May 1997
by Mark Lockwood
Cindy and I along with my brother Ron and his wife Susan visited the east slope of the Andes in May 1997. We arranged the trip directly through Mitch Lysinger who acted as out guide during the trip. Mitch is a fantastic guide with an extraordinary familiarity with the birds of Ecuador. In addition to skill as a guide, he has a great personality and is a joy to travel with.
This was our second trip to Ecuador, the first to Mindo in 1995. The east slope is considerably wetter without a defined dry season as the west slope has. As a result the vegetation is even more lush and I found the birding to be considerably more difficult. During our visit, it rained as least some of every day. We stayed at the Cabanas San Isidro and took day trips to the other locations listed below.
The list below only contains birds seen by Cindy and me. Many other species were heard my Mitch that we did not see and there were a few birds seen by Ron, that we missed.
Itinerary:
18 May - Traveled from Quito to San Isidro. Birded
Papallacta
Pass (4200 meters), Papallacta Lake, and around Papallacta and Cuyuja
enroute.
Arrived at San Isidro (2000 m) and birded for about 3 hours.
19 May - San Isidro: birded Log Trail and along main road
20 May - Upper Loreto Road (1300 to 1100 m): birded along
highway
and one trail 13 km from the start of the road
21 May - San Isidro: Cock-of-the-Rock Trail and main road
22 May - Huacamayos Ridge (2100 m) in the morning and Log Trail
at San Isidro in the afternoon.
23 May - Tena: second growth along Rio Misahualli (900 m)
24 May - Traveled from San Isidro to Quito. Birded
Papallacta
Pass, Papallacta Lake, and around Papallacta and Cuyuja enroute.
Species List:
| Torrent Duck | male in the river above Cuyuja on the 18th |
| Andean Teal | two at Papallacta Lake on the 18th and 24th |
| Yellow-billed Pintail | about 15 at Papallacta Lake on the 18th |
| Black Vulture | abundant at Tena, a few along Loreto Road |
| Turkey Vulture | three in the lowlands on the 23rd and Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | single at Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle | sub-adult on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Roadside Hawk | single birds at San Isidro daily, others observed on the 18th, 20th, 23rd, and 24th |
| White-rumped Hawk | single bird found perched at Cuyuja on the 24th |
| White-throated Hawk | single soaring above Papallacta on the 24th |
| Puna Hawk | a dark phase adult was below Papallacta Pass the 24th |
| Black-and-chestnut Eagle | pair on upper Log Trail at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Carunculated Caracara | three at Papallacta Pass on the 24th |
| Collared Forest-Falcon | one heard calling near the cabanas on the 22nd |
| Bat Falcon | two flew over San Isidro on the 21st |
| Black-banded Crake | one seen and another heard at Tena |
| Noble Snipe | two flushed from paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 24th |
| Rock Dove | several seen near Quito on the 24th |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | common above San Isidro and below Paramo |
| Eared Dove | common in Quito |
| Maroon-tailed Parakeet | 15 on Loreto Road on the 20th and two on the 23rd |
| Blue-winged Parrotlet | two observed feeding on Cecropia fruit at Tena |
| Cobalt-winged Parakeet | about 20 at Tena |
| Speckle-faced Parrot | seen daily around San Isidro |
| Red-billed Parrot | seen daily around San Isidro |
| Scaly-naped Parrot | 150+ at Huacamayos Ridge on the 22nd |
| Dark-billed Cuckoo | two at Tena on the 23rd |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | one seen at San Isidro on 22nd and several heard at Tena |
| Smooth-billed Ani | four observed along Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Rufous-banded Owl | one seen at San Isidro on the 18th and heard frequently on following nights |
| Rufous-bellied Nighthawk | one seen briefly at Huacamayos Ridge on the evening of the 20th |
| Chestnut-collared Swift | about 20 on upper Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Short-tailed Swift | about 20 along upper Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Gray-rumped Swift | five along upper Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Gray-chinned Hermit | one feeding along Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Little Hermit | one at Tena on the 23rd |
| Green-fronted Lancebill | one along the Huacamayos Ridge Trail on the 22nd |
| Sparkling Violet-ear | several below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Violet-headed Hummingbird | four at an Inga tree on Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Wire-crested Thorntail | one male at an Inga tree on Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Fork-tailed Woodnymph | two on Loreto Road on the 18th and five on the 23rd |
| Golden-tailed Sapphire | one along Loreto Road near the 13 km trail on the 20th |
| Many-spotted Hummingbird | one at an Inga tree on Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Glittering-throated Emerald | four at Tena on the 23rd |
| Fawn-breasted Brilliant | two at San Isidro on the 21st |
| White-tailed Hillstar | one along Loreto Road near the 13 km trail on the 20th |
| Giant Hummingbird | one on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Shining Sunbeam | one on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Mountain Velvetbreast | male at Cuyuja on the 24th |
| Bronzy Inca | one at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Collared Inca | seen daily at San Isidro |
