
Many-Banded Aracari
On the morning of July 7 at Sacha Lodge in the Ecuadoran Amazon, we went up to the “metal towers” which are three towers strung together with canopy walkways in between. I don’t seem to have a picture of the first tower from the ground before we climbed up, but the view at the top was astounding.
Above, there are two Pied Puffbirds on one of the walkways between the towers, what the walkways look like and the platform on top of one of the towers. Below, I got a closer view of one of the Pied Puffbirds.

Pied Puffbird
The Toucan below wasn’t as close as the Puffbird but large enough to capture, even if he thought he was hiding behind the limb that obstructs his bill.

White-Throated Toucan
The Ringed Woodpecker below was one of the first birds I tried to photograph, and although it was quite far away it stayed on that snag, working on a hole in it, for more pictures than I needed. I’m very bad at editing though, especially weeks later…
Below, a Palm Tanager and a Wing-Barred Piprites.
The Lanceolated Monklet was far away too, but too cute to pass up.

Lanceolated Monklet
The Spangled Cotinga is definitely a canopy bird, always perched up high.
In the afternoon we were back in the canoe. There’s a little video from the canoe below to give you the feeling of it. At some point we saw the Gilded Barbet below but I think it might have been up at the tower. I may have to start taking notes while I’m taking pictures.

Gilded Barbet
Two more classy woodpeckers to add to my list, the Chestnut and Cream-Colored.

Chestnut Woodpecker
I do remember the Cream-Colored Woodpeckers below were seen from the canoe.

Cream-Colored Woodpeckers
Below, a short trip in the canoe. Don’t ask me what’s flying around, whether it’s a bird or a butterfly, before we stopped to see what Oscar, our guide at the front of the canoe, was pointing out.
The Duida Woodcreeper has been split from the Lineated Woodcreeper and I think this is it in the picture below.

I think this is a Duida Woodcreeper
From the ground, not the canoe, we saw these adorable Spix’s Night Monkeys peering out from their daytime hole.

Spix’s Night Monkeys
It was a great day for Aracaris and Toucans. The Ivory-Billed Aracari was up at the tower.

Ivory-Billed Aracari
Likely I’ll be back with one more post from the last day and a half in the Amazon and then it’s on to the Galapagos.