Synopsis: Climbing from El Quetzal toward Río Quijos, the day unfolded as a seamless blend of roadside surprises, river‑edge targets, and cloudforest color, each stop adding new species and renewed momentum as the journey pressed on toward Guango Lodge.
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 – Afternoon
Just up the road, a glimpse through the trees hinted at the encounter to come.
Leaving El Quetzal Bosque Protegido, we climbed steadily up Borja Road, rising through fresh layers of rainforest where the vegetation grew taller, wetter, and more heavily draped in moss. As we rounded a bend, a cluster of shapes caught my eye—a flock of Band‑tailed Pigeons perched high in a roadside tree. Familiar as they may be back home, I’d never managed a truly satisfying photograph, so José found a safe pullout farther up the road and we walked back toward them. Before we reached the tree, Liron called out—a Golden‑olive Woodpecker was working the roadside vegetation. I’d seen the species once in the Yucatán, but this bird was fully in view, its golden‑green plumage glowing against the damp rocks as it foraged unusually low, almost at ground level. When we finally caught up with the pigeons, they had shifted one tree farther back, partially hidden now, but I managed a few decent frames before we continued toward the Cosanga River.
A few minutes later, the river itself offered the next story.
We parked just beyond the bridge and walked to its midpoint, scanning the fast‑moving water for one of my top targets of the entire trip—the Torrent Duck. The river roared below us, and our attention kept drifting upward to the dozens of Black and Turkey Vultures circling overhead. Eventually, Liron spotted a lone male Torrent Duck far upstream, little more than a speck against the whitewater. My distant photo barely captured the field marks, but I held onto hope that better views might come later—and they did.
With the morning already rich in surprises, the next place we visited felt like its own quiet discovery.
Our next stop was Río Quijos EcoLodge, a small but beautifully situated property perched above the river. The grounds feel like a pocket garden carved out of the cloudforest—flowering shrubs, fruiting trees, and open views that draw in a surprising diversity of birds. As we wandered the paths, the place came alive with color and movement.
As we moved between the flowering shrubs, a small burst of motion caught my eye.
A Green‑backed Hillstar hovered at eye level, its emerald mantle flashing like a shard of polished stone. Hillstars are high‑elevation specialists, often associated with páramo edges, and seeing one this well was a treat. Their stiff, direct flight and bold white tail patches make them instantly recognizable, even before the light catches their iridescence.
And then, with a slow, deliberate swing through the greenery, another character entered the scene.
A Russet‑backed Oropendola swung through the canopy next, its rich chestnut back and contrasting black body glowing against the greenery. Oropendolas are known for their elaborate woven nests and bubbling, gurgling songs—sounds that seem to pour out of the treetops like liquid. Even a single bird carries that same sense of tropical drama.
And then, in a flash of pure crimson, the next highlight stepped into view.
Then a brilliant male Summer Tanager appeared, glowing like a drop of fire among the leaves. Unlike many tanagers, the male is entirely red—no wing bars, no contrasting patches—just a pure, saturated crimson that seems almost improbable in the cloudforest light. It’s a species that migrates astonishing distances, wintering in South America before returning to North America to breed.
A darker shape moved through the mid‑canopy, keeping just enough distance to make the encounter feel like a game.
A Scarlet‑rumped Cacique materialized among the branches, all glossy black angles and a pale, dagger‑straight bill—yet determined, it seemed, to hide the one blaze of color that gives the species its name. Every time it shifted, it turned just so, keeping that flaming rump tucked behind leaves or angled away from my lens, as if guarding a secret. The bird’s sharp calls and restless movements only heightened the sense that it knew exactly what it was doing.
Then, in a gentle wash of green and blue, a final touch of color slipped into view.
Finally, a female Black‑capped Tanager moved quietly through the midstory, her soft greens and blues glowing subtly in the filtered light. Unlike the more boldly marked males, females have a gentle, watercolor quality to their plumage—easy to overlook until the light hits just right. Their presence is a reminder of how much beauty in the Andes reveals itself only through patience.
After this peaceful, bird‑rich interlude at Río Quijos, we gathered our gear, took one last look at the river below, and began the drive toward our next destination—Guango Lodge, where the cloudforest would open a new chapter of surprises waiting just up the road.
NEXT UP: EB#48 “Moth Lights and Mountain Birds: A New Chapter Begins at Guango Lodge”
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB47 – Ascending Into Mist and Mountain Air at Río Quijos EcoLodge
Climbing from El Quetzal toward Río Quijos, the day unfolded as a seamless blend of roadside surprises, river‑edge targets, and cloudforest color, each stop adding new species and renewed momentum as the journey pressed on toward Guango Lodge. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB46 – El Quetzal Bosque Protegido: Songbirds of the Afternoon
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. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB45 – Midday Birding Adventures in the El Quetzal Protected ForestEl Quetzal Bosque Protegido unfolded as a lush, hummingbird‑filled sanctuary where the cloudforest’s color, motion, and quiet magic set the stage for a vibrant midday interlude before the forest shifted toward an entirely new cast of characters. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador.
- EB44 – Warm Light in a Cool World: The Cinnamon Flycatcher of San Isidro
A gentle, steady presence in the cloudforest, the Cinnamon Flycatcher became the quiet emblem of renewal—its warm glow and unhurried grace mirroring the author’s own return to clarity and grounding. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB43 – A New Day of Luck and Light at Cabañas San Isidro
After days of illness and frustration, a clear morning at San Isidro brought a surge of color, energy, and photographic inspiration, marking a joyful return to presence and purpose as the journey moved forward toward new wonders. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador. - EB42 – The Day the Photos Disappeared at Cabañas San Isidro
A day defined by illness, small mistakes, and the devastating loss of an entire set of photos ultimately became a story of resilience, perspective, and the quiet grace of getting a second chance in the Andes. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with a birding tour in Ecuador.
>>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.
Reflections of the Natural World 
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