HIGH LONESOME BIRDTOURS: ECUADOR BIRDING TOURS; GALAPAGOS BIRDING TOURS

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS BY YACHT

EXTENSION TO:

THE BIRDS OF NORTHERN ECUADOR

East & West Slopes of the Andes, Amazon Basin

DATES

SEPTEMBER 2 - 12, 2008 (GALAPAGOS ISLANDS)

SEPTEMBER 12 - 25, 2008

COST (PER PERSON)

GALAPAGOS ONLY: DOUBLE: $4350 per person, double from Quito

Single supplement: To be determined, may not be available for Galapagos portion

MAINLAND ECUADOR: $4000 per person, double (priority goes to those taking Galapagos portion)

GALAPAGOS & MAINLAND ECUADOR: $7725 Per person, double

DEPOSIT: $750

PARTICIPANTS: 14 maximum

GUIDES: 2

INCLUDES

Galapagos: From Quito, 10 nights lodging, all meals from 1^st night dinner through final day's breakfast; air to Galapagos, guides, $100 park fee, guide for Antisana trip, taxes (tips to boat crew and guides optional)

Galapagos & mainland extension: From Quito, 23 nights lodging, all meals from 1st night dinner through dinner on September 24th, flights to Amazon & Galapagosw, transport, guides, taxes (tips to guides, boat crew optional)

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

Moderate on established trails with a couple of more strenous climbs that are optional. Walking 3 - 4 miles per day.

REGISTRATION

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OVERVIEW

The famed Galapagos Islands almost need no introduction. The Galapagos Archipelago is situated 800 kilometers west of the Ecuadorian coast and lies directly on the Equator. The archipelago encompasses over 50 islands of volcanic origin that are spread out over an area of about 4,500 square kilometers. The volcanic Galapagos platform originated probably not more than 15 million years ago and the oldest island not more than 2.4 million years ago. Volcanic eruptions still occur in the islands. Isla Fernandina and the Sierra Negra volcano on Isla Isabela have erupted within the past 10 years. In order to protect the islands and their unique flora and fauna, the National Park and Darwin Station have established visitor sites on most of the islands to limit visitor impact. All visitors to the national park must be accompanied by a licensed Galapagos naturalist guide and must remain on designated trails or within the visitor sites. Guides are included as crew members on all tour ships, boats and yachts operating in the islands, and they provide interpretion of the natural and human history and enforcement of national park regulations.

We expect to see all of the Galapagos Island endemic birds, weather conditions permitting. More than 1700 species of birds have been recorded in Ecuador, a country the size of Massachusetts. We'll have the opportunity to see birds in families that do not occur outside of South American. Juan Carlos Calvachi is our primary leader for our Ecuador trips. Juan Carlos' mentor was Paul Greenfield (co-author, Birds of Ecuador) and he one of the most accomplished birders in Ecuador. We expect to see many of the range-restricted species of Ecuador as we visit both slopes of the mighty Andes Mountain range, and the Amazon Basin.

ITINERARY

DAY ONE: Transfer in to El Jardin B&B just outside of Quito.

DAY TWO: Day trip to Antisana ( maximum elevation 13300 feet) overnight at El Jardin. We will be looking for paramo (high Andes tundra) birds, such as Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Carunculated Caracara, several species of Andean waterbirds (Andean Duck, Andean Teal, etc) Andean Lapwing, Giant Hummingbird, Ecuadorian Hillstar, Shining Sunbeam, Many-striped Canasero, Bar-winged & Stout-winged Cincloides, among others. Overnight at El Jardin

DAY THREE - DAY NINE: Flight to the Galapagos 7 nights-8 days on our premium-class catamaran. We are very happy about the catamaran because it is one of the best small boats in the islands, and it is much more stable than the single-hull boats. We expect to visit all the islands where there are endemics and, assuming the weather doesn't interfere, we should be able to find all of the endemic species.

DAY TEN: Transfer in to El Jardin ( Panoramic city tour in the afternoon)

DAY ELEVEN: Transfer out for international flights our day of rest for those taking mainland Ecuador trip.

DAY TWELVE: Early drive to Papallacta Pass ( from 9000 feet up to 14000 feet). We go up to our highest point today looking for the elusive Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. We should also see the Tawny Antpitta and, possibly, Giant Conebill. Overnight at Thermas ( Thermal baths Resort and SPA 11500 feet).

DAY THIRTEEN: Bird the area around the resort for Golden-naped & Black-capped Tanager. Short drive to Guango lodge ( 8500 feet) with hummer feeders. We hope to see the rare Mountain Avocetbill again along with Tourmaline Sunangel, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Long-tailed Sylph, Viridian & Tyrian Metaltail. We can also see Tri-colored Brush-Finch, Dusky & Yellow-throated Bush-tanager. This is a good location for Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan as well. We'll overnight at San Isidro lodge ( 6900 feet). We should find Torrent Duck, Tor-rent Tyrannulet, and White-capped Dipper along the river as we head to Sumaco Lodge.

DAY FOURTEEN: Full day and overnight Sumaco Lodge. We'll bird around the area. Crested Quetzal, Plushcap, Rufous-bellied Nighthawk, Inca & Violaceous Jay, and Giant Antpitta are some of the specialties we should see. Bronzy & Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet are common at the feeders. At night, we hope to see the Rufous-banded Owl they often roosts around the cabanas. This owl may achieve new species status soon.