| Sword-billed Hummingbird | one near Papallacta on the 24th |
| Booted Racket-tail | one along Loreto road on the 20th (13 km trail) and 23rd |
| Black-tailed Trainbearer | one male outside Cumbaya on the 18th |
| Viridian Metaltail | two at Papallacta on the 18th |
| Tyrian Metaltail | common above Cuyuja |
| Long-tailed Sylph | common at San Isidro |
| White-bellied Woodstar | one female outside Cumbaya on the 18th |
| Collared Trogon | one male seen and heard along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Masked Trogon | one female seen briefly at San Isidro on the 21st |
| Crested Quetzal | one male observed at length on the Log Trail on the 19th |
| Golden-headed Quetzal | a pair seen and heard on Cock-of-the-Rock Trail at San Isidro on the 21st |
| Highland Motmot | one seen along main road at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Coppery-chested Jacamar | female along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Red-headed Barbet | several seen along 13 km trail on Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Lemon-throated Barbet | one male at Tena on the 23rd |
| Emerald Toucanet | singles observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan | three at Cuyuja on the 24th |
| Black-billed Mountain-Toucan | one along Log Trail at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Yellow-ridged Toucan | one along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Yellow-vented Woodpecker | common at San Isidro, six seen on the 19th |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | one along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Crimson-mantled Woodpecker | singles seen daily at San Isidro |
| Lineated Woodpecker | single on upper Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Tyrannine Woodcreeper | singles at San Isidro on the 19th and 21st |
| Olivaceous Woodcreeper | single on Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Strong-billed Woodcreeper | two near cabanas at San Isidro on the 18th |
| Olive-backed Woodcreeper | seen daily at San Isidro |
| Montane Woodcreeper | common |
| Bar-winged Cinclodes | two observed in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 18th and six there on the 24th |
| Stout-billed Cinclodes | about 10 in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 24th |
| Andean Tit-Spinetail | two in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Azara's Spinetail | common around cabanas at San Isidro |
| Rufous Spinetail | two along Huacamayos Ridge Trail on the 22nd |
| Many-striped Canastero | one in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Orange-fronted Plushcrown | two at Tena on the 23rd |
| Spotted Barbtail | singles seen at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st, and 22nd |
| Pearled Treerunner | common at San Isidro |
| Streaked Tuftedcheek | two or three seen at San Isidro 19th, 21st, and 22nd |
| Lineated Foliage-gleaner | one seen at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Montane Foliage-gleaner | common along Loreto Road |
| Streak-capped Treehunter | one observed at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Black-billed Treehunter | two along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Striped Treehunter | one at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Flammulated Treehunter | one along the Huacamayos Ridge Trail on the 22nd |
| Streaked Xenops | one along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Lined Antshrike | three males and a female near Tena on the 23rd |
| Stripe-chested Antwren | two males and one juv. at Tena on the 23rd |
| Foothill Antwren | two along the 13 km trail on Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Slaty Antwren | male along the 13 km trail on Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Yellow-breasted Antwren | single along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Long-tailed Antbird | common in bamboo at San Isidro |
| Rufous-rumped Antwren | single along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| White-backed Fire-eye | two along 13 km trail and two others along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Barred Antthrush | single bird called in two others heard along the Log Trail on the 19th and one heard at Huacamayos Ridge on the 21st |
| White-bellied Antpitta | one called in and several others heard on the 19th at San Isidro |
| Tawny Antpitta | three in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 24th |
| White-lored Antpitta | one called in (seen only by Cindy) at Tena on the 23rd |
| Slate-crowned Antpitta | one seen at San Isidro on the 19th and Huacamayos Ridge on the 22nd |
| Ash-colored Tapaculo | frequently heard and one seen on the 21st at San Isidro |
| Unicolored Tapaculo | frequently heard and one seen on the 19th at San Isidro |
| Rufous-vented Tapaculo | frequently heard and one seen on the 21st at San Isidro |
| Ashy-headed Tyrannulet | one or two seen daily at San Isidro |
| Red-billed Tyrannulet | a single bird, well observed for an extended period, along Loreto Road on the 20th was thought to be this species |
| Golden-faced Tyrannulet | three along Loreto Road on the 20th and two on the 23rd |
| White-creasted Elaenia | two on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Small-billed Elaenia | two at Tena on the 23rd |
| White-throated Tyrannulet | one near Papallacta on the 24th |
| White-tailed Tyrannulet | two to ten observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Sulphur-bellied Tyrannulet | two to five observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| White-banded Tyrannulet | three near Papallacta on the 24th |
