Potoos in the Pissing Rain… (Tapichalaca, Ecuador): 13 February 2009

After a quick foray downslope to Valladolid to pick up a Maranon Thrush, Yellow-cheeked Becard and a couple of Silver-backed Tanagers, Stuart and I took a late afternoon hike up a forest trail in the reserve for a special nightbird. We were extremely fortunate on the way up to run into a cracking White-capped Tanager, a large bird that sounds and appears more like a jay than a tanager. As we reached the spot on the trail we needed right on dusk the rain started to sprinkle down on us and I wondered if this would blow it for us, although just minutes later our local man Franco gestured towards a close fence line where an Andean Potoo sat brazenly in front of us hawking for insects on the wing every so often. Franco waved over to it and indicated the bird would not mind. Once I had arrived within just a few meters of this cryptic night bird I started to believe him! A great end to a great day in Tapichalaca.