Rio de Mindo

The rising sun saw me at a footbridge north along the creek that runs through Mindo. Here were many of the usual birds and quite a nice little walk. It wasn't until we reached the Rio Mindo that things got more interesting.

View of Mindo from a hill

Down a small road near Terra Bambu and el Carmelo we found a Rufous Motmot in someones back yard.
We must have been in the right area because we soon met a large group of birders who we tipped off about the motmot and in turn were told about a Bat Falcon seen at the bridge along Via Al Cinto Saloya. True to their word the bat falcon was at the top of a large dead standing tree close to the river. It was a gorgeous bird and like many birds of prey it completely ignored us beings that are to far away to hurt it and to big to eat. I spent about half an hour just watching it when it suddenly turned its attention to a bold Ringed Kingfisher that had swooped down at it and landed on a lower branch in the same tree. The falcon didn't waver and the kingfisher soon retreated from its attempts to scare him off.

Mindo River with bat falcon on dead tree (top left)

Bat Falcon

Then something happened that made me appreciate this lone falcon even more. A young family with two boys showed up at the river. They were Ecuadoran and spoke no English but I took photos of them by the river and even managed to communicate that I was looking at the bird and let them use my binoculars to see it. The joy in those boys eyes at being able to see it (or many just even to use binoculars for the first time)  was almost more thrilling than finding the bird to begin with but definitely more rewarding.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Later that night there was a celebration in town and people dressed in traditional clothing paraded and danced through the street.That night there were foam fights, water gun/balloon fights and a whole lot of drinking in the town centre. 

Parade through the streets

Spray can foam fights