Ecuador will blow your mind
VICKSBURG, MISS. — I returned this morning from a whirlwind trip to Ecuador. It’s going to take weeks to relate in words and pictures what we encountered in four very full days, so although I’m exhausted, we’d better get started.
This Velvet-purple Coronet (Boissonneaua jardini) — one of about 30 hummingbird species we encountered — is, believe it or not, showing only some of its breathtaking colors in this shot.
I must first thank my hosts, Renato Espinoza and Paola Cevallos of Pululahua Hostal, for their invitation, company, and care. They love their country and its birds and are passionate about seeing them preserved. We’ll find out more about them later.
Seeing representatives of different bird families is exciting to me, so I thought I’d give a tiny taste of what’s to come by showing photos of birds in families I hadn’t encountered before. We’ll start with a real bang (and if you want to hear more about all these birds and many, many more, this would be a really good time to subscribe to my feed or sign up to receive posts by email):
Thinocoridae: Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Attagis gayi. Yes, yes, yes!
Capitonidae: Red-headed Barbet, Eubucco bourcierii. This is a female.
Semnornithidae: Toucan-Barbet, Semnornis ramphastinus.
Grallariidae: Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Grallaria flavotincta.
Cotingidae: Olivaceous Piha, Snowornis cryptolophus.
Pipridae: Club-winged Manakin, Machaeropterus deliciosus.
And we’ll close for now with this acrobatic Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Eriocnemis luciani.
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Thank you for these gorgeous photos… I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more.
Fantastic photographs! Algún día…some day I will go to Ecuador!
Dave:
We thank you for trusting your life and your vacation to us. But most of all we thank you inmensly for that wonderful pair of eyes that spotted that Seedsnipe. We truly enjoyed your company, birding love, and humor. I hope you plan to come back to Ecuador since we just photographed the great Andean Condor from our backyard!!!!! I am so excited that today I am starting a birding blog!
Renato and Paola
What! A condor at Pululahua? So soon after we left? I guess we will have to come back! :)
Be sure to send me a link.
All I know is that I need to do some international birding! What amazing photos the colors are just unreal. Im glad you had a good trip.
Thanks, all! Yes, you should go to Ecuador … but until you can, stay tuned for much more.
Stunning! The seedsnipe really takes my breath away with its subtle beauty and patterns, but they’re all gorgeous. Looks like you had a great trip. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store.
I just finally managed to enter the forbidden zone and take a look, here in the Seattle airport. And now I’m thinking I’ll hop onto a different plane than I had planned…. :)
Beautiful and beyond exciting! I’m so glad you had such an amazing trip. Love the photos, but more writing and adventure stories couldn’t hurt…hint hint.
I know I know, SOME people just can’t be pleased. Sorry.