A morning in the mountains: hummingbirds and more.

The trip from Coiba to Bocas is longer than a map might indicate because the roads are somewhat rough and  through the mountains, so we broke it up with a night up in the mountains--a nice respite from the heat. The town, Cerro Punta, was just the other side of the volcano from Boquete where we stayed over spring break. Our professor and two of the three TAs were "bird people" (two of them by profession, and one by hobby) so they gave us the option of waking up early the next morning to go into the forest to watch birds. In particular, the site is known to have nesting Quetzals (Pharomachrus mocinno)--magnificent birds with long tails and colorful plumage.

Unfortunately, we only saw one female very briefly as she flew off. There were, however, some other cool birds...

See the yellow on the top of the legs?

Red-beaked Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Also less exotic, but cute... (and much rarer here than at Princeton)

Squirrel!

And at least four species of hummingbirds flying around the area and fighting over a hummingbird feeder!

My favorite hummingbird and picture from the day.

Blur of hummingbirds fighting over the feeder.

This hummingbird looks a little dull until its head catches the light...

When it has both a blue throat...

And purple forehead!

Also some pretty ferns and other vegetation...

And interesting little dam system they have along the trail...