Where did we go?
![where we went](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6686042263_4d1a0104c3.jpg)
Ecuador is right on the ecuator (hence the name) and has many different habitats from coastal ranges in the West, to highlands of the Andes, to the Amazon rainforest in the East. We visited all but coastal ranges.
![where we went - details](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6686042353_281977f15f.jpg)
We flew into Quito, the capital, but spent most of our time outside of this large city. We spent the first week in the Western slopes of the Andes, the second week was spent gradually birding our way down the Eastern slope of the Andes, and the third week was spent in the Amazon rainforest.
Quito (right before the camera was stolen):
![Quito](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6623309143_529c6a5f4d.jpg)
Day 1:
On the way to our first birding location, Yanacocha reserve:
![hills north west of Quito](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6623796009_5020ea4899.jpg)
Tawny Antpitta:
![tawny antpitta](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6623793795_484bf8bfcd.jpg)
Rufous Antpitta:
![rufous antpitta](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6623793901_357d0a83b8.jpg)
Buff-winged Starfrontlet:
![buff-winged starfrontlet](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6623794545_5e6eaebe68.jpg)
Day 2:
Liz at the ecuator:
![Liz at the equator](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6634953321_4d375e9e5e.jpg)
We spent the first week of the trip at Tandayapa lodge, a beautiful forest-setting and is surrounded by birds. It has amazing hummingbird feeders that attract a dozen or more species of hummers every day.
Purple-bibbed Whitetip:
![purple-bibbed whitetip (female)](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6634952003_3f62cd9b08.jpg)
Purple-throated Woodstar:
![purple-throated woodstar](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7007/6634952971_0aa86d9dae.jpg)
Violet-tailed Sylph:
![violet-tailed sylph](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6634952865_4b062a1de3.jpg)
Fawn-breasted Brilliant:
![fawn-breasted brilliant](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6634952567_a6dc7277c1.jpg)
Booted Racket-tail:
![booted racket-tail](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6634952455_44693fdeb6.jpg)
Sparkling Violetear:
![sparkling violetear](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6634952643_aa36ffa8f7.jpg)
Day 3:
Pale-mandibled Aracari -- seen at a local restaurant near Tandayapa lodge:
![pale-mandibled aracari](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6635078713_ebef849a31.jpg)
Our driver (Nico) and bus:
![Nico with our bus](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6664688371_684f1f2f8f.jpg)
Martin in the cloud forest:
![cloud forest](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6664688269_46e1c5ef93.jpg)
We did lots of road birding:
![road birding](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6664687509_874b681345.jpg)
Day 4:
Back at Tandayapa lodge:
Booted Racket-tail:
![booted racket-tail](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6664685109_e35ede9975.jpg)
Purple-throated Woodstar:
![purple-throated woodstar](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7155/6664684821_3065b86bc1.jpg)
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird:
![rufous-tailed hummingbird](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6664685039_b793be9650.jpg)
Crimson-rumped Toucanet:
![crimson-rumped toucanet](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/6664685645_685f8afd77.jpg)
Day 5:
Cow in cloud forest:
![one of the omnipresent cows](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6664739147_60c2f1dbe1.jpg)
Coffee bean:
![coffee bean](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6664739439_15f1aa0d6d.jpg)
We had lots of passion fruit:
![passion fruit](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6664739655_cccacb0bc4.jpg)
Taking a break on the tower:
![on top of tower](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6664739561_8d3a050448.jpg)
Day 6:
Tandayapa lodge:
![Tandayapa lodge](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6664848917_394e5fa8cb.jpg)
Martin and Andres at Paz de las Aves reserve:
![Martin and Andres](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6664849827_7ae2c2b610.jpg)
Angel Paz -- the Antpitta whisperer:
![Angel Paz](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6664850229_ea9c86e50e.jpg)
Andean Cock-of-the-rock:
![andean cock-of-the-rock](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6664848431_0591a5a00e.jpg)
Maria the Giant Antpitta:
![maria the giant antpitta](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6664848587_9c637c2c05.jpg)
The gang:
![the gang](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6664848653_2f558b0016.jpg)
Left to right: Jill, John, Ian, Andres (our guide), Martin, Lia, Liz, Sina.
Shortly after this photo was taken, we headed back to Quito for a much needed day off before continuing on to the high Andes.
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