Synopsis: 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.
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 10 – Mid-Morning
The next morning at Guango Lodge began with a familiar rhythm—quiet, observational, and full of return visits from birds that had become companions over our days in the cloudforest. The moth light, still glowing faintly in the cool air, drew in a small gathering of early risers.
Strong‑billed Woodcreeper
From the dim glow of the moth light, a heavy‑billed silhouette clung to the nearest trunk.
The Strong‑billed Woodcreeper worked the bark with slow, deliberate precision, its powerful chisel‑like bill perfectly suited for prying insects from deep crevices. Its rich brown plumage blended seamlessly with the moss‑covered trunk, broken only by faint streaking along the throat. Even in the half‑light, its size and methodical movements gave it a commanding presence among the early risers.
Great Thrush
Beneath the moth light’s halo, a confident shape strode into view.
The Great Thrush moved with its usual bold assurance, its bright yellow bill glowing against the cool, shadowed understory. Larger and darker than most thrushes, it carried itself with a grounded, almost territorial calm as it inspected the clearing. Each hop and pause felt purposeful, as if it were surveying a domain it knew intimately.
Rufous‑collared Sparrow
From the edge of the clearing, a crisp flash of rufous and white flickered into the light.
The Rufous‑collared Sparrow darted in and out of view, its sharp facial pattern catching the first hints of dawn. Its movements were quick and inquisitive, pausing only long enough to deliver a few bright notes of song. Despite its small size, its bold collar and confident demeanor made it one of the most charismatic regulars of the morning gathering.
Turquoise Jay
Above us, a burst of electric blue swept through the canopy.
A pair of Turquoise Jays moved overhead with their characteristic mix of boldness and curiosity, flashing brilliant blues and blacks as they hopped between branches. Their calls carried easily through the still air, adding a lively edge to the quiet clearing. Ever the investigators, they paused frequently to inspect the scene below, as if evaluating the morning’s activity.
Andean Guan
Then, from the forest shadows, a hulking form stepped into the open.
The Andean Guan lumbered into view, its large, heavy body and deep chestnut tones contrasting with the soft greens of the understory. Its slow, deliberate movements and soft grunts added a touch of wildness to the otherwise gentle morning rhythm. Despite its size, it moved with surprising grace, navigating the low branches with practiced ease.
Buff-tailed Coronet
From the shadowed perch, a flash of emerald and buff erupted into motion.
At the hummingbird feeders, the morning belonged to the Buff‑tailed Coronet, which defended its perch with the usual flared‑tail bravado. Its metallic greens and chestnut undertones glowed each time it pivoted in the soft light, a final reminder of the cloudforest’s jewel‑tone palette before our departure.
Crossing the Andes Toward Tambo Cóndor
Leaving Guango behind, we began the long drive westward, climbing once more into the high Andes. The landscape shifted quickly—cloudforest giving way to open páramo, then to the stark volcanic expanses of Antisana, where the earth feels raw and newly formed. The road carried us across rolling plains of golden grass, past lava fields and distant snow‑capped peaks, the air thinning again as we rose well above 11,000 feet.
Carunculated Caracara
High on a steep hillside, a lone caracara perched in a distant tree, its fiery face watching over the páramo below.
Birdlife here felt sparse but dramatic. A Carunculated Caracara stood sentinel on a distant tree, its bold black‑and‑white plumage and fleshy facial wattles unmistakable even at range. It watched over the windswept plain with the calm authority of a bird perfectly adapted to high elevation life.
The scenery grew grander with each passing mile, and as the road curved toward the cliffs and canyons of the Papallacta region, the anticipation built. By midday we rolled into Tambo Cóndor, perched on its dramatic overlook—a place where the Andes open wide and the sky feels impossibly close.
NEXT UP: EB#56 “The High Andes Unfold: Our First Moments at Tambo Cóndor“
Additional Photographs
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- 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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