The wonderful, tiny Tufted Coquette, Trinidad

A very poor photo of this much sought-after, teeny (2.75 inches) Hummingbird, but I GOT it! I was so thrilled that I even managed to see this little bird as it flitted from flower to flower at top speed. Being able to get two or three shots of poor quality was even better. My friends and I were standing on the high veranda at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, high up in the rain forest on the island of Trinidad. Suddenly, someone excitedly called out that she had seen it - and the challenge began. As soon as one saw it, it disappeared, and this happened over and over again. At last, I clicked the shutter button and discovered that there was actually a bird in my photo, not just Vervain flowers. This was taken on 19 March 2017, the last but one day of our trip to Trinidad & Tobago (12-21 March 2017) before flying home. That morning, shortly after seeing this Hummingbird, we went on a challenging hike to see the unusual and very special Oilbirds that live in a cave further down the mountainside. My next batch of photos will probably be from this hike. Later on that day, we went to the Caroni Swamp to see the amazing Scarlet Ibis fly in to roost for the night.

Link below for a short video (just over 2 minutes) from WildExplorer (Toledo Zoo), taken at the Oilbird's cave. My friends and I did not go into the cave itself:

youtu.be/5Lm5YEsUreY

"As if Hummingbirds didn’t have enough attention already, with their brilliant iridescent plumage, dexterous flight ability, blistering speeds, pinpoint accuracy, high energy diet and diminutive size, there are some like the Tufted Coquette which are further distinguishable and unique. By far one of the Centre’s star attractions and most sought-after birds, the Tufted Coquette is widely acknowledged as Trinidad’s smallest resident bird at 2.75 inches (this size is also shared by the rare Rufusshafted Woodstar Hummingbird). The tiny Coquette, sometimes mistaken for a large bee, can be seen from the main house verandah and around the estate visiting small flowers, especially those of the Vervain and Lantana plants. While a popular target species for visiting bird watchers, its small size and hasty feeding behaviour make it a challenge to see, although when at rest its magnificence is truly revealed. The male and female strongly contrast but both share mainly green plumes. The male, however, is more glamorous with its bright crimson-coloured crest and crimson and green tufts beneath the throat. The female is devoid of both the crest and tufts seen on the male. Visitors of all interests are eager and impressed to see the Tufted Coquette, not only one of the world’s smallest birds but also one of the world’s smallest vertebrates." From Asa Wright Nature Centre website.

asawright.org/creature-features/tufted-coquette/

Just found another short YouTube video (10 minutes) showing local birds that can be seen at teh Asa Wright Nature Centre. Taken by Jan Gustavsson. After watching this, it makes me wonder how on earth I managed to photograph any of the fast-moving birds of any species.

youtu.be/x8lRRjsyGgk

And another YouTube video, just 3 minutes long by Kevin (myguidenetwork), showing the Asa Wright Centre and surroundings:

youtu.be/ojtrqabwGHc