N. Ecuador 2009: Sacha Lodge, Rio Napo.

Orquidea Channel, Sacha Lodge.

Poison Frog, Sacha Lodge.

Metal Canopy Walkway, Sacha Lodge.

Lowland Amazonian Rainforest canopy from the walkway.

Wooden Observation Tower, Sacha Lodge.

Purple-throated Fruitcrow (male) from the Wooden Tower, Sacha Lodge.

Male Gilded Barbet from the Wooden Tower, Sacha Lodge.

Canopy platform watching in the Amazon involves a lot of patience. Invariably it pays off though with cracking views of birds normally identifiable by the colour of their underparts, vocalisations or behaviour. The two towers at Sacha offer plenty of variety. The Wooden Tower can be accessed along the Orquidea Channel or by trails. The former route is preferred by most guides here offering the opportunity to see Green-and-Rufous Kingfisher, Undulated Antshrike and usually Orange-crested Manakin (the latter surprisingly absent during our visit this year). In past years the Metal Walkway has been superior to the wooden one but in January the wooden structure was outstanding with Cinnamon Attilas, Purple-throated Fruitcrows, Purple-throated Cotinga, Spangled Cotinga, Gilded Barbet, Cream-coloured Woodpeckers and Golden-collared Toucanets all at close quarters. In contrast the Metal Walkway was poor this year although we were seriously affected by rain during the morning of our visit. My only Crested Eagle sighting comes from here as well as Purplish Jacamar, Collared, Pied and White-necked Puffbirds, Black-headed Parrots, White-browed Purpletufts as well as many roving canopy feeding flock species.