Trip report compiled by Tour Leader, Dušan Brinkhuizen. Grass-green Tanager by Vincent Douwes

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1 Northern Ecuador Chocó Cloud Forest 7 th to 13 th April 2017 (7 days) Eastern Andes: Páramo and Cloud Forest 13 th to 19 th April 2017 (7 days) Trip Report Grass-green Tanager by Vincent Douwes Trip report compiled by Tour Leader, Dušan Brinkhuizen

2 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Tour Summary 8 April - Yanacocha to Reserva Las Gralarias (via Calacali): Our Chocó Cloud forest adventure started at Yanacocha, a nature reserve owned by the Jocotoco Foundation on the north-western flank of the Pichincha Volcano. It was cloudy and it rained, but the unpleasant weather did not stop us. One of the first birds that we got our bins on was a spectacular Sword-billed Hummingbird what an awesome kick-off to the tour! A newly placed banana feeder near the restaurant kept us busy for a while, with stunners like Yellow-breasted Brush Finch, Blackchested and Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanagers coming in to feed at close range! Glossy Flowerpiercer, Cinereous Conebill and Plain-colored Seedeater were around as well. A Tawny Antpitta popped out in the open briefly. Brown-bellied Swallows were building their nest under the roof of the restaurant. Sword-billed Hummingbird by Donna Hamer At the start of the Inca trail, we ran into a pair of Andean Guans. An Ocellated Tapaculo was calling from uphill and while scanning the vegetation, a juvenile Rufous Antpitta was spotted. Everybody got on the juvenile bird quickly, and some even managed to get a photo of its rarely seen plumage. We worked on the Ocellated Tapaculo for a while because it was high on our list of most-wanted species (very understandable). To our surprise, it came closer to the trail and suddenly the stonker popped out in the open and everybody got on it! The action wasn t over yet, as a little further down the trail the rare Rainbow-bearded Thornbill showed up. On the way to the far feeders, we heard several antpitta species, including Undulated and Chestnut-naped. A few small mixed-flocks produced Golden-crowned Tanager, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Blue-backed Conebill, Grass-green Tanager, Rufous Wren and Spectacled Whitestart, among others. Both Golden-breasted and Sapphire-vented Puffleg were picked up at the feeders and on our way back, in the fog, we got a Red-crested Cotinga. Back at the restaurant, we warmed up with a traditional quinoa soup before we continued to the dry valley of Calacali (the Nono-Mindo road was closed due to landslides). It never rains at Calacali so we walked into the beautiful plains, where we picked up specialities such as Band-tailed and Ash-breasted Sierra-finch, Band-tailed Seedeater, Common Ground Dove and Black-tailed Trainbearer. As we got close to a singing Streak-backed Canastero, we were surprised by an instant cloud-burst. Our van was parked fairly close-by, but it was far away enough for us to get completely soaked! It never stopped raining, but we did pick up Golden-headed Quetzal near Reserva Las Gralarias just before it got dark. 9 April - Reserva Las Gralarias & Bellavista: It rained lightly in the morning, but the hummingbird and banana feeders at the lodge kept us busy and excited. No less than 14 species of hummers were observed at the feeders, including cracking Chocó endemics such as Velvet-purple Coronet, Violet-tailed Sylph, Brown Inca, Empress Brilliant, Rufous Antpitta by Jim Hamer

3 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Gorgeted Sunangel and White-booted Racket-tail! Activity at the bananas was good, with Chestnut-capped Brush Finch, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Dusky Bush Tanager, Golden-naped and Golden Tanager, Orange-bellied Euphonia and a Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush coming in. Flame-faced Tanager by Donna Hamer The hoped for Toucan Barbets never showed up, but an adult Tyra stole the show. This huge weasel-like mammal was behaving like a pet and wasn t shy at all! It grabbed all the bananas and returned a couple of times for more, as it was presumably feeding young. The track behind the lodge produced great views of Maroon-tailed Parakeets, Red-billed Parrots and a pair of Strongbilled Woodcreeper. When Michael and Christine joined us (their flights had been delayed significantly), we hit the jackpot: a pair of Platebilled Mountain Toucans showed up and posed for a prolonged time in the scope. At Bellavista, the rain picked up again but an obliging Yellowbellied Chat-Tyrant did not seem to be bothered much by the wet conditions. After a delicious lunch, we returned to the Bellavista area, where we ran into a magnificent mixedspecies flock with Streaked Tuftedcheek, Rusty-winged Barbtail, Pearled Treerunner, Grass-green, Flame-faced and Beryl-spangled Tanager, Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Barred Becard, a few Blackburnian Warblers, both Spectacled and Slate-throated Whitestart, Brown-capped Vireo, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Capped Conebill, Russet-crowned and Three-striped Warbler and Montane Woodcreeper, to mention a few! We taped in a Spillman s Tapaculo successfully, but couldn t find the rare Tanager Finch. A late afternoon stop at a bamboo patch was superb, with duetting Plain-tailed Wrens in full view! Here we also picked up Streak-headed Antbird, Striped Treehunter and Sickle-winged Guan. A great ending of a bird-packed day! 10 April - Refugio Paz de las Aves & Oilbirds: At dawn, we met our local guide and famed birder, Angel Paz. Some were lucky to spot a flying Rufous-bellied Nighthawk on its way to day roost. We could hear the Andean Cock-of-the-Rocks from the road, which was a promising start. Once we got down to the lek site, it was an ongoing cock-of-the-rock fiesta! This time of the year (start of the rainy season) is probably the best time for this species, and we saw many males displaying. For over an hour, we enjoyed the spectacle with many males doing their noisy dances at close range. In the meanwhile, Angel put extra effort to search for the Giant Antpitta which had been tricky over the last few weeks. Other species that we picked up at the hide included Flame-faced Tanager, White-winged Tanager and our only White-winged Brush Finch for the trip. At the lower feeders, we waited for the wood-quails but they never showed up. A male White-throated Wedgebill was a nice consolation. Later in the morning, Angel and Andean Cock-of-the-rock by Vincent Douwes

