Birding Trip Report: Tailor-made Birding PhotographyTour

Client: Nick Schleissmann x1

Date: November-December 2022 

Number Bird Species: 385 Species / 10 Days

For our Photographer Client we created a Short-tailor made Birding Photo Tour in the main hotspots including the new Harpy Eagle Nest near Loreto Reserve. 

Our Birding Lodges included: 

• Andes: Hacienda Jimenita
• Cloud Forests: San Isidro Lodge and Sachatamia Lodge
• Upper Amazon Basin: Ojo de Agua Lodge   

In total we observed over 385 bird species, and we reached 80% of the targets from our client in just 8 days of birding. Some of the specialities in this itinerary included Andean Condor, Golden Grossbeak, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Chestnut-naped Antpitta, Equatorial Antpitta, Giant Antpitta, Chestnut-crowned Antpitta, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Toucan Barbet, Torrent Duck and Harpy Eagle. 

To visit the Harpy Eagle Nest we required 1 night near Loreto as we started early in the morning around 4:30am. Once we arrive to the community located about 1 hour from Loreto we did a short easy hike about 1 hour with 2 small stream crossing, boots are required in rainny season. We always aim to arrive at the nest around 630am so we can have more probabilities to observe the Adult Harpy Eagles. Unfortunately, they were not there, but the Juvenile Harpy was the highlight. 

Nick did his review in our Ecuador Birds Tours Trip Advisor Page and mentioned:

Knowledgeable guides who were great at finding birds and putting me on them quickly. I did a 10-day tour and ticked 385 species. Hacienda Jimenita is in an excellent location, very close to the airport and both the east and west sides of the Andes are withing driving distance. Many habitats covered in a short time. An unforgettable experience!

Photos in this Trip Report are taken by Nick Schleissman and Ecuador Birds Tours. 

To Book your Tailor-made Birding Tour in Ecuador please send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will be happy to prepare your trip based in your interests.