ECUADOR 2006 |
We went first to Yanacocha on the upper flanks of Volcan Pichincha (the main trail is at c. 11,300 feet) - this is now a Jocotoco Foundation Reserve, with guards and hummingbird feeders along the main trail. next we drove the back roads (!) to Verde Cocha - a new Eco-lodge that is trying to establish itself as a birding destination. the lodge is located at c. 9,500 feet, while their extensive property extends uphill all the way to border the Yanacocha Reserve. The accomodations are fine and the food is excellent. There are a number of hummingbird feeders that are dominated by many Mountain Velvetbreasts, Sparkling Violetears, Tyrian Metaltails, and Buff-winged Starfrontlets, plus a number of Sword-billed Hummingbirds, a few Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, Buff-tailed Coronets, Speckled Hummingbirds, and Green Violetears - and we added a new species: male and female White-bellied Woodstars. There is an extensive bird list, but I can't vouch for its accuracy; looking at the available habitat types they could have a number of very sought-after species, but some may require a stiff high-altitude hike, or trip by horseback to reach (e.g. Andean Snipe habitat.) They have a couple of wooded marshes close to the lodge that hold Noble Snipe (we saw one), and Stygian Owl is on the list...
Sword-billed Hummingbird at Yanacocha and Verde Cocha.
Great Sapphirewing, Sapphire-vented and Golden-breasted Pufflegs, and Rainbow-bearded Thornbill at Yanacocha.
Tyrian Metaltails at Yanacocha.
Mountain Velvetbreast at Verde Cocha.
Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Collared Inca, and Buff-tailed Coronet at Verde Cocha.
Glossy-black Thrush at Verde Cocha.
A page on the new Verde Cocha Lodge/Reserve.