Keel-billed Toucan, Macaw Mountain Bird Center, Copan Ruins, Honduras

The feeders at the coffee shop at Macaw Mountain Bird Center have become a real treat for bird photographers over the last few years. Wild Toucans, Aracaris, Orioles, Motmots, and Parrots come every day to enjoy the fresh fruit the coffee shop folk put out on specially designed cantilever feeders that swing out from the deck where you can sit and sip your coffee as you watch. The feeders can be placed out away from the deck for better framing of the birds against a natural background, and then swung in for easy filling. Some photo orientated birds tours that Alex Alvarado of Honduran Birds organizes spend a full day at Macaw Mountain because of the excellent photo ops. We were there on a tighter schedule and I had about an hour with the birds, but long enough for some of my best shots of Keel-billed Toucan, Aracari, and Oropendola…and my first shots ever of Yellow-naped Parrot. This Toucan was on one of feeders mounted directly on the rail of the deck. I was able to remove the edge of the feeder bowl at the bottom of the frame for a more natural look, but this is about as close as you are likely to get to a wild Toucan. Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ ISO 800 @ f4. Processed in Polarr and TouchRetouch.