Rick Simpson Birding Services

The other day we were at the UBWC when it started to rain, not unusual in itself for Ubatuba, especially so close to the mountains. The difference was the force and volume of the rain and the length of time the downpour continued. Really heavy rain like that rarely lasts for more than a few minutes, but this time it went on for about an hour and a half. Everywhere was under water, streams formed on the lawns, small rivers swept across the car parking area and down into the river itself which swelled rapidly to an impressively forceful torrent, rising in level by about a meter and a half in a short space of time.

Torrential rain and lawns beginning to flood.

We were trapped, the only access and egress from the property is via a normally benign ford, this was now shoulder deep in thundering muddy water.

River in full flood.

We had to wait it out. Eventually the rain subsided, it never actually stopped, but it became tolerably light, and the river began to subside too. It took about an hour for the hills to drain sufficiently for us to get our car out through the ford again.

The river and ford crossing in a more friendly mood.

Whilst we were waiting for the river to lose its fury, we noticed some birds were still out and about despite the deluge. It was amazing to see how hummingbirds coped in the rain. Some sat with their beaks pointing skywards on open perches presumably to minimise the impact of the raindrops. We tried to imagine what one of those raindrops must have felt like to a creature that weighs less than a coin.

Sombre Hummingbird sits the storm out.

Some valiently fed on at the feeders.

All photographs on this page copyright Rick and Elis Simpson.

Saw-billed Hermit.

Glittering-throated Hummingbird.