On our final day, we requested that the guide take us to 3 locations each with its own target species. High in the cloud forest, Altos del Maria was our first stop -- home of the Orange-bellied Trogon.
The low-hanging clouds made visibility poor, but eventually we found a pair of these beautiful birds and commenced the process of acclimation so we could approach close enough to photograph through the vexing fog. Due to all of the rain, the ground had the consistency of chocolate pudding and our feet immediately sank in above the ankles impeding our mobility. Finally, the male perched with his orange chest towards us and the image below was captured.
As there appeared to be a break in the weather, we quickly drove to La Mesa in search of the Blue-necked Toucanette. On our arrival, the sun fought its way through the clouds for a 30 minute reprieve making for ideal photographic conditions in the canopy. Our guide commenced calling the Toucanette and soon the curious bird came to the edge of the rain forest.
The last excursion took us further from the Lodge to a banana plantation in Caimito, the location of a new colony of Montezuma's Oropendola. These large, ornate birds migrate from the Caribbean slopes to the cloud forest to nest 3 months a year. The females weave elaborate sock-like nests intertwined in palm leaves, while the alpha male announces his dominance in a striking, bubbling call during which he flips upside-down on his perching branch.
