End of rainy season

 

Mid-rainy season vs. end of dry season, same spot

 

The end of rainy season and transition to dry season is quite different than the transition from dry season to rainy. When rainy season initially arrives a deluge of rain immediately causes a flurry of grasses and leaves to appear. I've posted about this transition before and it's truly a shocking change. When the rainy season ends it's more of a gradual drying out of the area. I always feel like there is one week where you realize that instead of growing, plants are beginning to fade. Everything is still green but instead of being perky and strong, plants are subtly wilting.

I enjoy this transition period because there aren't as many biting insects as the peak rainy season but there is still a significant amount of foliage and vegetation to not have the landscape appear so naked. The mosquitos die out but there are still enough insects to keep a naturalist entertained (mainly beetles, crickets, and katydids) and although the migrant birds depart, there are still the usual suspects around with some birds trying to squeeze out a final clutch (most notably this year we had a very late season African Paradise-Flycatcher clutch). 

It won't be long before there is not a single blade of grass and the landscape appears more desert than tropics. The dry season is a tough time but the rhythm and changes of the seasons is one of my favorite aspects of life here.

Mid-rainy season vs. end of dry season, same spot

 

Another view