This day was spent at the house, enjoying the view and the wildlife that the immediate area had to offer. My nature exposure began, in fact, before the crack of dawn, when I was rudely awakened by the raucous, tremendously loud calls of a flock of rufous-vented chachalacas outside the window as they passed by. I sleepily thought to myself that I would grab photos of Tobago's turkey-like national bird (locally called the cocrico) at a later time, which sadly never came. Fortunately, I would have plenty other wildlife encounters.

My brother and I made a point to explore the area around the house, which was teeming with unfamiliar flora and fauna that left me wonderstruck.

I was thrilled to see more of my favorite local bird, the Trinidad motmot, as we walked the property. They cooed in low tones, hopping heavily from perch to perch as I watched them, but never seeming to allow me to get very close. I tried to pursue them with some degree of stealth, hoping for a better shot.

They led me away from the house, deeper into the woods. I followed.

As I crept into the woods, my brother off some ways behind me trying as well to pursue them, I heard a heavy flutter nearby. I got my camera ready, hoping for a lucky shot, and hissed to my brother that they were near me. In that exact moment, a motmot landed on a branch right in front of me. I clicked my camera in a panic, not allowing time to focus.

I hurriedly made to focus my camera, the bird poised cooperatively, as my brother loudly responded, "What?"

It flew off.

We spent the remainder of our day uneventfully in the company of our fellow travelers, simply enjoying our presence on the island.