Day 12 - Mindo

 This morning we headed off early to another bird watching place, this time for more toucans. The road was barely a car width wide, a dirt track essentially and who knows what we'd have done if we'd met someone coming the other way.

Paulo clowning around

Bird photography generally is hours of boredom with brief flurries of activity as the waited for bird arrives, and there is panic to get camera settings and focus points right to capture the prize.  We had one toucan after maybe an hour's wait, and then after another long gap, four within a short space of time. While waiting, we photographed humming birds, ate our packed breakfast, and petted the owners dog who was mooching for snacks.  

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There was also a reflection pool, with dragonflies buzzing around, but those suckers are even harder to snap that humming birds, there is nothing to focus on! 

Reflection pool

The bird reflections would have been good, except that the food used to lure them was on the other side of the pool, so mostly we saw bird backsides as they ate.  Very attractive. 

Back to the lodge for lunch, and a repeat of the morning at a different bird viewing area, also up a steep windy gravel road.  This time the prize was a quetzal, a spectacular bird that nests in holes in trees.  Kenny and Jeremy headed off to wait in view of a known nesting site, leaving the rest of us to the multi-flash setup for more humming birds. They eventually did get to see it, but quite by chance it also appeared near where we were and I managed to get a photo of it too.  The multi flash setup was really successful with tonnes of different birds around.  After my turn at the flash, I found a small bird feeder like a bottle cap, and held out my hand with the feeder on it.  They flocked in, completely unafraid, their tiny feet gripping my fingers as they chowed down on the nectar.  So cute.  Their colours are so beautiful, they look like living jewels.  It was really fun.  

Back to the lodge for dinner, and the news that tomorrow we leave at 5am, so our bags need to be packed and ready to load on the bus by 4.45am. 

Tomorrow will be out last full day, ending in Quito ready to depart on Friday.