We took a long, muddy and slippery walk to the lek
to see the Cock-on-the-Rock; it was worth the effort.

Cock-on-the-Rock
at Refugio Paz de las Aves, Ecuador

Back view of Cock-on-the-Rock

Cock-on-the-Rock at lek
One of an estimated seven we saw

Cock-on-the-Rock
Refugio Paz de las Aves, Pichincha, Ecuador

Cock-on-the-Rock
Refugio Paz de las Aves, Pichincha, Ecuador

Cock-on-the-Rock
Refugio Paz de las Aves, Pichincha, Ecuador

Dark-backed Wood-Quail
near the Cock-on-the-Rock lek

Dark-backed Wood-Quail
near the Cock-on-the-Rock lek

Dark-backed Wood-Quail
near the Cock-on-the-Rock lek

Dark-backed Wood-Quail
near the Cock-on-the-Rock lek

Rufous-bellied Nighthawk
Digiscoped by guide Angel using my Pixel II phone
on the trail back to the bus after viewing the Cock-on-the-Rock lek

After a break, we took a walk to see more birds, like this Three-Striped Warbler

Three-Striped Warbler

Three-Striped Warbler

Female Masked Trogon

Female Masked Trogon

Velvet-purple Coronet (rear view)

Velvet-purple Coronet (front view)

Brown Inca
back at the visitor center at
Refugio Paz de las Aves

Female Purple-bibbed Whitetip, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Andean Emerald

Female Booted Racquettail

Two Fawn-breasted Brilliants

Female Booted Racquettail, two Fawn-breasted Brilliants and a male Purple-bibbed Whitetip between them

Male Purple-bibbed Whitetip
at feeder at Refugio Paz de las Aves, Ecuador

Brown Inca and Fawn-breasted Brilliant

Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Violet-tailed Sylph and Velvet-purple Coronet

Sapphire-vented Puffleg

After our break at the visitor center at Refugio Paz de las Aves,
we took another hike down the steep trail to this shelter.

We situated ourselves, along with a group of folks from Canada,
to watch birds coming to a feeding station where plaintains had been placed.

Toucan Barbet
This bird seemed to be putting on a show for us
and I couldn't resist showing many of its moves.

Toucan Barbet (back view)

Toucan Barbet

Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager

Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager

Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager

Golden-naped Tanager

Golden-naped Tanager

Golden Tanager

Red-headed Barbet

Crimson-rumped Toucanet with a damaged bill
perched near the visitor center at
Refugio Paz de las Aves

White-winged Brushfinch

Scarlet-rumped Toucanet
we watched from our outdoor covered porch
while we had a snack they prepared for us at
Refugio Paz de las Aves

Scarlet-rumped Toucanet
trying to get down a piece of plantain

Scarlet-rumped Toucanet

Scarlet-rumped Toucanet

Ochre-breasted Antpitta
This little bird hadn't appeared the first time we looked,
but while we were snacking the guides called us back down the hill
after this one came in to eat worms left by the 'antpitta whisperer.'
We had to use manual focus and the photos are less than sharp.

Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Ochre-breasted Antpitta

Mary and Kannan
celebrating our seeing the target bird.

Golden Tanager

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
came out for worms as well,
but it had started to rain.

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Chestnut-crowned Antpitta

Male Booted Racquettail in flight
back at the visitor center feeder

Purple-bibbed Whitetip

The rain started coming down harder, but the antpitta whisperer was trying to
call in the Yellow-breasted Antpitta, so we all geared up and clambered down to see.

DIY umbrella one of the guides was using

He tried, but the bird was not responding.

So, we pulled each other back up the muddy hill.

Just a bunch of birders out for a little fun.

Then, when we got halfway to the bus, they said they
heard the bird again, so back we went.

This time the bird made a brief appearance,
but only a few of us got a glimpse before it disappeared again.
So goes birding. Still some great sights for the day.

After a long morning of birding in periodic rain,
we went to Mindo for a warm lunch at El Cheff.
The afternoon was spent birding along the road
on our way to our next lodging at Séptimo Paraiso.