...and evenings with Sea Turtles!

As I mentioned in my last post, the day had already been made following the stellar morning with the Pawi's, but the staff at Asa Wright wanted to push my over the edge apparently and had another fabulous life experience in store for me that same evening.....





My companions and I were driven to the scenic seaside village of Matura, (as the sign reads) "Home of the Leatherback Turtle"! Sometimes in life you never know where hype ends and reality begins, and being a cynic by nature I often enter situations with lower expectations when heading toward a great unknown. It was unknown because I'd done a bunch of research on birds and birding trips in the months prior to the trip, but I hadn't noted much regarding the other wildlife in the region. In addition, I found almost no summer birding reports for the area, so I was hoping we may see a Turtle but again wasn't holding my breath.

sundown @ the entrance to Matura's beach, Leica V-Lux camera

As we were just finishing a marvelous picnic meal at the pavillion at the entrance to the beach at Matura. A rainbow arched across the sky falling on the nearshore waters. A pot of gold perhaps?!?... or maybe a Turtle just waiting for darkness to fall.

female Magnificent Frigatebird, digiscoped Trinidad, July 2008

As I scanned the horizon I saw numerous Vultures and Magnificent Frigatebirds coursing up and down the beaches. Soon I began noticing that one after another these birds passing the trail from left to right (as seen in the rainbowed image above) were all carrying small ovate disks... "Holy hell!" I thought, "...they had baby turtles!" I hollered to the rest of our crew and we hurriedly made our way down the beach to where a large mass of Black Vultures were scrapping of the tiny hatchlings. I know nature has to take its course and all, but Vultures aren't endangered and would as surely pick through a garbage dump. Baby Leatherbacks are a rare commodity, plus their babies... we couldn't help but chase the vultures off and then searched the area for survivors.

one of the casualties of a daylight hatch!

Here and there scattered amidst the vultures tracks at the scene of the crime were a few carcasses of those we hadn't been quick enough to help, but within moments additional hatchlings began emerging from the sand.

3 freshly emerged Leatherback Turtle hatchlings spared from the vultures

We stood our ground as the daylight waned, insuring these last few turtles made it at least as far as the surf.

After emerging the long crawl began first came the "downhill slide" where the beach dropped steeply (for a 2" long turtle at least) from the higher dunes to the transitional area of the littoral zone....

Then they worked their way through the hightide line littered with algae and debris like the water bottle above....

Leatherback baby making tracks, Leica V-Lux camera

The trek to the water was long and arduous for these little critters and it took them >10 minutes to "flip" their way down the beach. I couldn't help but smirk at their comic nature. They hardly seemed real moving in stiff jerks with each flipper stroke, almost like some cheap wind up toy!

2 Leatherback Turtles finally reach the water, July 2008

Upon finally reaching the water, the exhausted turtlettes would get spun around by the first wave, having to quickly regroup and catch as much of the retreating waters as possible with their (comparatively) large flippers...

Upon catching the 2nd wave though that was typically enough to drag them out of sight into the murky depths of the water now shrouded in darkness.

a Leatherback Returns, Matura, Trinidad July 2008

After watching two groups of hatchlings "swim" across the sands and reach the ocean our guides said, "Now we need to find an adult..." There was one we'd seen who like the early hatchlings hadn't survived the process. It can be a gruelling process dragging an enormous many-hundred pound carapace through sand and clearly not all lived to tell the tale. The turtle carcass above had been here for a few weeks apparently.

adult female Leatherback Turtle, Matura, Trinidad July 2008

Biologists were already on the scene and were walking up and down the beaches searching for adult females coming up to lay eggs. I listened intently to the information we were given as we joined them on a patrol up the beach. I was so interested in the life history information and the descriptions of the studies, that it almost didn't register when he said, "Ahh, here's one now..."

female Leatherback Turtle lays a clutch of eggs

She had been digging for a while apparently when we approached with no lights save the dim green filtered light carried by our biologist & guide. He mentioned how the hole was almost as deep as her hind flippers were long as she deftly scooped sand out with alternating strokes. wasting no time our biologist was dutifully scribing notes, noting tag numbers, and implanted microchips, taking measurements of the length & width of the carapace, while constantly educating us about what was happening, what was coming up, and who this girl was. "She likely weighs close to 900 pounds from her size... she was first tagged at this beach 13 years ago... she will begin laying very soon now that the hole is nearly dug..." He explained further that when this begins they enter a near hypnotic state where they are oblivious to their surroundings. At this point, we can turn on our flashlights and take flash photos quickly, until she has completed the task.

