Where are we going part 2
Where are we going – part 2
Most of the places we’re visiting in 2008 will be new to us, but one place on the list has been tried and tested, by us and many other birders, drawn by the phenomenal bird list:
Tandayapa Bird Lodge in Ecuador,
www.tandayapa.com. Nowhere else in the world can you sit with a cold beer and enjoy quite so many species of hummingbird within metres of your chair. The air literally throbs with their wing-beats, a totally unforgettable experience. The first time you step out of the lodge onto the veranda, panic sets in. Where to look first, and then where to look next? So many birds, so much movement, it’s impossible to concentrate on anything for the first few minutes as your brain tries to keep up with the sheer number and variety of hummers.
But take a deep breath and try not to panic. The birds aren’t going anywhere, so choose a seat, set your bins on close focus, get your field guide handy and enjoy the show! Booted Racquet-tail, Western Emerald, Violet-tailed Sylph, Empress Brilliant, Buff-tailed Coronet, and many more. The names are good, but the birds themselves are complete stunners!