Andean Condor
As we drove up toward Artisan National Park, Jimmy saw a group of condors soaring above the nearby hills.

There were a dozen of the Andean Condors soaring around. Andres told us there are only about 150 of the birds in all of Ecuador (there are larger populations in other South American countries).

Andean Condor

Andean Condor

Andean Condor

Andean Condor and Carunculated Caracara

Rufous-collared Sparrow
at Tambo Condor Bird Lodge

Great Thrush

Giant Hummingbird
at Tambo Condor Bird Lodge

Sparkling Violetear

Sparkling Violetear

Tyrian Metaltail

Tyrian Metaltail

Tyrian Metaltail

Andres spotted a Spectacled Bear on the side of the hill across the valley from the lodge.

Shining Sunbeam

Black Flowerpiercer

Great Thrush

Great Sapphirewing

Great Sapphirewing

Tyrian Metaltail
acting like a flowerpiercer, piercing the base of the flower for its nectar

Tyrian Metaltail

Tyrian Metaltail

Black Flowerpiercer

Chest-winged Cinclodes
We stopped at a bridge over a stream farther down the road to look for the Ecuadorian Hillstar and saw these birds above the water.

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

We did get glimpses of a female Ecuadorian Hillstar, but this is the best shot I got of it at this location. In Merlin, almost all photos of the hillstar show it on this orange-flowered bush.

White morph Variable Hawk

Variable Hawk

Stout-billed Cinclodes
Farther down the road, there was an abandoned house where we stopped and saw several species of birds.

Stout-billed Cinclodes

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Female Ecuadorian Hillstar
on the eave of the abandoned house

Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant

Stout-billed Cinclodes

Andean Lapwings

White-tailed Deer

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagl

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagl

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagl

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagl

Black-winged Ground Dove

Carunculated Caracara

Andean Gull

Female Plumbeous Sierra Finch
near the restrooms at Lake Mica

Male Plumbeous Sierra Finch
near the restrooms at Lake Mica

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes

Grass Wren

Tawny Antpitta
on a bush above Lake Mica

Andean Teal

Western Cattle Egret

Yellow-billed Pintail

Andean Teal

Slate-colored Coot

Andean Duck
in Lake Mica

Andean Gull
on rock in Lake Mica

Chestnut-winged Cinclodes
near its nest cavity in a rock wall

Andean Tit-Spinetail
on top of tall bushes behind buildings at Lake Mica

Mystery bird Nadine and I saw while we were looking for Andean Ibis

Two Andean Ibis
in the paramo grasses on the right side of the bus as we were driving back from Lake Mica

Andean Gulls

Mystery, front view

Back of a Carunculated Caracara and profile of the mystery bird

Could it be the Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant?

Stag White-tailed Deer
lying in the paramo grasses as we were leaving Lake Mica, Antisana National Park

Andean Ibis and possible Plain-capped Ground-Tyrant in foreground, with White-tailed Deer in background

Flying Andean Ibis

Andean Ibis

We stopped again at Tambo Condor Bird Lodge and saw the Black Flowerpiercer.

Black Flowerpiercer

Shining Sunbeam

Carlos spotted two Southern Lapwings in the parking lot of an abandoned business long the highway.

Southern Lapwing

Black-banded Owl
We arrived at San Isidro Lodge in time for dinner and, afterward, walked down below the deck of the restaurant and found this owl in a distance cecropia tree. I didn't have my big camera, so got the phone photo.

Shortly, a second Black-banded Owl flew into the tree and fed the first one.

Two Black-banded Owls