I stayed quiet and close to my expert guide, waiting patiently near a grove of wild avocado trees - the food of choice for this special bird - as the sun started to rise. Just as we were starting to lose hope, a 'kee-kee-kee-keee' calling sound rang out, and there! A flash of green and red emerged from the trees. A glorious male flew across the scene, iridescent green feathers flashing in the sunlight, with his remarkable tail flowing behind like long satin ribbons. After picking and eating one of the many wild avocados on the tree, he sat and waited for it to digest, his long feathers blowing in the breeze. In a flash, he was joined by a female and - yes - another male! 

Another highlight was observing dozens of species of hummingbirds from the window of my Cloud Forest lodge while working and sketching from my cabin. I felt completely in tune with nature as I observed these beautiful creatures up close.