Ecuador trip 1994 No. 3
Bar-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes fuscus albidiventris We saw around 10 on both visits to Cotopaxi and saw up to 3 at Papallacta Pass on our three visits there. Fairly common in paramo and grassy areas usually near water. Recorded mainly between 3200 to 4300 m.
Stout-billed Cinclodes - Cinclodes excelsior excelsior. We saw c.40 on our first visit to Cotopaxi but surprisingly only 2 were in evidence there during our second visit. We also saw 2 near Papallacta Pass on the 21st. Uncommon in paramo, low shrubbery and patches of polylepis woodland, usually near water. It ranges between 3300 to 4500m. Just one race in Ecuador.
Pale-legged Hornero - Furnarius leucopus cinnamomeus Singles were seen in fields between Loja and the Cajanuma Cabin entrance of the Podocarpus NP on the 9th and 10th, another single was seen outside the airport serving Loja on the 16th and seen on three dates around Santo Domingo including a confiding individual in the hotel grounds and a daily maximum of 30 seen at Tinalandia on the 19th. Superb. Common on or near the ground in a variety of open or semi-open habitats. in the lowlands of W. Ecuador and in receny years has taken advantage of the widespread clearing of humid forests.
Andean Tit-Spinetail - Leptasthenura andicola andicola We saw two at Papallacta Pass on the 21st and one there on the 26th and two just above the conifer plantation on Cotopaxi on the 27th. Uncommon in shrubbery and low woodland near the treeline. Recorded mostly from 3200 to 4000m. Just one race. We found it was quite difficult to photograph as it held itself in awkred positions as the above picture shows.
Poor record shot of the White-chinned Thistletail - Schizoeaca fuliginosa fuliginosa. We obtained poor views of 3 at Papallacta Pass on the 21st but good views of a single individual in the gully just above the conifer plantation on Cotopaxi on the 27th. The above picture shows the white chin. Uncommon in the undergrowth of low woodland near the treeline, and in patches of polylepis woodland in paramo on both slopes of the Andes.
Many-striped Canastero - Asthenes flammulata flammulata Seen daily in small numbers at both Cotopaxi and Papallacta Pass. One race and is fairly common in grassy paramo with bushes in humid and arid regions. Ranges from 3200 to 4200 m.
Undulated Antpitta - Grallaria squamigera squamigera . An excellent hoped-for species which we didn’t really expect to see. A superb individual was watched for around 30 minutes at the start of the Mirador trail above the Cajanuma Cabin as it fed in the open on the trail ahead of us after heavy rain on the 9th with another seen briefly on the Antenejos trail the same day. A single individual was seen in the bamboo thicket at Pasachoa on the 26th although it quickly departed once it was aware of our prescence. Many birds were heard at both sites although it is listed as uncommon in The Birds of the High Andes. Two races in Ecuador quite different in appearance but similar in calls. On or near the ground inside montane forests and woodland of the upper subtropical and temperate zones on both slopes of the Andes.
Chestnut-naped Antpitta - Grallaria nuchalis nuchalis A superb species being one of the highlights of the trip with a pair found feeding on emerging grubs on the Antenejos trail with some good photographs being obtained as the birds performed for much of the day. The following day a single individual was seen briefly on a different part of the same trail. Brilliant. Two races are found in Ecuador, on or near the ground inside montane forests and forest borders, often where there are dense stands of Chusquea bamboo, and is recorded between 2000 to 3000 m. The two races are quite different in plumage and with different calls and possibly seperate species are ivolved.
Tawny Antpitta - Grallaria quitensis quitensis. A single individual was seen opposite the museum at Cotopaxi on the 17th, 8 were seen at Papallacta Pass on the 21st and 5 there on the 28th. Good views seem almost guaranteed of this showy Antpitta. Fairly common on or near the ground in agricultural areas and paramo with low bushes. and patches of woodland including polylepis. Range mostly from 3000 to 4500 m. Just one race invokved.
Ocellated Tapaculo - Acropternis orthonyx infuscata. An outrageous species proving the highlight of the trip when we succeeded at Pasochoa where singles were watched on both the 16th and 26th. With the aid of tape playback they were watched for a couple of hours as once located they would only move a very short distance whilst foraging. JFC obtained some fine photographs. At the same location we had our only Sword-billed Hummingbird for a couple of minutes, but was unable to photograph this. The Tapaculo is uncommon in the undergrowth of montane forests in the upper subtropical and temperate zones on both slopes of the Andes, and on slopes above the central valley with Pasochoa being one of the main sites. Until recently, it was a poorly known bird and only rarely recorded. It remains a difficult bird to see. Just one race, with its range 1900 to 3500 , but mainly found above 2500m. When we arrived at this reserve, we had only walked a short distance before the distinctive song was heard only ten metres from us, and within minutes we were having some exciting views of it.
Red-crested Cotinga - Ampelion rubrocristata. We saw 2 along the entrance road to Cajanuma Cabin associating with Barred Fruiteaters on the 15th, and singles at Pasochoa on the 16th and above Papallacta Village on the 28th. Uncommon at boarders of montane forests, woodlands including secondary woodlands and shrubby areas. Recorded mostly from 2500 to 3500 m.
Barred Fruiteater - Pipreola arcuata arcuata. We saw 4 over a period of three dates in the vicinity of Cajanuma Cabin with JFC obtaining some good photographs. The birds all gave distinctive high-pitched whistles alerting us to their prescence. An aggressive individual was seen to twice chase a Red-crested Cotinga. One race uncommon in the lower and middle growth of montane forests on both slopes of the Andes. Recorded mostly from 2500 to 3300 m.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock - Rupicola peruviana. Reasonable views were obtained daily at Rio Bombuscara where it was the second species seen. Both males and females were seen but never at a lek. We estimated that we saw 2 on the 11th, 5 on the 12th and 3 on the 13th. Uncommon near forested gorges and ravines in the foothills and subtropical zone on both slopes of the Andes. They are most numerous from 900 to 2100 m. Photography was difficult as we didn't see them displaying at a lek.
Ornate Flycatcher - Myiotriccus ornatus. We saw 8 along the Rio Bombuscara trails on the 11th and 4 there the following day and we saw 2 along the road to the obelisk above Mindo on the 22nd and 10 there on the 23rd. Common at borders of montane forests and woodland on both slopes of the Andes.Recorded mostly between about 800 to 2000m. Two quite distinct races occurs in Ecuador, one of the east slope and the second on the west slope of the Andes.
The remainder of this birding trip to Ecuador will be completed on Blog No. 4 which will be added shortly.
