Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: hovering

Last night, I posted 15 rather uninspiring and poor quality images just so that I could get them into my Trinidad & Tobago albums. The birds in the photos were so very far away, but I did want to add them for the record. The photos marked the end of our final morning on Trinidad, meaning that I have now completed this mammoth task of documenting our amazing holiday. It has taken me a year to edit and post 740 photos! I still have various odds and ends to post, mainly birds photographed at the Asa Wright Centre, like this one. Especially during this dreadfully cold and snowy winter we are having, an occasional splash of gorgeous colour will come in handy. This photo was taken on our final evening (20 March 2018) at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, after an afternoon of hanging around the Centre to leisurely photograph birds and to pack our bags ready for leaving at 2:00 am to catch our flights home. While sitting on the verandah of this historic plantation house at sunset, we had a beautiful, but short-lived, rainbow over the rainforest of the Arima valley. Caught a tiny Hummingbird with wings outstretched, as if both bird and rainbow were putting on an extra display to wish us farewell. 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

A very poor photo of this much sought-after, teeny (2.75 inches) Hummingbird, but I GOT it! I was so thrilled that I even managed to see this little bird as it flitted from flower to flower at top speed. Being able to get two or three shots of poor quality was even better. My friends and I were standing on the high veranda at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, high up in the rain forest on the island of Trinidad. Suddenly, someone excitedly called out that she had seen it - and the challenge began. As soon as one saw it, it disappeared, and this happened over and over again. At last, I clicked the shutter button and discovered that there was actually a bird in my photo, not just Vervain flowers. This was taken on 19 March 2017, the last but one day of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago (12-21 March 2017) before flying home. That morning, shortly after seeing this Hummingbird, we went on a challenging hike to see the unusual and very special Oilbirds that live in a cave further down the mountainside. My next batch of photos will probably be from this hike. Later on that day, we went to the Caroni Swamp to see the amazing Scarlet Ibis fly in to roost for the night. Link below for a short video (just over 2 minutes) from WildExplorer (Toledo Zoo), taken at the Oilbird's cave. My friends and I did not go into the cave itself: youtu.be/5Lm5YEsUreY "As if Hummingbirds didn’t have enough attention already, with their brilliant iridescent plumage, dexterous flight ability, blistering speeds, pinpoint accuracy, high energy diet and diminutive size, there are some like the Tufted Coquette which are further distinguishable and unique. By far one of the Centre’s star attractions and most sought-after birds, the Tufted Coquette is widely acknowledged as Trinidad’s smallest resident bird at 2.75 inches (this size is also shared by the rare Rufusshafted Woodstar Hummingbird). The tiny Coquette, sometimes mistaken for a large bee, can be seen from the main house verandah and around the estate visiting small flowers, especially those of the Vervain and Lantana plants. While a popular target species for visiting bird watchers, its small size and hasty feeding behaviour make it a challenge to see, although when at rest its magnificence is truly revealed. The male and female strongly contrast but both share mainly green plumes. The male, however, is more glamorous with its bright crimson-coloured crest and crimson and green tufts beneath the throat. The female is devoid of both the crest and tufts seen on the male. Visitors of all interests are eager and impressed to see the Tufted Coquette, not only one of the world’s smallest birds but also one of the world’s smallest vertebrates." From Asa Wright Nature Centre website. asawright.org/creature-features/tufted-coquette/ Just found another short YouTube video (10 minutes) showing local birds that can be seen at teh Asa Wright Nature Centre. Taken by Jan Gustavsson. After watching this, it makes me wonder how on earth I managed to photograph any of the fast-moving birds of any species. youtu.be/x8lRRjsyGgk And another YouTube video, just 3 minutes long by Kevin (myguidenetwork), showing the Asa Wright Centre and surroundings: youtu.be/ojtrqabwGHc

A friend and I had a most enjoyable day down at Frank Lake, south east of Calgary, on Monday. We had fun trying to catch these Forster's Terns for an in-flight shot. I managed to get several, but none are very sharp (i.e. don't look at it in large size, LOL). When they hover, I love the feather patterns in the wings and tail. Very elegant birds.