conebill - Conirostrum cinereum

134         Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch - Phrygilus plebejus

135         Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola

136         Variable Seedeater - Sporophila corvina

137         Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola

138         Dusky-faced Tanager - Mitrospingus cassinii

139         Black-winged Saltator - Saltator atripennis

140         Streaked Saltator - Saltator striatipectus

141         Yellow-throated Chlorospingus - Chlorospingus flavigularis

142         Orange-billed Sparrow - Arremon aurantiirostris

143         Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis

144         Golden Grosbeak - Pheucticus chrysogaster

145         Peruvian Meadowlark - Sturnella bellicosa

146         Scrub Blackbird - Dives warczewiczi

147         Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus

148         Shiny Cowbird - Molothrus bonariensis

149         Yellow-tailed Oriole - Icterus mesomelas

150         Yellow-rumped Cacique - Cacicus cela

151         Orange-crowned Euphonia - Euphonia saturata

152         Thick-billed Euphonia - Euphonia laniirostris

153         Hooded Siskin - Spinus magellanicus

154         House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

Ecuador 2017 - Guayaquil again, Parque Forestal, Isla Santay and Cerro Blanco

For the last few days I've been back in Guayaquil. Victor has been here attending a conference, along with our other friend Made, and last night Paul came by bus from Riobamba, so we're all here! On Thursday afternoon, Victor, Made and I were intending to go to Isla Santay, but it was a bit late in the day so we went to Parque Forestal in downtown Guayaquil instead. There were a few iguanas around, and some non-native, domesticated ducks and geese, but more importantly, 3 new species! I saw my first White-winged Parakeets (an introduced species, but still cute!), Black-cheeked Woodpecker, and One-coloured Becard. I also got a nice close look at a Striated Heron and a family of Groove-billed Anis.

Iguana, Parque Forestal, Guayaquil

White-winged Parakeet, Parque Forestal, Guayaquil

Striated Heron, Parque Forestal, Guayaquil

Groove-billed Ani, Parque Forestal, Guayaquil

Iguana, Parque Forestal, Guayaquil

The next morning, Criss, Melany and I visited Isla Santay. The island is in the middle of the Rio Guayas, and there is a bridge connecting it to the mainland. We hired bikes for $4 for up to 3 hours, and rode across the bridge and along the wide boardwalks on the island to an eco village, where we dismounted and went for a walk. There are a few crocodiles in there, and we also got nice views of some Lineated Woodpeckers, and a new species - the Pacific Pygmy-owl! I hadn't ridden a bike for quite a few years and it was really fun, although I was a bit sore afterwards!

Crocodile, Isla Santay

Lineated Woodpecker, Isla Santay

Lineated Woodpecker, Isla Santay

Lineated Woodpecker, Isla Santay

Lineated Woodpecker, Isla Santay

Lineated Woodpecker, Isla Santay

Pacific Pygmy-Owl, Isla Santay

Pacific Pygmy-Owl, Isla Santay

*** Update*** Criss, Paul, Melany and I ended up going to Cerro Blanco during the day today and I saw eight new species!!! 

Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Cerro Blanco

Golden Grosbeak, Cerro Blanco

Yellow-rumped Cacique, Cerro Blanco

And that's about it for my trip to Ecuador! We're having a relaxing day today and I'm flying home tomorrow, see you soon Australia! 

Ecuador 2017 - Ecuasal Salt Lagoons, Salinas

On Wednesday, Victor, Melany and I left Manta at 5AM and drive 3.5 hours to Salinas. With a helpful tip from a Red Aves Ecuador Facebook group member, we had arranged a tour of the Ecuasal Salt Lagoons with Ben Haase. Ben, originally from Holland, has lived in the area for several decades, and is an expert particularly on aquatic/sea birds. The salt lagoons are private property, so members of the public are generally not allowed to just wander through there looking for birds. Ben has been allowed access to study and monitor the birds there, and is able to take guests through, so if anyone reading this is hoping to visit, definitely contact him through the Museo de Ballenas in Salinas.

The four of us got to the salt lagoons at about 9AM. When I asked if we would see flamingos, one of the two species I most wanted to see in Ecuador, he said it was unlikely, because the salinity in the lagoons had decreased due to all of the rain recently, and the flamingos rely on the high salinity for their food source.  Victor drove us along narrow roads around and between the salt ponds, and Ben pointed out all of the different species. The birds there are changing every month of the year, as they get a lot of migratory shorebirds from the north, and some from the south as well. I even saw a few species we get at home in South Australia!

Least Sandpiper, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Lesser Yellowlegs, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Lesser Yellowlegs, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

 There is a patch of "forest" at the edge of lagoons, where hundreds of egrets and herons roost.

Great Egret, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Cattle Egret, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Snowy Egret, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Black-necked Stilt, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Black-necked Stilt, juvenile, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Ruddy Turnstone, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Ruddy Turnstone, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Grey-hooded Gull, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Willet, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

White-cheeked Pintails, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

White-cheeked Pintail, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Tri-colored Heron, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Dragonfly, species unknown, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

The most abundant species at the lagoons was Wilson's Phalarope. On the day we were there, Ben estimated there were 3,000 to 4,000 birds, but he said sometimes there have been as many as 60,000!

Wilson's Phalarope, female, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

A "small" group of Wilson's Phalaropes, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Black-bellied Plover (known as Grey Plover in Australia), Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Peruvian and Brown Pelicans, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Snowy Plover, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Despite the recent rain, we saw a group of eight flamingos! They were about as far away from us as they could be, but once a couple poked their head out I still managed a photo that actually shows what type of bird they are!

Chilean Flamingos, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

One of the first birds we saw was the Lesser Yellowlegs. On the far side of the Lagoons we saw Greater Yellowlegs. The main differences between the two species are the size (Greater is a bit bigger) and the bill (Lesser has a shorter, straighter, all black bill, Greater has a longer, slightly upswept bill which is paler at the base).

Greater Yellowlegs, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Semipalmated Plover, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

White Ibis, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Peruvian Pelican, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Grey Gull (on the right) with Grey-hooded Gull (front left) and Black-necked Stilt (back)

Hudsonian Godwits (front) with a mixed flock of Royal, Elegant, and Gull-billed Terns.

These American Oystercatchers look very similar to the Pied Oystercatcher of Australia, but have a bright yellow iris!

American Oystercatchers, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

Willet, Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

As we were heading out, we went to the top of a huge mound of salt, and got an excellent view over the lagoons.

Ecuasal Salt Lagoons

From there, we dropped Ben off and had a look at the whale skeleton and other marine specimens at Museo de Ballenas. After lunch in Salinas we went to La Chocolatera, the western-most point of Ecuador. To get there you have to pass through a military base, which used to be quite difficult until former President Correa declared it a national tourist treasure, and opened it up for tourist access.

La Chocolatera, Salinas

La Chocolatera, Salinas

La Chocolatera, Salinas