4 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern his brother, Rodrigo, showed us no less than four species of antpitta: Yellow-breasted, Moustached, Ochre-breasted and Chestnut-crowned all came in to feed on the earthworms put out by the Paz brothers amazing! Giant Antpitta was off the radar for the moment, which was very unfortunate. A superb bonus was a female Powerful Woodpecker that showed well. After a nice, local brunch (bolones de verde and empanadas), we started our journey to the Guayllabamba river valley. En route we stopped for low-flying Swallow-tailed Kites that put up a show. We bagged many new species near the river, including Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Pacific Antwren, Grey-capped Flycatcher, Masked Tityra, Blue-necked Tanager, Bran-colored Flycatcher and Ecuadorian Thrush. At the well-known ravine, we Oilbird by Vincent Douwes counted at least six adult Oilbirds. This site is one of the best places in the world to see this bizarre nocturnal creature because a flashlight is not needed. A few other species that we saw nearby included a splendid Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Palemandibled Aracari, Yellow-tufted Dacnis, Purple Honeycreeper and Cinnamon Becard. 11 April - Mashpi Road & Amagusa reserve: Today we started at the amazing banana feeders of the Amagusa Reserve. A large variety of species came in, including cracking Chocó endemics such as Black-chinned Mountain Tanager, and Rufous-throated, Glistening-green and Moss-backed Tanager! Other regular guests were Flame-faced, Golden-naped, Golden and Lemon-rumped Tanager. Buff-throated and the more skittish Black-winged Saltator paid a visit and even a stunning White-throated Quail-Dove popped up what a feast! At some point, Crimson-rumped Toucanets were eating away bananas at touching distance; while a splendid Toucan Barbet showed interest but unfortunately never came down all the way. Along the entry road, we bagged a few true Chocó crackers, including a superb male Orangebreasted Fruiteater and an adult Indigo Flowerpiercer. However, the ultimate prize of the morning was a cracking Black Solitaire, which we watched at close range for a prolonged time! Bronze-olive Pygmytyrant, Chocó Warbler and Black-billed Peppershrike were picked up along the way, as well as a flock with Gray-and-gold Tanager, Spotted Woodcreeper, Redheaded Barbet and Emerald Tanager lower down. We went a few metres off-trail after hearing Esmeraldas Antbird, and it paid off: we got excellent views of a singing male of this tricky Chocó endemic! A Brownbilled Scythebill first played hide-and-seek but eventually showed well. Barred Puffbird perched up in the canopy was another highlight for the afternoon. On our way back, Laughing Falcon and Chestnutmandibled Toucan showed well; and as if that wasn t enough, an eye-level Rose-faced Parrot was scoped along the road Chocó endemism at its best! Rufous-throated Tanager by Michael Sabyan

5 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern April - Rio Silanche: Our first stops along the entry road to the reserve produced a good number of new birds, including Guayaquil Woodpecker, Olivaceous Piculet, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Pacific Parrotlet, Blue-headed Parrot, Black-throated Mango, Violet-bellied Hummingbird and a couple of stunning Hook-billed Kites! Over the years, the habitat in the area has been severely deforested and, sadly, the Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary is now a small island of tall humid forest, a final refuge for many forest species in the area. Black Solitaire by Dušan Brinkhuizen We started at the canopy tower in the hope for some canopy action, but bird activity was rather slow. A splendid Cinnamon Woodpecker came in to its call and a couple of Palemandibled Aracaris moved through the canopy at eye-level. A tree trunk next to the tower was clearly owned by a pair of obliging Black-cheeked Woodpeckers. Apart from Masked Tityra and fly-over Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, not much was happening in the canopy. Suddenly, we heard a call from Donna downstairs. She had located the male Red-capped Manakin and had just witnessed the moonwalk display! Eventually, we all got to see this superb male displaying, a rare sighting at the reserve. Whip-cracking White-bearded Manakins were enjoyed in the same stretch of trail. At the parking, we finally ran into some canopy activity, with goodies like Guira Tanager, Redheaded Barbet, Yellow-margined Flatbill, Lesser Greenlet, and Grey-and-gold, Golden-hooded and White-shouldered Tanager. Both Blue-chested and Purple-chested Hummingbirds were watched at the flowers. We heard a Chocó Trogon calling nearby and quickly went after this major target. A pair of this regional endemic was located shortly after, and especially the female showed itself well. A Boat-billed Flycatcher was making noise in the canopy and Jurgen discovered it was actually mobbing an adult Grey-lined Hawk perched in the same tree! Forest birding was not easy, but we did pull out both Black-striped and Northern Barred Woodcreeper from a flock. The near-endemic Orange-fronted Barbet was singing from the canopy, but we couldn t get it in view. Rufous-fronted Wood Quails were calling loudly from the understorey, but were clearly moving away from us. After a field lunch, we went back to the tower to try for a pair of Scarlet-breasted Dacnis that was reported by others about half an hour before. We knew there were ripe berries present, but we only got Green and Purple Honeycreeper and a pair of Yellow-tufted Dacnis after a long wait. Activity was slow again, but at some point we heard a Scarlet-breasted Dacnis calling in the distance. We left the tower quickly and located the calling bird in the canopy. It was a female but it counts! A Double-toothed Kite, perched at close range in the parking lot, was a real treat. Just as we decided to call it a day, some activity along the road caught our attention. A quick check paid off big time, as we found out a substantial flock was present. Various tanagers were taking a bath in a large bromeliad, including a fantastic male Scarlet-browed Double-toothed Kite by Andre Weiss

