Bioexpeditions

15/08/2024

We go beyond tourism, we create long lasting impacts that contribute to heal our environment and to restore the lifes of local people.
Here is the story of Sandra Morocho Yuxi local guide and founder of Birdwatchers Valle del Quijos creating change one tree at the time.

🌟 A Pair of BINOCULARS with a Big IMPACT! 🌟

In 2014, Sandra Morocho Yuxi won the Digiscoper of the Year competition by SWAROVSKI OPTIK Birding with a stunning photo of a juvenile Swallow Tanager. The prize? A pair of binoculars that would change her life and her community.

By 2021, these binoculars became a vital tool for over 60 locals in the Amazon of Ecuador, igniting a passion for nature through birdwatching workshops. This shared love for birds led to the creation of Birdwatchers Valle del Quijos in 2022, dedicated to conservation and reforestation.

Now, in 2024, Sandra shares her incredible journey in a podcast. From a single pair of binoculars to a community movement, discover how one gift transformed many lives.

🎧 Listen to the podcast ➡️ https://casualbirder.com/episode133 !

24/07/2024

Finding familiar faces is always a joy. 😊
Over the past 15 years of guiding in Ecuador, I've had the honor of meeting some truly wonderful people. It was heartwarming to see some of them again at the Global Birdfair, bringing back such lovely memories.

18/06/2024

Compartimos la alegría de representar al Valle del Quijos en lo que será la Global Birdfair 2024 Rutland, Reino Unido.

11/06/2024

One of the best destinations for Birdwatching in Ecuador. Our homeland!

The Quijos Valley, the hidden gem for nature lovers in

We are located in the eastern slopes of Ecuador in the Napo province, rigth in between the Andes mountains and the Amazon Region. From 4000 to 1600 meters above sea level.
This range of elevations make up for an incredible biodiversity within short distances.

In just 30 minutes, you can find yourself in a completely different habitat, discovering new and unique bird species.

Here a map with our Birding hotspots.



Text & Maps: Sandra Morocho Yuxi

03/06/2024

📸 European Robin - Rotkehlchen - Erithacus rubecula
📍 Tenerife, Spain 🇪🇸 Feb, 2024

23/05/2024

We share a great book by Dave R. Imman who visited Ecuador in order to photograph unique landscapes of our country.
He visited also our favorite destination in Ecuador, -the Quijos Valley- and captured its beauty on pages 144 to 154.
The Quijos Valley the hidden gem for nature lovers in Ecuador.

Photos from a trip to the Ecuador highlands ... Quito, Cuenca, volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, and more

22/05/2024

Birder shot!
📍 Tenerife, Spain 🇪🇸

20/05/2024

Today from the darkness....
Want to see it?
📸 Oilbird / Steatornis caripensis
📍 De Los Tayos 🇪🇨 Eastern andean slopes

20/05/2024

📸 Mouse-colored Thistletail - Asthenes griseomurina
📍 Parque Nacional Cajas 🇪🇨 Andes

20/05/2024

Aunque no siempre las fotos me salen como desearía, muchas veces el intentar deja lindos recuerdos. Aquí un Thistletail haciendo de acróbata en los arbustos andinos. Nótese la habilidad con la que enfrenta el viento en búsqueda de alimento.

📸 Mouse-colored Thistletail - Asthenes griseomurina
📍 Parque Nacional Cajas 🇪🇨 Andes

07/05/2024

ÚNETE AL EQUIPO ECUADOR en el Global Big Day, el Valle del Quijos presente en este evento mundial de observación de aves. Sábado 11 de mayo 2024.
Tienes varias rutas para elegir, los contactos de cada ruta están en cada imaagen.
NO FALTES!

06/05/2024

Feliz semana, a disfrutar de las cosas simples de la vida. Como este lindo polluelo del Gorrión que todos conocemos. Con qué otro nombre lo conoces?

📸 Chingolito - Rufous-collared Sparrow DE. Die Morgenammer (Zonotrichia capensis)
📍 Posada Campo Libre 🇪🇨 Eastern Andes slopes.

05/05/2024

Sentada en una mora silvestre espera su turno antes de visitar la siguiente flor.

