Thrush-like Antpittas are quite common here in Kabalebo. But, it is a bird that you seldom see but quite often hear. A couple of years ago I recorded one antpitta's call and used that as a playback. The result: one shy bird looking through some vegetation. I managed to only capture its upper body. Here, I heard the same kind of antpitta and used a different sound. I had to wait for quite a while because this bird wasn't given in. Suspicious and curious at the same time. Just when I was about to give up, this little bird came out in the open. There it was, facing me and fully exposed for a short amount of time.
I was so surprised of the result and wasn't expecting this, so anxious and excited at once I took this picture. My hands were shaking to tell you the least. An encounter that I surely won't forget so easily. This one used to be called the Northern Caracara. Nowadays it is known as the Crested caracara. The Crested caracara is one bird I don't see very often. It doesn't stay long enough to be called a resident of Kabalebo. More like a migrant bird. Usually when Caracara's are flying by they are accompanied by smaller birds, like tanagers or flycatchers since Caracara's are not quite welcome in the neighborhood. This one also had the same experience.
One of the first birds of prey I photographed was a Great Black Hawk. It was also the first big bird I was able to identify all by myself. I've taken dozens and dozens of pictures of this predator, either as an immature, juvenile or as an adult. A couple of times I've seen them as a couple and with prey. So I thought that I've seen it all with this Hawk, but I was wrong. This is the first time that I see a Great Black Hawk sunbathing. I thought it was injured at first but he was just having a great time.
This young Spectacled Owl kept calling one night near the lodge. Since the call was so loud I decided to look for this young owl. He was still uncertain about his new role in his young life so he kept flying from one tree to the next. This meant that I had to move along just so I could keep up with him. And when I finally saw him, I noticed that I was alone and had a weak flashlight. So this is the result of holding your camera and a weak flashlight all at once.
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