![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vlKksV9a7_F-Ajv2YMqIqGAo9IMNH0RbuiA9BEWAJ83RyrN48u5xFL_wGuKWYtLIUycW7syOfWkZ1pyPvfuIz4yvWut5GFS6wlAnyEmx0Ir0ZoUZcsswYJtuKurqlQOS4X3oW_QzucA1ODebnZPgHOtmzl=s0-d) |
Glossy flowerpiercer |
Beside a trail at Yanacocha Reserve, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano northwest of Quito, was a little pool of water, no more than a foot wide and a couple inches deep. It didn't look like much, but it was pretty popular with the local birds. I sat for a while, and within a few minutes a glossy flowerpiercer approached the pool, waded in, and had a bath.
Half an hour later, a masked flowerpiercer did the same.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tR8czgLlwzP3IPAvxur93C41Q1JJriXkljOkNSD00RfiFowbX_1sYvranHqS36LZzq_abdorszMhttDP-oGXNejOGDM7AIWkbAccgKo0AT0SaoAm25EvAP6qYF4YuIT2-IJEGIz3RpkqSKXh7PvA_3tjMbfA=s0-d) |
Masked flowerpiercer |
Over the next hour or so, two species of hummingbirds and an antpitta dropped by as well. The hummingbirds jumped right in, but the
antpitta was apparently a little more shy about bathing in public.
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s27TiM24yoJzEoAnxjo0d2S-9Umbn_OXBwcByoZGYZkQwvk4_LqlQ7uREuost3ZB-tnqnNRBs24p0OslAgXr-DMgvrpwm2_wPf3Gob16j9hgal-XiSeoMxVlgpncUC0Wcxfd03GwFVeU-nJjst6sCKWTuO5A=s0-d) |
Rainbow-bearded thornbill |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_siVazUiIyAdIJVb6RRJafvmkqVEMAE7t_TngVzcmgAw_PjHlZ3gAmoshf1kTzcUNWxxUNFKfrJuPeUnhFeaBOJr88S_GyfEl9ph0QDJdnPKiFoHO1zE_sGq84p7bqjCMUH90CNkDGumvhEWUqfJFwnC-d7yg=s0-d) |
Tyrian metal-tail |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u2LdVDsSFoBSb9DnVg3bMMhFyqwsQgl2_sY_Z_lZC5yQt3MWARQqz4HlosyyKugvt9mBAJ3CU1d78AZ5naMGyvh4IA3FbYFjej-25dgr6SLS03n9ffLH8WaiFlYIQvYfQLy_hsG-l6Vi88qZz7pzCqf5Nf6A=s0-d) |
Rufous antpitta |