From the Middle of the World
Scarlet Tanager
Ecuador – The lovely Scarlet Tanager joins the list of rare birds that drop in for a photo session then move on! This one visited Parque las Vegas on March 31. At first glance I thought it was the ‘common’ Vermillion Flycatcher:
Vermillion Flycatcher
Scarlet Tanager
This bird was quite patient with the impromptu photo session, but it was not until that night that I realized how rare this beauty was in this area. It was the third time for this species to be reported in Manabi Province on eBird: eBird/Scarlet Tanager/Manabi-Ecuador
In nearby La Tomatera, a new eBird Hotspot, several more VIP birds have provided special glimpses, and I continue to find myself Blessed by Birds. The quite rare Black-billed Cuckoo continues to ‘multiply.’ First there was one sighting, thanks to Luis Saltos, then another visit to La Tomatera resulted in two sightings, and last Saturday THREE Black-billed Cuckoos revealed their hideouts in three different locations. Sha-zam, thank you Mother Earth!
Grey-capped Cuckoo
In addition to the Black-billed Cuckoos, the lovely Gray-capped often shows up near the former. Double thank you – Triple thank you!
This morning I visited a group of ‘UrbiArbol’ activists who work every Friday or Saturday along a canal, cleaning trash and planting trees. I watched for birds while they worked in harmony. Little by little the planet becomes a better place because of quiet people doing selfless work.
Enjoy the slide show:
The finale as we were parting at noon? A ‘lovely’ long snake with a green head was trying to raid a bird nest in the tall grasses! We were as rapt trying to see the snake as are spectators in a World Cup championship game!
A snake is somewhere – we saw it, but then it vanished!
Tropical Herping sent a lovely Earth Day newsletter update. For a glimpse of Ecuador’s stunning beauty and diversity, as well as some serious environmental concerns, please take time to visit their post: EARTH DAY 2022
I sent the photos of the Laughing Falcon’s unlucky snake to Alejandro Arteaga, also part of the Tropical Herping team. He mentioned that it was a great sighting,”…This is certainly the first time a predator is confirmed for the snake Mastigodryas reticulatus, so it is very exciting…” and that he would include the data in the soon-to-be published Reptiles of Ecuador. For information about that book – or to help sponsor the printing costs, go here: REPTILES OF ECUADOR.COM
That’s the update between events on this busy day in Portoviejo Ecuador.
Please, take time to tip your hat to our beautiful planet and to those who are quietly working to restore what we’ve lost… Love, Lisa
The newest generation of the Golden Grosbeak.
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Reblogged this on The Free.
Reblogged this on Jude's Threshold and commented:
Another amazing post from Equador!
As always, thanks! You humble me.
May the earth and stars and planets smile on you all weekend!
Love, Lisa
Thank you, Miss Z for your great Earth Day post and links.
Thank you, our dear caballero Don… ‘don Don!’ I hope that it is a beautiful weekend for you and your loved ones!
And to you, Miss Z
Thanks so much for your post! What is the last pic…a baby ?We had a lovely tide pool and birding day at the estuary at Pilas- Marie, Cook, Wendy, Anna from El Castillo and I love you lee
My heart smiles at the thought of all of you there – walking, chatting, observing, comparing stories… Powerful yet gentle women! Sending love to all of you!
Yes, that is a baby Golden Grosbeak! Here’s what it will be when grown:
and
How extraordinary is our world!
Yes, and you live in a really really special GPS point! I wish we had an option to travel by the ‘tube’ system, like how banks send transactions from the drive-through window under (or over) the lanes and to the little box by the car window… and back again…. zip… zap… if so, I’d be zipping over to walk those idyllic sites for a day or weekend, then zap back home!
What fun that would be! We should make it happen…
Oh, I wish we could! Zip – we effortlessly start with a sunrise walk with you.. then zap, how about a cafe and we zip elsewhere — etc etc.. for sure we’d have to join you for a decadent dessert!
🤣💙
Happy Earth Day! Celebrations today at our weekly farmers market.
That’s so great – and a beautiful place to honor our planet – wholesome products grown by people who are often the strongest connection that links the earth to us via what we eat… You have shown us via many posts what a special place you have there, so lucky – but no surprise that you’re a strong part of why it’s special!
Earth, an amazing place to live! Changes, what else would you expect
with life so diverse. Great photos Lisa!
A friend gave me a t-shirt from his trip to the Galapagos. It states, Adapt – or Become Extinct. Yes, and we adapt and adjust even from the subtle movements of each day! Thank you, Eddie! I hope that your weekend is a beautiful one!
For the first time that I can remember (I may have missed it in the past) there has been a concerted effort here to publicize the importance of turning off unnecessary lights at night, for the sake of the migrating birds. I’ve read of that being done in Florida for the turtles, but not for birds. Several state agencies (Parks and Wildlife, etc) are publicizing it. Easy, and helpful!