6 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Tanager! A Purple-crowned Fairy was a nice side-catch, as well as a pair of White-tailed Trogons. It was André that spotted a pair of Orange-fronted Barbets in the canopy icing on the cake! During our drive back, we stopped at a promising looking marshy area and trawled for Whitethroated Crake with tape. To our surprise, the crake came out in the open almost instantly! Further down the road, the fancy Masked Water-tyrant and White-thighed Swallow were added to a long list of new birds for the day. 13 April - Septimo Paraiso, Milpe & Quito airport pond: The early morning started off with a bang at Septimo Paraiso: a calling Wattled Guan was tracked down and scoped, a mega bird! At Milpe, we Crimson-rumped Toucanet by Michael Sabyan went straight down the manakin trail and soon got our bins on a fantastic male Club-winged Manakin doing its unique wing-display! It was again Donna that got us on the bird, so she officially got nicknamed the manakin whisperer. The forest trail was rather quiet, but suddenly Vincent spotted an adult Plumbeous Hawk perched above our heads, a real bonus! At nearby Milpe Garden, we got a few mixed-flocks with Russet Antshrike, Tawny-breasted Myiobius, Wedge-billed Woodcreeper, Chocó Warbler and Slaty Antwren, among others, but general bird activity was fairly slow. A male Zeledon s Antbird was seen after some hide-and-seek. A Spotted Nightingale-Thrush was seen crossing the trail; while a loud singing Pale-vented Thrush remained hidden in the canopy of an enormous tree. Back at Septimo, we had a delicious lunch and after some packing, we hit the road. At the parking a Christmas tree full of tanagers was scoped, with Black-capped Tanager being a new addition to the list. On our way out, we heard a Scaled Fruiteater calling in the distance. After playback, the bird came in closer and fairly soon we got this fantastic fruiteater in view. Our search for the recently split Coopmans Elaenia in Mindo town was unsuccessful, and in the rain we did not find much except for Dull-colored Grassquits seeking shelter in a bush. In front of the gas station at Calacali, we bagged a few new species including a male Hooded Siskin, a male Blue-and-yellow-Tanager and Sparkling Violetear. At Quito airport pond, we added a number of water birds, including Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Coot, Pied-billed Grebe and Spotted Sandpipers (some in breeding plumage). A singing male Golden Grosbeak atop a nearby bush was really neat. A stunning male Vermillion Flycatcher perched on the fence was a welcome addition too. An immature Peregrine Falcon, of the resident race cassini, hunting above the pond was a great ending to our Chocó Cloud forest tour. At the international airport, we said farewell to part of the group while others continued on with the next trip. Dinner and beer at Cosa Nostra Pizzeria in Quito were a great kick-off to the Eastern Andes tour. Andean Condor by Andre Weiss

7 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern April - Antisana & Papallacta Pass: We started the Eastern Andes tour at one of the most famous snow-capped strato-volcanoes of Ecuador: Antisana. Our first stop at treeline scrub helped us acclimatise to the high altitude, and produced goodies such as Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and Shining Sunbeam. Our second stop at Tambo Condor was truly epic. A perched Giant Hummingbird was spotted as soon as we got out of the vehicle, followed by an Andean Condor in flight a few minutes later. On top of this, two adult Spectacled Bears were scoped in the páramo grassland on the opposite side of the valley this all happened within a 10-minute timeframe! The Spectacled Bear was an especially rare sighting, and it took a little while before we recovered from all the excitement. Stout-billed Cinclodes by Vincent Douwes Higher up, at a deserted house, we enjoyed multiple Stout-billed Cinclodes, Plumbeous Sierra-finch and a two Variable Hawks. An adult Andean Condor flew by at close range with perfect light a truly spectacular sight! Up at the altiplano, we got close encounters with Carunculated Caracaras foraging in the grasslands next to the vehicle. We scanned the grasslands for the Andean Ibis but it took a little while before we found them. Eventually, we counted no less than 19 individuals of this rare and local species in Ecuador. Paramo Ground Tyrant showed well and we also scoped a singing Paramo Pipit in the distance. At La Mica Lake we connected with various waterfowl, including target birds such as Andean Ruddy Duck and Silvery Grebe. A cooperative Many-striped Canastero showed nicely while singing its heart out from atop a bush. Very unusual was the fact that we only encountered a single Andean Lapwing, a species normally easily seen at Antisana. Just before lunch, we successfully targeted the Ecuadorian Hillstar at a hillside with many Chuquiragua flowers. A pair of Brownbacked Chat-Tyrants was a nice addition here, too. A short stop for Ecuadorian Rail en route to Papallacta was successful, and some even got to see it jump out of the tall grasses. On our way to Guango, we decided to try for the enigmatic Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe at the high elevation antennas of Papallacta Pass. The weather wasn t the best but we decided to give it a try. At the very top it was cold, terribly windy and raining, but we nevertheless split up for a tactical search. It was Peter that found a single seedsnipe after about 20 minutes, but unfortunately, the bird had flown off before any of the others could see it. We continued our search for quite a while but had to stop as it was getting dark soon. 15 April - Papallacta Pass, Guango & Papallacta Lake: As Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe was high on our list of desiderata, we decided to give it a second try up at the antennas. Again the weather was pretty horrendous and we failed in finding it. Vincent got lucky to flush a Jameson's (Andean) Snipe Torrent Duck by Vincent Douwes

