This Gray-lined Hawk is also a resident of the area. One you can see on a daily basis and one that I never get bored of taking pictures. Today it looked a bit grumpy but since the sunlight was shining perfectly on him I couldn't resist to shoot him.... with my camera.
In the second week of December 2021 I saw this Puma near the lodge resting in the dense bushes. Afterwards I saw him a couple of times passing right in front of the river or near the swimming pool. He is always passing by when you the least expect it. Either right before lunch time or late in the afternoon, especially when it is too hot to go on a hike.
I automatically look at the river side before doing something else or leave and that is when I saw something brown standing there. First I thought it was a deer, but this one was a bit bigger so yes... second thought was the Puma. Excited as I was, I started heading towards the pier while taking pictures. I called the others at the lodge too. Some came looking and others were afraid to go to the pier again alone. This whole experience lasted at least one minute before he disappeared into the bushes but what an encounter. Quite a surprise to see the White-faced Saki group again. Usually they leave the area the moment they see me. This group was busy eating Inga fruits and this male had won the lottery. He wasn't very happy at all to see me. And while I was photographing him, I "accidentally" shot a younger male too.
I saw a group of Brown Capuchin Monkeys passing by right in front of me. It isn't always easy to capture one of them while on the move between the bushes, leaves and vine tangles but you just keep on trying. This one looked right at me and I shot this little monkey. I do like the facial expression.
They may be common but still I take pictures of them. Here is another trail cam photo of a Jaguar. Same trail but on its way back, facing the camera. Impressive animal for sure.
During one of the night hikes we stumbled upon this venomous Fer-de-Lance (Bothrops Atrox). I usually see them on the ground either passing by or coiled up. So to my surprise we saw this snake at eye level moving higher and higher from the ground. It wasn't aggressive at all towards us. Just trying to find its way out of the dense vegetation. Every time I learn something new about wildlife.
On one of the trails where I am also doing birdwatching I had set up a trapcam to check what I sometimes miss when I am not around. This is a perfect example of that. During broad daylight a jaguar couple was seen wandering around. On the same trail where I am walking too.
This is a lifer for me, the Black-throated Trogon. First we saw the female but she was so shy that she left the area before I could even raise my camera. Luckily the male wasn't that shy but he was so difficult to stay still on one spot. I had to walk around the area just to find the right spot where the sunlight was shining through. This was so far the best shot of him.
This is the Black-tailed Trogon. One that I don't see very often but is a resident from Kabalebo. You just got to get lucky to see him out in the open. I was on my way to the River Cabins when this Trogon landed on this branch in full view. I won't get a better shot.
The Guianan Trogon used to be known as the Amazonian Violaceous Trogon, so sometimes I am still using the old name. Unlike the Green-backed Trogon, the Guianan Trogon has yellow eye rings and 'barred' stripes on his tail. Also a common bird seen in Kabalebo.
It was my lucky day when this Green-backed Trogon landed on that branch. The sunlight and the open space between the avocado leaves was perfect. Trogons usually like to sit in the shades and with some lights in the back. A common Trogon seen often in Kabalebo.
He wasn't that little as his name suggested. This Little Blue Heron was seen on the airstrip of Kabalebo and it wasn't easy to photograph him as he kept flying away whenever I tried to get closer. In the end he mingled with some Cattle Egrets. However he didn't stay that long, 'cause after a couple of days he left the scenery just like any other migrant bird I've seen.
A common bird of prey; the Harpy Eagle. But still I can't get enough of this magnificent bird. I went to check on some forest birds to photograph but out of nowhere this fellow appeared and landed on that vine. I started to photograph this large predator from different angles and it didn't mind at all. In the end it 'sank' into this position making it even more interesting for me. The funny thing is that it was also pretty quiet in the area. After a while it started to get dark and I was the first to leave the scenery. Still have to say that this was one of my most fond memorable moments with the Harpy Eagle.
I spotted this single bird near the river with other sandpipers and egrets. It wasn't shy at all and I was able to approach it very closely. A migrant bird that likes to visit Kabalebo from time to time. This one had its breeding plumage on.
I spotted a group of Painted Parakeets near the lodge, but not all were sitting in the same tree. Most of them were hiding but luckily there was a group that wanted to be seen. This was the closest I could get and they weren't even bothered by my presence. Just love it when they help me out too.
When I saw some movements in this tree, I first saw tanagers, Pigeons and the Dusky Purpletufts. But what also caught my eye was a small light brown bird that kept moving from one place to the other. It was the Ochre-bellied Flycatcher who wasn't intimidated by other birds their size. It just kept eating the small seeds.
First thing that I noticed were the white eyebrows on this small flycatcher. I've seen it foraging on different kind of branches near the lodge. Doesn't quite sit still so you as photographer have to adapt to its lifestyle.
The Guira Tanager is a common tanager seen in the area of Kabalebo. Most of the time they are seen with canopy mixed flocks. Active birds that seldom sit still. When this male was hanging for seconds on this branch on the right spot, I took my chance.
This small flycatcher was spotted on the Beechcraft trail. It wasn't joining a mixed flock but moved solitary through the vine tangles. It stopped for a brief moment before moving again and that was my moment to photograph this small bird. After several unfortunate attempts I finally got a decent photo of this tiny bird where its pretty eyes stood out.
First time when I spotted a Fasciated Antshrike was on the Misty Mountain in 2011. Dark undergrowth, lots of vine tangles and I was concentrating on reaching the top. That's were a female appeared in front of me. Never have I seen both male and female traveling together. This was also one example. The male was silently foraging and catching caterpillars during his lunchbreak. He was alone and was also kind of curious who I was. So we had a great afternoon after all.
One of the most common birds I've known so far besides vultures and tanagers. The Rufous-browed Peppershrike is one that is first heard before seen. Small and secretive. One that is joining other tanagers, euphonia's and flycatchers. When sitting exposed, you get only several seconds to photograph it or observe it, 'cause afterwards it disappears into the dense vegetation. Still one of those birds that I am willing to put some extra effort to see and photograph again and again. Can't get enough of its brown brows.
This was a lifer but I am pretty sure that I've missed it several times since it resembles a Swallow-winged Puffbird from a distance. Only when you pay more attention to this overall dark bird you will notice the white stripe on its chest. After I finally met them, I also noticed that they like to sit on top of the canopy. They favor small seeds and will come back to the same spot if there is more to be found.
I saw this Common Potoo a couple years ago but wasn't in the beginning quite certain if it was the Great or the Common Potoo. The description in the birdbooks weren't quite clear so I had to do some research just to be certain. Especially since it didn't make any noise at all or opened it's eyes completely. But finally, here is the Common Potoo of Kabalebo. I've heard it calling several times during the night and the first time when I heard it, I was just wondering which kind of bird was making such a weird sound. Here it stands, motionless, on top of branch. During the night it will go out and hunt.
This small bird let me work to just get a photo of him. This is the third time that I've seen him but the first when I finally succeeded in taking a picture. Not shy at all but he kept moving straight back into the dense bushes. Since he is a small bird, he had no problem but meanwhile I had to crawl my way through the vegetation. But I am very happy with the result.
The Bobolink is a migrant bird from the north. At least once per year I see one female eating seeds of the grass. The whole area of Kabalebo is covered with these seeds, but only one Bobolink is present yearly. Not sure if it is the same female. Not a shy bird at all, you can easily approach her till a certain distance but close enough to take good pictures of her. It is possible to miss her sometimes because of her secretive behavior on the ground.
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