Not wanting to disappoint and eager to capture some digital memories of this spectacular event, I rattled away in the short period we had with flash and flashlights, preserving some fantastic memories while trying to also capture the wonderful gems of knowledge our guide was providing. He explained how the eggs were soft-shelled (the size of a ping-pong ball perhaps) and that the occasional smaller ones (note the two just below the tail tip above) contained only air. These were believed to be "fillers" and provided some extra spaces I believe for the hatchlings... As I said I was multitasking and only catching some phrases so if anyone out there can add more or correct me please submit a comment!

female Leatherback Turtle, Matura, Trinidad, Leica V-Lux camera, July 2008

Then in a flash (or two or three) it was over and lights were turned off. We watched as this old gal back filled the hole and patted it down trying to camouflage the signs of excavation. I imagined that this old pro had been doing this same routine at this same beach for at least 13 years, and as our guide explained he had walked this same stretch of beach every night of every nesting season since the project began. It was great that these two "old friends" let me monopolize their meeting seeing as how they only get to see each other once a year. I felt privileged and elated, and couldn't imagine having any more wildlife adventures on this night. With memories preserved, I went to bed exhausted but happy!

BTW - while this isn't exactly a great digiscoping op, the 2009 Leica Digiscoping Workshop naturally includes an evening trip to the magical beaches of Matura! for more information see:

www.caligo.com/trinidad

A morning with Pawis!

Flashback to Trinidad.... Well I've already posted a bunch of stuff about my now long gone by trip to Trinidad in July, but I still haven't written about perhaps my most memorable day (and night) that I enjoyed while there.

the wonderfully wild Blanchiseusse Road

The morning started early with a short drive up hill from our headquarters at Asa Wright lodge in Trinidad. This scenic road climbs up and over the northern range toward quaint seaside towns like Blanchiseusse but for now we weren't going too far. Once again, I was impressed by the extent of bird habitat throughout this area!

another view from the Blanchiseusse Road in Trinidad's Northern Range

... and the scenery up here is nothing to sneeze at either! Of course all of this was the icing on the cake, I had another specific goal in mind on this day. I had high hopes of seeing Trinidad's only endemic bird. A species locals call Pawi, known to ornithologists as Pipile pipile, and that visiting birders refer to as the Trinidad Piping Guan.

the sign says it all... a conservation billboard sponsored by Asa Wright & local gov't

Birders visiting as recently as a decade ago had almost no hope of seeing this spectacular specialty bird. Their numbers had dropped so dramatically that only a handful were known to occur and they were rarely (if ever) seen in remote forests to the extreme NE corner of the island.

Guans, are like big turkeys that feed in the canopy not surprisingly they taste good! ;p Facing critically low numbers, Asa Wright partnered with the Forestry Department of Trinidad and started a public education campaign using roadside billboards like the one seen above and other means of outreach to attempt to save the Pawi years ago. These programs have proven successful as my initial impression was that seeing Pawi was a mere pipe dream, yet I now know this is a reality. Especially once I realized they sometimes see these within a short 20 minute drive of the center. I was thrilled!

Blue-black Grassquit digiscoped with Leica APO Televid scope & C-Lux 2 camera

We completed the short drive to a high area near the center as first light broke. We parked at a clearing and stepped out as the birds were first waking up. There were large numbers of the ubiquitous Palm Tanagers here, a Long-billed Gnatwren called, Gray-breasted Martins sailed overhead, and Scaled Pigeons perched up to soak in the first rays of light. A Blue-black Grassquit was displaying and doing its short "jump up" display here as well.

