Many of the antpitta species have incredible vocal abilities, and the rufous antpitta is one of those. They live in dense forests where the reach of sound is severely limited by the dense vegetation. Thus is must deliver sound waves reaching far and wide. Yet, as with many species, it also have tender, mellow and […]
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
Altitude 3400 metres.
I only found this clutch of this species alongside the dirt road on my way back to Quito from Yanacocha. Altitude 3400 metres.
I only found this clutch of this species alongside the dirt road on my way back to Quito from Yanacocha. Altitude 3400 metres.
At this time of the day the sun is high in the sky and should have warmed up the landscape. Instead the clouds are flowing thick and moist, filtering out most of the light. Altitude 3560 metres.
The female. It sounds like this: Altitude 3560 metres.
It sounds like this: Altitude 3560 metres.
This individual was quite predictable, as it kept coming back to this branch – in what seemed like a display of peekaboo. With bright colors and a blood red iris to match, it was definitely seen out on the branch, and when business was done – drinking from the hummingbird feeders – it hid in […]
It sounds like this: Altitude 3560 metres.
Yanacocha has recently succeeded in domesticating the Rufous Antpitta, something my guide was unaware of the first time we went to this reserve in November. Luckily I wanted to go back to fill idle time in Quito before my departure back to Europe in December. I was photographing only 20 metres away and still did […]
A rare glimpse of the Pichincha Volcano (4784 metres high) which is mostly hidden in dense clouds. It was a very cold morning and I was eagerly awaiting the sun to reach the ground and my cold body. In Yanacocha that does not happen until much later in the morning as the steep slopes are […]
It not only resembles a lily, but is a lily. It’s a strong and vital plant, no wonder it’s popular as a cut flower.
This wonderful flower grows commonly along the main path in Yanacocha. This family is also found in almost every florist across the world.
Pleurothallis orchids are unusual in that the flower seems to grow straight out of the leaf.
I found 2 groups of two species of Pleurothallis. The other one had an even darker brown color, but unfortunately I did not photograph it. Both are located at the beginning of the main trail/road in Yanachocha.
Older flowers reddens and bend downwards.
A large and conspicuous flower on a rather hostile plant! It’s tempting to touch the large flower, but doing so will most likely result in a painful sting like a nettle. The plant is full of large stinging hairs. Enjoy at a distance or with gloves!
The stinging hairs are not easily seen on the face of the leaf, but they are there! It’s the dark ones. On the underside and the stem the really large ones are clearly visible on the new unfolding leaves.
Many flowers protect themselves from the cold nights at these altitudes (this is at 3500 m elevation) and appears furry and soft.
This is a small raspberry-like plant at 3500 meter elevation in the Yanacocha reserve just northwest of Quito.
This is a small raspberry-like plant at 3500 meter elevation in the Yanacocha reserve just northwest of Quito.
This is a small raspberry-like plant at 3500 meter elevation in the Yanacocha reserve just northwest of Quito. Not yet ripe, so I didn’t pick to taste. Wonder what it tastes like when it’s soft and ripe?
The long hairs collect the moisture from the clouds softly passing over them and slowly accumulates into a large drop seen here.
Grows widespread along the path in the park.
In Yanacocha and elsewhere on this high elevation (3564 m) there are several species of Geranium – most are small like this one.
Unmistakebly Geranium. This plant is small here at 3564 m elevation – less than 10 cm.
