A lovely walk in the cloud forests around Tapalapa |
Reserva Ecológica Huitepec |
Female Mountain Trogon. The secret to Trogon ID is in the tail. |
Rich explains the set up of Sumidero Canyon to the group....in the rain:) |
Mexican Sulfur-female |
We stand tall amongst the Gunnera |
I fell in love with this Scottish birder. He was a kind man and his English was difficult for me to understand which really intrigued me. |
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird-the ONE big bird photo from our trek |
Back to the birds:) We'd get on a bird and it would start to rain! Come on Mother Nature! Be nice to us! The rain did not seem to deter the birds one bit. There goes another life bird without photo documentation. After two days of terrible weather conditions, I unfortunately snapped at Gordon from frustration and said, "This is bull$%^!" He just happened to be the unintended victim standing there as I went crazy. I had to let off steam because I'm not one to keep it bottled up inside. Thanks for being patient with me Gordon:) I couldn't control how I birded and that drove me crazy. The participants were amazing as were the guides but I couldn't control when or how I was going to bird. My hands were tied. It's now or never so get your act together buddy. This is your one shot at this bird. So, as a birder, you are sometimes only given the time allowed and nothing more. This can also be said about our lives. Do it now because you never know if you'll get another opportunity to do it again.
Orchids, ferns and lots of air plants |
More rain came and what happens? A new life bird, the Rufous-browed Wren, makes an appearance. Of course it does:)
Rufous-browed Wren |
Green Violetear |
We just give up with the cameras and pull out our cell phones:) Gordon gets up close and personal with this ladybug |
Photo taken and used with permission by our guide Alberto Martínez Fernández of a Pink-headed Warbler |
Our crew with Alberto(far left) |
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer...in the rain |
I do not recall you snapping at me at all! Guess I was so overwhelmed by the birds that I was willing to overlook a lot. I knew that with the rain, photos were going to be pretty much of a failure, so I just tried to keep my equipment dry and enjoy the birds. It was not doubt a challenge, but so much fun at the same time. You got some photos there I I failed to get. Great job!
ReplyDeleteOh good! We were in the hotel after the Tapalapa trek and instead of holding my tongue, I let it out. So I'm glad you didn't notice:) I wish I lived there so I could go back. I'm already thinking about staying in San Cristobal de Las Casas and doing some of my own work.....BUT that won't be for awhile. We have another trek to plan for next month:)
DeleteIt seems that the more involved you are in Any project the more tricky and challenging it gets but it’s good for becoming oneself of a kind though. What an experience!
ReplyDeleteI can hear your frustration coming through stil in this post but birding in a marvellous adveture and the weather has a big part to play in seeing birds and photographing them but signing up and knowing you wil be in a group has also challenages but it is a good attitude to other that will show who you are. I don't know whetheri ahvasked you thisbefore but is it possible to make you text colour WHITE as I cannot read any of the other peoples comments as it is Black on dark green.
ReplyDeleteHi there Margaret. I would normally do this but I can't read the white on the green:) I'm so sorry.
DeleteHello Chris, this trip sounds just amazing to me. I know it is nice to get a photo of any life bird, but it is wonderful too just to see a new bird for the very first time. Awesome post and photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing it must be easier to bird in smaller groups Chris but then the bird whereabouts knowledge of the guides would be invaluable. Could be more productive for someone like you to have a one on one or two kind with guide kind of thing. However frustrasting it was at times I get the feeling that you really enjoyed the trip right!
ReplyDeleteI enlarged Gordon's photo of the pink warbler and it is amazing. Maybe next time you'll get your own photo to share with us. Sounds like a challenging time. It's that way when you travel with a hope of photographing anything. You always wish if you're not successful that you could just return tomorrow and that's not always the case, is it?
ReplyDeleteAmazing place Chris - so feel for you with the frustration of not getting photos but I did like the shots you did manage to take including the butterfly and moth :) The warbler is a gorgeous little bird.
ReplyDeleteNot overkeen on group trips/walks myself as I like to be free to do what I want when I want to do it!! But sometimes they can be good ways to see wildlife that you might not find yourself. Have actually gritted my teeth and arranged to go on a guided butterfly walk soon myself in search of a new species of butterfly (for me).
Look forward to reading your next post :)
Chris, in spite of your complaining, you still had an amazing time! I had to laugh at your frustration, (sorry!) when I remembered you looking for the Bicknell's here last year! I am sorry about the rain, and that is an interesting observation that the birds were MORE active in the rain. Maybe that's because they live in a RAIN Forest? Anyways, I am still glad you went and amazed at the birds you got to see with such poetic names! I am sure I could not have endured this trek, so you get kudos from me! Well done!
ReplyDeleteLife has a multitude of ways (some annoying, some not) of teaching us the things we need to learn. Rain is a difficult teacher :)
ReplyDeleteVery enjoyable post. It's a bummer about the dreary weather but I did like the first few shots and that one bird, Trogon is super cool, especially the tail.
ReplyDeleteI really can't imagine birding, or even hiking, with a group so large. Good thing you had a great guide. And even in frustration you got some wonderful shots.
ReplyDelete