Asa Wright’s Nature Center.

      Tuesday morning and not too early we set off on a 2 hour trip to the high mountains to the North of the Island of Trinidad.  We were lucky that the roads were passable.  Quite often if there has been heavy rain this is not the case!  Needless to say Jesse ensured that we didn’t arrive hungry.  He took us for lunch at a carry out on the way.  The food was freshly prepared and VERY tasty.
  On arrival we checked in and were shown to our room. A quick peek out onto the feeding station and we were ready to stretch our legs. After dressing in hiking gear and boots we set of on the ‘Discovery Trail’. We saw Tiger Lizards and Bracket fungi and heard many birds, this wet our appetite for later on.  Back at the center we had tea and pastries while ’Twitching’. I’m sorry to say that the camera does not do justice to the colours and types of bird, no matter I saw most of them.  Those too far away for the lens are still good memories.
  After dressing for dinner we joined the group for cocktails on the veranda. A delicious rum punch.  This was followed by soup and a Caribbean chicken dish with accompanying vegetables and sponge pudding.  Coffee followed and was special in that it was grown and produced on site!  Just as we were settling in for a pleasant evening our Guide Barry came by and told us to prepare for an evening walk to the pool.
  Armed with torches we searched the trees and verges for all manner of wildlife. We even saw the tiny tree frogs which make all the noise at night! I included the Spider which Barry had found earlier and placed on the Veranda, but we saw another sitting in the handrail by the roadside! I’m so pleased that Barry pointed it out before I used the rail!! Other insects included Harvestman, Daddy Longlegs and tadpoles.
  Up early next morning (05.45 for 06.00) and the feeding had begun already! Such a mass of colour! And all the time Barry was keeping a running commentary of names.  Occasionally darting to the telescope to focus on a more distant Toucan or Violaceous Euphonia -Trogan .

I just loved the Purple Honey Creeper  Cyanerpes caeruleus longirostris   Trinidadian Subspecies has a longer bill than mainland form
We were kept busy refocusing our binoculars on each new arrival.
  After a huge breakfast we were taken on an Orientation walk.  This was a history of the center, it’s wildlife, flora &  fauna and it’s birds.  We had a rainstorm on the walk back which continued until lunch and after.  Jesse arrived with our transport so we tore ourselves away from this idyllic site for our next adventure.