Birding in Ecuador - Day 1 - Garden Angel

After an exhausting flight from Los Angeles with a stopover in Panama, Cynthia and I finally got to check in at our first stop in Ecuador: the Puembo Birding Garden. Indeed, the place had a lovely garden right next to the rooms. The owner, Mercedes, herself an expert birder, greeted us and made us feel like we were at home. We dumped our luggage at our room at promptly brought our cameras to the dining place beside the garden. There were several feeders  - each intended for a specific group of avian species - seeds, nectar, and fruits.

At the feeder with seeds (and some bananas as well) were Saffron Finches, Shiny Cowbirds, Rufous-collared Sparrows and Eared Doves, the latter being our first lifer in Ecuador. 

Eared Dove

Our life list grew as we looked at the hummingbird feeders where Sparkling Violetears, Western Emeralds and the gorgeous Black-tailed Trainbearer were enjoying the treat.

Sparkling Violetear

Western Emerald 

Black-tailed Trainbearer

At the fruit feeder, we had the Blue Grey Tanager, Scrub Tanager, Blue-and-Yellow Tanager. Joining them was a Great Thrush.

Scrub Tanager

Blue-and-yellow Tanager 

Great Thrush

After a short rest, Mercedes invited us to her cousin's place next door. That place was enormous with tall trees and flowering shrubs. There we got the Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and the Golden Grosbeak perched high up on the trees. Vermillion Flycatchers also reside in that place.

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker 

Golden Grosbeak

Back at Mercedes' place we added more species to our life list.

Rusty Flowerpiercer

Cinereous Conebill

Southern Beardless Tyrannulet

We went to bed early - tired but happy for getting so many lifers in about half a day's birding. A huge amount of thanks goes to our host and "angel" for making sure that our stay in her garden would be well worth it.