As I continued down the trail I turned my attention back toward the task at hand and began searching for a familiar shape I'd seen throughout the American tropics, the unmistakable shape of a guan! I hadn't walked very far when I spotted a large dark ovate figure in the tree tops. I half suspected I'd found a paper wasp or termite nest at first.

the Pawi in the flesh! digiscoped near Asa Wright NC, Trinidad

I brought my binoculars to my eyes and was thrilled to find this was indeed the real deal, a living breathing Pawi! What a wonderful treat! Here was a bird I'd been led to believe I had no hopes of seeing from those who had come before me and even from reading the recent texts. But there was no denying this bird.

Pawi digiscoped w/ Leica APO Televid scope & C-Lux camera

Before long the bird began foraging on small berries in the canopy and was joined by a second bird. We watched the two for a while before they both moved to the edge of the road and then set their wings disappearing into the tree tops opposite.

Pawi digiscoped near Asa Wright Lodge, July 2008

The clock hadn't even struck 8:30 AM and the day was a complete and utter success. Over the next couple hours we explored more of the lovely northern range and added a whole bunch of fantastic birds to our list: Common Black Hawks, Black-faced Antthrush, Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant, Streak-breasted Spinetail, Streaked Xenops, Collared Trogons, White-necked Thrush, and Turquoise & Speckled Tanagers were just a handful of birds we enjoyed before returning to Asa Wright for lunch!.... the evening held another great surprise though.... more to follow!

If you'd like to join Leica for our 2009 Trinidad digiscoping workshop, see:

www.caligo.com/trinidad

Utah's Critters

As is typical of the busy migration season, I have much to write about but often don't find/take the time to ACTUALLY "git 'er done". Skimming through recent images, I'm reminded of many great experiences I've had of late. For example, the great assortment of birds and critters seen at the American Birding Association's annual convention held in Snowbird, Utah.

Yellow Pine Chipmunk?...

The assortment of readily seen mammals was as much a highlight as the birds. The tiny chipmunk above I've tentatively named a "Yellow Pine Chipmunk", but I wasn't wholly convinced. If any out there with more experience with these montane chippies want to chime in with opinions I'd love to hear them! I found it fun to watch as this little critter would grab big chunks of this "fluff" and work through it extracting seeds. Marvelously entertaining!

Uinta Ground Squirrel watches from a rock, Snowbird, UT

Moving up in size, the ever present Uinta Ground Squirrels presented a continuing source of entertainment all around the venue. Including one resourceful individual who would sometimes sneak in the back door and visit us at our booths. Again, I realize locals likely take these for granted (much as I might seeing yet another alligator here in Florida), but the novelty of watching these antics was not lost on me. I very much enjoyed observing these behaviors. The grass is always greener I guess...

an alert Uinta Ground Squirrel, poses for a digiscoped shot

Every evening, a small army of marmots would come out of hiding and join the ubiquitous Ground Squirrels on the resort lawns. I realize these aren't rare, but again one of the great things about travel is that common local sights are new & different for those of us far from home. These creatures seemed to have a near endless range of variation in markings, which I enjoyed studying.

Yellow-bellied Marmot digiscoped in Snowbird, UT

The evening hours were also the best time to see the local ungulates which included many Mule Deer which would appear out of the scattered tree stands and taller shrubs lining the sloped sides of the beautiful canyon. The buck below takes a moment while grazing to give me a look as I hike a scenic hillside trail. In the summer months the male muleys' antlers are still growing in "velvet" and furry hide covers the living tissue below as the antlers grow back in.

male Mule Deer grazes on the slopes of Snowbird Resort

Another common sight around the grounds were Moose and some would reliably feed in the algae laden ponds near the Steakhouse on the grounds. I never actually digiscoped one of these but did snag a photo of a big yearling with my camera phone after enjoying a nice dinner! Some lucky observers also found Mountain Goats here but I was never at the right spot at the right time to enjoy this. At any rate, the place was definitely crawling with wildlife. A pleasant departure from the typical venue in a hotel in the middle of a concrete jungle.

