Ecuador Day 2; Angel Paz & Mindo

  For our first full day in Ecuador, we went to visit the famous Angel Paz reserve, home to no less than five different Antpitta feeding stations, including Maria the Giant Antpitta which can’t be seen on any other reserve. This was the most exciting stop on the northern section of the trip, so it we were super hyped about visiting.

  We started the morning with a visit to a lek site of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. Here there was a lek of around 12 individuals, although most of the birds were females or juvenile males. Due to the early morning light it was difficult to make out the birds, but they were loud and raucous enough that it did not matter, and when a male did appear, they absolutely glow and were unmistakable. At the same location, a Dark-backed Wood-Quail came to feed on a banana that was left out for it, so we got phenomenal views of this very range-restricted species. And just on the road above here was a pair of roosting Rufous-bellied Nighthawks, sleeping on a branch above the road.

  Next, we began our Antpitta tour. Maria the Giant Antpitta had not put in an appearance for just under a week so we did not fancy our chances, but we were in luck and she was there waiting at one of the three feeding sites for her. She then proceeded to scoff worms out on the feeding branch right in full view of us. Of all the photos I lost, my photos of Maria will be the ones I miss the most. Next we headed up for Yellow-breasted Antpitta, which also showed well, followed by Moustached Antpitta and Ochre-breasted Antpitta in the same area, and finally wrapped up with Chestnut-crowned Antpitta. These final four were not new for me, but it was still exciting to see them all again after a few years away.

  For the rest of our time at the reserve we birded the fruit feeders for Tanagers. We had a lot of fun with mostly common species, but with fantastic views of feeding Toucan Barbet which occasionally stopped by the feeders. There were also White-winged Brushfinch, Golden-naped Tanager and Flame-faced Tanager that were the best of the Tanager species that visited. The hummingbird feeders were also lively with fantastic Violet-tailed Sylph and White-booted Racket-tail. Also birding the nearby area yielded Scaled Fruiteater and Crested Guan, both new for us.

  In the evening we birded around the town of Mindo. Although there was nothing different or specific to target we still had fun doing some more relaxed birding, and it yielded a couple of new birds for me; Black-winged Saltator and the wonderful Dull-coloured Grassquit. It was a fantastic first-day birding in the area, and we had done really well with all of our targets!

Species List:
Refugio Paz de las Aves: Sickle-winged Guan, Dark-backed Wood Quail, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, White-collared Swift, Sparkling Violetear, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Speckled Hummingbird, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronet, White-booted Racket-tail, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Purple-throated Woodstar, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Andean Emerald, Western Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Golden-headed Quetzal, Toucan Barbet, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Giant Antpitta, Moustached Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Spillmann's Tapaculo, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Spotted Barbtail, Pearled Treerunner, Azara's Spinetail, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Scaled Fruiteater, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Ornate Flycatcher, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Torrent Tyrannulet, Smoke-colored Pewee, Black Phoebe, Tropical Kingbird, Brown-capped Vireo, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, House Wren, Mountain Wren, Glossy-black Thrush, Thick-billed Euphonia, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Dusky Bush Tanager, Rufous-collared Sparrow, White-winged Brushfinch, Tropical Parula, Three-striped Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, Palm Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Black-capped Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Flame-faced Tanager, Golden Tanager, Masked Flowerpiercer,
Mindo: White-collared Swift, Purple-throated Woodstar, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Southern Lapwing, Snowy Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Ringed Kingfisher, Bronze-winged Parrot, Red-faced Spinetail, Torrent Tyrannulet, Black Phoebe, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Southern Rough-winged Swallow, House Wren, Thick-billed Euphonia, Orange-billed Sparrow, Tropical Parula, Lemon-rumped Tanager, Blue-grey Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Saffron Finch, Bananaquit, Dull-colored Grassquit, Black-winged Saltator,