Unidentified tree, Trinidad

I had hoped to slip these 15 really poor photos on to my photostream tonight, when hopefully no one would see them! Find it depressing to edit and post photos like these, so just needed to get it out of the way in one go. I still have all sorts of bird photos, of better quality, still to post, but will just add one every now and again, now that I have finished the morning trip on our last day on the island of Trinidad. Even if I didn't post any further images from this holiday, I feel that it is a completed project - and an exhausting, time-consuming one : ) I don't know how some people do this each year, when they go on some new "exotic" trip. It has taken me a year to get 737 (so far) photos posted from Trinidad & Tobago!

This photo was taken on 20 March 2017, the last day of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago. That morning was spent on a half-day trip to the Aripo Savannah followed by the Arena Forest.

One of our first stops that morning was at a place where we saw a little Bran-coloured Flycatcher, and a male Masked Yellowthroat - the female does not have a mask. There was also a pair of Ruddy Ground-doves. I was quite surprised to see the rather fine houses in this area.

During the drive through the Arena Forest, our guide stopped the vehicle and waited. He had requested Security to accompany us on this part of the drive, following right behind us in their vehicle, to make sure we were safe. Unfortunately, I don't know what species this fruit belongs to.

The afternoon of our final day was spent at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, leisurely photographing the birds and packing our bags ready for leaving in the middle of the night (around 2;00 am), to catch our first flight back to Canada.

This adventure was only the second holiday of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my dear friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going.

Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could choose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself! We were so lucky with our flights, as we were just in time to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off!

What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous.

The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up the mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a minibus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.

I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and even the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.

This is a video that I came across on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it.

youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M

I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015.

youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk