Synopsis: A visual journey through the cool, moss‑laden slopes of the eastern Andes and the birds that define them.
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**
Eastern Andes
The East Andes welcomed us with a sense of depth and mystery, beginning at Wildsumaco, where the forest rose in steep, shadowed layers and every branch dripped with moss, orchids, and the constant movement of birds. From there, the landscape shifted into the cool, mist‑laden world of Cabañas San Isidro, where mornings unfolded in soft gray light and birds emerged like flashes of color from the fog. Farther upslope at Guango Lodge, the forest tightened into a lush corridor of rushing rivers and hummingbirds that glowed like sparks against the green. Each stop along the eastern slope revealed a different mood, a different rhythm, a different way of seeing the cloudforest. These photographs reflect that atmosphere — intimate, wet, and filled with quiet wonder.
Eastern Andes Foothills at Wildsumaco
The foothills at Wildsumaco rose in steep, humid layers of cloudforest, where warm air carried the scent of rain and vegetation. Mist drifted through the trees in slow, shifting bands, softening the edges of the forest and revealing flashes of color as birds danced around the feeders. It was a landscape alive with moisture, depth, and constant quiet motion.
Brief stops along Papango Rd and Loreto Rd while heading towards our next destination brought new species with a slight change in habitat and of course, more showers.
Cabañas San Isidro, Napo Province
San Isidro sat in the cool, mist‑laden heart of the eastern slope, where mornings unfolded in soft gray light and the forest felt close and breathing. Managed day‑to‑day by Carmen Bustamante and her husband Mitch, the lodge reflects their steady care and deep connection to this cloudforest landscape. Moss‑draped branches, dripping leaves, and the steady hush of cloudforest air created an atmosphere both intimate and ancient. Every trail seemed to disappear into a world shaped by shadow and moisture.
For the following two locations, Wayra Reserve and La Brisa, the 2,000+ images I took at those locations were destroyed when my SD Card got washed… But I did also take photos of the locations with my iPhone and fortunately, those survived.
Wayra Reserve
Wayra Reserve unfolded across 350 hectares of steep, humid eastern‑slope forest, where mist drifted through the canopy and every branch seemed draped in moss, orchids, and quiet movement. The air carried the cool, damp breath of mid‑elevation cloudforest, shifting constantly between soft light and drifting shadow. Owned and managed by local farmers Graciela Erazo and José Vega, the reserve reflects their deep commitment to protecting this landscape and allowing it to mature into a thriving refuge for wildlife. Trails wound through dense vegetation and sudden openings, each offering a different mood shaped by elevation, moisture, and the rhythm of the forest. It was a place where the Andes felt intimate and alive, revealing its secrets slowly and with great care.
La Brisa (hummingbird feeders)
La Brisa’s feeders were tucked into a pocket of lush mid‑elevation forest, where cool air and filtered light created perfect conditions for hummingbird activity. Owned and managed by local resident and passionate birder Philippe Jeannin and his family, the small reserve reflects their deep care for the land and its wildlife. The surrounding vegetation held a constant sheen of moisture, and the mist rolling off the slopes gave the place a quiet, suspended feeling. It was a small clearing alive with color and movement.
And now, back to successful bird photography
El Quetzal Bosque Protegido
El Quetzal Bosque Protegido, a 22-acre reserve on the east slope, is run and managed by Pedro (a seasoned naturalist guide), Andrea (a chef and nature enthusiast), and their daughter, Analia, which lays within a stretch of dense, humid cloudforest where the canopy rose high and the understory stayed dim and moss‑covered. The air was cool and heavy with moisture, carrying the scent of wet earth and orchids. It felt like a protected pocket of the eastern Andes, shaped by elevation, rain, and deep forest silence.
Along the way to our stay at Guango Lodge we stopped briefly along Borjas Rd.
And at Río Quijos
Guango Lodge
Guango Lodge sat along a rushing Andean river, surrounded by cool, high‑elevation cloudforest where the air stayed crisp and the vegetation thick with moss and bromeliads. Mist drifted through the valley in long, quiet waves, giving the entire landscape a soft, subdued glow. Managed by Irene Bustamonte, it was a place where the forest felt both energetic and serene, shaped by water and altitude.
NEXT HIGHLIGHTS POST: From there, the road climbed higher toward the open, wind‑carved páramo of the High Andes, where an entirely different world awaited us.
NEXT UP: EB#98 “Ecuador – Favorite Images from the High Andes Páramo“
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB97 – Ecuador – Favorite Images from the Eastern Andes
A visual journey through the cool, moss‑laden slopes of the eastern Andes and the birds that define them. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB96 – Ecuador – Favorite Images from the Amazon Lowlands
A collection of my favorite images from the Amazon Basin, where water, light, and life intertwine in one of the world’s most vibrant ecosystems. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - 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.
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.
Leave a Reply