Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Hoatzin |
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Deep in the Amazonian Lowlands of Ecuador, along the Shiripuno River is nestled Shiripuno: an ultimate hardcore birding destination.
A short fly from Quito to Coca and then 2 hours in a car along the southern bank of the Napo River, past villages of settlers who came when the road was open to the oil exploration back in the early 80's. The Shiripuno is a narrow, meandering river with rich silt water, The evergreen forest is always surrounding you while you are in the canoe ride. You can search for birds such us: Casqued Oropendola Orange-backed Troupial Scarlet Macaw White-throated Toucan Brown Jacamar Magpie Tanager Black-capped Donacobius Swallow-winged Puffbird.
John is a well known professional birdwatcher who has travelled all around the globe searching for rarities. We had made our list of target species in advance and I had a plan to find them. Fairy Topaz was on the wanted list; I had followed this rare species for years; since I went to Shiripuno for the first time: 5 years ago. This colorful hummingbird gets pretty territorial when it finds its favorite flowering epiphyte plant.
As soon as we arrive at Shiripuno lodge we head to the forest - a little beyond The colibri Trail and Bates Trail junction, passing the shallow rocky stream - to the same place I had the encounter with the almost mythical bird: Nocturnal Curassow. Back in those days, I was returning from the field making new trails; I found myself face to face with the mystery itself. I always take a little time to return to that spot and refresh my memory: to remind myself how fortunate I am to live in a place with such diversity of life and to be part of a committed generation for its conservation.
We had rain for a couple of days but this was not a limitation to observe rarities. The constant encounter with mixed flocks in the extensive trail network increases the chances to find species such as Yasuni Antwren, Long-winged Antwren, Spot-winged Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Antwren, Pearly Antshrike and others.
A medium size flock of Gray-winged Trumpeter was encountered at the beginning of the E. O. Wilson Trail. Salvin's Curassow was encountered after a heavy rain on the Skutch Trail; right after we started it. Rio Suno Antwren was displaying nicely for us on the Misterioso Trail.
At the end we had encountered 8 species of the 15 species we were searching which makes the chances about 50%.
To explore and find rarities in Shiripuno eight days is required.
Great Tinamou
White-throated Tinamou
Cinereous Tinamou
Little Tinamou
Undulated Tinamou
Variegated Tinamou
Bartlett's Tinamou
Anhinga
Rufescent Tiger-Heron
Cattle Egret
Striated Heron
Boat-billed Heron
King Vulture
Black Vulture
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture
Osprey
Swallow-tailed Kite
Double-toothed Kite
Plumbeous Kite
Black-faced Hawk
Black Hawk-Eagle
Black Caracara
Red-throated Caracara
Barred Forest-Falcon
Bat Falcon
Laughing Falcon
Speckled Chachalaca
Spix's Guan
Common Piping-Guan
Salvin's Curassow
Nocturnal Curassow
Marble Wood-Quail
Black-banded Crake
Chestnut-headed Crake
Gray-necked Wood-Rail
Sunbittern
Gray-winged Trumpeter
Spotted Sandpiper
Southern Lapwing
Plumbeous Pigeon
Ruddy Ground-Dove
Gray-fronted Dove
Ruddy Quail-Dove
Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
Scarlet Macaw
Chestnut-fronted Macaw
Red-bellied Macaw
Maroon-tailed Parakeet
Cobalt-winged Parakeet
Black-headed Parrot
Blue-headed Parrot
Yellow-crowned Amazon
Mealy Amazon
Squirrel Cuckoo
Greater Ani
Smooth-billed Ani
Hoatzin
Tropical Screech-Owl
Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Crested Owl
Spectacled Owl
Great Potoo
Common Potoo
Rufous Potoo
Pauraque
White-collared Swift
Short-tailed Swift
Gray-rumped Swift
Pale-rumped Swift
Neotropical Palm-Swift
Pale-tailed Barbthroat
Great-billed Hermit
White-bearded Hermit
Straight-billed Hermit
Reddish Hermit
Gray-breasted Sabrewing
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
Black-throated Brilliant
Gould's Jewelfront
Black-eared Fairy