| Torrent Tyrannulet | one along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Streak-necked Flycatcher | one at San Isidro on the 22nd |
| Rufous-breasted Flycatcher | frequently heard; singles observed on the 18th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Slaty-capped Flycatcher | singles observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant | two to five observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Ecuadorian Tyrannulet | three along Loreto Road on the 20th and two on the 23rd |
| Tufted Tit-Tyrant | two near Papallacta on the 18th |
| Rufous-headed Pygmy-Tyrant | single on the Cock-of-the-Rock Trail at San Isidro on the 21st |
| Rufous-crowned Tody-Tyrant | common in the bamboo at San Isidro |
| Common Tody-Flycatcher | two at Tena on the 23rd |
| Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher | a single observed and several heard at Tena on the 23rd |
| Fulvous-breasted Flatbill | one on the Cock-of-the-Rock Trail at San Isidro on the 21st |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | single along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Ornate Flycatcher | five along 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Handsome Flycatcher | one or two observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Cinnamon Flycatcher | two to five observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Cliff Flycatcher | two near the 13 km trail along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Smoke-colored Pewee | two observed on the 19th, 21st and 22nd at San Isidro |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | single seen and heard at San Isidro on the 22nd |
| Long-tailed Tyrant | two on upper Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Black Phoebe | observed in several locations |
| Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant | two along Huacamayos Ridge Trail on the 22nd |
| Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant | three near Papallacta on the 24th |
| Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant | two in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 24th |
| Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant | one in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Pale-edged Flycatcher | singles observed at San Isidro on the 21st and 22nd |
| Lemon-browed Flycatcher | single along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Social Flycatcher | three near Tena on the 23rd |
| Tropical Kingbird | common in disturbed areas |
| Barred Becard | one or two observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| White-winged Becard | single female observed along Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Black-and-white Becard | pair along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Masked Tityra | single male observed along Loreto Road on the 23rd |
| Green-and-black Fruiteater | pair near entrance to Log Trail on the 18th at San Isidro |
| Black-chested Fruiteater | male along Log Trail on the 22nd |
| Dusky Piha | one at Cuyuja on the 18th and two at San Isidro on the 19th and 22nd |
| Red-creasted Cotinga | two on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Thrush-like Mourner | single on the 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Blue-rumped Manakin | single male on the 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Golden-winged Manakin | two males on the 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Wing-barred Piprites | single along Loreto Road |
| Brown-bellied Swallow | common around Papallacta Pass |
| Blue-and-white Swallow | abundant at San Isidro |
| Pale-footed Swallow | 30+ on upper Log Trail on the 22nd |
| White-banded Swallow | 40+ at Tena on the 23rd |
| White-thighed Swallow | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Southern Rough-winged Swallow | several along Loreto Road and at Tena |
| Green Jay | common at San Isidro |
| Turquoise Jay | two at San Isidro on the 19th and one seen very well at Cuyuja on the 24th |
| Black-capped Donacobius | one at Archidona on the 23rd |
| Gray-mantled Wren | one at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Plain-tailed Wren | two along the Log Trail on the 19th |
| Coraya Wren | two at Tena on the 23rd |
| House Wren | one singing around the cabanas daily |
| Mountain Wren | one or two observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | very common, but difficult to observe at San Isidro |
| Wing-banded Wren | one called in on Loreto Road on the 20th |
| White-capped Dipper | two in river below Papallacta |
| Andean Solitaire | one seen very well along the Cock-of-the-Rock Trail at San Isidro on the 21st |
| Great Thrush | abundant at elevations above San Isidro |
| Glossy-black Thrush | one at San Isidro on the 18th and 22nd |
| Chestnut-bellied Thrush | one on the Log Trail on the 19th |
| Black-billed Thrush | one at Tena on the 23rd |
| Brown-capped Vireo | one or three observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Black-billed Peppershrike | one observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd, very difficult to see well |
| Tropical Parula | one or two observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Slate-throated Redstart | common at San Isidro and Loreto Road |
| Spectacled Redstart | five near Papallacta on the 18th and 23rd |
| Black-creasted Warbler | singles at San Isidro on the 19th and 22nd |
| Russet-crowned Warbler | two observed at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Three-striped Warbler | singles at San Isidro on the 22nd and 23rd |
