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Septimo Paraiso Lodge Feeding Platform, Ecuador
At the end of December 2019, I travelled out to the cloud forest in Ecuador. I was working with Ana Lucia, the owner of a stunning lodge, and I spent an incredible week at Septimo Paraiso. Set in a stunning location in the cloud forest, close to Mindo, it is a wildlife watcher's paradise. You can read more about my visit on my blog. Ecuador is such an incredible location for wildlife... I will be returning as soon as I can!
Whilst there, I set up a Birdsy camera on a feeding platform that I built with the staff. We created it low to start with, then mounted it high off of the ground to see what arboreal creatures we could attract, as well as the hummingbirds visiting the feeders. I'm delighted to be able to share this camera with you, as it really is something quite special!
This is filmed and live streamed with a Birdsy Cam. Find out more on my Birdsy webpage or using the links below:
What to watch for.....
It is exciting to see lots of bird species now starting to visit this platform. It is a steep learning curve for me as I am unfamiliar with the birds seen in Ecuador. I have been using the excellent Merlin app to help me ID these birds and the shots below are lifted from this app. Please let me know if you see anything else visiting that I have not highlighted below.
Want a print out of the birds visiting the platform , for easy ID?
Click here for PDF ID sheet
Bird Species
Golden-naped Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager
GoldenTanager
Flame-rumped Tanager
(male)
Flame-rumped Tanager
(female)
Blue-gray Tanager
Orange-bellied Euphonia
(female)
Orange-bellied Euphonia
(male)
Yellow -throated Chlorospingus
Rufous Motmot
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch
White-tipped dove
Black-winged Saltator
Buff-throated Saltator
Blue-necked Tanager
Palm Tanager
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Thick-billed Euphonia
(male)
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Thick-billed Euphonia
(female)
Summer Tanager
Swainson's Thrush
Red-headed Barbet
(male)
Red-headed barbet
(female)
Bananaquit
Ecuadorian Thrush
Black-capped Tanager
Metallic green Tanager
Hummingbird Species
White-whiskered hermit
Booted racket-tail
(male)
Booted racket-tail
(female)
Brown Inca
Green-crowned brilliant
Rufus-tailed hummingbird
Andean emerald
Fawn-breasted Brilliant
Empress Brilliant
Violet-tailed Sylph
Purple-bibbed White-tip
Crowned woodnymph
White-necked Jacobin
Brown Violetear
Collared Inca
Velvet purple Cornonet
Mammal Species
Tayra
This amazing mammal is a bit like a big pine marten. Not many people have heard of one, let alone seen one, but they often visit this platform to eat the bananas.
Red-tailed Squirrel
This squirrel loves bananas so can be seen most days, stealing all but the one in the cage!
Opossum
A nocturnal visitor, this opossum visits to eat the bananas. Look out for their weird tail; half bald and very long!
Olingo
A nocturnal visitor, this Olingo visits to eat the bananas. Look out for their ears, constantly twitching to pick up even the faintest of sounds
Mouse Opossum
A nocturnal visitor, this small mouse opossum visits to eat the bananas. We are not sure what species this is yet.