8 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern during our intense search for the seedsnipe. Back at Guango, the weather had improved, and at the river, Jonathan spotted a stunning male Torrent Duck perched on a nearby rock! Views of this spectacular sought-after species were as good as it gets, and it was a great compensation for our earlier seedsnipe dip. Along the trail system, we searched for mixed-species flocks with success. Species that we got included Slaty Brushfinch, Grey-hooded Bush Tanager, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Pearled Treerunner, Blue-and-black Tanager, Black-capped Hemispingus, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Capped Conebill and Montane Woodcreeper, among others. Stunning Turquoise Jays were watched at close range, as well as a spectacular Strong-billed Woodcreeper. A great surprise was a male Plainbreasted Hawk that nearly landed on my head! Our search for White-capped Dipper along the river was unsuccessful, but we did get a nice Black-chested Mountain Tanager by Andre Weiss female Torrent Duck this time. Up at Papallacta Lake, we ran into some good activity with a showy pair of Pale-naped Brush Finches, the stunning Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Viridian Metaltail, the scarce Black-chested Mountain Tanager and the rare Agile Tit-Tyrant. The distinct trilling song of the Paramo Tapaculo was heard nicely. A late afternoon visit to the river produced more high-quality views of a male Torrent Duck in action. 16 April - Papallacta Hotsprings, Papallacta Pass, Baeza & Cabañas San Isidro: In the morning, we went up the well-known Termas (hotsprings) Road to search for high-elevation specialities. To my great surprise, a Crescent-faced Antpitta sang in response to tape, a super rare species I haven t heard along this road in years! We tried hard for this mega bird with a Bluetooth speaker setup and a lot of patient waiting, but we just couldn t get it in view. The bird came in fairly close but it seemed that it never came all the way. A Rufous Antpitta did show up swiftly at the same spot. Other species that we saw in the vicinity included a pair of obliging White-browed Spinetails, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager and (again!) Black-chested Mountain Tanager. We were unable to locate the hoped for Masked Mountain Tanager flock, but we did get good views of a responsive Crowned Chat-tyrant. The weather higher up improved significantly so we decided to give it a final try for the seedsnipe. Our quest was again fruitless, even though the weather up at the antennas was the best we had had so far. John got nice views of Tawny Antpitta during the search and lower down at the shrine we got our bins on a Blue-mantled Thornbill. After lunch, we travelled down to the subtropics of the east slope where we carefully checked streams en route to target the dipper. At the Baeza checkpoint bridge, we finally found the White-capped Dipper. The party wasn t over yet as a huge raptor was spotted by Vincent up in a nearby tree. Black-and-chestnut Eagle by Dušan Brinkhuizen

9 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Unbelievably, it turned out to be an incredible adult Black-and-chestnut Eagle with a live chicken in its talons! The following minutes were amazing and hectic at the same time as we watched the "Harpy of the Andes at close range right from the highway! Eventually, an angry farmer chased it away and collected the dead chicken. A very troublesome sighting, as domestic free-range chicken is easy prey for the Black-and-chestnut Eagle and also the principal reason for them getting killed. Luckily, our eagle got away without injury this time. However, there is always the risk that the farmer will take different measures if the eagle were to return. It is a sad and very complicated conservation issue, making it one of the rarest eagles in the world with only a handful of pairs known to occur in Ecuador. Black-banded Owl by Dušan Brinkhuizen We arrived at Cabañas San Isidro in the afternoon with a nice mixed-species flock moving by at the parking lot. Species that we saw here included Canada and Blackburnian Warblers, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Montane Woodcreeper, Black-capped Tanager and unexpectedly a pair of Lemon-browed Flycatchers (a species normally found at lower elevations in the foothills). A late afternoon try for the rare Peruvian Antpitta was unsuccessful but yielded several forest birds, including a male Golden-headed Quetzal. The San Isidro Black-banded Owl was beautifully observed a few minutes before dinner. 17 April - Cabañas San Isidro & Guacamayos Ridge: In the morning, we birded the grounds of Cabañas San Isidro. The garden lights attract insects at night and in the morning many species can be observed foraging near the lamp posts. Species that we easily encountered included the stunning Inca Jay, Subtropical Cacique, Black-billed Peppershrike, Montane and Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Common Bush Tanager, Mountain Wren, Canada and Blackburnian Warbler and Russet-backed Oropendola, among others. We met Guido at 7:30am to try for the White-bellied Antpitta, one of San Isidro s specialities. A pair of this secretive species had been visiting a worm feeder for several years now, so we had good hopes for seeing it. It took only a few minutes before an adult popped out of the forest to pick up a worm. It came back several times, providing us with cracking views of this shy forest-dweller. Other species that we picked up in the vicinity of the lodge included the superb Beryl-spangled and Saffron-crowned Tanager, Bluish Flowerpiercer, Black-crested Warbler, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Azara s Spinetail and Tyrannine Woodcreeper. The woodcreeper froze for several minutes, giving us excellent scope views of this scarce species. We also did well on flycatchers, with great views of Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet, Handsome and Paleedged Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher and Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant. The hummingbird feeders attracted plenty superb hummers, including Long-tailed Sylph, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Collared and Bronzy Inca, Fawn-breasted Brilliant and Speckled Hummingbird. At the fast-flowing river of Cosanga, we enjoyed a pair of Torrent Duck, the tiny Torrent Tyrannulet and a Spotted Inca Jay by Vincent Douwes

