8-11 September 1997

J. Hornbuckle & R.C. Brace

Fundación Golondrinas is a locally run conservation organisation dedicated to conserving up to 25,000 ha of montane cloud forest and ensuring a sustainable living for local people by education and improved agroforestry practices. It is achieving some success, with limited resources and the assistance of a number of young volunteers, and deserves every support. Even staying at their simple and friendly hostal, La Casa de Eliza, in Quito, which we highly recommend, contributes to the finances of the Fundación. As throughout virtually all of forested Ecuador, the sound of the chainsaw has still to be silenced on Cerro Golondrinas.

Although the Reserve holds some excellent birds, such as Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Bicoloured Antvireo, Beautiful Jay and Purple-mantled Tanager, it is not well-known (not even meriting a mention in the site guide of Best et al, 1997) and hence rarely visited by birders. We spent 3 whole days in the Reserve, mist netting some of the time, and staying in the hostel-style accommodation of El Corazón. Conditions were unusually dry and birds generally quiet, which probably accounts for our failure to record some of the listed species. We did add Little Cuckoo, Spotted Barbtail, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Handsome Flycatcher and Red-eyed Vireo to the list.

Logistics

Bus from Quito to Ibarra (2.5-3 hours), then Lita or San Lorenzo bus to La Carolina (1-1.5 hours) - overnight at the comfortable Cerro Golondrinas Cloudforest Conservation Project (CGCCP) headquarters. CGCCP truck to Las Juntas (1 hour), walk to El Corazón 1450 -2200m (3.5+ hours) with guide / cook, and baggage on horse. Return the same way.

Conclusion

This is an excellent reserve, which should be included in any comprehensive birding tour of Ecuador. Highlights for us were White-throated Quail-Dove, a good selection of hummers including Empress Brilliant, Gorgeted Sunangel and Hoary Puffleg, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Powerful Woodpecker, Striped Treehunter, Bicoloured Antvireo, Long-tailed Antbird, Rufous-breasted Antthrush, Yellow-breasted Antpitta, Narino Tapaculo, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Bronze-olive and Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrants, Flavescent Flycatcher, Beautiful Jay, Olive Finch and Rufous-chested Tanager.

We recorded seven Globally Threatened species (Collar et al, 1994, Birds to watch 2, BirdLife International), the Vulnerable and rare Bicoloured Antvireo, and Near-threatened Colombian Screech-Owl, Hoary Puffleg, Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan and Beautiful Jay. The Critically Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot has been seen here and the Vulnerable Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Black-thighed Puffleg and Purplish-mantled Tanager also occur in the area. Further observations will surely add new and interesting species to the Reserve's list.

Jon Hornbuckle & Robin Brace

Correspondence to 35 Grove Road, Sheffield S7 2GY UK e-mail: JonHornbu@aol.com

RCB: plzrcb@pln1.life.nottingham.ac.uk

Systematic List of Birds