The Bristol Bird Club has arranged for a birding/wildlife expedition to the Andean Mountains of Ecuador in July of 2008. Only 10-15 members can be accomodated on this trip. For the first month, we will only allow BBC members and families to sign up. After the one month introductory period, we will open it to TOS members and the general public. It, therefore, is important to make your reservation early. For more information and reservation forms, either contact me, Dr. John Moyle, by email (jpmoyle18@xxxxxxx) or by regular mail at 4027 Glen Alpine Road, Kingsport, TN 37660. The trip will run from July 12 through July 22. We will fly into and out of Quito, the capitol. The cost for the trip will be $1995 and include meals and lodging, local guides and transportation within Ecuador. Transportation to Ecuador will be on your own. I will be flying out of Knoxville and the cost will be $895. The advantage of non-group fares is freedom to choose your airport and carrier, date of departure from and arrival at home, and you may use frequent flier miles if you have them. In Ecuador, we will visit a variety of habitats including high montane cloud forest, pre-montane cloud forest, paramo, agricultural areas, mountain stream valleys and eastern slope subtropical cloud forest. A sampling of possible sightings includes Green-tailed Trainbearer, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Toucan Barbet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Flame-faced tanager, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Giant Antpitta, Choco Toucan, Club-winged Manakin, Andean Emerald, Bronze-winged Parrot, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Carunculated Caracara, Torrent Ducks, Silvery Grebe, Rufous-banded Owls, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Powerful Woodpecker, Andean Potoo and Andean Condor. All of these against a background of moss-draped trees, bromeliads and tree-ferns or grassy paramo. We will have great vistas of the high Andes, valleys of cloud forest and high elevation towns and farms of the Ecuadorean people. Quito, itself, is a beautiful Spanish-style city with fabulous churches and squares. It will be a wonderful trip at a great price. Join us for a great birding and general wildlife experience! ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com