Top 10 - most difficult to photograph

Here is my top 10 - most difficult to photograph list for the past years.

Harpy Eagles, Anaconda's, Tapirs or Jaguars are animals which are not difficult to take a picture from. They are large and most of the time quite slow, this makes it easier for me to take dozens and dozens of pictures from them. 
For the past 8 years I did meet some who made it quite challenging for me to 'immortalize' them, but with some patience I did manage. Here is my top 10 (most difficult, full of patience or time consuming pictures):

10. Kingfishers; unbelievable but true. They are the residents of the river where you can spot on almost any log or branch along the river at least one of the 5 kingfishers species. What makes this task difficult? They are restless birds, one that won't sit still in front of the camera. Usually they like to take off the moment you want to click.

9. Butterflies; I admire those that have endless patience with these gems. Either restless or on a spot where it is difficult to take a shot (under a leaf for instance). I was able to take these pictures after 45 minutes (minimum) of patience (at one spot).

8. Reddish Hermit; second smallest hummingbird seen in Kabalebo. A resident of Kabalebo, seen near the lodge, in the forest or near the river, but quite a challenge to photograph them. Same like the butterflies (effect), I was standing or sitting on one spot for 30 minutes and 9 out of 10 pictures were usually failures. 

7. Tayra's or Tapiti's are quite shy animals and seldom give you the chance to shoot them. The Tayra's on this picture were out in the open for a couple of  seconds and this Tapiti was a bit off guard, given me this unique opportunity.

6. Catching colors; hummingbirds are known as the ultimate gem of the Amazon. Mesmerizing color display. Trying to catch these true colors is one of the ultimate challenge for the photographer. Sunlight is of great essential and .. the hummer also needs to sit on a perfect spot. 

5. Seedeaters; these small fast moving birds are seen moving on the ground between the tall grass. Usually when you try to take a picture of such a bird, a leaf or some grass is just standing in the way. 

4. Parrots; usually hidden between all the green and seldom move while eating. Painted Parakeets for instance are one of those parrots that like to put your patience to the test.

3. the Pauraque (nightjar), common night bird, but a challenge too. You can see their eyes reflecting from the flashlight during the night, but the moment you come too close they fly away to move further ahead. I horribly failed trying to take a photo of them during the night, only when they are nesting I was finally successful. 

2. the smaller the monkeys, the faster they move. Golden-handed Tamarins are the smallest from the monkey family, looking like small black house cats jumping in between the trees. Small and fast are ingredients I usually don't want to have while shooting, but after years of trying and trying I finally managed to take this shot where you can see its 'golden hands' complete with nails.

1. Grey-winged Trumpeters are ones that I always have seen or heard passing in the jungle but never managed to take a good shot until last month this year (February 2017) and of course antbirds. They are inside forest birds that seldom come out in the open. This antpitta kept me busy for at least two hours before showing face. 

As you can see, with some pictures I had to wait hours or years, to take, but in the end well worth it.