Synopsis: A return to Reserva Zuro Loma delivered a final flurry of fleeting encounters, each wonder adding a bright, memorable stroke to the closing hours of our Andean 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 13 – Late Morning
Zuro Loma Revisited: A Last Burst of Andean Magic
The drive back toward Reserva Zuro Loma felt like a quiet rewind through the emotional arc of the entire trip. Returning here on our final day carried a sense of symmetry—this was where Alex and I first stepped into the Andean cloudforest, where the mist curled through the trees like breath and the feeders pulsed with life. It was also where the conservation story felt most personal: a family‑run reserve reclaimed from pastureland, restored tree by tree into a thriving sanctuary for hummingbirds, antpittas, and high‑elevation specialists. Zuro Loma had always been more than a birding stop; it was a testament to what patient stewardship can rebuild. And now, as we stepped out into the cool morning air once again, the forest offered a final handful of species—fleeting, challenging, and unforgettable in their own way.
Streak‑throated Bush‑Tyrant
From a windswept perch above the trail, a sturdy gray figure appeared, surveying the valley with calm authority…
The Streak‑throated Bush‑Tyrant appeared for only a moment, perching boldly on an exposed snag before vanishing into the mist. Its gray‑brown plumage was etched with fine streaks across the throat, giving it a rugged, weathered look that matched the high‑Andean landscape. It held itself with upright confidence, scanning the open slope with sharp, deliberate movements—just long enough for a single, precious frame.
Rufous‑breasted Chat‑Tyrant
Moments later, a flash of warm rufous darted into view, its bright chest glowing like a tiny ember against the mossy backdrop…
The Rufous‑breasted Chat‑Tyrant flashed into view like a spark, its warm chestnut breast glowing against the mossy understory. It flicked its tail with quick, expressive snaps, hopping between low perches with restless energy. Before I could refine my angle or adjust the light, it darted back into the tangle—leaving behind one crisp shot and the echo of its bright presence.
Red‑crested Cotinga
Then a soft, dusky silhouette materialized on an open branch, its subtle crest catching just enough light to reveal its quiet elegance…
A soft silhouette materialized high in the canopy—the Red‑crested Cotinga, perched like a small, gray statue against the pale sky. Only when it turned did the faint reddish crest catch the light, a subtle flare of color on an otherwise understated bird. It lingered just long enough for a single photograph before lifting off with a gentle, buoyant glide.
Rufous‑chested Tanager
In the mid‑story foliage, a bold wash of chestnut and slate flickered through the leaves, moving with quick, purposeful hops…
The Rufous‑chested Tanager offered a brief but brilliant moment, its rich chestnut breast and slate‑blue back glowing in a shaft of sunlight. It moved with quick, purposeful hops through the foliage, pausing only once in perfect profile. That single pause—clean, bright, and fleeting—was all the camera needed.
Superciliaried Hemispingus
From a tangle of branches nearby, a sharp‑eyed little bird emerged, its crisp facial stripe flashing as it flitted restlessly through the canopy…
The Superciliaried Hemispingus zipped through the mid‑story like a streak of olive and gold, its bold eyebrow flashing as it darted between branches. It paused for only a heartbeat, tilting its head with bright, curious eyes before melting back into the flock. One frame captured its essence: alert, energetic, and always on the move.
Spectacled Redstart
Suddenly, a bright spark of yellow and black danced into view, its white “spectacles” glowing as it flicked through the moss‑laden branches…
The Spectacled Redstart had been one of my top targets at Zuro Loma, a bright little ember of a bird that had managed to stay just out of reach on every previous attempt. When it finally appeared, it did so with the effortless charm of a species that never needed to be chased—flashing its bold yellow underparts and crisp white “spectacles” as it danced through the moss‑laden branches. Its movements were quick and buoyant, a series of lively hops and flares that lit up the cloud‑forest gloom like sparks drifting through mist. Watching it forage at close range felt like the forest had finally opened a door it had been holding shut, offering a moment as vivid and satisfying as any I’d hoped for on the trip.
White‑throated Screech‑Owl
And then, in the cool shade of a mid‑day tangle, a pair of White‑throated Screech‑Owls sat motionless on an open branch—calm, wide‑eyed, and utterly unfazed by the daylight that should have hidden them from view…
The White‑throated Screech‑Owl was the most unexpected of the one‑shot wonders—a quiet, round silhouette tucked into a shaded roost. Its pale throat and finely patterned plumage blended perfectly with the bark, giving it an almost ghostlike stillness. It opened its eyes just once, offering a single, piercing look before settling back into its daytime calm.
Toward the Final Chapter
These brief encounters felt like the forest’s parting gifts—small, vivid reminders of how much beauty can unfold in a single moment. And with Zuro Loma’s mist rising around us once more, we prepared for the true closing chapter of our Ecuador adventure: one last morning of photography in the place where it all began.
NEXT UP: EB#92 “At the Edge of Imagination: The Sword‑Billed Hummingbirds at Zuro Loma”
Additional Photographs
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB91 – Back to Where it All Began: Our Journey Returns to Zuro Loma
A return to Reserva Zuro Loma delivered a final flurry of fleeting encounters, each wonder adding a bright, memorable stroke to the closing hours of our Andean journey. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB90 – Patience Rewarded: The Crimson‑Rumped Toucanet Finally Joins the Feeder Frenzy
A long‑awaited encounter with the Crimson‑rumped Toucanet unfolded in rich morning light, revealing the bird’s quiet elegance and vivid beauty in the heart of the cloudforest. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB89 – A Final Morning of Quiet Tones and Brilliant Sparks at Tandayapa
A luminous final morning at Tandayapa Lodge brought a rich mix of subtle and vibrant species, each adding its own flourish to our closing hours in the Ecuadorian cloudforest. 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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