Otter!
Otter: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, January 2025 — One of my Easy Birds and Wildlife folks spotted this otter crossing the berm and the road ahead of us. We were busy with a Sandhill crane eating bugs around our feet, but we abandoned the Crane to see if we could track down the otter. And, indeed, we saw it crossing the berm 50 yards ahead of us again and got closer just as it ventured back up on the grassy bank. What a treat! They are apparently pretty common at Orlando Wetlands, but I rarely get to see one in the wild. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Farewell Costa Rica 2024
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird: Nectar and Pollen Reserve, Gaupiles, Costa Rica, December 2024 — We made a stop at the Nectar and Pollen Reserve, a small patch of hummingbird garden with some fruit feeders and covered benches for photographers and birders on the mountain coming up out of the Sarapiqui valley on the way back to San Jose and the airport. It was a slow day for birds, but the gardens are lovely and there were a few (very few) hummingbirds around. This is also the last photo I will be posting from my solo trip to Costa Rica last December. My next trip to Costa Rica starts in less than two weeks, so it is about time! Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds-in-flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Florida Great Blue
Great Blue Heron: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, USA. January 2025 — Maybe it is just the Florida light, or maybe it is the fact that you can often get much closer, but the Great Blue Herons of Florida seem much more vivid than the ones we get here in Maine in the summer. Not to throw shade on our Maine herons…I appreciate them, every one…but I cannot help but notice the difference. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 265 and 600mm equivalents. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in Framemagic.
Ah adolescence
Mantled Howler Monkey: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Showing off the vigor of youth as he scampers through the foliage of the underside of the canopy, this Howler has places to go, things to do. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 @ 600mm equivalent. Program with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Anhinga
Anhinga: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, USA, January 2025 — When I visited Orlando Wetlands in January the Anhingas were just coming into breeding plumage, the male Anhinga is an elegant bird at any time. The intricate black and white patterns of wings and tail are something to behold. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Black-faced Grosbeak
Black-faced Grosbeak: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — There were several Black-faced Grosbeaks working the undergrowth and the under side of the low canopy in Victor’s little patch of second growth rainforest, but they proved to be very hard to photograph. This is the only decent shot I got out of a dozen or more attempts. Like our North American grosbeaks, this one is a member of the cardinal family. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Bittern!
American Bittern: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, USA, January 2025 — I was very excited to see this American Bittern along the boardwalk at Orlando Wetlands, and to be able to show it to my photography class. Others saw it along the Bobcat trail, and it has, if the photos posted on Facebook are anything to go by, been seen regularly ever since. Some have gotten better photo ops than we were given…it never did step out from behind the grasses, but we make do with what we get 🙂 Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Note that this is an auto focus shot and the camera was able to focus on the eye even though it did not have a clear line of sight. 🙂 Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
The last Trogon
Gartered Trogon: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — This is the last of the Trogons to put in an appearance at Tico Rainforest B&B on my last morning there. You have to look closely to differentiate the Gartered from the Black-throated Trogon we saw earlier. The yellow eye-ring and the more vertical than horizontal banding on the tail are the give-aways. This bird never gave me a clear, unobstructed line of sight, but it is a great bird for all that. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Boardwalk Gallinule
Purple Gallinule: Orlando Wetlands Park, Christmas, Florida, USA, January 2025 — This Purple Gallinule was in the exact same spot both days I visited Orlando Wetlands in January…right under the boardwalk not far in. The second day we had sun! Which, of course, presents its own photographic challenges. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 382 and 450mm equivalents. Program with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Mother love
Mantled Howler Monkey: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2025. This youngster was actually pretty independent already. I saw it climbing around in the branches on its own, though never more than a few feet from mom. We humans respond to the young of most species (well, at least the mammals) in a unique and predictable way. Awwwh. Sony a6700. Tamron 50-400 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
