Synopsis: After the Rufous Motmot slipped away, a pair of Uniform Antshrikes and a lively Golden‑bellied Flycatcher turned the Tandayapa understory into a quiet drama of shadows, color, and movement.
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 12 – Morning
Tandayapa Lodge: From Stillness to Subtle Drama
Even after the long‑awaited triumph of finally photographing the Rufous Motmot, the forest around Tandayapa refused to let the morning settle. The motmot had slipped back into the shadows with its usual quiet dignity, but the understory was already stirring again—soft rustles, faint wingbeats, and the sense that something else was watching from just beyond the tangle. It didn’t take long for the next cast of characters to emerge, and they arrived not with the flamboyance of tanagers or the bold presence of barbets, but with a quieter, more deliberate energy all their own.
The Uniform Antshrikes: A Study in Subtle Power
From the shadowed tangle beside the trail, a dark, broad‑shouldered shape eased into view, its presence quiet but unmistakably commanding…
The first to appear was the male Uniform Antshrike, materializing from the dense vegetation like a shadow given form. His plumage—dark, smooth, and unpatterned—absorbed the light rather than reflecting it, giving him a brooding, almost sculptural presence. He moved with slow, methodical precision, each hop and turn purposeful as he inspected vines and mossy branches for hidden prey. His eyes, pale and intense, stood out sharply against his dark feathers, giving him a penetrating, almost analytical gaze. Watching him work felt like observing a specialist who knew every secret of the understory.
Moments later, a softer, warm‑toned figure followed, moving with a measured confidence that mirrored her mate’s steady vigilance…
Moments later, the female emerged, her warm rufous tones glowing softly against the green backdrop. Where the male felt heavy and deliberate, she carried a lighter, more fluid energy—still cautious, still methodical, but with a touch more agility in her movements. She followed parallel to him through the thicket, occasionally pausing to glean insects from curled leaves or to peer into bromeliads with quiet curiosity. Together, they moved in a loose tandem, never far apart, communicating in soft, almost imperceptible notes. Their presence transformed the understory into a small stage of subtle drama, a world where patience and precision ruled.
Golden‑bellied Flycatcher: A Burst of Bright Energy
And then the scene brightened as a burst of yellow and chestnut swept in, the flycatcher’s lively energy cutting through the morning hush…
The mood shifted again when the Golden‑bellied Flycatcher swept in, bringing with it a burst of color and motion that felt almost electric after the antshrikes’ measured pace. Its bright yellow belly flashed like a lantern in the dim forest light, while its olive back and bold facial markings gave it a crisp, expressive look. Unlike the antshrikes, this bird was restless—darting between perches, sallying out to snatch insects mid‑air, and returning with a buoyant flick of its tail. Its calls were sharp and cheerful, adding a lively rhythm to the quiet understory. Photographing it required quick reflexes, but every moment it paused felt like a small gift of color and clarity.
A New Road Ahead
With the morning’s trio photographed and the forest beginning to brighten, it was time to pack up and move on. The next leg of the journey would take us higher into the Andes, to the mist‑wrapped trails and moss‑draped branches of Bellavista Cloud Forest Lodge—an entirely new habitat, and with it, an entirely new set of species waiting to be discovered.
NEXT UP: EB#77 “Through the Lens at Bellavista: Capturing the Radiance of Three Spectacular Bird Species“
Additional Photographs
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB95 – Reserva Yanacocha: Ending Ecuador Birding on a 3500m High Note
A late morning at Reserva Yanacocha revealed a powerful blend of conservation triumphs and high‑Andean species, highlighted by a final lifer that brought the journey full circle. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB94 – A Gentle Farewell: Final Encounters at Zuro Loma
The final stretch at Zuro Loma brought forth a grounded, character‑rich group of species that framed our farewell to the reserve before the Collared Inca’s luminous parting moment. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB93 – Mid‑Morning Revelations at Zuro Loma
A mid‑morning shift in light revealed a new sequence of birds—each appearing in calm, deliberate moments that carried our Zuro Loma adventure into its next chapter. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature.
Through my lens and prose I hope to instill a greater sense of awe, compassion and inspiration as I discover new creatures, explore interesting habitats, and gain wisdom about the natural world that’s all around us. It is my hope that readers are motivated to learn more about our environment and its inhabitants, and become passionate advocates for conservation.
>>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 (>99.9%) are mine.
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