Ecuador

19th December 2012 - 20th January 2013

Jorupe

Red-masked Parrakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys)

After 3 days in the cold and wet highland cloud-forest of Tapichalaca, my next port of call was Jorupe, another reserve belonging to the Jocotoco Foundation. Jorupe encompasses an area of dry, deciduous forest in the foothills of the inter-Andean valley close to the Peruvian border so is completely different from Tapichalaca in both its character and its associated avifauna.

Pale-browed Tinamou (Crypturellus transfasciatus)

In the early mornings, shortly after sunrise, Pale-browed Tinamous occasionally venture out from deep cover to feed on the grain put out at the feeders beside the lodge.

White-tailed Jay (Cyanocorax mystacalis)

The spectacular White-tailed Jay is a common visitor to the feeders and mixed flocks of White-edged and Yellow-tailed Orioles frequently pass through the trees beside the balcony.

White-edged Oriole (Icterus graceannae)

Southern Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster)

Southern Yellow Grosbeak and White-tipped Doves are fairly common visitors to the feeders in the morning.

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

Other less frequent visitors to the feeding area included Blue-crowned Motmots, Black-capped Sparrow and Ecuadorian Thrush.

Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota)

Black-capped Sparrow (Arremon abeillei)

Ecuadorian Thrush (Turdus maculirostris)

And numerous Guayquil Squirrels also cached in on the abundant free supply of food.

Guayaquil Squirrel (Sciurus stramineus)

A pair of Pacific Horneros were displaying vociferously along the gravel path from the lodge to the cabins. Pacific Hornero is treated as a distinct species in the Birds of Ecuador fieldguide, but many other authoritive texts still consider it to be a subspecies of Pale-legged Hornero.

Pacific Hornero (Furnarius cinnamomeus)

Apart from a very brief appearance from a female Long-billed Starthroat, the only hummingbird species visiting the feeders when I was there was the Amazilia Hummingbird.

Amazilia Hummingbird (Amazilia amazilia)

Collared Antshrike were common and easily observed around the lodge and the surrounding forest.

Collared Antshrike (Sakesphorus bernardi)

Ecuadorian Trogon (Trogon mesurus)

Most of the trails around the lodge are not really suitable for obtaining many photographic opportunities since they are generally narrow and enclosed by the dense undergrowth, making it very difficult to get a clear shot if you are lucky enough to find anything of interest. The entrance road and the main track up the side of the hill, however, were much more productive and the remainder of the photos shown below were taken on my afternoon strolls along the main track.

Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela)

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum)

Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea)

unidentified lizard

Savannah Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)

Scrub Blackbird (Dives warszewiczi)

Tapichalaca

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