Around 2012 I first encountered this antbird in Kabalebo. I was with a small group of birders and Otte Ottema checking the area of the Misty Mountain. I first heard this bird calling but couldn't see it and when Otte told me to stay still and look in front of me, I was at the same time surprised and mesmerized. On the ground I saw this small brown bird with the remarkable blue around its eyes and he was walking as if I was not even there. Since it was my first time meeting this antbird I completely forgot to take out my camera but it was also that I was afraid to make any sudden moves and chase it away. Fast forward nowadays. The Ferruginous-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza ferruginea) is a common antbird in Kabalebo. Most of the time heard instead of seen. You really got to have a lot of patience to meet this bird. It took me at least 1 hour to take several pictures of this bird. Most of the time he was walking right behind leaves, branches or sticks that were standing in the way. Second, this bird doesn't know any hiking trail in the forest so I had to manage my way through a lot of obstacles before being successful.
Here you see a Common Lance Head (Bothrops atrox) resting on top of a log on one of the hiking trails in Kabalebo. This snake is locally known as Labaria or Owrukuku and is quite venomous. Not a snake that I would like to see very often during a walk in the jungle, but since the Fer-de-Lance is a common snake in the jungle of Suriname, I can't avoid meeting them. Luckily this snake was not on my path but side ways so after I took several pictures I could continue my journey.
I spotted this male Cinereous Becard (Pachyramphus rufus) in the morning. First I heard him calling together with his partner. Sometimes it takes a while before you can spot either of them. I was lucky to have seen the male but unfortunately his lady didn't want any exposure.
The Reddish Hermit is one of the smallest hummingbird I've met so far in Kabalebo. Silently he 'ambushes' a Fajalobi bush, enjoying the sweet nectar this flower produce. It can take a while before he decides to be at the right spot, 'cause if you decide to move around chances are he will fly away. But patience is always rewarded.
I saw this Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus) sitting on top of a death tree near the airstrip edge. Most of the time I see these large flycatchers inside the rainforest during a hike. And most of the time seen perched at a far distance so only your binocular is needed. So I was so glad to have seen this bird so close. He was also sallying a bit before landing on the same spot. What makes this bird stand out are those long narrow central tail feathers.
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