We’re still in awe of our time in the Andean Highland of Ecuador! There were sooooo many amazing experiences with its incredible birds. One was with this little guy, a Brown Violetear. He would be down at the hummer feeder station waiting in line, somewhat patiently, for his turn to partake. Then he would zoom away until his hunger brought him back. In the in-between times, we found him perched on a wire outside our room. Once we opened the window, little bugs would attempt to fly in. I say attempt because our little hummer would chase them in and munch them, often while inside our room. The first time he flew in, he looked at us with a look of oops! But soon, he was quite comfortable coming in and feasting. He was so much entertainment at the feeders or in our room. I miss our little friend.

Photographed in the Andean Highland rainforest of Ecuador, the Montane Woodcreeper struck quote the pose. The entire time I was photographing it, I was saying to myself, “Montane?” That’s because montane means in biological terms, “specialized ecosystems located on mountain slopes below the alpine tree line, typically between 1,850 and 2,900 meters (6,000–9,500 feet) in the Southwest U.S. That’s as far from South American rainforest as one can get, ecologically speaking. Just chalk it up to those crazy ornithologists!

It’s always a long shot, but if we don’t take it, we never know. And I need to know! I spent hours and hours the past week staring up into the dark, high, mysterious, and ruckous canopy of the Ecuadorian rainforest canopy. I saw so many new, cool, colorful birds, and most of the time, just long enough to make a single click so I could identify it later. Most birds are smaller than your fist so when a big shape flew in, it got my heart pounding. The Z 9 / Z180-600 w/2x at 1200mm, ISO 3200 and Profoto set to 10, I focused and made a handful of clicks before the mysterious shape moved on. I chimped, and I’m sure my smile could be seen throughout the entire forest. The very shy and reclusive Common Squirrel-Cuckoo (that is its common name, I swear) was there on my LCD looking back down at me. What a moment! What a gorgeous bird, the perfect accent to the life of the canopy. It was a special time, a surprise that still shines!

One of the larger and junkier “hummers” this past week in Ecuador, the Velvet-purple Coronet was one of the bigger challenges to tell its story. Unlike typical hummers, they don’t really pick one feeder and make it theirs. They do like to chase each other, but it seems more like a game than anything else. And photographing them hoovering was impossible for me! Then come in and land, hold their wings over their heads for a few seconds, and then get to work drinking. Then they zoom off to do whatever it is they do. When they do perch, it tends to be in a locale deep in foliage, making a clean shot a real challenge. The adult males light up grander than a neon factory, so brilliant it takes your breath away. I never got one of them in the viewfinder perched, but on my last day, I had a youngster stop long enough to capture four frames. The color is breathtaking for sure, the flight memorizing and cuteness is off the chart. Who came up with this magical design, only God knows!