Synopsis: An afternoon walk through El Quetzal revealed a calmer, more contemplative side of the forest, where understated songbirds and familiar species offered quiet beauty and character before the journey carried us onward toward new habitats and fresh surprises.
Ecuador Birding – Where Every Feather Tells a Story
From October 26, 2025 through November 8, 2025 I joined 5 other adventurers and an outstanding photographer and birding guide (Liron Gertsman) with Eagle-Eye Tours to Ecuador. This blog series highlights the animals (mostly birds), people and locations we encountered over the 14 full days in this beautiful land.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
**Due to the high resolution and quality of the images in this blog series it is highly recommended
that readers view posts in Landscape Mode on a desktop PC from the actual blogsite at Ecuador Birding**
DAY 8 – Mid-Afternoon
- My Ecuador Species Count up to but not including Cabañas San Isidro jumps up to: 214 (149 lifers)
- Primary eBird Public Hotspots:
The road toward San Isidro rose and fell through folds of cloud‑draped forest, each bend revealing another pocket of green mystery. Our first stop was Via Papankú, a quiet stretch of roadside forest where the morning light filtered through the mist like a soft veil. It was there that we encountered one of the strangest and most unforgettable sights of the entire trip: a solitary Great Potoo chick, perched motionless on a broken snag. With no adult in sight, the youngster relied on its remarkable camouflage—fluffy, pale, and ghostlike, blending seamlessly into the weathered wood. The forest around it felt hushed, as if holding its breath for this odd, vulnerable creature.
As we continued along the route, the forest began to stir with hummingbird activity. A Green Hermit swept through the understory in long, deliberate arcs, its decurved bill perfectly shaped for deep forest flowers. Nearby, a Gray-breasted Sabrewing flashed broad wings and metallic greens as it defended a favored perch. The ever‑present Fork-tailed Woodnymph added its own sparkle to the scene, weaving through shafts of light with effortless grace. These moments of color and motion contrasted beautifully with the stillness of the morning mists, each bird a tiny ember in the cool, gray air.
By midday we reached Loreto Road, a stretch known for its rich mix of foothill and montane species. The forest here felt alive in a different way—denser, more humid, and full of hidden voices. A pair of Band-bellied Owls peered down from a shadowed branch, their barred chests and wide eyes giving them an almost regal presence. Moments later, a Blue Dacnis lit up the canopy like a dropped gemstone, its electric blues and greens glowing against the muted forest backdrop. It was one of those sightings that stops you mid‑step, reminding you how startlingly vibrant the Andes can be.
A little farther along, the forest opened into a sheer cliff face that seemed to spill birds into the sky. We pulled over to watch Swallow-tailed Kites carving effortless arcs above the ridge, their long forked tails slicing through the mist with acrobatic precision. Closer to the rock wall, a pair of Cliff Flycatchers—a high‑value target for many birders—darted out to snatch insects midair, their rusty wings flashing against the pale stone. Overhead, Blue-and-white Swallows swirled in a restless cloud, dozens of them looping and diving in tight formation. They stayed just far enough away to elude the camera, but their movement added a lively, swirling energy to the cliffside scene, a reminder of how dynamic these Andean edges can be.
As the day unfolded, the mountain’s beauty collided with a more personal challenge. I began to feel the unmistakable onset of severe stomach distress and dehydration, a combination that quickly drained my energy and focus. The altitude, the humidity, and the constant movement suddenly felt heavier, and each stop required more effort than the last. Yet even through the discomfort, the wildlife along the road to San Isidro continued to offer moments of wonder—small flashes of color and life that carried me through the day, reminding me why these mountains are worth every challenge they present.
NEXT UP: EB#40 “Early Morning Wings at the Moth Light Feeders of Cabañas San Isidro“
Additional Photographs and Video
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB58 – A Titan Among Hummingbirds: The Giant Hummingbird Reveals Itself
The Giant Hummingbird’s arrival at Tambo Cóndor felt like the Andes unveiling a second mountain‑forged marvel—an immense, slow‑winged specialist of thin air and rugged slopes whose deliberate power and quiet presence echoed the grandeur of the landscape itself. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB57 – A Sapphire Flash in the Clouds: Meeting the Great Sapphirewing
The Great Sapphirewing’s arrival at Tambo Cóndor felt like a shift in the very air—an immense, jewel‑toned hummingbird shaped by altitude and silence, revealing its rare beauty in a moment that seemed carved directly from the high Andes. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB56 – The High Andes Unfold: Our First Moments at Tambo Cóndor
Our arrival at Tambo Cóndor unfolded as the high Andes revealed themselves in sweeping ridges, sharp light, and the first flashes of local specialists—Sparkling Violetear, Shining Sunbeam, and Cinereous Conebill—welcoming us into a landscape shaped by wind, altitude, and vast silence. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB55 – Leaving Guango Behind: Birds, Volcanoes, and the Long Drive to Tambo Cóndor
A quiet final morning at Guango Lodge eased us from the familiar rhythm of cloudforest birds into a dramatic high‑Andean crossing, where stark volcanic landscapes and sweeping vistas carried us toward the cliffs of Tambo Cóndor and the promise of a new chapter in the journey. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB54 – Life in the Whitewater: Torrent Ducks of the Papallacta River
A breathless, high‑altitude chase along the river turned into a triumphant, hard‑won encounter with Torrent Ducks, ending the day at Guango Lodge with the exhilaration of finally photographing one of the trip’s most coveted species. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB53 – Back to the Cloudforest: A Gentle Afternoon at Guango Lodge
In October 2025, Jim Gain joined a birding tour in Ecuador, exploring its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes over 14 days. The blog series chronicles his experiences with birds and nature.
>>Ecuador Birding Blog Home Page Link https://reflectionsofthenaturalworld.com/ecuador-birding/
*This Ecuador Birding blog post was shaped and polished with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot, helping bring clarity and a consistent flow to my field notes and dictated memories.
**Unless otherwise indicated in the image caption, all photographs (>99%) are mine.
Reflections of the Natural World 
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