10 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Sandpiper. Our afternoon visit to the Guacamayos trail was a bit slow, but it had been raining a lot as well. The rare Barred Antthrush called back only once in response to tape. Some of the species we got to see well here included Hooded Mountain Tanager, Rufous-headed Pygmy Tyrant and Andean Guan. Seeing both Long-tailed Tapaculo and Spillmann's Tapaculo was a good score. A Slaty-crowned Antpitta came in nicely just before dusk and was seen really well by most of us. A fantastic Rufous-bellied Nighthawk circled us at the shrine and gave away spectacular close-up flight views. Long-tailed Sylph by Vincent Douwes 18 April - Guacamayos Ridge, Cocodrillos, Archidona, Loreto road and Narupa Reserve: Today was a mega day. Since the Amazon block of the tour did not run this year, we decided to adjust the itinerary and bird the lower elevations along the east slope all the way down to Archidona. This would potentially yield a significant number of new species and quality birds which indeed turned out to be the case. It was a mega-diverse day with a wide array of species, ranging from upper subtropical cloud forest (2,300m) down to lower foothill Amazonia (800m). We kicked off at the Guacamayos Ridge, with great flight views of Barred Parakeet, a species that is typically heard more often than seen. Bird activity was fairly slow along the road, but we did get Rufous Spinetail, Andean Guan, Band-tailed Pigeon and a small flock of Scalynaped Amazons. A little further down the road, we had a slam-dunk: three Black-billed Mountain Toucans in full view! Very pleased with a new mountain toucan in the bag, we continued to the Cocodrillos sector of Sumaco National Park. At this site, something happened that we had been hoping for the entire tour: a monster mixed-species flock (30+ species!). For over an hour, we had continuous bird activity coming and going, adding many new species to the list in record time. The tanagers that we pulled out included real crackers like Blue-browed, Rufous-crested, Yellow-throated, Orange-eared, Saffron-crowned, Blue-necked, Black-capped and Flame-faced! Other species that came along with the flock included Golden-eyed Flowerpiercer, Black-billed Peppershrike, Bronze-green Euphonia, Brown-capped Vireo, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Threestriped Warbler, Smoke-colored Pewee, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Bush Tanager, Blackburnian Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart and Canada Warbler, to mention a few! After this bird frenzy, we continued down to Archidona for some lowland birding. Late morning wasn t the best time for activity here, but we nevertheless picked up a good number of nice species. A trail into some plantations proved to be productive, with Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, a neat male breeding plumage Blackpoll Warbler, Turquoise and Silver-beaked Tanager, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Black Caracara and the rare (but overlooked) Red-billed Tyrannulet. In the understorey, we got goodies like White-browed Antbird, and Golden-winged and Rustyfronted Tody-Flycatcher. We had lunch at the soccer field, White-winged Swallow by Andre Weiss

11 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern where we watched White-winged and White-banded Swallow, Grey-breasted Martins and a couple of Violaceous Jays. A large flock of low-flying Spot-fronted Swifts was a real treat but did indicate rain was on its way. Nestor spotted a nice Fasciated Tiger Heron at the bridge just outside of town. In the afternoon, we travelled to the Loreto Road for some more foothill birding. We added a good number of new ones, including Cliff Flycatcher, Blackish Nightjar, Lafresnaye's Piculet, the amazing Paradise Tanager, Lined Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Tyrant, White-winged Becard, Black-capped Donacobius and Spotted Tanager, among others. Western Striolated Puffbird remained heard-only. A late afternoon visit to the porterweed flowers and nearby feeders of the Narupa Reserve yielded an astonishing number of new hummers, including Wire-crested Thorntail, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Gould's Jewelfront, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Black-throated Brilliant, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant and the tiny Gorgeted Woodstar. 19 April - Cabañas San Isidro & Guacamayos Ridge to Quito: On our final day of the trip, we dedicated a full morning to look for species that had eluded us so far. At the Cliff Flycatcher by Andre Weiss start of the antvireo trail at Cabañas San Isidro, we watched a male Pale-eyed Thrush sing from the top of a tall tree. The trail was fairly productive, but apart from the birds, we also really enjoyed the extensive primary subtropical cloud forest all around us. One of the highlights was a pair of Powerful Woodpeckers that showed nicely. At a bamboo patch, a loose flock produced Black-eared Hemispingus and Streak-headed Antbird. The hoped for Plushcap was possibly seen but not fully confirmed. A pair of Black-chested Fruiteater was calling right around us but unfortunately, it was only me that saw the female briefly. Back at the cabins, some people needed to catch up with Russet-crowned Warbler. After some hide-and-seek, a bird showed really well, as did a Rufous-crowned Tody- Flycatcher. A flyby White-capped Parrot at the lodge deck was a nice catch-up, as most of the birds we had seen in the forest had been Red-billed Parrots. We also returned to the famed Guacamayos trail in the hope for some rare species like Greater Scythebill. We did hit a promising mixed-flock for the scythebill, but only pulled out species like Black-capped Hemispingus, Grass-green Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager and Hooded Mountain Tanager. A Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant showed well after some tape playback and we finally connected visually with a stunning Green-andblack Fruiteater. A family flock of Sepia-brown Wren was a welcome addition too. After a nice farewell lunch, most of us travelled back to Quito (some continued on to WildSumaco on their own account) with a brief stop at Papallacta Lake and the airport pond. Wire-crested Thorntail by Andre Weiss