"Muley" digiscoped at snowbird with Leica APO Televid scope and C-Lux 2 camera

Further afield, along the shores of the Great Salt Lake, Pronghorn Antelope mixed with reintroduced Bison. We even saw a distant Desert Bighorn Sheep on a relatively small rocky rise. This mammalian smorgasbord was a pleasant distraction for me though living in the semi-tropical lowlands.

American Bison snapped through a bus window with a Leica V-Lux camera in passing

Day tripping - Trinidad style

Birding in and around Asa Wright was grand but my insatiable desire to explore left me wanting to see more of the beautiful island nation of Trinidad. So while staying at Asa Wright, I was able to partake in numerous side trips to surrounding bird & wildlife hotspots. These included a sewage lagoon (naturally) where we saw our first Wattled Jacanas and Spectacled Caiman of the trip, along with numerous other interesting species: 2 different tyrants (more on these later), perched White-winged Swallows, Yellow-chinned Spinetails, Southern Lapwing, and the lovely introduced Common Waxbills to name a few.

Wattled Jacana digiscoped with Leica APO Televid scope & C-Lux 2 camera

This was only the quickest of stops though, as our ultimate destination this afternoon was the fabulous "Caroni Swamp", a massive mangrove forest lined with channels that is famous for its huge concentrations of Scarlet Ibis. We saw hundreds of these gorgeous creatures streaming toward their roosts as we floated through the mangroves on a comfortable boat ride (made all the better by the fact that Asa Wright staff had sent along our rum punch and cookies for the ride!)

We enjoyed views of many great wildlife species including more caiman along the channels, and lovely Cook's Tree Boas sleeping in tight balls in the forks of mangrove branches. We were also looking for the many specialty birds that reside in these mangroves and weren't disappointed as we discovered Bicolored Conebills, Straight-billed Woodcreeper, Yellow-breasted Flycatchers, Black-crested Antshrikes, Eared Doves, and the stunning Red-crested Cardinal. I'll have to admit to a bit of luck on the photo below as this was digiscoped from a drifting boat in a decent current. It was the only digiscoped image I got from our 2.5 hour boat ride. We were also treated to views of a rarely seen Mangrove Cuckoo, a nice male Green-throated Mango perched close by for study, and I was able to observe the feeding habits of Large-billed Terns as we were anchored watching the lines of near-fluorescent Scarlet Ibis stream low overhead. My thanks go out to Shawn, our skilled pilot & guide who knew the wildlife and waters of this spot as surely as he knew the back of his hand.

Red-capped Cardinal digiscoped @ Caroni Swamp, Trinidad 28 July 08

The following AM I enjoyed exploring the plains and lowland savannas of Trinidad, beginning with a visit to the Aripo Biological Station. Here I learned about "Buffalipso", a hybrid bovine cross between Indian Water Buffalo, and cattle to produce a very heat tolerant creature. Of course, my main interest lie in the birds found in the open areas where these animals grazed though and I enjoyed much better views of the White-headed Marsh-Tyrant (below) & Pied Water-Tyrants. I saw my first Pinnated Bittern peering out of a wet, grassy slough & Grassland Yellow Finches entertained in the pasture brush alongside Blue-black Grassquits. I observed the antics of a young Savanna Hawk begging for food from a distant adult, while Yellow-hooded & Red-breasted Blackbirds sang and displayed nearby.

