 Sometimes you only get one chance to meet them. For me it was the Collared Puffbird. On January 6, 2017 near the lodge, a large group of Silver-beaked Tanagers were loud and energetic. They were hiding in the trees while chattering and between all these tanagers there was one quiet bird too, the Collared Puffbird (Bucco capensis). It was traveling with them alone. I only had seconds to act fast and so I grabbed my camera and took a shot. When I wanted to take a second shot, the Collared Puffbird was already gone. It is known that these puffbirds like to sit quietly inside the forest or dense vegetation awaiting their prey to come by. Their meal usually consist out of large insects, small frogs or small lizards. Meal that it easily can find inside the forest or bushes. Noticeable were its large beak and black collar. You may also like the following post:  This is the Polythrix caunus known in English as the Short-tail(ed) Skipper. I spotted this one resting on the banister of the lodge. It didn't move a muscle for quite a while so I was able to take several pictures. But since it didn't move at all, all the pictures just looked the same too. The Short-tail(ed) Skipper is well known for its flat or spread wings as seen in the picture above. But if you look too long at this picture your imagination will also make you see other things. In my case I saw a 'lady' with her long legs closed. Family: Hesperiidae Subfamily: Pyrginae You may also like the following post:  This year started out very well. 2017 was only 2 days old when I spotted this remarkable bird out in the open; the Great Tinamou. Our previous meetings were inside the dense forest, where sunlight barely appears. This made it for me quite impossible to take a decent shot of this shy bird, but at the same time the Great Tinamou gave me ample time to see it clear with my own eyes. Only via trap cams I was able to see this forest bird or just only his eggs near a tree. On my way to the River Cabin, January 2 2017, on the driving trail I first saw the Tinamou from behind so I thought that it was a dry big leaf that fell on the ground. But when it looked at me I couldn't believe my luck for the day. There it was, seen in plain sight and it didn't move for some minutes. I took several pictures from this Great Tinamou but they all show the same pose like seen above. Just when I wanted to take a step closer it rushed right back into the dark bushes. You may also like the following post:  Here is Lotje with her fourth kitten. Last year, 2016, I had written about Lotje being a mom again for the fourth time. After months of waiting patiently Lotje was ready to bring her fourth kitten to the feeder. On January 3, 2017 just before I put the food for her on her buffet I noticed not one, but 2 pairs of eyes reflecting from my headlight. I thought that I was imagining seeing double, but when I was at the feeder I couldn't believe it. There she was with her fourth kitten. After giving birth I didn't see Lotje with her young at the feeder the first few months, so I got a little bit worried that it was possible that she lost her young somehow (sickness or ambush by a larger predator). But it seems that Lotje had other plans in mind. As you can clearly see in the picture the little one was not yet comfortable with my presence, but Lotje was. It is also noticeable that she decided to first get this little one used to the wild and after months of being taught the fine art of survival, she finally approved to go together to the feeder.  |
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