12 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Annotated List of species recorded Note: Number in brackets ( ) indicate number of days on the tour the species was recorded. Birds (510 in total: 456 seen, 53 heard) Nomenclature and taxonomy follows Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds) IOC World Bird List (v 7.1). Status codes: E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, I = Introduced IUCN codes: CR = Critically endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EW = Extinct in the Wild, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Deficient Tinamous Tinamidae Little Tinamou Crypturellus soui harterti (3) 1 heard Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4 and 1 heard Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary A fairly common species by voice heard in the western lowlands. Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl Anatidae Torrent Duck Merganetta armata colombiana (3) 2 Guango Lodge 15.4, Cosanga 17.4 and Narupa Reserve Multiple encounters with this spectacular and sought-after species. Our first sighting was a superb male at Guango that showed off at close range. Later on, we also located a sleeping female. A pair was watched at Cosanga and another male was seen in the Narupa reserve. Andean Teal Anas andium andium (3) Papallacta Pass 14.4, Laguna Papallacta 16.4 and Laguna Papallacta Fairly common at high elevations in the Papallacta area. Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica spinicauda (3) Quito Airport Pond 13.4, Antisana Ecological Reserve 14.4 and Laguna Papallacta A fairly common species seen at various sites in the highlands. Andean Duck Oxyura ferruginea (1) Antisana Ecological Reserve Several of this attractive blue-billed duck were scoped at close range at Laguna Mica. Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows Cracidae Andean Guan Penelope montagnii (1) 2 Yanacocha 8.4. brooki: (2) Guacamayos trail 17.4 and Guacamayos trail This uncommon species was seen both east and west in the Andes in temperate forest. Wattled Guan (NT) Aburria aburri (3) 1 heard Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo 10.4, 1 heard Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo 11.4 and Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo A superb adult of this rarely seen species was scoped at Septimo Paraiso. Sickle-winged Guan Chamaepetes goudotii (1) Bellavista Cloudforest Reserve 9.4. tschudii: (2) Cabañas San Isidro 18.4 and Cabañas San Isidro Birds were observed in cloud forest on both sides of the Andes.

13 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Rufous-fronted Wood Quail (1) 1 heard Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary A family flock was heard calling at close range. New World Quail Odontophoridae Grebes Podicipedidae Odontophorus erythrops parambae Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps antarcticus (1) Quito Airport Pond A couple of individuals were scoped at a pond near Quito International Airport. Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis juninensis (1) Antisana Ecological Reserve This high elevation species was seen nicely along the shores of Laguna Mica. Ibises and Spoonbills Threskiornithidae Andean Ibis (NT) Theristicus branickii (1) 19 Antisana Ecological Reserve A rare high elevation target bird in Ecuador. Small numbers of this attractive ibis were watched in the plains next to the Antisana Volcano. We counted a total of at least 19 individuals. Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns Ardeidae Fasciated Tiger Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum salmoni (1) Archidona A superb adult was scoped at the Misahuallí river. Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (3) Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4, en route 12.4 and en route Very few of this normally common and widespread species were seen. Great Egret (1) en route A single bird was observed en route. Ardea alba egretta Cormorants and Shags Phalacrocoracidae Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus (2) Laguna Papallacta 15.4 and Papallacta Hot Springs - Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve A few were observed at 3400m along the shore of Laguna Papallacta. New World Vultures Cathartidae Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura jota (6) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4, Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, Refugio Paz de las Aves 10.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4, Milpe Bird Sanctuary 13.4, Loreto Road 18.4 and Archidona A common and widespread species seen on most days. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus (5) Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, Refugio Paz de las Aves 10.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4, Milpe Bird Sanctuary 13.4, Loreto Road 18.4 and Archidona A common and widespread species seen on most days.

14 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Andean Condor (NT) Vultur gryphus (1) 7 Antisana Ecological Reserve Excellent views of this iconic species in flight on several occasions. One spectacular adult flew by at close range. Hawks, Eagles, and Kites Accipitridae Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus uncinatus (1) 4 Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary Surprisingly we had at least four encounters with this attractive raptor on our way to the reserve. Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus (4) Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo 13.4, Cocodrilos, Reserva Ecológica Antisana 18.4 and Narupa Reserve This handsome kite was seen on several days. On our way to the Oilbird cave, we photographed them at close range. Black-and-chestnut Eagle (VU) Spizaetus isidori (1) 1 adult Baeza Incredible views of a perched adult with a live domestic chicken in its talons. This "Harpy" of the Andes was watched for a prolonged time before it got chased away by an angry farmer: an exceptional but also a very troublesome sighting. It is one of the rarest eagles in the Americas (if not the rarest) with only a handful of pairs known to occur in Ecuador (very low-density population). Domestic free-range chickens are easy prey for the Black-and-chestnut Eagle but also the principal reason for the species getting shot/killed. The species is currently classified as Endangered by Birdlife International. Double-toothed Kite Harpagus bidentatus bidentatus: (1) Archidona Great close-up perch views of this species at two sites. The adult seen in Archidona was following a troupe of Squirrel Monkeys. Plain-breasted Hawk Accipiter ventralis (1) Guango Lodge A male nearly landed atop Dušan's head while we hiked a trail. Plumbeous Hawk (VU) Cryptoleucopteryx plumbea (1) Milpe Bird Sanctuary Superb perch views of this rare raptor along the manakin trail. Barred Hawk (1) 1 heard Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area A calling bird was heard flying over in the fog. Morphnarchus princeps Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris magnirostris (7) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4, Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4, Milpe Bird Sanctuary 13.4, Baeza 16.4, Cabañas San Isidro 17.4, Loreto Road 18.4 and Archidona A common and widespread species seen at various sites. In flight easily identified by its reddish wing panels. White-rumped Hawk Parabuteo leucorrhous (2) Guango Lodge 15.4 and Guacamayos trail One adult was seen in flight at Guango. Another bird was swiftly seen along the Guacamayos trail.

