Colombia

During our break from life at sea, we rented the little Casa Pajero cottage, with a balcony so close to the treetops that you could almost pick tamarinds and papayas. I spend many hours here birding in Santander, Colombia, on the lookout for new feathered subjects. But it’s not just an incredible variety of birds that show up: an iguana regularly comes by to warm itself in the morning sun on one of his three favorite trees, and a tree frog takes a siesta in our open bathroom during the day. The hummingbirds, on the other hand, come and go so quickly that I start to lie in wait for them. A certain flower in the front yard seems to attract them particularly – and with a little patience, I manage to take some beautiful close-up shots. All shots were taken with my Sony Alpha 7 IV and the Tamron 150-500mm lens.

While birding in Colombia, I traveled through the regions of Antioquia and Santander—two areas known for their extraordinary bird diversity. On my walks through misty mountain forests and remote trails, I encountered fascinating species such as the highland motmot, the azure-headed tanager, and the colorful masked trogon. Tiny hummingbirds flitted through the scene again and again – barely bigger than a thumb, but full of life and energy. I particularly remember encountering two wild yellow-breasted macaws, which were grooming themselves extensively high up in a tree – completely calm and seemingly unobserved. This gallery brings together my most beautiful bird photos from several locations in Colombia’s species-rich Andes. All shots were taken with my Sony Alpha 7 IV and the Tamron 150-500mm lens.