NAPO WILDLIFE CENTER
Dec. 3 - 8, 2011
$990 double occupancy
$1450 single occupancy
You may register for this tour by completing the last section of the registration form for the November 19 - December 4 Northern Ecuador trip.
Day 1 Dec. 3: Travel to the Amazon Basin – Napo Wildlife Center
We will finish our main Ecuador tour in Coca on Dec. 3. Those who are going home will fly back to Quito on Dec. 3 for international departures on Dec. 4. Those going on this extension will board a large, motorized, covered canoe for a scenic two-hour trip down the Napo River. Upon arriving at the entrance to the NWC Reserve, we switch to smaller, dugout canoes and are paddled up the blackwater creek to the lake and lodge (no motorized transport is allowed on the creek or lake so that wildlife isn't disturbed). The lodge is owned and managed by native Quichua Indians on their own tribal land. This is the only way to access this remote and magical place; there are no roads in the area. For more information about Napo Wildlife Center, go to http://www.napowildlifecenter.com/about_us.html
During the boat trip we can find some Amazonian specialties like Swallow-winged Puffbird, Yellow-headed Caracara, Ladder-tailed Nightjar and even Amazonian Umbrellabird if really lucky. From the paddle canoe we will have great birding opportunities as we go slowly though forest.
Days 2 - 4, Dec. 4 - 6: Amazon Rain Forest
During our days at Napo Wildlife Center, we will be birding in several ecosystems which only occur lower than 300masl: Terra Firme and Riparian forests, Várzea and Igapo flooded forests, River Islands and Parrot Clay Licks. Each one holds its own related avifauna. Our day-by-day itinerary will be planned upon arrival to the lodge.
In Terra Firme forest: antbirds are one of the main undergrowth groups typified by Black-spotted and Reddish-winged Bare-eyes, Bicoloured, Hairy-crested, White-plumed, Sooty, Lunulated Antbirds, Rio Suno, Long-winged, Dougan`s Antwrens, among others. Also inside the forest, more than 8 kinds of Woodcreepers are present plus Ash-throated Gnateaters, Short-billed and Black-tailed Leaftossers, Gray-winged Trumpeter, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Musician Wren, Marbled Wood-Quail, over 5 especies of Tinamous, Yellow-billed Jacamar and more. Several territories of Wire-tailed Manakin, Striped Manakin and other piprids are at hand. Nocturnal birds are well represented; among those there are Crested, Spectacled, Black-banded and Mottled Owls, Tawny-bellied and Tropical Screech-Owls, Ferruginous pygmy-Owl, Common and Great Potoos.
From the Canopy: Ornate and Black Hawk-Eagles are not as rare as the, also possible, Crested and Harpy Eagles. The most numerous group here are the thraupids like Green, Purple and, sometimes, Short-billed Honeycreepers; Yellow-bellied Dacnis; and Masked, Paradise, Tuquoise, and Flame-crested Tanagers. The green canopy contrasts with the colors of Plum-throated, Spangled and Purple-throated Cotingas. Fairly common are White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans, as well as Many-banded and Ivory-billed Araçaris. Seen mainly in flight are Chestnut-fronted, Red-bellied and Blue-and-yellow Macaws, Orange-winged Amazon and White-eyed Parakeet. Other desired birds of the canopy are Golden-collared Toucanet, Black-bellied Thorntail, and Gould`s Jewelfront
On River Islands: with luck the spectacular Amazonian Umbrellabird, Horned Screamer, Roseate Spoonbill, and Rufous-headed Woodpecker can be seen from a canoe. Ladder-tailed Nightjar is common as well as some islands specialities like Olive-spotted Hummingbird, Lesser Hornero, Barred and Castelnau's Antshrike, River Tyrannulet, Fuscous Flycatcher, Black-and-white Antbird, Parkers, Plain-crowned and White-bellied Spinetails.
In Flooded Forest: The Ecuador near-endemic Orange-crested Manakin is present as well as Long-billed Woodcreeper. Agami Heron and Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Dot-backed Antbird, White-chinned Jacamar, Rufous-tailed Flatbill are not rare. The desirable Zigzag Heron is a good possibility.
Day 5 (Dec. 7): Back to Quito
We leave the lodge early in the morning which just gives us short birding time. We will be transported back up the Napo River to Coca, and then to the airport for our flight back to Quito. On the way back to Coca we might be able to pick some birds we may have missed before. At the airport in Coca we can get the last new birds just along the runway side grasses; Red-breasted Blackbird, Pearl Kite and Ruddy Ground-Dove are relatively easy and Cattle Tyrant is a rare chance. In the afternoon we will arrive in Quito for a late lunch with the rest of the afternoon free to prepare for the journey home. At dinner we will say our goodbyes to our guides. Night in Quito.
Dec. 8: Departure The hotel shuttle will provide transportation to the airport for our trip home.