Snail Kite, Lake Yojoa, Honduras

We are off to the mountains of Santa Barbara above Panacam Lodge in Honduras early tomorrow in search of the Ornate Hawk Eagle (and maybe Resplendent Quetzals 🙂 so I am making tomorrow’s Pic for today post early. This is a Snail Kite along the edge of Lake Yojoa, below Panacam Lodge. Lake Yojoa is the largest natural lake in Honduras and major attraction for both birds and vacationing Hondurans. They farm a lot of tilapia in the lake as well. And, evidently, there are a lot of snails, as both Snail Kites and Limpkins are plentiful. I always say wildlife photography (any photography for that matter) is mostly about being in the right place at the right time and ready. I was experimenting with a new focus mode and having some success when this Snail Kite came banking in and snatched the snail from the water. I was ready. The camera was ready. And the rest is told by the image. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode with modifications for birds and wildlife. The focus mode I was using was “lock on Auto Focus (which is what Sony calls “follow focus”) using the small flexible spot”. It works really well. I have the complete sequence of the kite striking the water and flying off with the snail (which I will post when I get home). 1/640th @ f4 @ ISO 100. Processed in Polarr.

Wine-throated Hummingbird, La Tigra National Park, Honduras

This Wine-throated Hummingbird at La Tigra National Park in Honduras made us work for our shots, but it was certainly worth it. It is tiny and gorgeous. The large (by hummingbird standards) wine-colored gorget is often flared and catches the light brilliantly. This male was working a patch of flowering trees down off the trail and we had to bushwhack through raspberry briars, over downed pine trees and all their branches, and through man-high ferns to find a vantage where we could observe and photograph it. Alex, my guide, encouraged me by saying it would be the shot of the trip, and it comes close. Certainly one my favorite birds so far. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 640. Processed in Polarr.