[Tweeters] Ecuador - Napo Wildlife Center ... and Cape May, N.J.

[Jim Betz via Tweeters]

Hi all,

   Thanks for the -many- responses ... both on list and off ... to my 
request for
information about travel to Ecuador for birding in the Napo area. They are
valuable.
   My summary of the responses is "Just Go!" ... be careful (Ecuador is 
not the
safest country in the world) but if you take reasonable care you will be 
fine.
And - everyone who has been to Ecuador for birding says "one of the best"
in terms of the overall experience and the birds and other wildlife 
seen.  And
Ecuador is one of the places where you can experience the Amazon RainForest.
   We have not been to South America and are still 'making up our mind' 
about
where we will go in 2026.

   BTW - I recently returned from an unguided birding week in Cape May, N.J.
Since I had been there on a guided tour just the previous fall we went 
without a
guide and that worked out well.  We actually had a guide for the first 
day only -
just to get re-oriented and 'the latest scoop'.  The weather this year 
didn't
cooperate as well as last year where we had sun every day - while this 
year it
was mostly heavy overcast with a few bright spots but not every day.  
And the
migration was just ramping up the week we were there - "we just need a good
Noreaster to push the birds this far South".
   Still the trip was well worth it.  Cape May is a -very- "birding 
friendly place".
With lots of birding related trails and locations.  If you go do not 
miss the
boat trip on the "Osprey" - the owner/operator is very good at what he does
and puts you "on the birds" (we also went on the same boat last year).

   Saw my FOF Short-Eared Owl - at the East 90 - last week.  Many reports by
others.  My wife saw some Snows (but I'm a miss ... so far).  There even
seem to be a few swans here in Skagit.  The White Birds of Winter are here!

                                            - Jim in Skagit