Today we had our security truck with us to accompany us and off we went. Apparently this is required when we are off the property in and around Port of Spain. We birded the roadway of the Asa Wright Property and then went down into the farm fields. Brenda took a morning off but Barbr and Peggy and I were game for the day and it was a hot morning already. Hot and sunny. Our guide wanted to start our day early and we did and after a 6 am breakfast we left Asa Wright at 6:30 am. We saw the Linneated Woodpecker and the Green Backed Trogan. We had good looks a the Hermit Hummingbird and the Grey Headed Kite. One special bird was the Rufous-browed Peppershrike. We had good looks at the bird but when I went to shoot my first photo of the day, I had the NO CARD message in the camera so no photo of this lovely bird.
We went through some farmlands and brush and these were busy places. Then we headed off back to the abandoned air strip and the Intech Park area. This time there were no parrots, it was a totally different time of day. We saw the Yellow-headed Caracara! Also the Moriche Oriole and the lovely and hard to see Ruby Topaz Hummingbird. It was really hot by this time and by 11:45 we headed back to Asa Wright for a late lunch.
After lunch some of us took a nap, others headed out on the trails here to explore. I did the Discovery Trail again and found the White-bearded Manekin lek active and the Bearded Bellbird calling. The White-bearded Manekins are tiny white and black fluff balls and make this popping corn sound when they are doing their elaborate mating display for the female watchers. They don't seem to be bothered by humans nearby if one is just quietly standing. It was great.
After this I went up up to the Bird Blind which was an adventure as the trail sort of disappears after about halfway up. I had put long pants on and my blundstone boots in the heat for this as in the tall grass there has chiggers and I had to bush wack my way to the blind. When I came back I went and talked with the administrator and told them there is no path really and someone should go up with a weed whacker to clear a path. The manager was surprised that anyone went up there. I got the Red-legged Honey Creeper up there so it was worth the hike up there.
When I walked by the security parking one of the staff pointed out a constrictor up in a bamboo tree.
Somehow this gives me the creeps; snakes in trees, I always thought snakes stayed on the ground or in their snake holes, not hanging around in trees. There there is that movie about snakes on planes.....
I finally saw the male Barred Antshrike from the verandah here this afternoon between tea time and rum punch time when we park ourselves after taking a shower. I take a shower as I have so much Deet on me (I am in shorts and sandals while birding, it is just too stinking hot otherwise). I have had no bites here. I have been looking for the Antshrike since seeing the female the first day here. Some of us went out for the night walk this evening as the temperature dropped a degree or two and it felt "fresher" but still muggy, but I like this kind of weather.
Barbr took some photos today which I have included and so did Brenda. Peggy went on the night walk with me and we saw a tarantula. Colleen, I am missing watching CNN nightly with you. There is NO TV here at all. Internet sort of works pretty good most times, so I should not complain.
The road through the hills is still pretty tricky in places but the minivan makes it through each time.
Barbr took this photo yesterday and the reality is the same today. There is just enough room for the minibus to drive over the work area with about a foot to spare, then there is just free air all the way down to the bottom of the valley, a long way away. We have an excellent driver and he takes it slow each time and we all hold our breath crossing the very narrow spots.
Having a great time!
Barbs, Brenda & Peggy
We went through some farmlands and brush and these were busy places. Then we headed off back to the abandoned air strip and the Intech Park area. This time there were no parrots, it was a totally different time of day. We saw the Yellow-headed Caracara! Also the Moriche Oriole and the lovely and hard to see Ruby Topaz Hummingbird. It was really hot by this time and by 11:45 we headed back to Asa Wright for a late lunch.
After lunch some of us took a nap, others headed out on the trails here to explore. I did the Discovery Trail again and found the White-bearded Manekin lek active and the Bearded Bellbird calling. The White-bearded Manekins are tiny white and black fluff balls and make this popping corn sound when they are doing their elaborate mating display for the female watchers. They don't seem to be bothered by humans nearby if one is just quietly standing. It was great.
After this I went up up to the Bird Blind which was an adventure as the trail sort of disappears after about halfway up. I had put long pants on and my blundstone boots in the heat for this as in the tall grass there has chiggers and I had to bush wack my way to the blind. When I came back I went and talked with the administrator and told them there is no path really and someone should go up with a weed whacker to clear a path. The manager was surprised that anyone went up there. I got the Red-legged Honey Creeper up there so it was worth the hike up there.
When I walked by the security parking one of the staff pointed out a constrictor up in a bamboo tree.
Somehow this gives me the creeps; snakes in trees, I always thought snakes stayed on the ground or in their snake holes, not hanging around in trees. There there is that movie about snakes on planes.....
I finally saw the male Barred Antshrike from the verandah here this afternoon between tea time and rum punch time when we park ourselves after taking a shower. I take a shower as I have so much Deet on me (I am in shorts and sandals while birding, it is just too stinking hot otherwise). I have had no bites here. I have been looking for the Antshrike since seeing the female the first day here. Some of us went out for the night walk this evening as the temperature dropped a degree or two and it felt "fresher" but still muggy, but I like this kind of weather.
Barbr took some photos today which I have included and so did Brenda. Peggy went on the night walk with me and we saw a tarantula. Colleen, I am missing watching CNN nightly with you. There is NO TV here at all. Internet sort of works pretty good most times, so I should not complain.
The road through the hills is still pretty tricky in places but the minivan makes it through each time.
Barbr took this photo yesterday and the reality is the same today. There is just enough room for the minibus to drive over the work area with about a foot to spare, then there is just free air all the way down to the bottom of the valley, a long way away. We have an excellent driver and he takes it slow each time and we all hold our breath crossing the very narrow spots.
Barbs, Brenda & Peggy
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