20150109_Ecuador_0026 We stopped at the gates going into the Antisana Preserve.  It was pretty cold and windy in this area- I think we were over 12,000 feet.  The reserve is situated in the Napo and Pichincha  provinces in the Ecuador region along the snow capped Artisan volcano peaks in the Andes.  Unfortunately, given the weather conditions we didn't get a good view of the volcano.  The preserve, built in 1993 was built to protect local flora and fauna of the region.  The Napo and Coca rivers flow through the north and southeast areas.  

20150109_Ecuador_0001 I found the fauna and vegetation very beautiful.

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A close up of the vegetation.

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It was quite a windy day.

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Elliot (our expert bus driver/guide) stopped the bus so we could take some photos of the lake from a distance.

20150109_Portfolio Photos_0089 It was very beautiful so I took lots of photographs.  We are actually above the Papallacta Pass at this spot.  This pass is located between Pichincha and Napo provinces right on the Continental divide.  

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We drove right to the lake hoping to see some different birds.    I seem to remember seeing some ducks in the lake but I didn't get any photos.  It was  cold (so I thought at the time) and  it started to rain.  I noticed that the area had a lot of hiking trails  which under different circumstances would have been fun to do although I expect quite difficult given the high altitude.  

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20150109_Ecuador_0036 Most of our group posed for me beside the bus.  From left to right we have Domingo, Glenn, Manfred, Jess,Don, Ross and Elliot.   Missing was Thea and Provash-maybe trying to stay warm and dry on the bus?

20150109_Ecuador_0037 Ok- back to some bird photography although it was great getting some landscape shots.  The Andean gull is found in the mountainous regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. 

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The Black-faced Ibis is found in grasslands and fields in southern and western South America.  

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20150109_Ecuador_0043 We started to descend the high plateau of the Artisan reserve where  the guides noticed a protected area full of the flowering bushes that  the Ecuadorian Hillstars are attracted to.    So the bus was stopped and everyone got out to see if that bird could be sited.  While they were looking, I walked around the area a bit and took some landscape shots.  It was  warmer outside now with the sun coming out.  The weather conditions were constantly changing in this area.  

20150109_Ecuador_0044 The group looking to see if these  birds could be spotted or heard.  

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20150109_Ecuador_0001 Finally the bird was spotted so I joined the rest of the group.  Again, these birds were very far away so this picture is heavily cropped.  At the time I was on the ground hand holding my heavy camera/lens setup (according to my standards).  This hummingbird lives in cool temperatures of elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,200 meters (11,500 to 17,100 ft).  These birds have adapted to do  no unnecessary hovering for a bird that has to conserve all of its energy to stay warm.  

20150109_Ecuador_0001 These  gorgeous birds' typical feeding source is the orange-flowered Chuquiragua shrub.  

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One last shot of this bird before we left the area.

20150109_Ecuador_0050 We (probably me)  asked Elliot to stop the bus later on so we could take some more landscape shots.

20150109_Ecuador_0001 David joining me in photographing the landscape.  

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20150109_Ecuador_0056 After we left the Papallacta Pass ( on the Continental divide),  we headed down to where we would be spending the next three nights at the Guango Lodge.  The weather started to deteriorate and the wet, cold weather lasted pretty much for the next few days.

20150109_Ecuador_0055  Jess and Glenn, our very hard working leaders as you can see!  I think we finally managed to tire them out.  I couldn't resist asking the guide in the front row to take the photo using my I-phone.  Next stop, Guango Lodge.