White-headed Marsh-Tyrant, male, digiscoped Trinidad, 29 July 2008

Another treat here was getting to see a beautiful male Ruddy-breasted Seedeater sing, and hearing the low pitched distinctive winnowing of a South American Snipe. It was notably different than the Wilson's Snipe we find throughout the US.

male Ruddy-breasted Seedeater digiscoped w/ Leica APO Televid scope

After this we headed west and then south along the coast toward Nariva Swamp. Stopping briefly to enjoy the views of Frigatebird flocks sailing over the palm-lined coast, and to view a singing Striped Cuckoo, as well as perched Gray Hawks & Yellow-headed Caracacaras. We finally reached the mangrove lined swamp where we popped out of the car ever so briefly and were treated to Red-rumped Woodpecker, a male Rufous-tailed Jacamar, more Yellow-breasted Flycatchers, and a Silvered Antbird. A few new birds we hadn't yet encountered on this short 4 day, whirlwind trip! I remembered at least some of what I'd learned the day before, as I recognized the calls of the Bicolored Conebills and Yellow-breasted Flycatchers here. I drew a blank when the Black-crested Antshrike began singing again, but fortunately David our guide quickly reminded me when I inquired. I knew it sounded familiar!

male Rufous-tailed Jacamar digiscoped as it hid in the mangrove thicket, Trinidad

After this we continued on past some Wilson's Plovers playing in the surf and finally reached a wonderful little agricultural community nearby. The roadside wetlands offered some species that had become familiar to us by now and the area was teaming with more Jacanas, Southern Lapwings, Pied Water-Tyrants, and White-headed Marsh Tyrants. However, hidden amongst these more abundant birds were a few specialty species that we'd only see here during our trip. The first to show was the stunningly, understated Azure Gallinule. Having seen the more brightly-colored Purple Gallinule earlier in the day I expected the duller Azure Gallinule to pale by comparison, but the subtle coloration of this bird was magnificent as it contrasted with its bright yellow bill. Once again a field guide depiction, just doesn't begin to compare to the bird in the field!

Pied Water-Tyrant male digiscoped Nariva Swamp area, Trinidad 29 July 08

Further along we'd add two more specialties a pair of Masked Yellowthroats and yet another hummingbird species with a bizarre name, the White-tailed Goldenthroat. In a nearby okra patch groups of Green-rumped Parrotlets fed on seed heads offering nice comparisons between male and females of these diminutive parrots. An additional highlight were continual waves of Fork-tailed Flycatchers streaming over in loose groups first 4, then 5 more... 2 more trailing, and so on. After 4-5 minutes over 200 hundred of these amazing birds would stream overhead very low heading to points unknown to the north. This was a wonderful highlight even if it wasn't a "new" bird for me! ;p

Savanna Hawk (adult) perches in Moriche Palm, Wallerfield, Trinidad 29 July 08

As the day wore on we headed back toward Asa Wright with one more stop to make and chances at a few more fun tropical bird species. This would be my last birds I'd enjoy on this trip as I'd leave for Piarco airport at 0-dark-thirty the following AM.

We wound our way off the main highway and out across the abandoned runways of the old US air station, Wallerfield, to search for the Moriche Palm specialists. Four birds in particular are closely linked to this lovely palm species here in Trinidad: the Red-bellied Macaw, Fork-tailed Palm-Swift, Sulphury Flycatcher, and Moriche Oriole.

Orange-winged Parrot digiscoped Wallerfield, Trinidad 29 July 08

Upon parking the car we could hear the raucous call of large Parrots and I immediately saw the Orange-winged Parrots. These are members of the "Amazon" parrots, large with short squared tails. Then just to our left sitting quietly in the palm were 2 beautiful Red-bellied Macaws that David had likely spotted before the car had even stopped!

Red-bellied Macaw digiscoped w/ Leica APO Televid scope & C-Lux 2 camera

Compare the short, square tail on the Orange-winged Parrot to the long pointed tail of the Macaw above. They were amazing to watch as they deftly worked the large Moriche Palm fruits in one foot and their bill. Their blunt bill was perfectly suited and peeling the thick skin of these fruits. The bird below shows a bit of the red belly for which these birds are named. Sulphury Flycatchers were all over this area and the Palm-Swifts spun overhead the entire time we were there. We walked up and down the road as dusk approached and searched high and low for the last specialty bird here.

