Hot Lips / Psychotria poeppigiana, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad

Late last night, around midnight, I posted the remaining photos form Day 4 of my trip to Trinidad & Tobago. Many of the things seen in the photos were things that I wanted to remember, but that did not make very inspiring images, to myself or anyone else. Anyway, Day 4 is now over and so I am half way through the trip. It has taken me four weeks to get this much done, so I still have a few more weeks to go. Now that spring has arrived, things get so much busier, what with birding, and botany that is about to start. Not to mention that I still have to get my Taxes done and I'm running out of time. Since I returned home, I have only been out with my camera three times, I think - in fact, basically, I have just sat and sat at my computer! - but I do have several photos that I want to post, just to remind myself of where I went and a few of the things I saw. Maybe I will post these tonight, before I start on Day 5 of Trinidad & Tobago - I think they will provide a much-needed break from endless, very green photos! I had hoped to post all my holiday photos without interruption, but I can see that's not going to happen.

The above photo is of a beautiful tropical plant with a common name, Hot Lips, for obvious reasons. One of the synonyms that I have seen used is Cephaelis tomentosa. The photo was taken towards the end of a morning's walk at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, along a trail that led to several interesting birds, including the unusual Bearded Bellbird (photos posted last night). If I remember correctly, the afternoon was spent at the Centre, watching birds from the veranda.

"P. poeppigiana is a large shrub. The inflorescences are carried upright or semi-erect and are surrounded by large bracts, colored a conspicuous red, that attract pollinators. The flowers themselves are inconspicuous, with the small yellow petals and sepals forming a narrow corollar tube. Pollinators are mainly hummingbirds, namely small hermit (Phaethornithinae) species like the black-throated hermit (Phaethornis atrimentalis), straight-billed hermit (P. bourcieri) and reddish hermit (P. ruber). They do not insert their bills deeply into the small flowers, and thus the pollinators of this bush include curved- and straight-billed species alike." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_poeppigiana

This adventure was only the second holiday (or was it actually my third?) of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my great friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going.

Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - flights (we were so very lucky to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off!), accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could chose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself!

What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous.

The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up a mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a van/small bus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was just enough room for two vehicles to squeeze past each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way.

Even after exactly one month, I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure.