Category Archives: Ecuador Birding
Returning Home
The trip downriver to Sani Lodge was boring. Most of us slept part of the way. The trip back was much different: the river was raging with waves and floating logs coming at us continually. At one point, we heard … Continue reading
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A Visit to the Sani Isla Community
Sani Isla is a community of about 600 Kichwa indigenous people nestled along the Napo river deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The Sani Lodge is their main source of income but in looking to diversify, the women in the community expressed … Continue reading
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Sani Lodge – Boat Trip
On day three, we trekked over to Rio Napo, by canoe, then walking, to board the big motorized boat to see some parrots. We had to leave very early because there is only an hour window or so when parrots … Continue reading
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Sani Lodge – Observation Tower
As I mentioned in the last post, I am a pilot who is afraid of heights. No fire tower climbing for me, thank you, and I have to watch out for any hikes that have drop-offs, and I usually drive … Continue reading
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Sani Lodge
After a three hour bus ride to the city of Coca, a gritty city built up in the 1990’s oil boom, we waited around for other passengers who would make the 3.5 hour trip down the Rio Napo to the … Continue reading
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Isidro -2
This was not a “roughing it” trip — no sleeping on mats or eating rice and beans. We birded pretty intensely at times but always returned to great meals and nice beds. Even the box lunches were pretty amazing. Isidro … Continue reading
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Cabanas San Isidro
After some last minute hummingbird feeder checks, we boarded the bus for another scenic but windy trek featuring trailer trucks and buses and blind curves and “watch for birds, not the road ahead.” Off to the south the massive peak … Continue reading
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Guango Lodge
Located next to a busy highway and disturbed by recent pipeline work, Guango Lodge was not our favorite stay, although the food and accommodations were fine. We opted out of the bus trips and spent several nice walks on the … Continue reading
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Crossing the Andes
We left the lush western slope of the Andes, heading toward Quito. As we descended into arid conditions caused by the mountains and warmed up for the first time in days as we took a short walk, spotting among other … Continue reading
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Photos by Sally
On our second day at Tandayapa, Sally decided to spend a day birding at the lodge and took some great photos with her IPhone. Sally watched this Toucanet snatch and devour a hummingbird — “That’s nature.” When we returned to … Continue reading
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