| Buff-rumped Warbler | single at Tena on the 23rd |
| Bananaquit | common along Loreto Road and at Tena |
| Cinerous Conebill | two near Papallacta on the 18th |
| Capped Conebill | common at San Isidro |
| Orange-eared Tanager | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Paradise Tanager | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Green-and-gold Tanager | four along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Golden Tanager | ten to 15 along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Saffron-crowned Tanager | 10 to 15 observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Golden-eared Tanager | about 12 along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Flame-faced Tanager | one or three observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Spotted Tanager | about 15 along Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Bay-headed Tanager | two to three along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Golden-naped Tanager | one at San Isidro on the 22nd |
| Blue-necked Tanager | about 20 along Loreto Road on the 20th and 10 on the 23rd; five at Tena on the 23rd |
| Beryl-spangled Tanager | 15 to 20 observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd, the most common Tangara at San Isidro |
| Blue-and-black Tanager | five at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Black-capped Tanager | one to three observed at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Black-faced Dacnis | one male along the 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Yellow-bellied Dacnis | one female seen at Tena on the 23rd |
| Blue Dacnis | one male along the 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Purple Honeycreeper | three along the 13 km trail at Loreto Road on the 20th |
| Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia | one along the Log Trail on the 19th |
| Golden-rumped Euphonia | two at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Bronze-green Euphonia | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Orange-bellied Euphonia | one to five at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Fawn-breasted Tanager | one observed at San Isidro on the 19th and 22nd |
| Hooded Mountain-Tanager | 15 at Cuyuja on the 18th, five along Huacamayo Ridge on the 22nd, and 5 near Papallacta on the 24th |
| Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager | one at Papallacta Lake on the 18th |
| Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager | common at San Isidro |
| Golden-crowned Tanager | one at Papallacta Lake on the 18th |
| Magpie Tanager | one along Loreto Road on the 20th and one at Tena on the 23rd |
| Grass-green Tanager | five on the Log Trail on the 19th and two on the 22nd |
| Blue-and-yellow Tanager | four on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Blue-gray Tanager | common at Tena and along Loreto Road |
| Palm Tanager | two to five along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Rufous-creasted Tanager | a single bird on the Cock-of-the-Rock Trail on the 21st |
| White-lined Tanager | a pair at Tena on the 23rd |
| White-winged Tanager | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Silver-beaked Tanager | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Common Bush-Tanager | uncommon at San Isidro and Loreto Road |
| Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Ash-throated Bush-Tanager | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Short-billed Bush-Tanager | five along the Cock-of-the-Rock trail on the 21st |
| Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager | one near Papallacta on the 24th |
| Oleaginous Hemispingus | two at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Black-eared Hemispingus | four along the Log Trail on the 19th |
| Grayish Saltator | two at Tena on the 23rd |
| Southern Yellow-Grosbeak | two near Papallacta Pass on the 18th and one near Quito on the 24th |
| Pale-naped Brush-Finch | one near Papallacta on the 24th |
| Slaty Brush-Finch | one near Papallacta on the 24th |
| White-rimmed Brush-Finch | two along Huacamayos Ridge Trail on the 22nd |
| Chestnut-bellied Seedeater | common at Tena on the 23rd |
| Lesser Seed-Finch | one male near Archidona on the 23rd |
| Band-tailed Seedeater | two near Quito on the 24th |
| Plain-colored Seedeater | one at Papallacta on the 18th |
| Plumbeous Sierra-Finch | five in the paramo at Papallacta Pass on the 24th |
| White-sided Flowerpiercer | two to three at San Isidro on the 19th, 21st and 22nd |
| Glossy Flowerpiercer | five near Papallacta on the 18th |
| Black Flowerpiercer | several on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Deep-blue Flowerpiercer | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
| Blueish Flowerpiercer | three at San Isidro on the 18th and two on the 22nd |
| Masked Flowerpiercer | common at San Isidro and above |
| Yellow-browed Sparrow | five at Tena on the 23rd |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | abundant |
| Subtropical Cacique | five at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Mountain Cacique | four at San Isidro on the 19th, and four at Cuyuja on the 24th |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | one at San Isidro on the 19th |
| Russet-backed Oropendola | abundant at San Isidro |
| Hooded Siskin | three on west slope below Papallacta Pass on the 18th |
| Olivaceous Siskin | five to ten along Loreto Road on the 20th and 23rd |
263 species
Mark Lockwood
Austin, Texas 78745
mwlockwood@juno.com