Our third full day at Wild Sumaco and we spent the entire time working the various trails around the lodge. Once again it was an early rise at 5:30am, and a departure from the lodge at 6:25am. As first light began to break, a small family of Speckled Chachalaca hopped about the large cercopias behind the lodge. At one of the feeders, a Golden-tailed Sapphire was the first of several hummingbirds to begin the daily routine. Around the bungalows was Canada Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, and Yellow-browed Sparrow. After leaving the lodge grounds we made our way to the F.A.C.E trail, which soon began to once again churn out good birds.
Near the entrance to the trail we saw Plain Antvireo and Linneated Foliage-Gleaner, followed shortly after by Linneated Antshrike, White-winged Becard, and four Chestnut-fronted Macaw's flying overhead. There were also several Yellow-tufted Woodpecker's chattering as they jumped among various snags. Once on the F.A.C.E trail I got my first lifer for the day, White-streaked Antvireo. This was immediately followed by my second lifer for the day, Yellow-throated Spadebill, a tough bird to get in the area and one that our tour leader Andrew Spencer was very excited to see and photograph. Further along the trail we added Paradise Tanager, White-crowned Manakin, Foothill Elaenia (lifer), Ash-browed Spinetail, Flame-crested Tanager (lifer), Buff-fronted Foliage Gleaner, and Rufous-tailed Foliage-Gleaner (lifer). The day was off to a fantastic start, especially with the addition of so many new species.
Following this surge of lifers was a lull. We saw several good species, such as Ashy-throated Chlorospingus, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Orange-eared Tanager, Fulvous Shrike-Tanager, and Silver-beaked Tanager, but not were new for the life list. By now it was nearing mid-day and so we headed back to the lodge for lunch and a short break. While at the lodge I added several birds to the day list, including Black-mandibled Mountain-Toucan, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Red-headed Barbet, Rufous-vented Whitetip, Gould's Jewelfront, and Wire-crested Thorntail. After lunch we walked the Piha trail, which was a short drive down the road and a long walk downhill...a very long walk, riddled with stairs. Going down wasn't so bad, but knowing I had to come back up was looming in the back of my mind. I was certain I had not done enough Stairmaster steps to prepare for this trail!
Along the trail we saw very little in the way of birds. Only when we got to the bottom was there a small hint of bird activity. My only lifer on this trail was Collared Trogon, but other good birds included Purple Honeycreeper, Rufous-naped Greenlet, Ornate Flycatcher, and White-backed Fire-eye. After climbing back up the stairs, all 719 of them, I was more than happy to sit on the benches at the top and watch the hummingbird feeders for an hour. Here we saw several good hummingbirds, including Blue-fronted Lancebill, Black-throated Brilliant, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Napo Sabrewing, and Ecuadorian Piedtail.
As the day began to wind down we slowly worked our way back along the road adding several birds to the day list, such as Military Macaw, Magpie Tanager, Olivaceous Siskin, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, White-collared Swift, and Green-and-Gold Tanager. My last lifer for the day was Black-banded Woodcreeper, and my last new bird before dinner was Blue-browed Tanager. Following dinner we decided to do a bit of night-birding. In the span of about an hour we added Common Paraque (heard only) and Band-bellied Owl (excellent views).
Total species today: 82
Total cumulative species for the trip: 407
Total lifers today: 7
Total cumulative lifers for the trip: 135
