Flora and Fauna in the Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve Ecuador
In the Cloud Forest there was about a half hour per day when you could see out. Before the mist rose from the forest and the cloud descended to meet it.
While cycle touring in Ecuador we decided to head 52 km north of Quito, up into the Pichincha Provence in the Andes where we had heard there was an amazing reclaimed Cloud Forest in the Bellavista Reserve. Back in 1991 a husband and wife team, Gloria from Colombia and Richard from the UK bought 57 hectares and let it revert naturally to Cloud Forest. Today they are protecting over 700 hectares of Cloud Forest that has an amazing biodiversity of flora and fauna. Typically Cloud Forest is between 900 – 2500 m high.
As we cycled up from Quito, initially the land was farmed, with green fields as far as we could see.As we cycled higher and criss-crossed over the Equator, it got steadily more forested and much wetterUntil we reached one of the few remaining areas of Cloud Forest in Ecuador, the Bellavista Reserve where we stayed for a couple of days and spent time having guided walks through the forest surrounded by Humming Birds and Orchids. Below are some of the Flora and Fauna that we found.This flowering climber is Bomarea pardina cf. AlstroemeriaceaeOur walking guide. This shows the size of the Bomarea pardina cf Alstroemeriaceae flowersSome of the many Orchids we saw. Maxillaria OrchidaceaeWe were staying in a tree house, and when I woke up on our first morning I looked out of the window and this fellow was staring in at me. Masked Trogon, Trogon personatus.As we had struggled up the mountainside on our bikes to reach this part of the cloud forest I had thought I was beginning to hear things in my exhausted state, as it sounded like giant mosquitoes were buzzing around my head. It turned out they were humming birds. There are so many different types here. This one, Booted Racket-tail Hummingbird, Ocreatus underwoodii has amazing white fluffy legs as its name implies.Another beautiful climber whose name I have not been able to findThis weird looking plant, with flowers down the center is Columnea densibracteata Gesneriaceae. The brightly coloured underside of the leaves are thought to act as an additional signal to attract pollinators.A close up of the flowers in the center of Columnea densibracteata GesneriaceaeOne of the many orchids, Epidendrum Orchidaceae, dripping water in the constant cloudThis dramatic tree is Cecropia Cecropiceae. The name Cecropia is derived from the ancient Greek which means face with a tail which refers to the mythical first king of AthensAnother Cecropia Cecropiceae viewed across the Cloud filled valleyOf course with all this lush greenery around there are plenty of caterpillars around to eat it.Blue Wing Mountain Tanager, Anisognathus somptuosus All the trees were dripping with Bromeliads and epiphytes Such as this one, Mesobromelia lymansmidii, BromeliaceaeThe orchids came in all shapes and sizes. This one, Pleurothallis, Orchidaceae, was attached to the back of this leaf, and we would never have seen it without the knowledge of our guide.Another Pleurothallis, Orchidaceae. This one slightly larger and attached to the front of a leaf.Being so wet there were no shortage of frogs. This was a Rain Frog, Pristimantis sp. StrabomantidaeThis strange looking plant is Alloplectus GesneriaceaeThe highly toxic but sweet smelling Brugmansia arborea, Solanaceae or Angels Trumpet. Brugmansia sanguinea, Solanaceae. Angles Trumpet. This is one of the most toxic plants, being related to Deadly nightshade. It is the source of entheogen which has been used for shamanic purposes by the South American Indians for millennia. There are stories that in ancient times the Indians gave this to very naughty children so that they could go and be told off by their ancestors.Centropogon, Campanulaceae, BellflowerThis Spanish name of this is Dedo de bruja Iochroma, Solanoideae, and it does look like fingersPeople often have Anthurium’s as house plants. This Flamingo plant, Anthurium sp has grown to an amazing size.Helicona burleana Heliconiaceae. Many of the Heliconiaceae are now considered vulnerable, and on the threatened species list.Macleania bullata, Ericaceae, this is a member of the Blueberry family. In the cloud forest it can grow as an epiphyte, but it can also grow in the soil in drier areas.Masked Flowerpiercer, Diglossopis cyanea a species of the tanager family, Thraupidae. They get their name from the sharp hook on their upper manible which they use to slice open the base of flowers to get at the nectar.The pretty but stinging Nasa aequatoriana, LoasaceaeOn our first evening at Bellavista we were lucky enough to see this Olinguito bassaricyon neblina, a species of mammal only descovered in 2013. It is related to the Racoon and it totally arborial, living on fruit. Orchidaeae. A lovely hanging plant with delicate yellow flowersSome of delicate yellow flowers of the orchid above, Orchidaceae.Orchidaceae. The orchids came in all shapes, colours and sizesWith so much moisture the trees and any structure was dripping in mosses and lichensThe dense cloud forest was full of tree fernsThere were a fair number of tiny creatures scuttering around in the undergrowthand all manner of fungi popping up in different sizes and coloursAn unfurling fern frondTillandsia truncata, Bromeliaceae. This species is endemic to EcuadorTillandsia truncata. Bromeliaceae. A closer look at the amazing flowers on this Bromeliad.Ferns and mosses in abundance on the forest floorDoesn’t it have amazing markingsOne of the many climbers I have been unable to identify, but very prettyAgain, I don’t know what this wonderful plant is.This strange looking long, knobbly plant is part of a Pepper Vine, Piper Pipercaceae. I am not sure about the orange flowers in the foreground.Psammisia sodiroi, EricaceaeRain Frog, Pristimantis sp Strabomantidae, with lovely golden rims around its eyes, and yellow toesEtlengera elatior, Zingiberaceae. Torch GingerRenealmia aurantifera, Zingiberaceae a rare member of the Ginger familyThunbergia alata, Acanthaceae or better known as Black Eyed Susan.We can across this little fellow just as we were cycling away from the Cloud Forest. He didn’t take much notice of us. It wasn’t until we saw the mass deforestation in the rest of Ecuador that we really appreciated just how special the Bellavista Cloud Reserve really was.
Definitely going to follow your blog!