Loreto Road - June 25

Altitude:  6,500-3,300 feet a.s.l.
Ecoregions:   Temperate Forest to tropical lowlands
New Hummingbird Species Seen:  Green Hermit, Green-fronted Lancebill, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Ecuadorian Piedtail, White-tailed Hillstar.

View from the Loreto Road

Location, Location, Location!  Ecuador is a vertical country and many bird species are found in relatively narrow altitudinal zones on one or both sides of the Andes.  The changes in vegetation we drive through in just an hour are amazing as we go up and down in altitude.  Loreto road transects many altitudinal zones and thus has a reputation as a birding hotspot.  We had no idea that roadside birding could be so rewarding.  Our driver Herman and guide Marcelo did an outstanding job showing us around. I wish I had pictures to share of the amazing hummingbirds and tanagers I saw today.  But, that will have to wait until next time when I return to Ecuador with a better camera! 

We saw palm trees laden with fruit and Napo Tamarin Monkeys

Other sections of the road had cliffs where we saw this Cliff Flycatcher

My original proposal had us traveling into the Sumaco area and staying at a lodge there.  Unfortunately, the lodge was closed for the month of June this year and I thought we would have to forgo these East Slope tropical lowland species.  But, this day gave us many of my target species for this altitude and slope.  You’ll just have to believe me about how dramatic and colorful these birds are or maybe do a Google image search!

We searched every rushing stream and waterfall for a White-tailed Hillstar or a Green-fronted Lancebill.  While visiting a waterfall along the road we heard the white tail but it would not respond to the IPOD.  Later that day, Marcelo literally shook the branches of flowering shrubs near Cosanga and we finally saw it.  It perched for a minute and then it was gone.  What a thrill!  The Lancebill was found near a waterfall as well– its long bill and sparking green forehead was unmistakable.  

We searched forest edges, backyard gardens and feeders at roadside stands for the Fork-tailed Woodnymph and finally saw them on flowers and feeders near a restaurant that was also near an amazing waterfall.  One thing this country has in abundance is lots of whitewater and waterfalls!

Waterfall behind a roadside eatery.  Rushing water is everywhere in Ecuador.

I have only seen 2 Hermits on this trip – everyone else has seen more – I just can’t seem to get a bead on them.  So, seeing the Green Hermit at the same area near the waterfall was nice – I finally got to check off a hummingbird in that curved billed group.  But, without Marcelo to help me with the I.D., I might have thought I was looking at a Tawny-bellied.  We were on the wrong side of the Andes for a White-whiskered Hermit (duh!!) and too low for a Tawny-bellied!  It is so important to know your altitude and which side of the  Andes you are on in this country!

Entrance to the Reserve which protects 720 acres.

The Rio Hollin in the Narupa Reserve

The Ecuadorian Piedtail was probably the most secretive bird we saw.  We were in the Narupa Reserve hiking a forest trail and saw the rounded tail tipped in white.  Our look at this bird wasn’t great but it was enough to get an I.D.   

The Loreto Road was newly paved in 2008

Although we saw lots of great birds we also saw lots of habitat destruction.  It seems that the Loreto Road was repaved in 2008 which has lead to even more people traveling this road and trying to make a living off the land in the area.  The forest land is often cleared for cultivation, the crops deplete the forest soils, and then it is grass seeded for cattle.  It was great to see the Narupa Reserve taking shape here along the Rio Hollin.  This reserve is keeping a chunk of this Amazonian foothill forest out of cultivation and saving habitat for some extraordinary species.

Marcelo and Cloyce had a "big Tanager day" on Loreto Road

The Tanagers we saw today were spectacular.  The Paradise Tanager has to be my favorite of the trip.  If you gave a child a coloring book and crayons and asked them to “color the bird” – this is what the Paradise looks like – it has every color in the box!  Other birds that I was in awe of on this day:  Orange-breasted Falcon, Lafresnaye's Piculet, Magpie Tanager, Silver-beaked Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, White-capped Tanager, Squirrel Cuckoo.