DAY FIFTEEN- Day trip to the Loreto road ( 4000 feet average) and the Guacamayos ridge( 7000 feet average) overnight Sumaco Lodge. Birding along these routes can be absolutely spectacular, with huge mixed flocks of tanagers, e.g, Paradise, Grass-green, Swallow, Emerald Tanagers. Also Chestnut-breasted Clorophonia and Black-eared Hemispingus. Wire-crested Thorntail is a special hummer we'll look for along Loreto Road. Night at Sumaco Lodge.

DAY SIXTEEN: 2 hours birding in the morning and drive to Coca to catch the boat to Sacha lodge. From the boat, we expect to see Cocoi, Capped, & Striated Herons, Black & Red-throated Caracara, and several kingfisher species. We'll take a 25 minute walk from the Napo landing to Sacha Lagoon where we take dug out canoes to the lodge itself. We'll get our first look at the prehistoric Hoatzin, and we may see Pygmy Marmoset as well. Anaconda lives in the lagoon, but is rarely (unfortunately) seen.

DAY SEVENTEEN: The highlight of the Sacha trip is it's canopy walk. The views are truly spectacular. Numerous birds in the cotinga and tanager families can be closely observed including Spangled & Plum-throated Cotinga, Blue & Black-faced Dacnis, several euphonia species, Opal-rumped, Opal-crowned, Paradise (awesome!!!), Green-and-Gold, and Flame-crested Tanagers. Several raptor species can be seen with the potential always for a Harpy or Crested Eagle. As many as ten parrot and macaw species can be observed. Barbets, toucanets, trogons, and aracaris are well-represented. Amazonian Umbrellabird is also seen frequently. Tonight, we'll look for some night birds. We should find Great Tinamou at it's roost, and Crested Owl usually comes in to a few toots.

DAY EIGHTEEN: This morning, we climb the older tower, 135 feet up, that wraps around a massive ceiba tree. We will see some of the same species as yesterday, but we also add many more. We do some forest birding later in the day, looking for the numerous woodcreepers, tyrannulets, antwrens, antshrikes, antthrushes and antbirds that thrive in the heavy foliage. Overnight at Sacha.

DAY NINETEEN: Boat trip up the Napo to the parrot lick. Lunch there and leisurely return. Overnight at Sacha

DAY TWENTY: Flight back to Quito and overnight at Septimo Paraiso

DAY TWENTY-ONE: Birding all dat at Septimo Paraiso in the Mindo area ( 5700 feet). Cloud-forest birding is at it's best here. We'll go to some local hummingbird feeders for Violet-tailed Sylph, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green-crowned Woodnymph, Andean Emerald. Purple-crowned Fairy, Purple-bibbed Whitetip, and others.

DAY TWENTY-TWO: Full day Mindo ( 4500 feet) area and Los Bancos road ( 3400 feet) and overnight at Septimo. If we haven;t seen the Cock-of-the-Rock, we will spend the morning hiking up to the lek. Today, we should see Golden-headed Quetzal and many of the funarids that reside in the forest. Sickle-winged Guan is often seen around Septimo, and Wattled Umbrellabird breeds in the area. A visit to the antpitta feeding site will round out this great day. Overnight at Septimo.

DAY TWENTY-THREE: Day trip to pedro Vicente Maldonado road ( 1400 feet) Choco Toucan and Trogon should be found. Lemon-rumped, Moss-backed, Fawn-breasted, Golden, Silvery-throated, Rufous-throated, Blue-necked Tanagers are among the numerous tanager species we should find. We hope to find Long-tailed Starthroat at a local feeder as well. Club-winged Manakin should also be on its lek. We'll look for Mottled and Black and White Owl after dinner tonight.Overnight at Septimo.

DAY TWENTY-FOUR: Bird the morning the surrounding areas and afternoon drive to El Jardin

DAY TWENTY-FIVE: transfer out for international flight

CLOTHING/EQUIPMENT

Casual, informal attire is acceptable everywhere we'll be dining.

Passport

Other Photo ID (driver's license is fine)

Some cash to change for buying personal items

Hat with brim/visor

Sunglasses

Sunscreen with SPF 25 or higher

Umbrella (very important in the rainforest)

Water Bottles

Lip Screen / Balm

Small Day Pack / Fanny Pack

Hiking Boots/ Old sneakers or TivaÕs that you can get wet

Shorts

Swimsuit

T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts

Sweater or light jacket

Light -weight pants for days in brushy areas

Insect repellent (DEET 20% or more/ Itch Relief Cream) Note: Citronella is ineffective

Water-repellent windbreaker

Medium weight Gloves & Hat

Binoculars (scope optional, we will provide 1 scope)

Pajamas and Slippers

Three-pronged adapter (electricity is 110 AC as in US, but 3-pronged plugs can be scarce

Laundry: Most lodges offer laundry services at an additional cost.

Airport departure tax is usually about $35 and must be paid by the trip participant at the airport

Temperatures will vary widely depending upon whether we are on the coast or up in the mountains. Temperatures will generally range from 60 to 90. but it can get quite cold (wind chills of 25 degrees or so) at 14,000 above Pappalacta Pass.