📸 Chaetocercus heliodor - Der Prachtkehlelfe -(Gorgeted woodstar)
📍 Posada Campo Libre 🇪🇨 Eastern Andes slopes.


EN: Sitting on a wild berry she waits her turn before visiting the next flower.

EN: Sitzt auf einer wilden Beere, wartet darauf zur nächsten Blume zu besuchen.

02/05/2024

This friend came close to us while walking around Laguna Toreadora, it was very curious.
📸 Chestnut-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes albidiventris
📍 Ecuador 🇪🇨 Parque Nacional El Cajas

02/05/2024

She is so photogenic! We think she looks like a Potatoe with legs. This photo confirms our theory 😉
📸Tawny Antpitta (Grallaria quitensis)
📍 Ecuador 🇪🇨 Parque Nacional El Cajas

01/05/2024

Birders listen up!! The Dacnis enters the show from Ecuador. Have you seen it yet?
📸Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina)
📍 Ecuador 🇪🇨 Parque Nacional El Cajas

30/04/2024

🐤 The Blue-mantled Thornbill (Chalcostigma stanleyi) is a species so unique living in higher elevations
🔴 Its bright throath adorns the this amazig hotspot.
🚨 Sadly, due to accelerating native habitat loss, this hummingbird and other species are in danger.
📷 Sandra Morocho

29/04/2024

Exploring on of the most amaazing National Parks in Ecuador.
📸 Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant
📍 Ecuador 🇪🇨 Parque Nacional Cajas

27/04/2024

📸 Many-striped Many-striped - Asthenes flammulata
📍 Ecuador 🇪🇨 Parque Nacional Cajas

20/04/2024

Talking about big woodpeckers.
📸Powerful Woodpecker - Zimtbindenspecht - Campephilus pollens ♀
📍 Mindo Loma - Ecuador 🇪🇨

19/04/2024

A baby of the mysterious Potoo of the Andes rests in a Guarumo tree that serves as its home and camouflage.
📸 Andean Potoo - Nyctibius maculosus
📍 Cosanga 🇪🇨

18/04/2024

Another beauty of the Northwest of Ecuador
📸 Brown Inca - Coeligena wilsoni
📍 Mindo Loma - Ecuador 🇪🇨

17/04/2024

Look at this beak - Schauen Sie diesen Schnabel
📸 Rusty Flowerpiercing
📍 Campo Libre Ecuador 🇪🇨

16/04/2024

A typical flowerpiercers bill with a hook at the tip, ready for lunch.
📸 White-sided Flowerpiercer Diglossa albilatera
📍 Mindo Loma - Ecuador 🇪🇨

15/04/2024

Ready to photograph this nice Tanager? 😉
📸 Flame-faced Tanager - Rotstirntangare - Tangara parzudakii
📍 Loma - Ecuador 🇪🇨

14/04/2024

📸Powerful Woodpecker - Zimtbindenspecht - Campephilus pollens ♀
📍 Mindo Loma - Ecuador 🇪🇨

14/04/2024

Deténgase y disfrute la belleza de la vida
Stop and enjoy the beauty of life.
Halten Sie inne und genießen sie die Schönheit des Leben.

📸Colibrí Herrero - Sparkling violetear - Glanz-Veilchenohrkolibri - Colibri coruscans
📍 Posada Campo Libre - Ecuador 🇪🇨

13/04/2024

No cosecharemos la Yuca, tiene nuevo dueño 😉
📸Smoky-brown Woodpecker – Dryobates fumigatus
📍 Posada Campo Libre Ecuador 🇪🇨

We planted this Yuca thinking to one day harvest and eat it in a delicious traditional recipe. What we did not know is that years later, we would change our minds because this plant became part of the favorite perch for this elegant little friend.
📸Smoky-brown Woodpecker – Dryobates fumigatus
📍 Posada Campo Libre Ecuador 🇪🇨

Photo by: Sandra Morocho

31/03/2024

Posada Campo Libre

17/03/2024

Please help me to give a tittle to the photo
📸Tit-like Dacnis (Xenodacnis parina)
📍 Ecuador 🇪🇨 Parque Nacional El Cajas