Jon Feenstra on his just concluded Ecuador: A Week in Paradise tour

We just wrapped up a great week of birding in Northwest Ecuador. From our base at the comforatble Septimo Paraiso (near Mindo) we visited a variety of habitats ranging from the treeline elfin forest on the slope of Pichincha volcano all the way down to the hot lowlands at Rio Silanche - and everything in between. We saw some of the real specialties of the region: Club-winged Manakins playing their chords while displaying at a lek, a Moss-backed Tanager eating berries on a branch nearly within arm's reach, a family group of Tanager Finch foraging quietly along the roadside, and more than 35 species of hummingbird.

Watching hummingbirds at Pacha Quindi

We were also treated to crowd pleasers such as this female Powerful Woodpecker, and to charmers such this Cinnamon Flycatcher, giving proof that the cloud forest flycatchers aren't all just quick-moving little gray things.

Powerful Woodpecker

Cinnamon Flycatcher

Another consistent highlight of the Northwest is a visit to Angel Paz's farm. He has the secret for luring the shy antpittas out of the forest. Here is one of his new additions, the very pretty Chestnut-crowned Antpitta.