This “uncommon” bird is generally found only on the Caribbean or Atlantic side of Costa Rica while the more common White Ibis is on both sides, though more prevalent on the Pacific side. This particular Green Ibis (eBird link) was photographed in Tortuguero NP as one of the 5 locations in my Green Ibis Gallery. I particularly liked this photo because of the unusual flying position of his wings in an umbrella or bowl shape. Never seen this in any bird. See my Backstory below for more information about the five places I’ve photographed this bird.
Continue reading “FAVE BIRDS – Green Ibis”Costa Rica by Bus
Someone recently asked me about getting around the country by bus and I think I referred them to the Bus Schedule website which lists all of the option when you type in the “From” and “To” spaces on that website with all bus companies included.
Well, I forgot about an even better help beyond schedules, the Facebook Group Page Costa Rica by Bus on which you can post a question (may have to join group first) and some of the many people who travel by bus will share their experiences and advice. And of course they also recommend the bus schedule site above. And by the way, that bus in photo above is the one I took to Turrialba.
I plan to go to a birding lodge near San Isidro del General in May, so anticipate my report on that bus experience then. I use the bus almost weekly to go from Atenas to Alajuela for many different reasons and have gone to San Jose by bus many times. Some of my other bus adventures have been (with links to photo galleries):
- To and from Tranquilo Bay Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama
- To and from Bijagua and Celeste Mountain Lodge at Tenorio Volcano National Park.
- To and from Orosi & Tapanti National Park
- Day Trips to Nearby Towns of San Jose, Zarcero and Palmares
- 3-Day Visit to San Jose
- Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba
- Multiple times to Zoo Ave in La Garita and once to Tarcoles River
- And with local retirees on charter buses many time, while the above are public buses of different companies.
All of this was to simply say that you can travel on a “shoestring budget” and see a lot of Costa Rica whether you live here or visiting. Buses are cheap here! That is the way most Ticos travel! And you can do it without the Spanish language, though much easier and a richer experience if you speak at least a little Spanish.
Now, as a retiree who has made seeing all of Costa Rica my main activity, I do not do everything the budget-way and love to go the longer distances on Sansa Airlines or to places less than 3 hours from Atenas by my favorite driver here in Atenas, but I do not have a car and have basically quit renting cars because of the high insurance cost, thus seeing Costa Rica by bus is one option I still use when I consider it the most practical way. The next bus report comes in May! 🙂
“Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets” ~ Oscar Wilde
I just realized that I did a similar post in 2017, Seeing Costa Rica by Bus 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
Flowers at Tranquilo Bay
A sampling. To see more go to the 2018 Bocas del Toro gallery.
See my “Trip Gallery” at:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
My Cabin & Lodge Facilities
My “Cabin” or actually 1 of 4 rooms in this building with me alone. Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
My Porch & Hammock Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Inside my Room Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Part of the 200 acres of forest behind my cabin to explore Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
The Trail between my cabin and dining room & dock Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
The Birding Tower – My Favorite Place Maybe Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Dining Room & Lobby Featuring the Mike Smith family of Nashville, my old hometown! It’s a small world! Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
“Tranquilo Bay” THE BOOK IS READY!
More Water Scenes from Bocas
Our dock at Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
A Little Island within swimming distance of our dock This was the best area for snorkeling with colorful coral and fish! Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
15 year old Scott, one of the owner’s sons and an excellent birding guide! Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Sunrises & Sunsets were mostly indirect for my times on the water Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
A common view when we went away from the island Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
I think this is a lodge or restaurant on one of the islands Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
And many people lived on the islands and thus on the water as here in Bocas Town Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Isla Pájaros – Bird Island
We felt like we were approaching the Jurassic Park Island Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Flocks of Magnificent Frigatebirds flew overhead with other birds Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Magnificent Frigatebird Juvenile Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Brown Booby Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Brown Booby Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Brown Booby Baby Many seabirds nest on this island. Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Red-billed Tropicbird Bird Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Mainland Birding Near Bocas del Toro
Only a sample of the many birds we saw driving from the coast up the mountain in mainland Panama at closest point to Bocas del Toro Archipelago of islands. For all that I photographed on this trip see my TRIP GALLERY 2018 Tranquilo Bay, the Birds sub-gallery.
Green Ibis Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Passerini’s Tanager Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Dusky-capped Flycatcher Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Pale-vented Pigeon Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Cattle Egret Juvenile in Nest Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Boat-billed Heron Juvenile near nest Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Swallowtail Kite Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
Silver Throated Tanager Mainland Panama near Bocas del Toro Islands, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
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ALSO OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO YOU:
Other Wildlife from Panama
Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth Mother with Child Soropta Canal, Changuinola near Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Juvenile Green IguanaSoropta Canal, Changuinola near Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Unknown Insect On our mainland highland hike near Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Blue Crab or Mangrove Crab Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Common Basilisk or “Jesus Christ Lizard” Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Isla Popa for the Snowy Cotinga
For the birders among my readers, this is only my second time to see and photograph a Snowy Cotinga. The other time was Christmas before last at Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiquí.
Brown Pelican Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Brown Pelican Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
Being in the Atlantic Ocean with lots of islands and mainland nearby is pretty! Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
I love the trees! Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
I love the trees! Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
I love the trees! Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
And the houses and tourist cabins are interesting too! Popa Island, Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama