Country: Ecuador

San Jorge Eco-lodge Tandayapa Hummingbird Sanctuary

Spend the afternoon photographing hummingbirds from the lodge's gardens, where feeders, flowering plants, and carefully selected natural perches create excellent opportunities for clean, intimate images. Regular visitors include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, and White-bellied Woodstar, with activity often increasing as the afternoon light softens. The gardens are equally rewarding for other Andean birds. Between hummingbird sessions, you may photograph species such as Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Brushfinch, Azara's Spinetail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Red-crested Cotinga, and Streak-throated Bush Tyrant as they move through the surrounding vegetation.

Bird Photography Around the Lodge Gardens

The lodge gardens attract far more than hummingbirds. Between photography sessions, keep an eye out for species such as Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Rufous-naped Brushfinch, Azara's Spinetail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Southern Yellow Grosbeak, Red-crested Cotinga, and Streak-throated Bush Tyrant, all of which may offer rewarding photographic opportunities.

Humming bird feeders at San Jorge Eco-lodge

Spend the afternoon photographing hummingbirds from the comfort of the lodge, where feeders and thoughtfully placed natural perches provide excellent opportunities for close-up images. Sword-billed Hummingbird, Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Sparkling Violetear, Tyrian Metaltail, Shining Sunbeam, and White-bellied Woodstar are among the regular visitors, with changing light offering a variety of creative photographic possibilities.

Antpitta Feeding Station at San Jorge Eco-lodge

A short drive brings us to one of the Andean foothills' renowned antpitta feeding stations, where patient fieldcraft offers exceptional photographic opportunities. Rufous, Chestnut-crowned, and, with some luck, Chestnut-naped Antpittas may appear at close range, revealing these famously elusive birds. The surrounding gardens are equally rewarding, attracting colorful hummingbirds, mountain tanagers, and other cloud forest specialties throughout the morning.

Quito Airport

San Jorge Eco-lodge – Quito

Guaycapi Lodge

Sachatamia Lodge

Night at Sachatamia on the Mindo Valley heights, the base for the next morning's early descent to Paz de las Aves.

San Isidro Lodge

Two nights at San Isidro Lodge, set in cloud forest on the eastern slope of the Andes, with its hide and feeders at hand.