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Our week here is based at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, 1500 acres tucked into the Arima Valley and accessed by a 45-minute continuously winding 1.5 lane road moving through a chayote plantation (vines covering the mountainsides) then into rainforest. The Centre was one of the first nature centers established in the Caribbean. The wide veranda of the main house allows viewing of fruit and hummingbird feeders. Our guest house, cooled by a ceiling fan, has large screened windows on two sides facing tall bamboo and heliconia stands, birds flitting in and out.
We were driven out this morning along with two from our group; others arrived this afternoon. Two guides, ten participants, our first group meeting was at dinner. Many of us stood on the veranda most of the afternoon seeing 30 species at or near the feeders, including a fat Agouti who steals the papaya and watermelon rinds. Eight species of Hummingbirds, Tanagers, Honeycreepers. There are far fewer species in Trinidad than in Ecuador, although the island is only 11 miles off the Venezuelan coast. The bird list is much more manageable; many species we’ve seen before, but it’s much easier to focus and recognize a dozen Hummingbirds rather than the 60 in Ecuador!
Tea is served every day at 4 (this having been under Britain for a time), rum punch is served every night at 6, dinner at 7. The weather for the week looks good. The dry season is upon us (thank goodness!) so partly cloudy, high 80s is a welcome change.
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Lia I have a wonderful children’s book about Asa Wright. Too cool that you are there!
Tracey Sounds more relaxing, and hopefully much dryer that many of the days on the last trip.