C-T Ecotour from Taiwan 1-10 Feb 2008 Amazon and Northwest Lowlands 

Andean Birding received its first group from Taiwan this year, 5 avid birders who were guided by Roger in la Selva Jungle Lodge and by Charlie to Canande reserve. 

Arriving at La Selva lodge there was great activity in the canopy tower with; Golden-green-, Cream-colored-, Ringed-, Scaly-breasted- and Yellow-throated Woodpeckers, Golden-collared Toucanet and Plum-throated Cotingas. In the afternoon we went by canoe and had gripping views of Agami Heron, Gray-necked Wood-Rail and Plumbeous Antbird.



Next morning we went to the clay-lick across Rio Napo and enjoyed hundreds of Parrots coming in close. A smaller clay-lick nearby had different species but due to a White Hawk perched above, none dared to come down. A displaying brilliant male Wire-tailed Manakin and a perched Gould's Jewelfront were nice bonuses. Along the river we watched a Ladder-tailed Nightjar on daytime roost. We had got a tip that a family of Crested Owls were roosting nearby so we went for them and had two adults and a juvenile sitting right above the trail! Later in the afternoon we tried another lake and finally were rewarded with a Zigzag heron just a few metres from the canoe! Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Silvered- and Dot-backed Antbird were other goodies in the afternoon. Last day was just transport back to Quito. The boatride back produced a Peregrine Falcon a first record for the eastern Ecuadorian lowlands!



In 2 Nissan Pathfinders we birded the interandean site near Mitad del Mundo for Band-tailed and Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch and then off to Canande for 3 nights. We had great views of Baudó and Crested Guan as well as Plumbeous and Semi-plumbeous Hawk, Black and Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Rose-faced Parrots showed many times. The leader C-T, lucked out on White-tailed Sicklebill and we all had great views of a Lanceolated Monklet near the displaying Red-capped Manakins. Many birds were seen right off the lodge deck including Chocó Woodpecker, Acadian Flycatcher, Pacific and Moustached (Griscom’s) Antwren. In the forest we had Black-striped Woodcreeper, Chocó Tapaculo (heard) Sulphur-rumped and Tawny-breasted Flycatcher as well as a Song Wren which paraded close by. At the overlook on the ridge the Rufous Piha came in nicely a few times to playback. In flocks on the Botrosa logging road we had Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Gray-and-gold, Emerald, Blue-whiskered, Scarlet-browed, Lemon-spectacled and Tawny-crested Tananger. 

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