Date: 1/6/26 3:44 pm From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: My December 2025 Ecuador birding videos
For those of you who might be interested.
I had a great trip to Ecuador (my 4th) to visit my parents over Christmas and do some birding. They decided to move to Ecuador from Washington State back in 2011 when they retired. They love it there.
I used the same guide that I used in 2018. His name is Alex Yasmani Luna Leon (Alex Luna) and he is based in Mindo. Alex primarily guides for Tropical Birding but does freelance work as well when he has time. I felt fortunate that he had time to take me birding, especially on such short notice.
He picked me up at 6am on December 18th and we headed to Papallacta Pass to try to see the Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. From there we went a little ways into Cayambe-Coca Park by the town of Papallacta then headed towards Ama Ecolodge where we spent three nights. It is across the Napo River from the town of Misahualli.
I left the US with a life list of 959 birds. As mentioned I had birded in Ecuador 3 times previously as well as one trip each to Colombia, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and of course in a few states here in the USA. I was hoping to break 1000 on this trip and succeeded in that goal, ending up at 1028. It has me wondering if I will make it to 2000 birds. If so, I sure hope it doesn't take another 61 years to do that ha ha.
Here is a link to a video I made birding at and near the development where my parents live near the town of Cayambe Ecuador.
