Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: nest?

It took a few moments to see where this distant pair of Ruddy Ground-doves was resting. They looked so pretty together. "The ruddy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti) is a small New World tropical dove. It is very common in scrub and other open country, including cultivated land and urban centers, where it can be seen feeding on grain alongside feral pigeons. It builds a solid but sparsely lined cup-shaped stick nest in a tree. Ruddy ground doves feed mainly on seeds." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruddy_ground_dove I wish I could remember where friends and I went on our last morning, 20 March 2017, on the island of Trinidad. When I Google the names of two bird species that we saw only in that area, the name Wallerfield Airfield comes up, so maybe that is where I took two of the three photos posted this morning, 1 March 2018. This was just a short, morning outing, before returning to Asa Wright, where we spent the afternoon photographing some of the birds and packing our bags ready for leaving in the middle of the night (around 2:00 am?) to catch our flight home. (Added later: thanks to friend, Janet, who was on this holiday, I know now that we went to the Aripo Savannah and then the Arena Forest on this morning. The disused Wallerfield Airfield area is right next to the Aripo Savannah. 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, to make sure we were safe.) At one of our first stops on 20 March, we saw a Bran-coloured Flycatcher, and a male Masked Yellowthroat. There was also this pair of Ruddy Ground-doves, and we had quick glimpses of a Blue-gray Tanager and a Tropical Mockingbird. I was quite surprised to see the rather fine houses in this area. 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

Yesterday, 24 May 2014, my youngest daughter treated me to a wonderful day out with our cameras. It was a birthday treat, one day early as today is the annual May Species Count, which I always take part in. I knew I would have to limit my driving and be cautious about not taking too many photos, thanks to my very painful arms and shoulders. We went SE of the city, to a familiar spot or two, and we were lucky with certain birds, but not with others. A pair of Great Horned Owls were where we had hoped they would still be, but I'm sure they will be fledging before long. I had hoped to find a White-faced Ibis to show my daughter – various friends had been seeing and photographing them from fairly close. We bumped into friend, Greg, at the birding blind, and I had just told him that I was hoping to find an Ibis. I had barely got the words out when Greg swung round and pointed way up, saying: “You mean, like that one?” I'm sure I would have missed it. So, at least my daughter saw one, even if it was a distant bird. Thanks, Greg! When we were walking at Frank Lake, my daughter found this tiny bird’s egg, resting on one of the low boulders that line the edge of the gravel road. I daren’t go on the Internet and search – too many clicks, which I’m not supposed to be doing. I wonder if it belongs to some kind of Sparrow. After driving along a few of the backroads, we then went to the Saskatoon Farm for a delicious lunch and to wander round the greenhouses and gift shop. A weekend day is not the best time to go – or should I say that a weekday would probably be quieter? So many people were out enjoying a warm, sunny day before the coming rainy days (it rained a bit yesterday evening). Thanks so much, Rachel, for such a great day spent with you, and thanks for everything else, too.