MOMPOX, Colombia -- As we zoomed down the waterway, a flock of birds swarmed overhead, filling the sky, the feathers of their wings illuminated by the rising sun.
On an excursion offered during an AmaWaterways cruise, we were up with the sun with binoculars and cameras on a birdwatching expedition to search for birds on a tributary of the Magdalena River.
The Magdalena River is rich with different bird species. Here, a heron, egrets and cormorants. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
Colombia is an ornithophile's paradise, with the most bird species out of any other country. In total, the country is projected to be home to 1,900 to 2,000 species, from the tiny purple-throated woodstar to the Andean condor, a bird with a 10-foot wingspan.
Birdwatchers flock to the destination from across the globe to enjoy the world's "birdiest" country, with many in hopes of spotting something rare, like the blue-billed curassow, an endangered bird in the Magdalena River Valley.
Our biologist-guide promised that the early wakeup call (5 a.m.) would be worth it to see the area's birds in the early morning hours. And he made good on his word.
From the moment we set sail in our small boat, I expected to leave with whiplash as a souvenir with how much I was snapping my head back and forth to see the different birds soaring above the canal or resting on a tree branch or hopping along the ground.
A black-crowned night heron. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
As they say, the early bird gets the worm: We saw a savanna hawk, herons, snowy egrets, parakeets, Amazon kingfishers and, my personal favorite, the wattled jacana.
I brought my camera to try my hand at wildlife photography and captured some not-bad images. What I enjoyed the most, aside from watching the colorful and unique species of birds I had never seen before in their natural habitat, was the requirement to be totally present.
A hawk perched on the back of a water buffalo. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
When I was learning how to take professional photos, a mentor told me, "If you see it happen, you missed the shot." With that in mind, I was mindful to ignore my phone, unwilling to miss a possible glance of a toucan (unfortunately, my devotion to paying attention did not pay off; no toucans graced us with their presence.)
And with my attention fully devoted to birdwatching, my sleepiness barely registered, and the peace that can only be found in nature washed over me.
A snowy egret in the treetops. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
Another benefit of our early wakeup call was that we beat the unforgiving Colombian sun and the stifling heat. The early morning provided a perfect warmth and a lovely breeze that drifted over us as we cruised the water.