Friday, March 4, 2011
Birds, birds, and birds
We just returned from El Monte, a lodge in Mindo, about 2-1/2 hours northwest of Quito. We took the bus there yesterday and spent the night. Cabin made of bamboo, wood, and thatch roof.
To get to El Monte, we had to cross Rio Mindo (Mindo River) in a hand-pulled seat, similar to a zip-line, only level.
Our main activity for the past few days was bird watching. We had a guide named Julia who had the best eyes! She could spot them in a tree a mile away. Well, almost. And, she had a Swarovski spotting spot and Swarovski binoculars. Very high quality, but this is how she mades a living. She took us around El Monte and Mindo for 8 hours for $25 yesterday. This morning, she met us at 5 am to take us to see the Cock of the Rock birds on the top of a mountain. Here are some of the bird pictures we took. Some are taken thru her spotting scope:
The Cocks of the Rock, at least 6 of them, were waking up and making all kinds of racket on the mountain this morning. (Yes, I had to climb ANOTHER mountain, this time in the dark and rain...)
Julia also took us to see hummingbirds.
Although the emphasis at El Monte was on the birds, we got pictures of other things, like bromeliads growing wild in alot of the trees:
Flowers that were multi-colored in a cluster:
And finally, this guy. He was wandering around near our cabin. He is larger than a squirrel, not as fluffy as his hair was more like rat hair. Julie said he is a wild cousin to a guinea pig...... Hmmmmm, wonder if this is what we ate in Baños?
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Well between the ziplines and rope pulled seats you guys have encountered and all of the experience,it might be time to add some attractions out at the ranch for them grandkids,hey even me. Think of it, you shoot that trophy deer or hog and zipline from the blind to the feeder,cool.All the bird pics are good,Grace liked the hummingbirds especially since she just got a magazine and book on them.The group of pastel colored flowers,great.I don't think it makes to much difference if its a cousin or not,you two are ready to send in your video to be on the next Survivor!One Million Grand Prize and more adventure.
ReplyDeleteSee Ya, Your Cuz.
Oooh, I'm liking Ernest's zipline idea. :-) You CAN buy them, I know. Maybe we should put one in our backyard with the garden and someday-swingset and clothesline! :-)
ReplyDeleteYour cabin looks awesome! I did a bit of reading on cloud forests and that sounds amazing. Was it as cloudy as expected? That could get eery and depressing, I imagine, but certainly interesting to visit! All the birds are gorgeous.... we don't get that kind of variety here! I guess they prefer eery and depressing. :-) The multicolored flower reminds me so much of lantana, only multicolored! It's SO pretty.
Well, I think we are all getting antsy to see y'all again. :-) We're having dinner with Leslie and Kacie and Chris and Carlette tomorrow night and you'll certainly be missed! Keep having fun, and know you're being thought of back home.