Birding in Milpe, Ecuador: San Tadeo and San Jorge Milpe
Today was another transfer day as we moved from San Jorge Tandayapa down to San Jorge Milpe in northwest Ecuador.
To break up the drive, we stopped at San Tadeo Birding, another hummingbird photography spot along the way. When we first arrived, the main perches were surprisingly quiet, especially after what we had experienced the day before.
Rather than wait it out, we walked down to a second platform. We had it completely to ourselves.
Hummingbird Overload at San Tadeo Birding
Within minutes, we had more photographic subjects than we knew what to do with – velvet-purple coronets, booted racket-tails, and Green-crowned Brilliants.
It was sensory overload like the previous day. Hummingbirds were everywhere. If you held out a finger or pointed at something, there was a very real chance a hummingbird would land on you.
There were also plenty of long-tailed sylphs, which were quickly becoming one of our favourite hummingbirds to photograph.
By around 10 a.m., other groups started to arrive and the space filled up quickly. It was a good reminder of why having an experienced guide matters. Arriving at the right place at the right time can completely change the experience.
Arriving at San Jorge Milpe
We continued down to San Jorge Milpe, where the pattern by now felt familiar: decent highway followed by about 20 minutes on a bumpy dirt road, then a short walk from the drop-off point.
Once again, we were the only guests. The setting was different, though. Milpe sits at a lower elevation than Tandayapa, so it was warmer and the mix of birds had already begun to change.
When the Birds Interrupt Lunch
The main lodge area at San Jorge Milpe is spread across three levels, all positioned to overlook feeders and the surrounding vegetation.
It doesn’t take much to pull us away from a meal when something interesting shows up, and this was one of those moments.
This time it was Pink-faced parrots feeding in a nearby banana tree. Then a trogon. And then an aracari.
Photographing Hermit Hummingbirds at San Jorge Milpe
In the afternoon we set up for another multi-flash photography session. The heliconia flower held the nectar better, so the hummingbirds would often land. Work smarter not harder.
By this point, we had THOUSANDS of multi-flash hummingbird images, so we started experimenting with something different. We focused on capturing flying nectar droplets, more interesting wing positions, and even tried some high-key lighting.
We were slightly disappointed that we only had one night in Milpe, but I guess that just gives us an excuse to come back.
We’re Andy and Jennifer—two former corporate executives who chose long ago to prioritise experiences over stuff while pursuing our passions for travel and photography. From the Arctic to Antarctica, and most places in between, we’ve captured the world through our lenses and love sharing those stories. Our careers gave us the means, but our purpose is inspiring others to explore and helping people create images they’re proud of.
