Ecuador - Hacienda Cusin - May 2015

One of the many benefits of workingat a private boys' school is the opportunity to go on field trips. In this case a week in Ecuador escorting the grade 8 students up and down mountains, around volcanic craters and into cloud forests. What a hard life I have.

Our base was at a very nice spot called Hacienda Cusin in Otavalo, about 90 minutes north of Quito. The hotel has extensive gardens, with a few birds, so that was where I started.

Most obvious were the Sparkling Violetear, chipping from almost every bush. Other common birds included Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Great Thrush, Cinerous Conebill, Blue-and-Yellow Tanager, Blue-Grey Tanager, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Smoke-coloured Pewee, Black-and-white Seedeater, Golden-rumped Euphonia, Eared Dove, Blue-and-white Swallow and Brown-bellied Swallow. An unexpected treat was a pair of Red-masked Parakeet that appeared every day. Normally occurring in the coastal zone, they must be escaped cage birds. Good luck to them.

Sparkling Violetear. Very common in the gardens around Otavalo. The only other hummingbirds in the area were Black-tailed Trainbearer and Tawny-bellied Hermit.

Great Thush. Common throughout.

Brown-bellied Swallow. Small numbers in several places, including two pairs nesting at the Hacienda.

Blue-and-White Swallow. Throughout.

Eared Dove. Common in the gardens around Otavalo.

Smoke-coloured Pewee. In the garden of the Hacienda, also seen at Intag.