Posts in Category: birds
Costa Rica! Coppery
Coppery-headed Emerald Hummingbird: Mirador ye Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — One of only two endemic hummingbirds of Costa Rica, and the only one that I have seen…almost exclusively at Mirador ye Soda Cinchona. The relatively small Coppery-headed Emerald is closely related to the Snow-cap and some authorities place it in that otherwise lonely genus. This one only showed up after we had pretty much packed up to leave. I am glad we delayed just a little longer. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii @ 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Violet is the color
Violet Saberwing Hummingbird: Mirador ye Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — The Violet Saberwing is among the largest hummingbirds in Central America, and in the world. Surprisingly it does not dominate the feeders where other species overlap, which is almost everywhere in its range. It is a bird of the foothills and mountains of Costa Rica. There is noting to match its deep rich iridescent purples or the flash of its white tail. Again, these shots were on our rainy afternoon on the deck in Cinchona. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600, 423, 474mm equivalents. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Brilliant!
Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird: Mirador ye Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — The whole family…an adult female, immature male, and two shots of the adult male. They were never in sight all at the same time, but in 90 minutes on the deck at the Soda in Cinchona, we saw all three. The females were by far the most numerous, everywhere in the bushes around the deck, I did not identify the immature male for what it was until later that evening, and we did not see the male until we were packing up to go, but see them all we did. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent for all but the full body shot of the male, which was at 471mm. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Black is the color
Black Guan: Mirador ye Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — There are two Guans in Costa Rica, one in Rainforest and foothills and one in the foothills and mountains. The Black Guan favors higher elevations. This one was coming to the fruit feeder in the rain at Mirador ye Soda Cinchona and was the first bird we saw there. Hard to miss. Big as a small turkey, and jet black except for the face patches. An impressive bird. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di 3. Full body shot at 178mm equivalent and head shots at 600mm. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Toucanet in the rain
Northern Emerald Toucanet: Soda ye Mirador Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — My first stop in Costa Rica, even if, as this year, I have to go the long way around to do it, is always the Soda ye Mirador Cinchona…a small restaurant and shop perched on stilts on the side of the road and on the side of the deep drop into the canyon of the Sarapiqui river. They have a back deck with tables and both hummingbird and fruit feeders that attract all of the birds you might hope to see at mid-elevation in Costa Rica. And they have a glorious view of San Francisco falls across the valley as a bonus. This Northern Emerald Toucanet was one of several visiting the feeders in the pouring rain…he was not very happy about the rain, but then, neither was I. I prefer better light…but we take what we can get. Both photographers and Toucanets. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 300mm equivalent. (One of the things I like about Cinchona is how close the birds are to you.) Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! More than he can chew
Broad-billed Motmot: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — On my first day at Tico Rainforest B&B, Victor, my host, took me out on his little patch of second growth rainforest to look for birds. We found lots! One of the highlights was this Broad-billed Motmot who had caught a rather large flying insect and was having difficulty both subduing it, and getting it down. I have snipit of video showing it beating it against the branch. It eventually got it swallowed and I hope it made up in nutrients what it cost the Motmot to catch and eat it. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and assembled in FrameMagic.
Costa Rica! Scarlet indeed
Scarlet Macaw: Pierrella Ecology Garden, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — We had gone back to finish our lunches when someone called out the Scarlet Macaws that had come into the same trees where we had just seen the Great Green Macaws, so of course, we grabbed cameras and when back out to the Garden entrance. Indeed, half a dozen Scarlet Macaws were feeding, along with a few Great Green’s left over from the previous group. The Scarlet Macaw was never in as much trouble as the Great Green in Costa Rica as its diet is not so specialized, and it is more adaptable to habitat changes, but it is always great to see a wild flock of Macaws. They are spectacular birds. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Great Green indeed
Great Green Macaw: Pierrella Ecology Garden, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Pierrella Ecology Garden is actually a butterfly farm…they raise and export chrysalides of a wide variety of native tropical butterflies…but the attention to the health of the rainforest they have carefully restored to what was once pastureland, including the butterfly host plants, has made it home to all the birds of the region, including some difficult to see like the Great Green Macaw in these photos. The Great Green Macaw was almost totally expatriated from its native range in Costa Rica, and its restoration to a healthy population is one the great success stories of the ecology movement in Central America, and in the world. These magnificent parrots flew into feed in their favorite tree, planted with intention near the entrance to the gardens. We saw at least 4, perhaps 5, in a single tree. A truly magical moment. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Portrait of the King
King Vulture: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Another shot from our session with the King Vultures on the ridge above the Rio San Carlos in Boca Tapada. Just so bizarre. A very efficient scavenger though. Thanks to Victor of Tico Rainforest B&B for taking me to this spot. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! King in the rain
King Vulture: Mirador El Pizote, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Victor of Tico Rainforest B&B took me to meet a young man who as couple of photo decks at his home on the banks of the Rio San Carlos and helps to maintain a feeding platform for vultures, including the amazing King Vulture on the ridge above. There is nothing quite so startlingly strange as a King Vulture. We saw 3 adults and one juvenile from the hide. This adult was about to launch himself from the top of a snag in the rain. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di3 at 477mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds in flight and action modifications. Processed in Photomator.