I really liked Sachatamia Lodge, but I think that dinner the second night made me sick. They tried to accommodate my request for low-carb meals by serving me asparagus in a rich cream sauce instead of the spaghetti main course. I had diarrhea that night which forced me to stay at the lodge the next morning while the others went to see the Long-wattled Umbrellabird.
The bird feeding area at Sachatamia Lodge. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
I had tea and crackers, got some extra sleep, and spent a couple of hours alone at the feeders. I loved the luxury of indulging in long lingering looks at the gorgeous tanagers. I also saw a just-fledged Buff-throated Saltator right in front of the entrance to the lodge.
Buff-throated Saltator fledgling
Buff-throated Saltator and Blue-gray Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Golden Tanager
Dusky Bush-Tanager
Strong-billed Woodcreeper
The rest of the group returned for lunch and Jeannie took this photo of the view from the lodge.
The view from Sachatamia Lodge
Jeannie got photos of Golden-naped Tanagers and hummingbirds, too.
Golden-naped Tanagers. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
Violet-tailed Sylph (female). Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
Booted Racket-tail. My favorite hummer of the trip! Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
White-necked Jacobin. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
That afternoon we headed to San Jorge de Tandayapa Lodge where we spent the night after birding the area.
Birding in the Tandayapa Valley. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
Dinner at San Jorge de Tandayapa Lodge. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
Day five brought more wonderful birds in the Tandayapa upper valley, including this Powerful Woodpecker and the hummingbirds below.
Powerful Woodpecker. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
Collared Inca. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
Gorgeted Sunangel. Photo by Jeannie Mitchell.
We did not see many butterflies during any part of the trip, but there were a few like this beauty.
Photo by Jeannie Mitchell
Photo by Jeannie Mitchell
Photo by Jeannie Mitchell
The drive back to Quito for the night was quite interesting. While searching for a Giant Hummingbird, we met these two girls in a small village. The oldest girl appeared to offer us (or just show?) a bird nest with an egg in it. Ted, fluent in Spanish, taught Jeannie how to say “no más nidos” (no more nests) which she sweetly said to the girls. Jeannie then gave them a small toy that she had just bought and the girls appeared to put the nest back where they found it.
Birding for Life 