Steve Howell reports from his ongoing Ecuador: A Week in Paradise tour

Yesterday’s late afternoon cold beer and chips, along with Sunbitterns singing and flight-displaying (wow!), would normally be a grand finale to any day birding, but as can be the case on Ecuador: A Week in Paradise, there was more to come – superb views of a spectacular male Lyre-tailed Nightjar and a Common Potoo. All this after a morning that featured a fierce little Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, a stealthy and huge Wattled Guan, Golden-headed Quetzals, and point-blank views of the poorly known, seldom-seen Blue Seedeater (below, andgenetically now a bunting!). Today’s surprise was a pair of White-faced Nunbirds beside the road, perching on power poles and mossy branches – you decide which photo (below) is the more esthetically pleasing... Oh, and I did I mention the 28 species of hummingbirds? And all those gaudy tanagers, plus amazing orchids (below) and other life..., and still more than half of the trip to go!

Sunbitterns

Blue Seedeater

White-faced Nunbird

White-faced Nunbird