Red-bellied Macaw digiscoped at Wallerfield, Trinidad 29 July 2008

We saw many other goodies as we searched. There was another Jacamar here (a female this time) and a Black-tailed Tityra, and a pair of Ruby Topaz Hummingbirds foraging alongside Black-throated Mangos. When David finally called, "I have it here!" I raced over to see the lovely Moriche Oriole, a sleek bird in velvety black with a frosted golden crown. This seemed like a fitting way to end a productive and memorable last day of birding in Trinidad. Never fear though, I've skipped ahead and have at least one more Trini-tale up my sleeve for the gluttons who can't get enough of these ramblings! ;p

Asa Wright beyond the feeders

While the view and comfort from the veranda is a definite highlight, it is really only the tip of the iceberg when considering Asa Wright's 1,000+ acres of habitat and extensive trails that beg to be explored. Even the manicured grounds surrounding the lodge's cabanas where I slept, offered species diversity I wasn't seeing at the feeders. Take for example the female Barred Antshrike (below) sitting on a nest in a cabin-side bush!

female Barred Antshrike digiscoped @ Asa Wright Lodge, July 08

One of the huge advantages of digiscoping is the ability to zoom in from a long distance away. For the image above I was standing >30' away taking the picture through a tiny hole in the foliage of a hedge, so as not to disturb this bird. In this same area Vervain bushes with tiny flowers were planted. This was important because tiny flowers attract tiny hummingbirds, with tiny bills, and every morning I'd see the amazing Tufted Coquettes here zipping from stalk to stalk. There were at least three in the area including a stunning male with unbelievable feathering that resembled a diminutive winged crown. I unfortunately never found him perched and he always alluded me as I attempted to digiscope him on the fly. The female perched in the image below though was still marvelous to view, and she was barely the length of my first two finger joints!

female Tufted Coquette, digiscoped Asa Wright, July 08

Of course, I'd be remiss if I neglected to mention how each day began at Asa Wright lodge. As I lay in bed just before first light I'd hear through my open windows the distinctive tooting of the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl perched just outside my room. After enjoying this for a while, the calling was replaced by that of the resident White-tailed Trogon, and as light increased he was joined by Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Bare-eyed Thrush, and even Yellow Oriole songs! On most days, I'd be up by Trogon thirty at the latest, but on the morning following a night trip to the beaches of Matura in search of nesting Sea Turtles, I stayed in bed later.... (never fear that story will be told soon as well).

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl digiscoped through Leica APO Televid

In all there appeared to be at least 3 individual Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls next to the Nature Centre and Lodge. The bird above was found midday by a mixed feeding flock and was being harassed by a group of White-necked Jacobins, Violaceous Euphonias, and Cocoa Thrushes. As we were viewing the mobbing process deep inside a dense bamboo stand, one of the Cocoa Thrushes struck the tiny Owl resulting in the misplaced body feather you see above, and causing it to come out into the open for a brief period to move to a new hiding spot (long enough for me to snap some images though, fortunately.... timing is everything)!

male White-bearded Manakins digiscoped along Asa Wright nature trails July 08

On my first morning I'd barely ventured beyond the shelter of the veranda and was already seeing marvelous new birds along the first couple hundred feet of the nature trails. Bearded Bellbirds chimed overhead and numerous young males were challenging the adults here, Blue-crowned Motmots gave their familiar "booht-booht" calls as they swung their tails back and forth in the shadowed areas, followed by a pair of fabulous Chestnut Woodpeckers that crept up a dead snag at the first intersection. AMAZING... and I'd only just begun my hike!

Golden-headed Manakin male digiscoped along Asa Wright trails July 08

It was at this point that I found a marvelous tree full of fruit and fruit-eating birds including Bay-headed & Turquoise Tanagers, Red-crowned AntTanager, Golden-crowned Warblers, and both White-bearded & Golden-headed Manakins. As it turns out there are multiple lekking areas for both of these species very near this tree. For those who aren't aware, Manakin males do marvelous displays in areas known as leks. On the lek, multiple males of these colorful little birds dance and slide up and down limbs, smack their wings together in mid-air making loud "snap" noises, and do whatever else they can to impress the females nearby. The whole scene is just awesome to see, and Manakins are a favorite group among many birders visiting the American tropics as a result of this fabulous spectacle.

