This is our first time to visit here. When we were spending
a week in the Darien in Panama with birding group Canopy there was a guy from
Carmel, California that was also there for the week and he just raved about Asa
Wright Center in Trinidad. (Hi, Dennis, Domi & Jenn) So, we planned to
spend our day there.
“Asa Wright is located at 1,200 feet in the mountains of
the Northern Range, seven miles north of the town of Arima. Comprising nearly
1,500 acres of mainly forested land in the Arima and Aripo Valleys of the
Northern Range, the AWNC’s properties will be retained under forest cover in
perpetuity, to protect the community watershed and provide important wildlife
habitat.
The Centre’s main facilities are located on a former
cocoa-coffee-citrus plantation, previously known as the Spring Hill Estate.
This estate has now been partly reclaimed by secondary forest, surrounded by
impressive rainforest, where some original climax forest on the steeper slopes
have a canopy of 100-150 feet. The whole effect is one of being deep in
tropical rainforest.
Species lists for this island are impressive, including 97
native mammals, 400 birds, 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians, and 617 butterflies, as
well as over 2,200 species of flowering plants. No other area in the West
Indies, and few areas of comparable size in tropical America, can match this
spectacular species diversity. Trinidad is 50 miles long by about 37 miles
wide, and dominated by the Northern Range, which rises to about 3,000 feet and
was historically covered by tropical rainforest. Here, in this lush part of
this beautiful island, you will find the magical Asa Wright Nature Centre.”
Our Guide Mitch of ABX Taxi was to pick us up at the port
as soon as we could disembark the ship that arrived at 8:00. We were the 3rd
couple off the ship as they opened the gangway in front of us. We walked quite
a distance out of the port and through the immigration building and out of the
port where we were supposed to meet him. I saw only one taxi guy holding a sign
for one person from our ship. We waited half an hour and walked next door to
the Hyatt in case he was waiting at that exit. Finally, we grabbed another cab
driver (for $10 more) and we had wasted a half hour waiting for Mitch.
walking out of the port
I saw someone from our roll call on Cruise Critic that also
was using Mitch’s company and asked if their taxi showed up on time. He said it
did and if I wanted to talk to Mitch he was there. So, I found him and asked
what happened and where was he? I guess the other taxi companies there told him
we were the first people out of the gate and after waiting over half an hour we
grabbed another cab. Mitch says to me “How did you get off the ship so fast?”
He said he was sitting in his car waiting for the large crowds to come off
before he got out. So, you see 2 people come out and you are looking for 2
people it didn’t enter your mind to check to see if it was us? He was
apologetic and said well at least you got here. Yes, after wasting over half an
hour and paying more money. He came back to me a little bit later and said to
make up for the snafu he would give us a short city tour at no charge if we got
back to the port in time. I said no thanks, we’d rather spend our time here.
We spent some time on the Jade Vine Terrace which has a
spectacular view of the Arima Valley and lots of birds that come to eat at the
feeders.
We did spot an Orange-winged Parrot on a far tree (in the
pouring rain) and lots of Hummingbirds, Bananaquits, Honeycreepers and Tanagers.
White-lined Tanager
Blue Honeycreeper
Blue-gray Tanager
White-lined Tanager - female
White-necked Jacobin
White-necked Jacobin
Rufus-breasted Hermit
Copper-rumped Hummingbird
Purple Honeycreeper - female or immature
back patio
Violacious Euphonia
Agouti
Brown Violetear
Orange-winged Parrot
Silver-beaked Tanager
There was also another cruise ship in port with a tour
group there besides the tour group from Princess. There were also a few of us
that came independently. The cruise ship tours had their own guides and they
staggered the walks. We had a small group, but other than us no one else was a
birder. Despite the site saying closed toed shoes only on the trails, many wore
fancy sandals or flip flops. The trail was muddy and slippery.
We knew right away that it would not be a positive experience
for seeing wildlife & birds. I didn’t expect people not into nature to sign
up for a tour here, but they clearly didn’t realize what they had signed up
for. The weather didn’t help either. So, our much anticipated trip to Asa
Wright turned into quite a disappointment. It’s a place where you need to stay
there and have time with your own guide or just by yourself with other
like-minded birders to appreciate all it has to offer. They also have Oil Birds
that we knew in advance that we wouldn’t see as you need to stay 3 days with
them for them to take you to the cave where they live. We did see a few new
birds today despite the conditions. Tufted Coquettes, Bearded Manakin and the
Parrot as well as a Golden-olive Woodpecker as well as a couple others. We also
got to see Agouti. There were a lot of them in Panama, but it was nice to see
them again.
White-necked Thrush
Agouti
Coquet Hummingbird - shame he was soaking wet, but it gives him a cool hairdo
Coquet Hummingbird
Coquet Hummingbird
After the walk we had a nice buffet lunch in their dining
room (booked in advance) and chatted with a bird guide that works for Wings (a
major birding company) and he said he has clients coming the next day. We
chatted with him while we ate.
We had some time left after we ate before we had to head
back to the port, so we went for a short walk on our own and finally the sun
came out. So, that is when we saw all of the birds we saw other than the ones
coming to the feeders.
Cocoa Thrush
White-bearded Manakin
Tropical Mockingbird
Violacious Euphonia
rooms for people stay there
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Bay-headed Tanager
Green Honeycreeper
White-chested Emerald
White-chested Emerald
Tropical Mockingbird
Oilbird - copy of photo - you have to spend 3 nigtes there to see them in their cave
Our cab driver was concerned traffic would be bad so we
left a half hour earlier than we had planned. We were back with a couple hours to
spare, so I grabbed my token magnet at the craft market at the port and we got
back on the ship.
PriceSmart - we had them in Panama
the 3 sinks at each of the 2 entrances of the buffet to wash your hands
After 5 back to back ports with 5 days of rain & wind, I
was ready to some relaxing sea days.
We had a free dinner at the Bayou Café (included as a
booking incentive) with 6:30 reservations so we had time to shower and make
dinner. It wasn’t as good as we remembered; having loved that restaurant on the
Coral Princess. My steak came out virtually raw, (I do like a steak on the rare
side of medium rare) and even the waiter said you probably want that cooked a
bit more….(after I cut into it). In hindsight I should have just eaten it.
After they take the steak back and cook it longer, it now comes out medium well
and over-cooked. They must have left the Trinity topping on it as it came out
crunchy. Ah well, not my night for a decent steak. Greg’s Porterhouse was
tasty.
The entertainment tonight was Noodles Levenstein a comedian.
Not to our taste, but many seemed to enjoy his humor.
Tomorrow, a much needed Sea Day!!!
Trinidad Asa Wright Nature Center https://photos.app.goo.gl/zRg9RLRCa2KnWrkp1
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