Tropical Birding Tours

We had some wonderful mammal sightings on my recent Borneo birding tour, including several orangutans. We enjoyed watching this young one clambering about in the top of a tree. Charley Hesse

One of the highlights from our recent Borneo birding tour wasn't even a bird but a mammal. This Sunda Leopard Cat put on quite a show. Charley

a Guide's birthday present away from home

It is simply “cold” to spend a birthday working without being able to share it with family and loved ones, but if it should be like this every year, I would like it to be like it was today with two incredible gifts from nature that came to me at dawn and dusk respectively. I woke up early in search of a Giant Anteater that made me walk long distances and almost get stuck with the car in open termite fields. The afternoon ended with the meeting of a family of Jaguars (mother and two cubs) that were calm and playful along the sandy islands and banks of the Pixaim River. I advise you to watch this video I made today on a big screen!!! Enjoy!!! Andres Vasquez

Macaw Trunk in Ecuador

This is one of the spectacles you can have during our AMAZING AMAZON TOUR to be ran in December this year. I am for now pencilled to run this great week of pristine Amazon birding at the end of the year!!! Join me to have a great time exploring one of the most diverse ecosystems of the entire planet where you will be at some point literally surrounded by hundreds of macaws!!! Take advantage of the ongoing discounts on this tour. Link in the first comment Andres Vasquez

In order to visit the lowland Choco rainforest in San Cipriano, Colombia, we need to use the nicely designed Brujita, an improvised transportation mechanism that runs with an adapted motorbike pushing through the semi-abandoned train tracks this wooden platform that holds chairs for the passengers. The birds on the video are Bicolored Antbird, White-flanked Abtwren, Black-breasted Puffbird, Tooth-billed Hummingbird, all of which we saw during our visit there during our Colombia Introtour. See more about this tour in the comments Andres Vasquez

Pale-billed Woodpecker slow-mo hitting tree

A slow-mo video of a Pale-billed Woodpeccker hitting a branch with such strength that you can see the debris flying all over the place. I personally stress about a piece of it entering the eyes of the woodpecker!!! Video shot during our Belize Birding With a Camera tour that I just finished guiding. See link to it in comments Andres Vasquez

Another Slow-mo video, this time of the exquisite Velvet-purple Coronet from the famed Tandayapa Bird Lodge where the species not not always present but when it is around, it brings up those turquoise, blues, cyans, and deep blacks contrasting with the bright white tail. It was taken during a Custom Birding With a Camera tour in Ecuador (https://www.tropicalbirding.com/southamericaecuadornorthernbirdingwithcamera) just last month. Andres Vasquez

This is a short video with awesome SLOW MO action of various Northern Andes bird species captured during my last couple tours in Ecuador and Colombia. Hope you enjoy it. Andres Vasquez N

I found a busy path in and out of a colony of Gentoo Penguins during my visit to Sea Lion Island as part of my recent Falkland islands BWC tour There are countless opportunities for bird photography and footage so any visitor can explore many different ways to capture photos or clips of the amazing wildlife of the island We stayed four nights at the amazing Sea Lion Lodge and had a blast!!! Andrés Vásquez N www.tropicalbirding.com

Today's efforts produced some of the most amazing birds of the Andes. Featured here are Andean Cock-of-the-rock and Ocellated Tapaculo, both seen on a single birding day staying in Ecuador, at the famed Tandayapa Bird Lodge Check our tours to Ecuador here: https://www.tropicalbirding.com/southamericaecuador Andres Vasquez N

Now some footage of the gorgeous Torrent Ducks we witnessed displaying along the Urubamba River in Machu Picchu during our Southern Peru Birding Tour (https://www.tropicalbirding.com/southamericaperumanuandmachupichu) Andres Vasquez N

Been dreaming about seeing Desert Rain Frog for over a decade now. Restricted to coastal dunes in far NW South Africa and S Nam. Wondering around the windy dunes outside Port Nolloth for 4 hours in the dark and the cold wasn’t always fun. But by golly goodness am I glad that I found the frog of all my dreams. A major target on the South Africa Enigmatic Wildlife Tour. https://www.tropicalbirding.com/africasouthenigmatictour Yes I kissed him. I turned into a frog!

Jaguar at Pantanal. Ask for our Brazil:Pantanal Photo Tour.

Northeast Brazil is loaded with endemics, many of which are unfortunately endangered, due to the destruction of much of the forest in the region. There are several cool antbirds and antwrens etc, but undoubtedly, the two stand-out beauties are the jaw-dropping white-and-scarlet Critically Endangered Araripe Manakin, with a global population in the low hundreds, and stunning Endangered big blue budgie, the Lear's (or Indigo) Macaw.

Heading back to Magee Marsh, and looking forward to the tranquility. What makes Tropical Birding different?

Jose sees red! When the guides get together to discuss color.

Ever wondered what the habitats were at the upper Tandayapa Valley, Ecuador? This short run-through should fill in the gaps. For a much higher resolution, follow the link in the comments, or take a look at this one.

I actually meant to add this video of slightly more intimidating Southern Elephant Seals. Charley Hesse