15 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Variable Hawk Geranoaetus polyosoma poecilochrous (2) Antisana Ecological Reserve 14.4 and Papallacta Pass Several individuals of "Puna Hawk" were seen at high elevation Paramo habitat. Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus australis (2) Quito Airport Pond 13.4 and Laguna Papallacta Our best views of this beautiful raptor were of an adult near Papallacta. Grey-lined Hawk Buteo nitidus blakei A single adult was scoped in a bare tree. It was being mobbed by a Boat-billed Flycatcher. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Rallidae White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis albigularis Superb views of this secretive crake on our way out the reserve. Ecuadorian Rail Rallus aequatorialis aequatorialis (1) 6 Papallacta Pass Several were heard along the highway towards Papallacta. Some people were lucky to see it as well. Andean Coot Fulica ardesiaca atrura (3) Quito Airport Pond 13.4, Antisana Ecological Reserve 14.4 and Laguna Papallacta A fairly common species at lakes in the highlands. Plovers and Lapwings Charadriidae Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis cayennensis (1) Cabañas San Isidro Small numbers were seen in the cattle pastures along the Las Caucheras road. Andean Lapwing Vanellus resplendens (1) Antisana Ecological Reserve A single adult was scoped in the distance at Laguna Mica. Seedsnipes Thinocoridae Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis gayi latreillii (1) Papallacta Pass A bird was seen at close range by a single lucky observer. A nemesis bird for the rest since we were unable to find them even after several retries. Sandpipers and Allies Scolopacidae Jameson's Snipe Gallinago jamesoni (1) 1 Papallacta Pass An adult was flushed by a single lucky observer. Two birds were also heard calling while looking for the seedsnipe. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius (2) Quito Airport Pond 13.4 and Cosanga A few of this common boreal migrant were recorded. A bird at the airport was in full breeding plumage. Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Laridae

16 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Andean Gull Chroicocephalus serranus (2) Antisana Ecological Reserve 14.4 and Laguna Papallacta Only a few of this highland species were seen at their nest sites. Pigeons and Doves Columbidae Rock Dove Columba livia var. domestica (8) en route 8.4, observed en route , Mindo Valley 13.4, en route 14.4, en route 17.4 and Archidona A common and widespread domestic species typically recorded in urban habitats. Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata albilinea (4) Bellavista Cloudforest Reserve 9.4, en route 14.4, en route 16.4 and Guacamayos trail A fairly common species in the highlands. Pale-vented Pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis occidentalis (3) Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4 and Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary Only seen in the western lowlands. Plumbeous Pigeon (1) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4. A single bird was seen in flight. Patagioenas plumbea chapmani Ruddy Pigeon Patagioenas subvinacea (3) Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4 and 1 heard Milpe Bird Sanctuary ogilviegranti: (1) Archidona A few were recorded in the lower foothills both east and west of the Andes. Dusky Pigeon (1) 1 heard Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary A single bird was heard shortly. Patagioenas goodsoni Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina quitensis (1) The Shrine, Calacalí 8.4. Locally common in the arid "dry" valley of Calacali. Ruddy Ground Dove (1) Archidona A common species in the eastern lowlands. Black-winged Ground Dove (1) Antisana Ecological Reserve A single bird was scoped on the altiplano. Columbina talpacoti talpacoti Metriopelia melanoptera saturatior White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi decolor (1) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4. Nice from-inside-the-car views of this species on our way to Bellavista. Pallid Dove Leptotila pallida (2) Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4 and Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary Flushed birds were seen on several occasions. White-throated Quail-Dove Zentrygon frenata bourcieri (3) Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Guacamayos trail 17.4 and 1 heard Cabañas San Isidro 19.4.

17 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Our best views of this species were at Amagusa reserve where an adult visited the banana feeders. Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata hypoleuca (3) The Shrine, Calacalí 8.4, Quito Airport Pond 13.4 and en route A common species in the inter-andean valleys. Cuckoos Cuculidae Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani (5) Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, en route 10.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4, en route 14.4 and Archidona A common species in secondary habitats in the lowlands. Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia (2) 1 heard Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4 and Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary Great views of a singing bird in the hearts-of-palm plantation. Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana (2) Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4 and Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary mesura: (2) Cabañas San Isidro 17.4 and Archidona A fairly common species seen at various sites. Owls Strigidae Mottled Owl Strix virgata virgata (2) 1 heard Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo 11.4 and 1 heard Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo Heard at the lodge before dawn. Rufous-banded Owl Strix albitarsis albitarsis (2) 1 heard Cabañas San Isidro 16.4 and 1 heard Cabañas San Isidro Heard at the lodge after dusk. Black-banded Owl Strix huhula huhula (3) Up to 1 Cabañas San Isidro Fantastic close-up views of an adult "San Isidro" Owl. It is a spectacular large owl of the former genus Ciccaba and possibly involves a new species to science. It is very closely related to Blackbanded Owl found in the Amazonian lowlands and most people consider it this species. Interestingly, this mystery owl is a resident in subtropical cloud forest of the eastern Andes at 2100m elevation which is higher than the normal distribution of Black-banded Owl. It seems that the mystery owls at Cabañas San Isidro also slightly differ in their plumage from the typical Blackbanded. A quick-and-dirty DNA analysis from a few years back revealed some genetic differences between the mystery owl and Black-banded Owl but further research has been stopped. Therefore, the true identity of this intriguing owl remains a mystery until someone picks up this cold case in Ecuadorian ornithology. Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl (VU) (1) 1 heard Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4. Heard calling in the distance. Glaucidium nubicola Oilbird Steatornithidae Oilbird Steatornis caripensis (1) 6 Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road Great views of this spectacular and distinct nocturnal species at their nest site. The Oilbird is placed in its own monotypic family.