Oilbirds digiscoped in Dunstan Cave, along Asa wright trails July '08

Of course, one of the VERY rare treats found along one particular trail on the Asa Wright grounds leads to the infamous grotto where the amazing nocturnal Oilbirds breed and roost. Asa Wright staff is very protective of these wonderful birds bringing people down at intervals of once only every couple days. They do not linger long and will light the area near one pair for a very brief period and then show another to allow visitors the rare opportunity to see these enormous birds.

They must be doing something right because while we were there the numbers of Oilbirds in the famed grotto were at record high numbers with over 200 birds including chicks. You can't argue with success. I had basically one shot and set up the scope at a safe distance and had every setting ready. I had to shoot at a full 1 second exposure given the limited light, at a very high ISO so the picture is noisy (equivalent to grain in film). None-the-less, I count myself lucky to even see these odd nocturnal frugivores, a photo is just unreal.

Larger than most common gull species you might see at your local park, the Oilbirds take to the forests in search of their favorite fruits every night. Nature Centre staff know which trees are best and regularly disperse seeds near the grotto to insure the future of food plants for these magnificent birds. Of course, nature centre staffers have to remain ever vigilent and keep a close eye on other threats like encroaching aggregate mining just one valley away. I'm certain from everything I saw, the folks at Asa Wright will insure that future generations will be able to still enjoy this ever so rare treat in years to come though!

Veranda birds of Asa Wright Nature Centre

the view from the amazing veranda at Asa Wright Nature Centre

I've heard the name Asa Wright Nature Centre (or center for those in the US) since the day I started birding nearly 25 years ago. Asa Wright NC was established the same year I was born, although I think I'm ahead by a few months at least. Until 2 weeks ago, Asa Wright remained one of many spots on a long and illustrious list of places I had to see before I die! I'm happy to say that I've now moved this locale to my list of places that I've seen and love! The birds, wildlife, lodge, centre, and staff all exceeded my expectations to boot.

tray feeder at Asa Wright NC, Trinidad - digiscoped Leica Televid spotting scope

The grounds and forests around the centre are fabulous and require a fair amount of time to cover effectively, but most 1st time visitors will be more than content to just sit on the veranda and watch the feeders and glass across the scenic valley that stretches out in front of you. For me it was no different, and many of these point blank birds were new for me. Even the "widespread" tropical birds are not species I see often enough that I didn't enjoy these quality views. The fact that it was also time to serve the daily "rum punch" on the veranda, was an added unexpected bonus!

Great Antshrike, male digiscoped with Leica APO Televid scope & C-Lux 2 camera

The diversity of species that visited the tray feeders below the veranda was surprising, even amazing. It seemed that few species could resist the amazing spread of fruits and breads and the group shot above shows a fairly typical mix of species seen during our trip (Banaquits, a male Purple Honeycreeper, and a young Silver-beaked Tanager). The biggest surprise to me though was when the male Great Antshrike came to enjoy the spoils of the feeders as well!

Crested Oropendola digiscoped from Asa Wright NC veranda, Trinidad

Whether your a fan of "feeder watching" or if you prefer to hit the trails hiking, Asa Wright has plenty to keep any individual happy. However, I defy you to not enjoy the close up views of the feeder visitors from the marvelous comfort of the veranda with all of its amenities. Take for example, an extreme close-up view of a Crested Oropendola eye! That's one amazing shade of blue.

male Bananaquit singing , digiscoped @ Asa Wright NC, Trinidad

Palm Tanagers and Bananaquits were absolutely ubiquitous and their bubbly songs added to the ambiance of this spot. Even away from the feeders, the birds around the grounds have become habituated to the presence of people, making Asa Wright a spectacular spot to familiarize yourself with these new & different species.

