(October 11.)
The Artisana Ecological Reserve extends high above the treeline, almost 19,000 feet at its highest point. (I think we only got to about 12,000 feet.) This presents a different kind of challenge for bird photography.
I had dreams of getting a good photo of an Andean Condor, the worlds largest flying bird, but the only ones we saw were too far away for any lens I could reasonably be expected to carry.
Let’s zoom in closer on these cliffs.
Hmmm…what’s that near the top? Maybe if I severely crop the image…
Yup, that’s an Andea Condor all right. (At least according to our guide.) Sorry, but that’s the best I could do.
A Black-chested Buzzard Eagle (also pretty far away.)
Black-tailed Trainbearer.
Black Phoebe.
Ecuadorean Hillstar.
Brown-backed Chat-tyrant.
Undulated Antpitta.
Plain-capped Ground-tyrant.
Stout-billed Cinclodes.
Another Stout-billed Cinclodes.
Plumbeous Sierra Finch.
Variable Hawk.
Carunculated Caracara.
Tawny Antpitta.