If your hammock is situated by a forest edge and you pay close attention you may also see one or more species of the rather large and brightly colored trogons (relatives of the well-known Resplendent Quetzal), the Blue-crowned Mot-Mots, several species of hummingbirds, Orange-billed Sparrows, female manakins (the males spend their days dancing in the forests), Black-cheeked Ant-tanagers (an endemic to the Golfo Dulce), Chestnut-backed Antbirds, Becards, Buff-rumped Warblers, River-side Wrens, various under-story flycatchers such as the Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, tyrannulets, greenlets. On a lucky day, maybe a Grey-necked Wood Rail,

Marbled Wood-Quail or a Little Tinamou will sneak out of the forest cover for a bit.

Most hammock bird-watchers look forward to the extra excitement that comes their way a few times a day. Have you ever noticed that suddenly after a period of virtual silence the forest or garden will become alive with an incredible diversity of sounds. A mixed foraging flock has come to entertain. These flocks, consisting of numerous species, keep moving all day long and their make-up often varies as they leave one area and move into another. The frantic activity of the numerous, brightly colored tanagers, honeycreepers, dacnis', becards, vireos and warblers, pulling fruits, berries and small insects off the trees, will cause the avid bird-watcher to behave in a similar manner. These flocks move so quickly that often a novice will find himself alone and in the quiet again, without having identified a single bird in the passing flock.

Sometimes moving amongst these frenzied birds will be found the less frantic Woodcreepers (another difficult group for identification), Buff- throated Foliage Gleaners, Plain Xenops, and Olivaceous Piculets as well as, several, less social species including woodpeckers, trogons and hummingbirds. Of course, a squirrel cuckoo, playing the part of the loud voiced "sentry-bird", will often be present. The composition of these groups varies from group to group, season to season and area to area. Other common garden species, Parrots and Parakeets, will not participate in these mixed flocks. They prefer to hang out with their own kind although I have noticed two or three groups moving together for a short while.

After numerous days in the hammock, the novice "hammock bird-watcher" may begin to experience boredom. Having learned to tell the difference between a Blue-crowned Mot-Mot and a Blue Dacnis, one begins to wonder what more there could possibly be. Suddenly all the old friends scatter and in swoops a raptor. Roadside Hawk? Bat Falcon? Collared Forest Falcon? Spectacled Owl? As the interesting process of learning to identify a new group of birds starts, ones begins to see the value of a couple more days in the Hammock.

Some valuable tips for "Hammock Bird-Watching":

• A small table is useful to hold your drink, binoculars and bird books. Try not to knock it over.

• It's hard to see through binoculars if the hammock is swinging. Make sure one foot can touch the ground to stabilize the hammock.

• A pair of shoes will save your feet if you find yourself jumping out of the hammock and chasing a rare bird.

• It's hard to hear the birds while listening to The Grateful Dead or Bob Marley.

When all the activity starts, be careful not to fall out of the hammock in your excitement or the commotion may alert those "sentry birds" and all those hours in the hammock will be wasted.