Photo trip to Ecuador

On December 2007 the Finnish Nature photographers made a trip to Ecuador and Galapagos.

Ecuador

Trip starts 3.12.2007 from Helsinki, via Madrid to Quito.
In Quito we were 5.12 and in airport was awful mess. Local people were waiting relation coming from Europe. Our local guide was waiting us and then we jump to a minibus and trip to Papallacta starts. I noticed that Quito is big city, cars were all around. Weather was likely warm, but evening came soon and darkness. Of city i didn't noticed much more than lights. After couple of hours we received to Papallacta, Guango Lodge. The owners of the place where there and we get our rooms. We enjoy the dinner and went to bed. Meaning was that in the morning half past six we take a little trip around area.
More from Guango Lodge
6.12.2007
In the morning we get up, camera with and out. In dark we saw first hummingbirds, but we didn't stay watch them more, but we go to trail incidentally mountain river. In begin we didn't see any birds, but when coming back we saw many new species .Black-and-white Warbler ( Mniotilta varia) was first photographed specie there, Cinnamon Flycatcher ( Pyrrhomyias cinnamoea) second. Then back to breakfast and after that back to hummingbirds. It was like child in the candy store, lot of hummingbirds rounding around between feeding automates. And they were so close that it was easy to shot. Number of the species of hummingbird in this area was only ten. Only one species of hummingbirds left missing of images


Chestnut-breasted Coronet
Other species near Guango Lodge was Masked Flowerpiercer, fine blue with black bird which visited to area.
7.12.2007
On next morning again with hummingbirds before daytrip to cloud forest. We walk down by the river side and on the bridge we find Torrent Duck on the river. Too far to get photos and even we go little closer on the other side of the river we didn't find it. Back to the bridge and there they were male and female together on rocks in the middle of river. Others go on, but Jouni Klinga went back to the river looking Torrent Duck. On the other side of the road was that cloud forest. No ways to get any photos, birds were too far, but new species still. Brown-capped Vireo, Pearled Treerunner, Crimson Crested Woodpecker, some locall wrens, casics and two trogons. Back to the lodge and there was Jouni, with photos of Torrent Duck.
8.12.2007
In the morning we jump to our bus and deeper to mountain to Isidor Lodge. Right away we get out of bus, we saw Masked Trogon male and many Green Jays We walk along the road to the Lodge and all the time new species. Russet-backed Oropendola, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Fawn-breasted Tanager , Montane Woodcreeper, Blue-gray Tanager, Glossy-black Thrush, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scaly-naped Parrot, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Black-billed Peppershrike, Blackburnian Warbleri and many others. Many of species were so far that no photos. Top target here was Antpitta. Chestnut-crowned Antpitta and White-bellied Antpitta; local indian induce with worms and calling. More hummingbirds, Fawn-brested Brilliant and Bronzy Inca. Little walk in cloud forest, bird species were only Glossy-black Thrush and Gray-breasted Wood Wren. After breakfast back to bus and way to Quito. Little stop on the highest part of the road, some four kilometer high. Soon we saw an Plumbeous Sierra Finch and Puna Hawk up on the mountain. One Andean Tit-Spinetail was there too. Down to Quito and on route we saw some Andean Gulls flying up on the river. There to hotel and waiting next morning flight to Galapagos.