Penultimate Day at Buenaventura
The whole day was spent birding the forest trails and we added nine new species, good going for almost the end of the year. First up was Rufous-breasted Woodquail, quickly followed by Whiskered Wren, then a real stroke of luck as a small flock of six Blue-fronted Parrotlets flew in and landed in the canopy above us. We hadn’t expected to see this species here. Continuing along the trail, we heard an Ochre-breasted Antpitta calling on the slope above us and after a tense wait, we managed to get exceptionally good views of this tiny shy species. An Ecuadorian Tapaculo called from deep in the forest but this time try as we might, the bird refused to show. A Spotted Barbtail and a Russet Antshrike moved through with a feeding flock. Moving back onto the track down to the lodge, we jammed in on a Striped Woodhaunter. Down at the lodge we enjoyed welcome refreshments while watching the hummingbird feeders which were alive with literally hundreds of hummingbirds, what a wonderful sight! Thirteen species of hummers were coming to the feeders, and it was impossible to know where to look next with so much colour and movement. We were mesmerised by the spectacle playing out before us – some 26 birds were in view on a single feeder at one time, while in the background a family of Collared Aracaris fought over a banana-laden bird-table. And if that wasn’t enough, at least 18 Green Honeycreeper were also around the feeders. We reluctantly dragged ourselves away and birded a higher elevation track above the reserve. We had to wait a long time to see our target bird but we were entertained by such wonderful birds as Golden-headed Quetzal, Guayaquil Woodpecker, Blackburnian Warbler and Buffy Tuftedcheek, but at last in swept a flock of El Oro Parakeets, our last new bird of the day.
Bird species total: 4340
Posted 30th December, Zamora, Ecuador
The Biggest Twitch website will remain online in 2009 to keep you up to date with our birding adventures and let you know how we settle back into normal life, if we do!! We will also share more of our adventures and lots of photos from The Biggest Twitch.