Monthly Archives: December 2024
Costa Rica! Slaty-tailed
Slaty-tailed Trogon: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — On my first morning at Tico Rainforest B&B, Victor was able to show me several memorable birds on his small riverside property. The Slaty-tailed Trogon was certainly the most colorful with its bright red breast and belly, its metallic green head, and bright orange bill and eye-ring. We had a male come in a perch fairly close, and later, a female perched almost too close to focus. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Manakin
White-collared Manakin: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Victor, the host at Tico Rainforest B&B, has a wonderful little property right on the Puerto Viejo River…recovering Rainforest rescued from banana production 20 years ago…that attracts an amazing variety of the lowland rainforest birds. The thing about the rainforest is that it recovers fast once taken out of production, and the river corridor allows the birds to move in and out easily. Of all the Manikins possible, we only saw the White-collared in the days when I visited, but we had several encounters with what might have been the same male and one encounter with his mate. Manakins are active and fast and not easy to catch. We did not find a lek to see them dancing, but still, every encounter is to be treasured. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Dull day Eagle
Bald Eagle: York County, Maine, USA, December 2024 — Sitting over the river on a dull afternoon. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator and TouchRetouch.
Costa Rica! Not cooperative
Squirrel Cuckoo: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — We (Victor and I) found this Squirrel Cuckoo among the palms in a neighbor’s yard just down the road from Tico Rainforest B&B…not a cooperative bird at all…it stayed mainly hidden in the palm fonds in somewhat harsh direct sun and consequently deep shadow. This as the best I was able to do. They are, I think, called Squirrel Cuckoos because they look like Squirrels as they run along the branches of trees. There may be a more scientific reason, but if so, I am not aware of it. 🙂 Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Another unexpected
Yellow Tyrannulet: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — another unexpected bird found foraging in the same field as a flock of mostly Variable Seedeaters. Not a seed eater at all, it was undoubtedly hunting the insects the seed eaters were stirring up. It is quite a common bird, but one with a highly fragmented range down through Central America and over much of South America. It has 5 regional subspecies. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Odd bird out
Morelet’s Seedeater: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — In a field full of Variable Seedeaters, this bird stood out. Formerly the White-collared Seedeater until split, it is another seedeater of the fields and savannas from the US boarder with Mexico down through all of lowland Central America, including Costa Rica. This is, apparently, a non-breeding male, and is a particulary bright specimen at that. It is uncommon enough in Sarapiqui so that Victor, my host at Tico Rainforest B&B, had to consult with experts to identify it. This was distant for such a small bird and both shots are heavy crops. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! Smokey-brown
Smokey-brown Woodpecker: Tico Rainforest B&B, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, December 2024 — on my first morning at Tico Rainforest B&B, my host, Victor, took me for a walk around the neighborhood and on his property looking for birds. We saw a lot of Seed-finches, and then this Smokey-brown Woodpecker, eventually finding a spot where we could see the bird through the tangle of vegetation along the edge of a field. The smallish, plain colored woodpecker, though common all through Central America and down into South America, was a first for me. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Costa Rica! The other Barbet
Prong-billed Barbet: Mirador y Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — The male and female Red-headed Barbet were not the only Barbets in Cinchona the day we visited. This is the Prong-billed Barbet…and the last photo I took at the Soda that day. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 449mm equivalent. Program mode with my bird and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.
Maine! Filigree Ice
While out looking for Eagles on a very cold December morning, I had to check the Mousam River for interesting ice formations. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 340mm equivalent. Program mode. Processed in Photomator and framed in LikeAFrame.
Costa Rica! Quail Dove
Buff-fronted Quail Dove: Mirador ye Soda Cinchona, San Jose, Costa Rica, December 2024 — Quail Doves of any kind can be hard to see. They tend to stay on the ground, under the lowest vegetation, and are quiet, both in motion and in vocalizations. This one walked up the foot bridge that serves the fruit feeders at the Soda in Cinchona, and perched momentarily just off the rail of the deck. Not the best light for photography (still raining, so ISO 25600), but the best views of this shy bird that I have ever gotten. Sony a6700 with Tamron 50-400 Di iii at 327mm equivalent. Program mode with my birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Photomator.