Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush
February 2013 – Central highlands of Costa Rica
This little thrush perched on a post along the trail for a few moments… They seemed fairly common in open areas in the highland areas of Costa Rica.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
February 2013 – Cahuita, Costa Rica
A few of these birds were wading in the shallow waters near the entrance to Cahuita National Park. They were very tame for herons – most herons I’ve encountered have been a lot more skittish. It was nice of this one to pose for this photo…
Green Heron
February 2013 – The Sloth Sanctuary, Costa Rica
I don’t see a lot of Green Herons, but somehow I’ve managed to get a lot of decent shots of them. This one was along a slough near the Sloth Sanctuary, which is just south of Limon, Costa Rica.
Green Heron
May 2011 – Oregon Garden, Oregon
I saw this Green Heron at the Oregon Garden on May 22, 2011. It was following the shoreline of one of the ponds late in the day. It was pretty focused on hunting for poly-wogs (which were plentiful), and I was able to get fairly close. Encountering this bird when and where I did, and with just enough light was a bit lucky. I got a couple shots of him hunting and eating, but the movement was so fast, it blurred out – the light was low, and I had to use a slower shutter speed. In addition, I was so excited, I forget to check the switch for the image stabilizer on my lens. Of course, it was off… So, a number of my shots have just a touch of jitter blur. But, a few of them came out OK.
Boat-billed Heron
February 2013 – Cahuita, Costa Rica
These are another unlikely-looking bird. The bill is neat, but I love the feet on this bird. A number of these were hanging out in the trees near the entrance to Cahuita National Park in the early morning.
Snowy Egret
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
This Snowy Egret was wading in the shallows on Carate Beach, acting more like a sandpiper than an Egret… but, whatever works, I suppose!
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
This bird was bellowing in the early morning on a small island in a lagoon near Carate Beach.
Tricolored Heron
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
There is a lagoon in the Carate Beach area, that comes within about 100 yards of the ocean. A good variety of herons and related birds probe the water’s edge in the early morning.
Tricolored Heron
Cherrie’s Tanager
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
These striking birds are somewhat common in the Osa Peninsula, and many other parts of western Costa Rica. These were both near the Carate Beach area.
The second image can be a bit odd to look at. This is a view of the bird’s back, and his head is turned around.
The females of this species look quite different than the males.. they’re sort of a mottled orange and brown color – still very lovely, but not quite as striking.
Cherrie’s Tanager
Great Kiskadee
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
I’m pretty sure this is a Great Kiskadee and not a Boat-billed Flycatcher (the two look very similar), as I have a few other images in this series that help with the identification… (though, I’ll have to say that the bill on this one looks more like the Boat-billed). Anyway, neat bird.
Scarlet Macaw
February 2013 – Osa Peninsula
After seeing these birds soaring free and wild, it’s hard to ponder one in a cage.. outside of the tropics. These birds love life so much, they need to live it.
Scarlet Macaw