the forest Bathing pools

Another one of the unique ways (like bug lights) to see some of the inner forest specialties is to watch slow little streams in the late afternoon or early evening where birds will come to bathe and cool off after the heat of the day.  Last year we watched manakins, antbirds, quail-doves and a tinamou coming into a slow shallow stream at Carara. 

Rancho has an overlook over a series of pools in a little forest stream that we took advantage of on the evening of our full day there.  Hummingbirds are the main attraction, though other birds appear, such as Wood Thrush or this Kentucky Warbler.

The hummingbirds came in slowly as individuals to plunge into the pools, sometimes submerging entirely, other time dunking their breasts like this Green Hermit.

Wood-nymphs were the most common, but a few snowcaps were fairly steady visitors.

We waited about an hour for a Buff-throated Leaftosser to show up, the first member of this skulking group for me.

It's not much to look at, but not a bird that's easy to see.