Yes! Advances in science, ways of tracking, etc – it’s amazing, esp with the ‘citizen science’ of reporting species. Cornell’s BirdCast is a great new option. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2022/04/dashboard-reveals-migration-path-billions-birds
It’s amazing to watch the current map: https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/live-migration-maps/ Perhaps the Scarlet Tanager that visited Parque las Vegas was part of that movement!
Thank you for another inspiring posts, Lisa. I’m amazed by what you and your friends accomplished and the wonderful bird sightings you had and were able to document.
I continue to wonder what it will take for more people to care about what is happening to every corner of our very special globe. 🌍
Kind regards,
Tanja
First, I loved your Avocet post! Those birds have such great upturned bills! There were two eBird sightings from 1992 in Ecuador..
My show, Step into my World/Walk with me’ at Museo Portoviejo, was intended to allow people to see their world through my eyes and soul. With augmented reality, the drawings transform into short videos of each species. Every so often one image/message is a bit stronger – showing the results of being out of harmony with nature. I never expected the show to be as popular as it is, and to watch young and old alike marvel – or rapt in seeing each species. It’s humbling, and does indeed give me hope.
If they are unable to go to the wilderness and see these species, they get a sample there at the museum.
I’m heading out in about ten minutes to see what’s waiting in the refuge! If we don’t go, we’ll never know what might be there!
(And those various groups of activists – all doing nice and positive things – are very encouraging!)
It sounds as though you have found your purpose, Lisa, which is wonderful. Some of us look all our lives without ever quite finding it.
I hope you keep having wonderful encounters with all manner of creatures, including humans.
You do live in an Equatorial paradise. Let’s hope it keeps its Equatorial equilibrium.
Jaja, Steve! Yes, it’s especially lovely when the temperatures stay between 65 degrees and 85 most of the time – and I look at weather maps/news flashes about freezing temps or blizzards or ice storms… This climate suits me, and yes for sure helps with equilibrium!!
the photo was taken at Calacali, a quiet option for pondering one’s placement the 0.0000 GPS mark. a quick internet check for Calacali took me to recent news about this past week’s landslides on the highway that connects Mindo to Quito on that ‘Calacali/Nanagalito/Los Bancos’ highway:
https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/ecuador/aloag-calacali-cerradas-deslizamientos-tierra.html
and the easy Wilkipedia option for details on Calacali = Spanish version is much better than the English one:
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calacalí
Over 9,000 feet, Calacali’s climate is a bit chilly, but I always enjoy a stop when passing through that area.
That’s the first I’ve ever heard of the Monumento a la Mitad del Mundo. Apparently GPS showed that it’s off by approximately 8 seconds of arc. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.”
You’ll enjoy this story that tells of three options that are in the same area. https://www.aswesawit.com/real-equator-line/
The Calacali is my favorite of the three, but my most favorite is “Quitsato’ near Cayambe.
Wow, a new video trailer about a documentary — looks interesting:
.
Thank you for this lovely heartwarming post. You said it right when you said “Little by little the planet becomes a better place because of quiet people doing selfless work.” I think this work is going on everywhere all the time but it is sadly overlooked by all the “news” which invariably focuses on the bad news. It’s always good to get a reminder of how good we humans can be.
Alison
Yes, the news is often dark these days, or focused on topics that get the most views, when there are so many news-worthy happenings that are overlooked.. like that stunning immersion in roses, roses and more roses!
Although I am not one who prefers to live in a city, I definitely realize that this time was/is of importance – otherwise I’d not know all of these lovely people who are doing great things – and at times asking for a little time/attention/guidance – but mostly they just need a cheering section! – or a little positive PR to offset those dark news stories!
❤️
A belated Happy Earth Day to you, Lisa. A Scarlet tanager – oh, wouldn’t it be nice to see one of those again. Maybe I’ve seen them twice, year and years ago. Indeed, you are blessed by birds, and by friends, I’d say. Cheers!
Yes! That Scarlet Tanager was a surprise of a beauty. You always come to mind when some rare bird enters the stage of my viewing field. My bird guide friends chuckle and shrug, ‘Why does Lisa seem to be truly Blessed by Birds?’ but maybe it’s because I’m just ‘out there’ and ready to receive whatever the day has planned — -much like you do! Have you seen Cornell’s bird “Bird Cast Migration” site? Presently the Mississippi Flyway is really active, esp when compared to your side of the country. That Tanager could very well be flying over the land of my childhood:
https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-MS-011?utm_source=Cornell%20Lab%20eNews&utm_campaign=df6886dfd9-ebird%20enews%20may%202022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_47588b5758-df6886dfd9-303941229
Wonderful nature photos!
A beautiful gift and message to all to love and take care of Mother Earth. Thank you.