The Birds of Ecuador, Part 1: Hummingbirds

On a recent trip to Ecuador I saw many new hummers species and learning them all, let alone photographing them, was quite a challenge. Luckily they are as numerous there as they are diverse and feeders attract quite a following. Green-crowned Brilliant, Brown Inca, Long-tailed Sylph, Collared Inca, Gorgeted Sunangel and the tiny Woodstar. Some non-feeder birds were: the omnipresent Rufous-tailed Hummer Fawn-breasted Brilliant and what I think is a Violet-bellied Hummingbird. Here's a video of their high energy antics around the feeders.

Harlem Kestrels

Over the past few weeks, I have had many brief or fleeting views of the various raptors migrating through. The only bird that I have been getting fairly good looks at are some of the kestrels that have dispersed through the area. I found this brother and sister hunting grasshoppers over a recently cleared lot on Lenox and 125th street. After returning with his prey, his sister showed up! Then tore out after some starlings. Here's an adult chasing out one of the two juveniles RTH's that were in the area today. Still no sightings of the Cathedral hawks.

Broad-tailed Hawk Flyovers

Quite a bit of birds on the move due to the wind out of the NW. Most prominent are Broad-tailed Hawks, soaring high above the City!

Hooded Warbler in Morningside Park

I didnt realize which bird I'd seen till I downloaded the picture, but it's a immature hooded warbler with a honey bee. Great birding this time of year in the City's parks!

Back to Square One

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. T. S. Eliot If he can keep on going, so should we all!