Blue-Gray Tanager digiscoped from Asa Wright veranda

The snags and perches around the veranda are a digiscoper's delight as well. Having opportunities to view and photograph many of these birds at eye level in the open is always a bonus. Along the trails even very common species like the Blue-gray Tanager above, are often hidden in the canopy and the field views are rarelyas good as those gotten from the comfort of the veranda.

Copper-rumped Hummingbird, digiscoped @ Asa Wright veranda

As you'd expect, the staff maintains Hummingbird feeders as well and there is always a nice assortment of hummingbird species visiting. The Copper-rumped Hummingbird above was just one of the interesting species that was seen near constantly during our stay. Other common feeder visitors included the stunning White-necked Jacobin & White-chested Emerald among others.

Channel-billed Toucans tee up in tree tops down slope from the Asa Wright veranda

One afternoon just before the daily 4 pm coffee, tea, and pastry feast on the veranda, a brief shower swept past. Typical of green season, tropical birding the short cloud burst came and went and dropping both humidity and temperatures considerably. In addition, bird activity was renewed, and numerous Channel-billed Toucans soon popped up and began bathing in the tree tops and calling back and forth. I watched the antics of these beautiful birds as I popped another pastry into my mouth and thought, "Hmmm.... only 2 more hours to rum punch!" ;p

Midsummer Birding

Midsummer months may offer less species diversity than the active migration months, but it is typically the time when you can make some of the most wondrous discoveries in your own backyards! Be it a new vocalization, an interesting breeding behavior, or even discovery of a brood of young Carolina Wrens in a milk crate full of sand toys. Sorry kids, no using these toys for a few weeks! ;)

Carolina Wren nest in milk crate, Leica V-Lux camera June, 2008

Of course, after a while the same individuals and lesser numbers of birds can seem a bit mundane I suppose, but fortunately many of us travel to other's backyards in the warmer summer months. This was the case for me recently when I skipped across to Utah for the American Birding Association's annual Convention held at the Snowbird Ski Resort. Even while working a booth in the vendor area, I was able to view a feeders flush with Cassin's Finches and Pine Siskins, with Cordilleran Flycatchers "Pi-peet!"ing right out the door.

Warbling Vireo on nest, digiscoped UT 6/08 Leica APO Televid & C-Lux 2 camera

Even wide spread species like Warbling Vireos are not a bird that nests in the sub-tropical regions of Florida so these even offered a different feel from my backyard. However, careful observations also showed these birds sang and looked a lot different than Warbling Vireos from the NE United States. This western subspecies had a more succinct song and was darker marked overall.

American Robin, female digiscoped at Snowbird, UT 6/08

I even miss the "in your face" nesting antics of the American Robin in my deep south digs, so this too was a different experience I can't see at home. Of course, it was interesting to note there were no worms this trip. A mouth full-o-wasps (or similar) will have to suffice.

Barn Swallow youngster digiscoped in nest Utah, June 2008

Barn Swallows are ubiquitous but who can resist an overflowing nest of semi-fuzzy nestlings? All of the nests here along the shore of the Great Salt Lake were filled to capacity probably thanks to a never ending source of food in the form of Brine Flies (although in fairness I didn't see what they were feeding on)!

Green-tailed Towhee digiscoped with Leica APO Televid spotting scope & C-Lux 2 camera

Of course not all of the species up here were widespread, Dusky Flycatchers bred just up the road, MacGillviray's Warblers sang from nearly every bush (it seemed) at Snowbird, and I was thrilled to catch up with the old friend above I haven't seen in years. I was real fortunate to observe a unique display as I watched him. In the image above and even more so in the video clip below you can see this wonderful territorial wing display. I'd always wondered why an otherwise drab ground-dweller would want to have brilliant yellow-green, iridescent upperwings. Now I know! What better way to send the message, "This is my territory get out now!" than a brilliant flash of color?!?...

The video clip and still image above were taken through the Leica APO Televid spotting scope with the same small digital point & shoot camera, the Leica C-Lux 2! Most modern point & shoots offer unlimited video capabilities that are ideal for capturing rare moments like these.