Red-headed Barbet: Mirador y Soda Cinchona, Costa Rica, December 2023 — The Red-headed Barbet certainly deserves another shot…in my opinion one of the most stunning birds of Costa Rica. And only my third sighting in over 10 trips there (and one of those was the slightly less colorful but just as interesting female). And this encounter was on our first real bird stop on the first day of our adventure. What a way to start! OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and TouchRetouch (some banana removed to feature the bird).

Northern Emerald-Toucanet: Mirador y Soda Cinchona, Costa Rica, December 2023 — Some authorities have this as the Blue-throated Toucanet and rank it as a species, but the IOU has it as a sub-species of the Northern Emerald-Toucanet. It is a common bird in the foothills and up through the cloud forests of Costa Rica and Western Panama. I have seen it many times at the Soda at Cinchona, and at Miriam’s Quetzals and Batsu Gardens above the Savegre River in San Geraldo de Dota. It is one of the chief predators of many other bird species…including the Resplendent Quetzal…taking both eggs and chicks. It is also a fruit eater, and comes to bananas and plantains at feeders within its range and elevation. Through the name…toucanet…might lead you to think it might be smaller than other toucan’s, it is at least the size of an Araciri or even Keel-billed Toucan. Not a bird you are likely to overlook wherever you encounter it. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Scarlet-rumped Tanager: Mirador y Soda Cinchona, Costa Rica, December 2023 — In the brief time I have studying and photographing tropical birds, this tanager has had three different names. It was the Scarlet-rumped Tanager when I started…then it was the Passerini’s Tanager on the Caribbean slope and the Charrie’s Tanger on the Pacific slope…at least in Costa Rica. The males have always been indistinguishable, but the females differ enough to raise some doubt. Then in 2018, they lumped the species again, and we are back to Scarlet-rumped Tanager wherever it might be seen. These Tangers are common throughout the lowlands and foothills of Central America, and are regular visitors to feeders, so they are no real challenge to see. Pretty birds though and worth a look. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.

Resplendent Quetzal: San Geraldo de Dota, Costa Rica — The Resplendent Quetzal has become my Christmas bird. For no reason except maybe for the colors, and the over the top ornamentalism, and the fact that I generally see one in the weeks coming up to Christmas, if I get to Costa Rica, and I have for at least most of the past 10 years. So, my Christmas bird. I have yet to get my perfect photo of a Quetzal, which keeps me coming back for more. They are predictably active only in the early morning, before the sun works its way down to stream level in the deep Savegre River Valley…Valley of the Quetzals…and there is never enough light to do full justice to the glorious, resplendent, plumage. There are worse ways to celebrate Christmas, so if it becomes a tradition, that’s okay with me. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications (with ISO shutter speed limits reset for the low light). Processed in Photomator and Photo Quality. And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Crimson-collared Tanager: Mirador y Soda Cinchona, Costa Rica, December 2023 — We stopped for the waterfall where the road crosses the La Paz River, but Mirador y Soda Cinchona was our first stop for birds, and it did not disappoint. All the foothills specialties stopped by the Soda’s redesigned deck and gave us such a good show that even the excellent lunch menu had trouble getting us to the table. The was the best look we got the whole trip of the Crimson-collard Tanager…such a vivid and contrasty bird that it is actually quite hard to photograph. OM Systems OM-1 with ED 100-400mm IS zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.