Allen Chartier

 A few orchids were seen in the Bellavista area, including species of Epidendrum, and Elleanthus. Many additional species of plants were found, a few of which are identified below.

Fiery Reed Orchid (Epidendrum ibaguense)
The common bright red and orange orchid along the Chiriboga Road.

Poor-man's Umbrella (Gunnera sp.) were common at Bellavista and along the lower Chiriboga Road.

Silver-leafed Cecropia (Cecropia sp.) Was noted at around 6000' elevation, at the border of the Temperate and Subtropical zones, where it is an indicator species.

Cecropia (Cecropia peltata)
The common Cecropia tree seen at Sacha.

Paramo Grass (Stipa ichu)
The common grass in the higher areas of Paramo along the Papallacta Road and in Cotopaxi NP.

Mountain Bamboo (Chusquea uniflora)
One of the species found in the Andes.

Lowland Bamboo (Bambusa quadua)
One of the species found at Sacha.

Puya (Puya hamata)
Seen in the high paramo, where it is an indicator species. Found along the Papallacta Road and in Cotopaxi NP.

Mauritia Palm (Mauritia flexuosa)
Probably the common palm of the palm swamp along the boardwalk at Sacha.

Polylepis (Polylepis incana)
Seen along the Papallacta Road where we tried to tape in the Giant Conebills.

Datura tree (Datura arborea)
Seen near the town of Papallacta with their large, dangling white flowers.

Datura tree (Datura sanguinea)
The trees with the large dangling red and yellow flowers in Papallacta where we waited (unsuccesfully) for the Sword-billed Hummingbird.

Ceiba or Kapok (Ceiba pentandra)
The large tree that the canopy tower was built on at Sacha.

Lupine (Lupinus pubescens)
The common blue lupine at higher elevations in the Andes.

Paramo Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja pumila)
The common indian paintbrush at higher elevations in the Andes.

Paramo Sunflower (Culcitum reflexuum)
The common yellow sunflower along the roadsides at higher elevations such as the Papallacta Road, Chiriboga Road, and Cotopaxi NP.

Calceolaria (Calceolaria crenata)
The plant with the small, yellow, pouch-like flowers in the higher elevations.

Gentian (Gentianella diffusa)
Seen in the high paramo of the Papallacta Road and Cotopaxi NP.

Green Gentian (Halenia meyeri)
A small green-flowered gentian that was common at Cotopaxi NP. Very similar to a Michigan species, the Spurred Gentian (Halenia deflexa).

Caligo memnon 
The large owl-butterfly seen a couple of times along the trails at Sacha.

Siproeta stelenes (Malachite) 
Seen in the forest around Sacha.

Anartia fatima (Brown Peacock) 
Seen in open areas in the forest around Sacha.

Biblis hyperica 
A medium-sized black species with a red band on the hindwing.

Dryas julia 
The long-winged orange species along the trails at Sacha.

Pierella rhea 
The brown species with the dark blue hindwings at Sacha.

Morpho peleides 
Several in the forest at Sacha.

Heliconia sp. 
Several species in the forest at Sacha.

Ithomia sp. 
Many individuals, of more than one species in this genus of clear-winged butterflies, encountered in forested areas around Sacha.

Diaethria sp. 
A species of "88" butterfly seen on the boat dock at Sacha.

Dismorphia sp. 
A couple of species seen along the trails at Sacha.

Urania fulgens (Urania moth)
Several of these spectacular moths were seen flying over the Napo River on our trips along it.

A large (3-4") black Long-horned Beetle (family Cerambycidae, possibly Genus Psalidognathus) was found at Bellavista Lodge.  PHOTO

A large aggregation of shiny blue beetles was seen on a Gunnera along the lower Chiriboga Road.  PHOTO

Many species of frogs were heard calling in the Sacha area, but were not seen so remain unidentified. There was a "whooping" frog that was probably Leptodactylus pentadactylus. A dull colored species of poison-arrow frog (Dendrobates femoralis) was heard calling in the forest at Sacha. Another frog giving a weird call was heard at Bellavista.

 Several small skinks were seen in the leaf litter along the trails at Sacha, and a species of Anole (possibly Norops species) was captured by a White-fronted Nunbird on the canopy tower, and another was captured by Allen along the boardwalk as we departed.

A total of 406 species was recorded, with many participants finding 250+ life birds, and one person with 350+ lifers! Allen found 28 life birds. A good total of 225 species was recorded at Sacha Lodge.

The list of birds is too extensive to display on this page.  Click here to view the bird list and links to bird photos.

Fishing Bat (Noctilio leporinus) [1]
One seen briefly frrom the boat dock on the lake at Sacha.

Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) [3]
Seen well along the river trail at Sacha.

Saddleback Tamarin (Sanguinus fuscicollis) [5]
Seen briefly along the terra firme trails at Sacha.

Dusky Titi Monkey (Callicebus moloch) [2h]
Heard once from our cabins and once from the beach at Sacha.

Common Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri sciurius) [15]
Seen on three separate occasions on three days along the trails at Sacha.

Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta seniculus) [5]
Heard from the tower in the morning, then seen in the scope from the tower in another afternoon. Also heard along the terra firme trails at Sacha.

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) [2]
Seen at Cotopaxi NP. Widespread in South America.

Northern Amazon Red Squirrel (Sciurus igniventris) [2]
Seen along the terra firme trails at Sacha.

Squirrel sp. (Microsciurus sp.?) [1]
Seen on the road at Bellavista.

Black Agouti (Dasyprocta fuliginosa) [1]
Seen by Jennifer from the boardwalks at Sacha Lodge before breakfast one morning.

Forest Rabbit (Sylvilagus brasiliensis) [6]
There is currently only one species of rabbit known from South America. This species is generally found in lowlands, but we saw them at high elevations of Yanacocha, the Papallacta Road, and Cotopaxi NP. Rabbits in South America have been little studied, and it is possible that more than one species may eventually be recognized.