18 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Potoos Nyctibiidae Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus panamensis (2) 1 heard Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo 11.4 and 1 heard Septimo Paraiso, N of Mindo Heard several times in the Mindo Valley. Nightjars and Allies Caprimulgidae Rufous-bellied Nighthawk Lurocalis rufiventris (2) Refugio Paz de las Aves 10.4 and Guacamayos trail Fantastic close-up flight views of an adult at the shrine of the Guacamayos Pass. Blackish Nightjar (1) Loreto Road An adult was flushed from its nest. Pauraque (1) 1 heard Loreto Road A single bird was heard at dusk. Swifts Apodidae Nyctipolus nigrescens Nyctidromus albicollis albicollis Spot-fronted Swift (DD) Cypseloides cherriei (1) 30 Archidona A low flying flock of 30+ individuals was identified by their distinct calls. The digital images of Vincent Douwes nicely showed the distinct forehead markings. White-chinned Swift Cypseloides cryptus (1) 40 Milpe Bird Sanctuary A large low flying flock overhead was identified through the images taken by Vincent Douwes. The birds were not vocalising at all but based on the images (white chin visible) we were able to exclude Spot-fronted Swift safely. Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila brunnitorques (2) Refugio Paz de las Aves 10.4 and Guacamayos trail Birds were seen at two sites, with good views including the chestnut collar. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris altissima: (4) Laguna Papallacta 15.4, Papallacta Hot Springs - Cayambe Coca Ecological Reserve 16.4, Guacamayos trail 17.4 and Guacamayos trail This large and distinct swift was seen at various locations during the tour. The larger highland subspecies is a possible future split. Grey-rumped Swift (1) Narupa Reserve A few calling birds flew overhead. Neotropical Palm Swift (1) Archidona A few were seen at the edge of town. Chaetura cinereiventris sclateri Tachornis squamata semota Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis Good views of this species from the canopy tower.

19 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Hummingbirds Trochilidae Band-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes ruckeri ruckeri (1) 1 heard Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary A singing bird was heard by the group and swiftly observed by the tour leader. White-whiskered Hermit Phaethornis yaruqui (3) Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Pacto-Pachijal road 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4 and Milpe Bird Sanctuary A fairly common Chocó endemic in the foothills and lowlands of the west. Green Hermit Phaethornis guy apicalis (1) Narupa Reserve A single bird was observed at the feeders in the reserve. Tawny-bellied Hermit Phaethornis syrmatophorus (2) Bellavista Cloudforest Reserve 9.4 and Refugio Paz de las Aves columbianus: (2) Guacamayos trail 17.4 and Cabañas San Isidro A swift species seen at various cloud forest sites during the tour. Stripe-throated Hermit (1) Pacto-Pachijal road A single bird was observed very swiftly. Phaethornis striigularis subrufescens Blue-fronted Lancebill Doryfera johannae johannae (1) Narupa Reserve Nice views of an adult male feeding at some purple tubular flowers. White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora mellivora (3) Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4 and Milpe Bird Sanctuary A distinct species of hummingbird commonly seen in the foothills and lowlands of the west. Brown Violetear Colibri delphinae (2) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4 and Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area A few birds were seen visiting the feeders. Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans coruscans (3) Yanacocha 8.4, The Shrine, Calacalí 13.4 and Antisana Ecological Reserve A common species in the inter-andean valley. Black-throated Mango A single female was seen along the entry road. Anthracothorax nigricollis Violet-headed Hummingbird Klais guimeti guimeti (1) Narupa Reserve Common at the Blue Porterweed inside the reserve. Wire-crested Thorntail (NT) Discosura popelairii (1) 2 Narupa Reserve A cracking adult male and a female feeding on the Blue Porterweed inside the reserve. Green Thorntail Discosura conversii (2) Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4 and Milpe Bird Sanctuary This small hummer was fairly common at the feeders in the western foothills. Crowned Woodnymph (1) Milpe Bird Sanctuary Thalurania colombica verticeps

20 Trip Report RBL Ecuador - Northern Often named Green-crowned Woodnymph. Common at the feeders. Fork-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania furcata viridipectus (1) Narupa Reserve A few were seen at the feeders inside the reserve. Violet-bellied Hummingbird A single male was scoped along the entry road. Juliamyia julie feliciana Golden-tailed Sapphire Chrysuronia oenone oenone (1) Narupa Reserve Common at the Blue Porterweed inside the reserve. Many-spotted Hummingbird Taphrospilus hypostictus (1) Narupa Reserve A few of these noisy hummers were seen at the feeders inside the reserve. Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl jucunda (5) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4, Oilbird Cave. Pacto-Gualéa road 10.4, Refugio Paz de las Aves 10.4, Amagusa Reserve, Mashpi area 11.4, Rio Silanche Bird Sanctuary 12.4 and Milpe Bird Sanctuary A common species at feeders along the west slope. Andean Emerald Amazilia franciae viridiceps (2) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4 and Refugio Paz de las Aves Fairly common at the feeders. Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata fluviatilis (1) Archidona A single bird was seen along the roadside just outside town. Blue-chested Hummingbird Amazilia amabilis Perched and feeding on flowers at the parking lot. Purple-chested Hummingbird Amazilia rosenbergi Slightly more common inside the reserve compared to the very similar Blue-chested. Striking white undertail coverts and song are good id-features to distinguish it from Blue-chested. Speckled Hummingbird Adelomyia melanogenys (3) Cabañas San Isidro 17.4, Guacamayos trail 18.4, Guacamayos trail 19.4 and Cabañas San Isidro maculata: (1) Reserva Las Gralarias 9.4. A fairly common species in Andean cloud forests. Ecuadorian Piedtail (NT) Phlogophilus hemileucurus (1) 1 heard Loreto Road Its distinct call was heard at Loreto road. It was possibly seen. Black-throated Brilliant (1) Narupa Reserve A stunning male was seen on the feeders. Heliodoxa schreibersii schreibersii Gould's Jewelfront Heliodoxa aurescens (1) Narupa Reserve A female of this distinct species was visiting the feeders irregularly.