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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Golden-collared Manakin
Golden-collared Manakin Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
I walk into the forest behind my cabin, across two small meadows sparkling with butterflies and wild tropical flowers, down a little hill to the beginning of a narrow trail into the dark forest where I hear a clicking or popping sound, kind of like popcorn popping. Into the thick forest I find these beautiful little birds, the male Golden-collared Manakin. I saw only one female, much more reclusive and she was a solid olive-drab green color like the male’s lower breast/tummy and back. I was unable to get a photo of a female. Even at 3 pm the forest is dark, thick, and thus not conducive for photographs, though it is the males who come into the openings and who are purposefully showing off to attract the females. Yet when the dance starts, they are too fast to capture activity – see last 2 photos.
Golden-collared Manakin Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
In the forest I found 3 of these little clearings, called Manakin Leks where the male has removed all leaves for his big dance show every afternoon. Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Golden-collared Manakin Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
Golden-collared Manakin The male starts his dance by perching sideways on a vertical young tree. Tranquilo Bay Eco Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
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2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Butterflies in Panama
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2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama
Natural Bird Bath in the Creek
Then it is a quick dip in the creek and . . . |
They shake the water off above before flying back to a tree.
Tranquilo Bay Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama
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See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama