Ecuador from Quito:  April 4 to 13, 2008 with La Selva Lodge Extension to April 19 Stennie Meadours, as Host, to a Covey of Adults and Lelis Navarrete as Bird Guide The itinerary for this trip is based upon our April 2007 Exploratory trip which resulted in 570 species of birds being observed or heard in 14 days.  The core of the trip (without the rain forest extension) yielded 440 species.  By adding a day in the rain forest extension, this full trip with an extension may yield 600 species.  Participants will likely see nearly 50 hummingbird species and over 80 tanager species.  The 5 day  and 4 night extension can be added for deep Amazonian rain forest birding from La Selva Lodge. This trip will be hosted by Stennie Meadours, past president of Houston Audubon.    The bird guide for the main trip will be Ecuador’s best bird guide, Lelis Navarrete.  Lelis, along with Robert Ridgely , found the Jocotoco Antpitta, a bird new to science.  Besides being a fantastic bird guide, Lelis supports a number of conservation efforts.  By my estimates and experience, Lelis' skills will allow you the opportunity to see another 10 to 30 species more per day than other bird guides in Ecuador.  You are in the right hands on this trip. We really want to keep this group size to about 6 to 8 participants.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Ecuador April 4 and 5:  Arrival and Refugio Paz de las Aves (the Antpitta spot) On Friday, most participants on the trip will fly in from Houston.  Flights leave Houston at about 5 PM and get into Quito just after 11 PM.  We will have a representative meet you at your gate and take you to a local Quito hotel. Get a good night sleep, as we will start early after breakfast for Refugio Paz de Las Aves. On Saturday morning the Refugio trip will begin just before dark as we walk to the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek.  Besides seeing and hearing these beautiful birds, we will also see several other species, such as Toucan Barbet and perhaps Crimson-rumped Toucanet. The Refugio is world famous for opportunities to see Antpitta species.    With some luck, we will be able to see Giant Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, and Moustached Antpitta.  We may also see Dark-backed Wood Quail and one or two more species. Other fantastic species occur here including Fawn-breasted Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, and Golden-headed Quetzal to just name a few. Like many other parts of Ecuador, large flocks of multiple species can be found.  On the 2007 trip we found a flock with over 20 different species, providing for over one hour of fantastic bird-watching. Hummingbird species found at their feeders include Empress Brilliant, Tawny-bellied Hermit, and Collared Inca, and several others. After enjoying the Refugio and once the birding slows down, we will head towards the Milpe area stopping in transit for a few birding opportunities. April 6 to 7:  Northwest Ecuador:  Choco Endemics, Milpe Bird Sanctuary and Rio Silanche:  Andean Foothills and Tropical Forest On Sunday, we will go to Rio Silanche, an area preserved by the Mindo Cloudforest Foundation.  This area includes Choco lowland forest at about 1000 to 1200 feet above sea level.  The reserve is comprised of a mixture of primary forest, regenerating forest, with some grassland and former plantation. In addition to the canopy observation tower, extensive trails and a footbridge make for easy exploration of the forest. An early morning start is warranted to reach the top of the tower at sunrise.   From the top of the tower, we saw 80 species between 6 AM at 9:30 AM in April 2007.  We saw 2 hummingbird species in a nearby tree, including Purple-chested Hummingbird.  Great looks were had of Dot-winged Antwren, Purple Honeycreeper, Green Honeycreeper and the spectacular Scarlet-breasted Dacnis.  Griscom’s Antwren, Slate-throated Gnatcatcher, Scarlet-and-White Tanager, Guira Tanager, Blue-whiskered Tanager, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Chestnut-fronted Macaw and Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher could also be seen from the tower.   Lelis is always worth watching as he sorts large flocks or listens carefully to allow the bird-watching participants the opportunity to see new species. A short walk down the trail included Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Black-striped Woodcreeper, Plain Xenops, Pacific Antwren, Immaculate Antbird, Western Woodhaunter, Russet Antshrike, and Blue-crowned Manakin.  In one 20 foot segment of the trail we added Western White-tailed Trogon, Collared Trogon, Broad-billed Motmot, White-whiskered Puffbird, and Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant to our day list which reached 139 species. On Monday, the destination for the day will be the Milpe Bird Sanctuary in the Andean Foothills.  This sanctuary is located in a Birdlife International Important Bird Area (IBA), Los Bancos—Milpe.   The sanctuary has an altitudinal range from 3350-3770 feet and includes two small rivers that converge in a steep, forested valley.   Many birders consider this one of the finest sites in all of Ecuador. Many of the most spectacular Choco Endemics occur here: Plumbeous Forest-Falcon, Moss-backed Tanager, Choco Trogon, and Club-winged Manakin. This sight is long famous for good tanager viewing days.  The road hosts good mixed flocks, and new trails in the reserve allow access to the forest.   We can expect a host of tanagers, including Ochre-breasted Tanager, Rufous-throated Tanager, Lemon-rumped Tanager, and we may get lucky and find the dazzling Grey-and-gold Tanager.  Over twenty species from this spectacular family are possible here in a day. On our last trip, we found Choco Toucan, Choco Warbler, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Thick-billed Euphonia, Bay Wren, Rufous-throated Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager, Yellow-bellied Siskin, Tri-colored Brush-Finch, Striped Cuckoo, Chestnut-collard Swift and Russet Antshrike.  We will also add a few more species of hummingbird species, possibly Purple-crowned Fairy, Green-crowned Brilliant ,White-whiskered Hermit, and Green-crowned Woodnymph.  In total, the day could reach 100 species.    When we want to quench our thirst and have lunch, we can cool off at the Restaurante Mirador Río Blanco in Los Bancos where up to a dozen species of tanager come to feed on the bananas put out for them. Several feeders which attract numerous tanager species (including Emerald Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, and several others), a number of hummingbird species (including Green Thorntail) can be seen here.  In addition, we may find Crimson-rumped Toucanet perched up near the restaurant. We will then return to the Milpe Bird Sanctuary or back to the well preserved forest around the lodge.  We may find Glistening-green Tanager and other species new to the trip.  At some point, we may see Chocó Toucans and Pale-mandibled Araçaris in the more open areas.   Check out www.mindocloudforest.org for more information Lelis may come up with other more productive options, and I have learned to go with his suggestions. At some point in the afternoon (depending if there is any productive birding left), the group will head towards the Bellavista Reserve to start our birding in this area, to check in and to make a 7 PM supper.  While checking our bird list of after dinner, a Common Potoo was perched near our dinner table.

Last Few Days on the Main Trip Itinerary April 10 to 12:  High Andes and East Slope On Thursday, we will leave from Quito once again in the early morning.  At Papallachta Pass (13,000 feet high) and along the road, a few spots will allow us opportunities for Torrent Duck, Plain-breasted hawk, and Eared Dove.  Other interesting and more likely species as we head east include Red-crested Cotinga, Spectacled Whitestart, Brown-bellied Swallow, Cinereous Conebill, Blue-backed Conebill, Black Flowerpiercer, Plain- collared Seedeater, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, and Hooded Siskin.  We may also get better looks at Pearled Treerunner, White-crested Elaenia, White- banded Tyrannulet, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant, Turquoise Jay, Mountain Wren, Citrine Warbler, Mountain Cacique, and Superciliaried Hemispingus.  Additional species of tanager can be found on the east slope, and some species are easier to find here.  In 2007, we added Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Gray-hooded Bush- Tanager and others on the east slope trip before getting to San Isidro. We may also try the Microwave Tower for Andean Condor and for Black- backed Bush Tanager. Some of the high mountain species we may find include Ecuadorian Hillstar hummingbird, Andean Tit-Spinetail, Many-striped Canastero, Paramo Ground- Tyrant, Stout-billed Cinclodes and other interesting furnarids. The day will finish with lodging at one of the nearby hot springs lodges near the east slope of Papallachta pass.  Other hummingbirds which may be seen include Mountain Velvetbreast, Tyrian Metaltail and Long-tailed Sylph. The next morning (Friday) will start birding near the lodge. Next, we will go to another nearby lodge.  This lodge’s hummingbird feeders attract the Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tourmaline Sunangel, Glowing Puffleg, and Mountain Avocetbill. Birds of particular interest which are seen regularly at Guango Lodge include Andean Guan, Gray-breasted Mountain- Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Gray-hooded Bush- Tanager, Black-headed Hemispingus, Black-capped Hemispingus, and Black-eared Hemispingus.  In 2007, we also saw Plushcap and had great looks at White-capped Dipper. Once finished with the Guango Lodge, we will try a few spots with great potential on the way to San Isidro Cabinas where we will spend the night.  On the 2007 trip, we found Blue-and-Black Tanager, Inca Jay and Olivaceous Siskin and then found a huge flock of 20 plus species, including Streaked Xenops, Golden-eared Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, and Fulvous- breated Flatbill.   Upon arriving at San Isidro in 2007, we added Bronzy Inca to our burgeoning list of over 40 species of hummingbirds.  We also added Highland Motmot and Andean Solitaire.  The resident bird guide (who I never tipped well enough) called in Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and White-bellied Antpitta before I had to leave to catch my flight. You will also have an opportunity for some great night birding at San Isidro where Andean Potoo (though rare) is sometimes staked-out and where Rufous-bellied Nighthawk is often found, along with Rufous-banded Owl, and Mottled Owls.  In recent years, a large and beautiful species of owl (though similar in appearance to the Black-banded Owl, may be new to science) emerges in the early evening and then hunts right next to the cabins on a nightly basis. On Saturday, the trip will continue at San Isidro.  Other potential trip birds likely to be added in the morning at San Isidro include White-capped Parrot, Powerful Woodpecker, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Smoky Bush-Tyrant, Inca Jay, Black-billed Peppershrike, Saffron- crowned Tanager and hundreds of other species.    A short walk from the cabins, the forest awaits, where mixed understory and canopy flocks seemingly drip from the foliage.  Lelis will be along to help find Masked Trogon, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Streak-capped Treehunter, Striped Treehunter, Long-tailed Antbird, and Barred Antthrush.  Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant, Variegated Bristle-Tyrants and Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet are a few of the list of varied tyrannids to be found in the mixed species flocks.  Also be on the look out for Black-chested Fruiteater, Dusky Piha, Pale-footed Swallow, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, and Golden-collared Honeycreeper.  Also a wonderful selection of colorful tanager species can be found, including Red-hooded Tanager and White-capped Tanager.  Also, the gregarious Northern Mountain Cacique and Subtropical Cacique should be found. All of these species, among many others, are residents here and are frequently seen by visiting birders. San Isidro birds include a few rarities, which may be found, including Highland Tinamou, Greater Scythebill, Bicolored Antvireo, Peruvian Antpitta, Giant Antpitta, White-rimmed Brush-Finch, and maybe the White-faced Nunbird. A few more hummingbirds may also be added to the trip list including Bronzy Inca, Buff-tailed Coronet, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Long-tailed Sylph, Gorgeted Woodstar and likely a few more species.   At 4 PM the tour will continue back to Quito so that participants can catch an early morning flight back to Houston.

La Selva Lodge Extension:  April 13 to 19, 2008 April 13:  Extension Trip Begins with One More Day on East Slope The group wishing to continue birding in Ecuador, including La Selva Lodge at the Amazonian rain forest, will stay at San Isidro for Saturday night.   On Sunday, the extension trip group will continue birding with Lelis in the San Isidro area.  Locations which may be birded include nearby Guacamayos trail, the Antisana and Sumaco National Park, and/or the Loretto Road. New birds added to the trip in 2007 included Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Yellow-throated Tanager, Red-breasted Blackbird, Black-and- Chestnut Eagle, Emerald Toucanet, Subtropical Cacique, Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Saffron- crowned Tanager, White-capped Parrot, Rusty-winged Barbtail, Black-streaked Puffbird, Rufous Spinetail, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Russet-backed Oropendola, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Yellow-green Bush-Tanager, Scaly-naped Amazon, Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer, Handsome Flycatcher, and Golden-collared Honeycreeper In addition, more hummingbird species were seen including Buff-winged Starfrontlet, and White-tailed Hillstar. April 14 to April 18, 2008:  rain forest Extension Group On Monday morning, an early morning breakfast will be provided at the lodge before the group leaves at 7:00 AM for Quito.  The group must reach the VIP Hanger by 10:30 AM to catch the plane to La Selva Lodge. Pack 28 pound luggage for La Selva Lodge.  Extra luggage can be stored at the hanger, with Lelis or at Quito area hotel. Once your flight arrives in Coca, you will then take a canoe 60 miles down the river and deep into the Amazonian basin to  La Selva Lodge, where the birding will be outstanding.   April 14 from about 2 PM until April 18 in the morning, enjoy Birding, Other Wildlife and the rain forest at Sacha Lodge.   The April 2007 group added 140 species to the trip list at a nearby lodge over 2 days.  The 2008 group should have much better birding, as they will be in the rain forest area for an extra full day.  Experienced birders have told me, we could add another 200 species (60 more than 2007) given better conditions and the extra day. The 2007 group added Cinereous Tinamou, Striated Heron, Cocoi Heron, Slate-colored Hawk, Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon, Black Caracara, Speckled Chachalaca, Marbled Wood-Quail, Chestnut-headed Crake, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Black-headed Parrot, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Hoatzin, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, and Long-tailed Potoo. Additional hummingbirds included White-bearded Hermit, Straight-billed Hermit, Golden-tailed Sapphire, and Fork-tailed Woodnymph. Additional trogon species included Black-tailed Trogon, Amazonian White-tailed Trogon, and Amazonian Violaceous Trogon. Additional Toucans and related species included Golden-collared Toucanet, Many-banded Aracari, Ivory-billed Aracari, and White- throated Toucan. Additional woodpecker species included Lafresnaye’s Piculet, Little Woodpecker, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, and Crimson-crested Woodpecker. The extension group also saw Brown Jacamar, Purplish Jacamar, Scarlet-crowned Barbet, Gilded Barbet, Pied Puffbird, Black-fronted Nunbird, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Cinnamon-rumped Foliage-gleaner, Castelnau’s Antshrike, Cinereous Antshrike, Plumbeous Antbird, White-plumed Antbird, Lunulated Antbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Screaming Piha, and Piratic Flycatcher. Additional rain forest species included Pink-throated Becard, Purple-throated Cotinga, Plum-throated Cotinga, Spangled Cotinga, Wire-tailed Manakin, Orange-crested Manakin, Musician Wren, Black-capped Donacobius, Red-capped Cardinal, Casqued Oropendola, and Orange-backed Troupial. The group also saw another dozen tanager species including Paradise Tanager, Opal-rumped Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Green- and-gold Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Masked Crimson Tanager, and Flame-crested Tanager All meals and lodging will be provided by La Selva Lodge. Friday, April 18 Morning Early morning birding and breakfast at La Selva. Boat to Coca (estimate leave time at about 10:30 AM). Flight departing Coca on VIP at 12:20 PM and arriving Quito at 12:50 PM. Stennie will get you back to the local hotel for lunch and an afternoon of packing up. April 19:  Early AM Flight for Extension Group   Transfer by hotel for early AM flight on American Airlines, Flight Number 654 to Houston was at 6:40 AM in 2007.  Recommend leaving lodge by 4:30 AM.

Brief Itinerary Friday:  April 4: Fly from Houston (at about 5 PM) to Quito (arrive 11 PM) Saturday:  April 5:  Refugio Paz de Las Aves (the Antpitta location) and more in Milpe Sunday:  April 6:  Rio Silanche Monday:  April 7:  Milpe and surrounding areas Tuesday:  April 8:  Bellavista and the Tandayapa Valley Wednesday:  April 9:  Yanacocha Reserve and Other Species Northwest of Quito Thursday:  April 10:  Papallachta Pass Friday:  April 11:  Guango Lodge and forest and San Isidro Saturday:  April 12:  San Isidro and Surrounding Areas Sunday, April 13:  Non-extension group flys home. Extension Day One:  Sunday, April 13:  Guacamayos Trail, the Antisana and Sumaco National Park Extension:  Monday, April 14 through Friday, April 18:   5 Days/4 Nights at La Selva Lodge in the Amazonian Rain Forest with extension group flying home on Sat., April 19

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Ecuador CONTINUED..... April 8 to 9:  Northwest Mountains and Valleys Now that we have reached a new habitat, we will start to see a different avifauna.   On Tuesday, some of the species we are more likely to see at Bellavista include Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Plain-breasted Hawk, Blue and White Swallow, Plain-tailed Wren, Sickle- winged Guan, Great Thrush, Plumbeous Pigeon, Glossy- black Thrush, Red-billed Parrot, Turquoise Jay, Spectacled Whitestart, Band-winged Nightjar (hopefully more than a song), Slate-throated Whitestart, White-collared Swift, Russet-crowned Warbler, Masked Trogon, Grass-green Tanager, Dusky Bush-Tanager, Plate-billed Mountain- Toucan, Rufous-chested Tanager, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager, Powerful Woodpecker, Thick-billed Euphonia, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Montane Woodcreeper, Golden Tanager, Azara's Spinetail, Flame- faced Tanager, Red-faced Spinetail, and Beryl-spangled Tanager, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Blue-and-black Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Spillmann's Tapaculo, Chestnut- capped Brush-Finch, Green and black Fruiteater, White- winged Brush-Finch, Streak-necked Flycatcher, White-sided Flowerpiercer, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Masked Flowerpiercer, Cinnamon Flycatcher, and Smoke-coloured Pewee. Several lodges have feeders in the area and an additional ten to twenty species could be added to the trip list, including Velvet-purple Coronet, Sparkling Violetear, Buff- tailed Coronet, Gorgeted Sunangel, Purple-bibbed White-tip, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Booted Racket-Tail, and Purple- throated Woodstar, Andean Emerald, Speckled Hummingbird, Violet-tailed Sylph, and Brown Inca. Other birds which we may find in the area include Rufescent Screech-Owl, White-faced Nunbird, Cloud Forest Pygmy-Owl (likely to hear), Swallow-tailed Nightjar, Ocellated Tapaculo, and Green-fronted Lancebill.   We will also look for Crested Quetzal, Plushcap, Tanager Finch, and Beautiful Jay. On Wednesday morning, we will start early to reach Yanacocha Reserve or “Inca Ditch”.  Famous for high elevation hummingbirds (such as Giant Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Sapphire-vented Puffleg and many more).  We may also see White-crested Elaenia, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant, Brown- bellied Swallow, Black-crested Warbler, Masked Flower_Piercer, Glossy Flower-piercer,  Black Flower- Piercer, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Grassland Yellow-Finch, Stripe-headed Brush- Finch, Hooded Siskin, and more. We will also continue to bird as we come down the mountain going through a number of different habitats, as we drive back into Quito.

For more information (including an easy to print itinerary), contact us at 1-888-203-7464 or by email at travel@nestlingtours.com.