Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii)

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Tara

The Booted Racket-tail (Ocreatus underwoodii) is a species of hummingbird and a firm favourite with birders in Ecuador. The fashion-forward little beauty not only sports the distinctive rackets on the end of his long tail but different coloured boots! On the western slopes of the Andes (Mindo area), the hummingbirds are sophisticated and elegant in fluffy white boots. On the eastern slopes (WildSumaco, Napo, etc) they dazzle in rusty orange boots. Either way, they are dressed for success and you won’t want to miss them!

These 2 photos showing white boots were taken at Angel Paz Refuge in Mindo area.

This little guy is proudly showing his orange boots at Wildsumaco. See the iridescence by night! DSCN2141

You can find them in in the Andean cordillera of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They are easily seen at the hummingbird feeders in most lodges in the Mindo area and at Wildsumaco Lodge.

booted rt

LEARN MORE ABOUT BOOTED RACKET-TAILS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

American Bird Conservancy

VIDEOS

Filmed at Wild Sumaco, this video shows how fast they really are.

Looking adorable with very puffy boots!

There’s a short clips here NOT at a hummingbird feeder.

Violet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis)

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Tara

The Volet-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) is a species of hummingbird.which lives in areas from 300–2,100 metres (980–6,890 ft) in elevation, though typically above 900 metres (3,000 ft) on the west slope of the Andes.

I may not go in much for “selfies” but I am more than happy to take “sylphies”!

They are found in Ecuador & Colombia. Probably the most easily accessed locations to eco-tourists would be the hummingbird feeders at lodges in the Mindo area. I took these photos at Sachatamia Lodge.

vtsylph

LEARN MORE ABOUT VIOLET-TAILED SYLPHS

Wikipedia

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

This clip stands out for not being on a feeder.

In this clip you can see the Sylph with other hummingbirds at one of the Sachatamia feeders.

Birding The Grounds Of The Umbrellabird Lodge, Southern Ecuador

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Tara

Although the main draw to this area of Ecuador is the El Oro Parakeet, don’t forget that the grounds of the Umbrellabird Lodge are also very birdy and many wonderful species can be seen just from the deck and on a short but steep walk to the lek of the Long-wattled Umbrellabird.

Depending on the time of year, you may want to get up early to see the Umbrellabirds at the lek or wait a bit and see them in the trees. The trail isn’t far from the lodge but the birds are difficult to find in the trees as they blend in and are quiet so best to go with a guide unless you have very keen eyesight.

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Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan

Coatimundi DSCN0780

Brown Violetear Hummingbird IMG_2451a IMG_2455a

From the balcony, we saw several flocks of Bronze-winged Parrots and Red-masked Parakeets fly past. IMG_2301a IMG_2303a IMG_2311a IMG_2330a IMG_2347a

The hummingbird feeders are constantly busy with many beautiful species! The guide gave me the list of the ones we saw. Brown Violetear, White-necked Jacobin, Andean Emerald, Green-crowned Brilliant, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Green Thorntail, Bananaquit, Blue & Grey Tanager IMG_2343a IMG_2346a IMG_2389a IMG_2406a

The Hummingbird Effect

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Tara

Whenever we visit the Americas, hummingbirds are always a highlight. They dazzle us with their beauty and brilliance and I could spend hours sitting on lodge verandahs watching them dart to and fro. A world without hummingbirds would be sad indeed. The American Bird Conservancy is trying to save their habitat so any help you can give would be appreciated. And remember that hummingbirds share their habitat with many other birds and mammals so save one, you save them all!

For now, enjoy this compilation clip of some of the most beautiful hummingbirds in the world.

The Hummingbirds Of Copalinga

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Tara

After reviewing Copalinga as an eco-lodge, I thought the hummingbirds were so spectacular they deserved their own post.

These identification guides are available to help you identify the 30 hummingbird species. There is also a birdlist on the website.

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Start at the bar with your choice of drink, the hummingbirds have their own drinks! DSCN0561 DSCN0577 DSCN0574

Green Hermit DSCN0595 DSCN0596 DSCN0597 IMG_2124a IMG_2127a IMG_2135a IMG_2140a IMG_2144a IMG_2159a IMG_2155a IMG_2148a IMG_2161a IMG_2163a IMG_2166a IMG_2169a

Hummingbird Web Cam

Posted on November 2, 2015 by Tara

If you don’t live in an area that has hummingbirds and you want a quick fix here’s the perfect reality tv show! Watch a live web cam in West Texas as various hummingbird species visit the feeders!

Sample screenshot

Handfeeding Hummingbirds – Ketchikan, Alaska

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Tara

Alaska has it’s own range of eco-tourism adventures. I haven’t been there yet other than a quick ferry trip to Ketchikan in the mid 80’s but maybe someday I will go back. In the meanwhile, enjoy this video of how a lodge owner got hummingbirds to sip nectar from his hand!

*The videographer has already acknowledged that the red food dye is bad for the birds and is no longer using it.

My Top Twenty-Five Bird Sightings Of 2013

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Tara

Following on from last year’s post in which I highlighted only parrot sightings, this year I have expanded to all bird species. There were just so many birds who made a major impression on me! I have also increased the number to 25 since we did 3 birding trips this year. I didn’t always get good shots so I will put my own photo when I got one. Some of them were pretty quick! They are being presented in chronological order.

1. Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) – seen at Nimbokrang & Waigeo, Indonesia; March 2013

2. Lesser Bird-of-paradise, (Paradisaea minor) – seen at Nimbokrang, Indonesia; March 2013

I couldn’t get a photo as he stayed in the trees so here’s one taken in Jurong Bird park, Singapore.

3. Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria) – seen at Nimbokrang, Indonesia; March 2013

Victoria Crowned Pigeons, Nimbokrang

4. Western or Arfak Parotia (Parotia sefilata) – seen at Siyoubring, Indonesia, March 2013 I’ll never forget this feathered Lord of the Dance trying so hard to woo 3 aloof females!

One female Western Parotia comes in for a closer look while the male shows his best moves. There were a couple other females higher up in the branches.

5. Vogelkop Bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata) – seen at Siyoubring, Indonesia, March 2013

OK lady Bowerbirds, come and check out my awesome bower!

6. Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus) – seen near Nimbokrang and on Waigeo Island, Indonesia, March 2013

7. Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, (Cicinnurus respublica) – seen on Waigeo Island, Indonesia in March 2013. This little guy played hard-to-get with the camera.

Wilson’s Bird-of-paradise, Cicinnurus respublica

8. Red Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea rubra) – seen on Waigeo Island, Indonesia , March 2013.

Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra), Waigeo- dancing in the trees

9. Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) – seen at Crooked Tree, Belize, Tikal, Laguna del Lagarto, Carara, Soberania, August 2013. This was the first parrot we saw after arriving in Central America so I chose him to represent all the Amazon species seen all over Central America.

Red-lored Amazon or Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis)

10. Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) – seen at Crooked Tree, Belize, Tikal, Selva Verde, Laguna del Lagarto, Soberania, August 2013

11. Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus) – seen at Selva Verde & Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013

12. Golden-hooded Tanager (Tangara larvata) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013.

13. Brown-hooded Parrot (Pyrilia haematotis) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013.

14. Collared Araçari (Pteroglossus torquatus) – seen at Selva Verde, Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, Soberania. August 2013.

15. Hummingbirds (all of them) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Monteverde, Savegre, Soberania. There is no way I can single out one species, they are all spectacular!

16. Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker (Celeus castaneus) – seen at Laguna del Lagarto, Costa Rica, August 2013

17. Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) – seen at Monteverde (Curi Cancha) & Savegre. I will never forget both sightings of this stunning bird! The first one because I found him by myself and the 2nd one because there were several of them and they hung around a while so I could watch them.

18. Sulphur-winged Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoffmanni) – seen at Savegre, Costa Rica, August 2013

I haven’t started the India & Sri Lanka series yet, we only got back a few weeks ago and I have been playing catch-up. These birds will be covered first thing in the New Year. The photos are a sneak-peek!

19. Malabar Parakeet (Psittacula columboides) – seen in Coorg, India; Nov. 2013. This time there were only fleeting glimpses of a flock flying overhead so the photo is one I took in 2011 in Kerala.

20. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis) – seen at Kithulgala, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013.

21. Layard’s Parakeet (Psittacula calthropae) – seen at Kithulgala & Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013. They were swift flyers and refused to perch & pose.

22. Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot (Loriculus beryllinus) – seen at Kithulgala, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013. At least he posed, albeit with the sun behind him!

23. Alexandrine Parakeet – (Psittacula eupatria) – seen at Kithulgala & Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013.

24. Malabar Trogon (Harpactes fasciatus) – seen at Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013. He only let me get one shot before turning his back.

25. Sri Lanka Blue Magpie or Ceylon Magpie (Urocissa ornata) – seen at Sinharaja, Sri Lanka. Dec 2013.

I didn’t get a photo of them since they stayed in the trees so here’s one from Wikipedia.

Part 3: Birding At Savegre, Costa Rica – Hotel Grounds

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Tara

In this final chapter of my series about birding in Savegre, I would like to point out the delights of birding around the grounds of the Savegre Hotel. In most places, there is a definite siesta time during which birds are inactive around mid-day and the best time to see them is in the early morning and late afternoon. Hummingbirds, however need to feed every 15 minutes so you can spend many happy hours just watching them fly around the grounds and sipping nectar from the feeders. There are also lots of flowers for them to feed on. Not only can you see the Hummingbirds, there are also various Woodpeckers, Tanagers, Warblers and many other birds. A complete bird list is here. These photos were taken over 2 days just in the grounds of the Savegre Hotel.

Birds Of Laguna Del Lagarto: Hummingbirds

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Tara

Since there are so many photos, I am breaking this up into separate posts. There are other posts for information on how to get to Costa Rica & Laguna del Lagarto.

Bird List of Laguna del Lagarto

These spectacular little birds are often called “flying jewels” because of their brilliant irridescent colouring. Unfortunately I lost the checklist I made with the help of the guides at Laguna del Lagarto so this is from memory as to which hummingbirds I saw. The ones at the lodge were Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds. The ones at Adolfo’s home garden (feeders) are highlighted in yellow to the best of my memory. If I find the checklist, I will come back to this post and update it. Humming birds are slightly easier to photograph than parrots because they are at least closer. But they sure are fast!