Posts in Category: hummingbird
Costa Rica! Lesser Violetear
Lesser Violetear Hummingbird: Feathers Garden, Savegre Mountain Hotel and Spa, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Another hummingbird who frequents the Feathers Garden at Savegre: the Lesser Violetear. It used to be the Green Violetear, until the name gods changed it to the Mexican and Lesser Violetear…and, no, there is no Greater Violetear. ?? This is a feisty little hummer that attempts to dominate the feeders wherever you find it…and it is common from the upper reaches of the Rainforest right up through Cloud Forest, at least to 8000 feet where I have seen it often. OM System OM-1 with M. Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Green-crowned Brilliant
Green-crowned Brilliant Hummingbird: Feather’s Garden, Savegre Mountain Hotel, Spa and Reserve, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — After our lunch and the amazing bird show at the Miriam’s Quetzals, the rest of the group took jeeps up into the Cloud Forest for a walk high above Sevegre Mountain Hotel. I have done that walk many times and decided to stay behind and spend the afternoon at Feather’s Garden, a small back yard garden that is maintained by Melvin, a guide who lives on the Resort grounds. I have stayed at Sevegre many times, and somehow never knew this garden existed. It is designed for photography, with a small shelter in case of rain, chairs to sit in and watch the birds come and go. It is well through out, well maintained, and attracts all the birds common at the 7500 foot elevation of Sevegre, including this Green-crowned Brilliant. You can have high expectations for any hummingbird named Brilliant and the Green-crowed (or Green-breasted as it sometimes called) does not disappoint. OM System OM-1 with M. Zuiko 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom bird modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! shades of Talamanca
Talamanca Hummingbird: Miriam’s Quetzals, San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica, December 2023 — There were probably only a few male Talamanca Hummingbirds at Miriam’s when we visited, but they were aggressively defending the feeders and their territories, so it felt like a lot of birds. I have grouped shots here of males, to show off the various shades of violet and blue that the changing light brings out. Each photo is worth a look on its own for the details. OM System OM-1 with 100-400IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Star of the show
White-necked Jacobin: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Very much the star of the hummingbird show at Dave and Dave’s. If the White-necked Jacobins had their way, no other hummingbirds would visit the flowers at Dave and Dave’s. Ever. They seem to spend more time and energy defending the feeding spots than they do feeding. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS Zoom at 506mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Catching the Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer hovering by the flowers is another goal of every visit to Dave and Dave’s. On a morning visit, when the birds are most active, the light is not ideal, but it makes for some dramatic backlighting. Gotta love the red feet! At one time this was called the “red-footed plumeleteer. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator. These are natural light photos…no flash.
Costa Rica! White-necked Jacobin
White-necked Jacobin: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — This shot of the White-necked Jacobin with the tail flared against the sun is one you can hope for at Dave and Dave’s on any visit. Patience and anticipation are all that are required. A camera that is up to the job helps. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Park, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird showing off its name-sake tail with the sun behind it. The different gorget colors are purely due to the angle of the light. The scientific name of this bird comes from the Aztec for warrior, which is appropriate as in many places the Rufous-tiled dominates feeders and flowering plants…vigorously guarding them from all other species. At Dave and Dave’s the White-necked Jacobins dominate even the Rufous-tailed, but perhaps just because their numbers are higher. OM Systems OM-1 with the ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Reserve, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Another hummingbird from Dave and Dave’s. More rare than the White-necked Jacobin, both in general and at the flowers at Dave and Dave’s, which makes it a more special bird to see and photograph. However the dominant White-necked Jacobins do their best to keep the Plumeleteer away from the feeding area, so they are quick in and out. This one managed a brief rest stop right in front of us. The only Central American hummingbird with red feet! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 472mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! White-necked Jacobin
White-necked Jacobin: Dave and Dave’s Costa Rican Nature Reserve, La Vergin, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Dave and Dave’s is one of my favorite stops for birds and bird photography in the Sarapiqui Valley. Perched on a bluff at canopy level above the river, their rewilded Banana plantation attracts birds of both the canopy and the forest. And their set-up off the back deck is ideal for hummingbird photography. White-necked Jacobin is the dominant species, but they attract several others as well. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds in flight modifications. Natural light (no flash). Processed in Photomator. ISO 4000 @ f6.3 @ 1/1600th. -0.3EV
Costa Rica! Green Hermit
Green Hermit Hummingbird: Mirador y Soda Cinchona, Costa Rica, December 2023 — I prefer not take photos of hummingbirds at feeders, but some hummers, some of the time, are just impossible to get otherwise. This Green Hermit, like most hermits, makes lighting raids on feeders at mid-elevations in Costa Rica and Panama, but spends most of its time out of sight deep in the forest understory. Again, if memory serves, this is a bird that I have only ever seen at the Soda in Cinchona. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 564mm and 334mm equivalent. (Close enough to hear the wingbeats 🙂 Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.