With reference to our new 'header photo', and the note attached on the first day of the month, it is time to tell how this and another bird almost killed me, slight journalistic licence there! Having already spent 2 weeks each in Colombia and Venezuela a flight was then taken south to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, but with no time or need to linger there. Priority then was to head north to spend some time with the world renowned Angel Paz in the small town of Nanegalito where he and his family had simply left a huge tract of rain forest into a magical Nature Reserve rather than crop it for its timber. Along with some of the most generous and informative hospitality among, the thousands of birds there were
GIANT ANTPITTA
COLLARED TROGON
COCK-of-the-ROCK
and no fewer than c21 species of Hummingbird visiting a huge feeding station.
These included
EMPRESS BRILLIANT
BOOTED RACKET-TAIL
and
GREEN-CROWNED WOODNYMPH
After 3 days it was onward to the coastal town of Manta and then by
what are commonly referred to as a
what are commonly referred to as a
(as it was likely to find a cage of them plonked on your knees)
to that superb little nook known as Puerto Lopez.
Alighting the bus and looking/hoping for guidance the very first faces see were those of
to that superb little nook known as Puerto Lopez.
Alighting the bus and looking/hoping for guidance the very first faces see were those of
and Ecologist Deirdre Platt
who had upped-sticks for a life in the Tropics.
Taking me by the hand they soon had me booked in the recommended hotel
before leading me home for an evening meal. During this time they gave me the lowdown
on the local area, but recommended the boat trip to one of the off-shore islands.
That was considered a priority, and the following morning met my guide for the day,
who informed me that there was much Wildlife to be seen both en-route and on the
before leading me home for an evening meal. During this time they gave me the lowdown
on the local area, but recommended the boat trip to one of the off-shore islands.
That was considered a priority, and the following morning met my guide for the day,
who informed me that there was much Wildlife to be seen both en-route and on the
However, there was a catch as he continued to say that it would be
my choice which of these we would see as to see both was almost
a physical impossibility due to the intense heat - Red Rag to a Bull Time!
Landing waist-deep in water on the East Coast
and our first encounter on the beach a dead
PUFFER FISH
while
RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD
skimmed above our heads.
Predictably the pace was slow in these arid conditions,
taking a full 75 minutes to reach the only juvenile
WAVED ALBATROSS
on the Island, all the adult birds having gone pelagic.
my choice which of these we would see as to see both was almost
a physical impossibility due to the intense heat - Red Rag to a Bull Time!
and our first encounter on the beach a dead
on the Island, all the adult birds having gone pelagic.
Excellent viewing and a can-full of photographs but enough of that
it was time to negotiate.
The much younger and one thousand times fitter Guide again insisted
that carrying on to the next bird would be madness, but in such a situation
that might be the only 'bite of the cherry' you ever get?
He agreed to give it a go and on the way we encountered
BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY
with young and
NAZCA BOOBY
with young, but it was the third of the Family Group that interested me.
We eventually made it to the nesting colony and there before us at very close quarters was
RED-FOOTED BOOBY
a much appreciated 'lifer' but true to say there was little puff left in the tank.
Juvenile.
During this strenuous trek we had been walking diagonally further away from the boat
and on the way back the Guide not only had to pour water down my throat,
but also had to carry me over his shoulder for the last few hundred yards.
Looking a little more bedraggled and sun-kissed than when we had arrived
it was sure a lesson had been learnt, but hitting the beach it was
time for me to show my gratitude to both Guide and Captain for
Services Beyond the Call of Duty.
it was time to negotiate.
The much younger and one thousand times fitter Guide again insisted
that carrying on to the next bird would be madness, but in such a situation
that might be the only 'bite of the cherry' you ever get?
He agreed to give it a go and on the way we encountered
with young and
with young, but it was the third of the Family Group that interested me.
We eventually made it to the nesting colony and there before us at very close quarters was
a much appreciated 'lifer' but true to say there was little puff left in the tank.
During this strenuous trek we had been walking diagonally further away from the boat
and on the way back the Guide not only had to pour water down my throat,
but also had to carry me over his shoulder for the last few hundred yards.
it was sure a lesson had been learnt, but hitting the beach it was
time for me to show my gratitude to both Guide and Captain for
Services Beyond the Call of Duty.
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