Fiery Topaz
Black-tailed Trogon
Amazonian White-tailed Trogon
Black-throated Trogon
Amazonian Violaceous Trogon
Amazon Kingfisher
Green Kingfisher
Broad-billed Motmot
Rufous Motmot
Blue-crowned Motmot
White-eared Jacamar
Brown Jacamar
Yellow-billed Jacamar
Great Jacamar
White-necked Puffbird
Spotted Puffbird
White-chested Puffbird
Black-fronted Nunbird
White-fronted Nunbird
Yellow-billed Nunbird
Swallow-winged Puffbird
Scarlet-crowned Barbet
Gilded Barbet
Golden-collared Toucanet
Many-banded Araçari
Ivory-billed Araçari
Lettered Araçari
Channel-billed Toucan
White-throated Toucan
Lafresnaye's Piculet
Yellow-throated Woodpecker
Golden-green Woodpecker
Chestnut Woodpecker
Scale-breasted Woodpecker
Cream-colored Woodpecker
Lineated Woodcreeper
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
Red-stained Woodpecker
Red-necked Woodpecker
Point-tailed Palmcreeper
Eastern Woodhaunter
Chestnut-winged Hookbill
Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner
Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner
Plain Xenops
Rufous-tailed Xenops
Short-billed Leaftosser
Plain-brown Woodcreeper
White-chinned Woodcreeper
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper
Long-billed Woodcreeper
Cinnamon-throated Woodcreeper
Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper
Black-banded Woodcreeper
Straight-billed Woodcreeper
Striped Woodcreeper
Ocellated Woodcreeper
Buff-throated Woodcreeper
Fasciated Antshrike
Undulated Antshrike
Great Antshrike
Plain-winged Antshrike
Mouse-colored Antshrike
Pearly Antshrike
Spot-winged Antshrike
Dusky-throated Antshrike
Cinereous Antshrike
Short-billed Antwren
Amazonian Streaked Antwren
Plain-throated Antwren
Yasuni Antwren
Rufous-tailed Antwren
White-flanked Antwren
Long-winged Antwren
Rio Suno Antwren
Gray Antwren
Dot-winged Antwren
Dugand's Antwren
Gray Antbird
Blackish Antbird
Black Antbird
Black-faced Antbird
Warbling Antbird
Yellow-browed Antbird
Spot-backed Antbird
Scale-backed Antbird
Banded Antbird
Spot-winged Antbird
Silvered Antbird
White-shouldered Antbird
Sooty Antbird
Plumbeous Antbird
White-plumed Antbird
Bicolored Antbird
Hairy-crested Antbird
Reddish-winged Bare-eye
Rufous-capped Antthrush
Black-faced Antthrush
Ochre-striped Antpitta
White-lored Antpitta
Thrush-like Antpitta
Rusty-beltedTapaculo
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Ringed Antpipit
Double-banded Pygmy-Tyrant
White-eyed Tody-Tyrant
Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher
Rufous-tailed Flatbill
Gray-crowned Flatbill
Olive-faced Flatbill
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Drab Water-Tyrant
Citron-bellied Attila
Cinnamon Attila
Great Kiskadee
Lesser Kiskadee
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Dusky-chested Flycatcher
Piratic Flycatcher
Sulphury Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Chestnut-crowned Becard
Pink-throated Becard
Black-tailed Tityra
Screaming Piha
Bare-necked Fruitcrow
Black-necked Cotinga
Golden-headed Manakin
Wire-tailed Manakin
White-crowned Manakin
Blue-crowned Manakin
Blue-backed Manakin
White-bearded Manakin
Striped Manakin
Dwarf Tyrant-Manakin
Wing-barred Piprites
Thrush-like Schiffornis
Violaceous Jay
Red-eyed Vireo
Lemon-chested Greenlet
Tawny-crowned Greenlet
Lawrence's Thrush
Black-billed Thrush
White-necked Thrush
White-banded Swallow
Black-capped Donacobius
Thrush-like Wren
Coraya Wren
House Wren
White-breasted Wood-Wren
Musician Wren
Southern Nightingale Wren
Long-billed Gnatwren
Buff-rumped Warbler
Purple Honeycreeper
Green Honeycreeper
Orange-bellied Euphonia
Rufous-bellied Euphonia
Turquoise Tanager
Opal-crowned Tanager
Green-and-gold Tanager
Yellow-bellied Tanager
Bay-headed Tanager
Swallow Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Silver-beaked Tanager
Masked Crimson-Tanager
Fulvous-crested Tanager
Fulvous Shrike-Tanager
Magpie Tanager
Buff-throated Saltator
Grayish Saltator
Slate-colored Grosbeak
Blue-black Grosbeak
Blue-black Grassquit
Lesser Seed-Finch
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Red-rumped Cacique
Solitary Cacique
Casqued Oropendola
Crested Oropendola
Russet-backed Oropendola
Orange-backed Troupial