I always like this one better than the more common here Hoffman’s or Black-cheeked Woodpeckers. And maybe that is because this one reminds me more of Woody Woodpecker. 🙂 And Woody is special in many ways, one being that he was born the same year as me, 1940. 🙂 But enough of that! The Lineated Woodpecker, Dryocopus lineatus (linked to my gallery), is a tropical forest bird found in both the lowlands and foothills (where I live) of Central & South America. In my gallery you can see that I’ve photographed him on both slopes of Costa Rica in many locations. Read about him on eBird.
This is probably one you have seen, found in most of the Eastern and Southern U.S. all the way south to Argentina, the Fiery Skipper, Hylephila phyleus (my gallery link). Like many butterflies, the top and folded wings views are different and distinct. Here’s a shot from the Caribe of both views, and of course the one with a bee in it made me smile! 🙂
Fiery Skipper, Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa RicaFiery Skipper, Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica
The Africanized Honeybee, Apis mellifera (Wikipedia article link), was introduced from East Africa into Brazil and it migrated north throughout Central American and into Texas. I’m pretty sure of this ID and that is what Google Lens called it. Photographed on a wildflower along the beach road, Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica.
Africanized Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Limón, Costa Rica
All of the bees I’ve photographed in Costa Rica are in a general Bees Gallery, with several species and most unidentified so far. 🙂 They were photographed before Google Lens! 🙂
I still haven’t processed all my photos from today and will get a few more in the morning before I leave, but I’m pleased to get a different bird and butterfly from all the other days here . . .
Cocoa Woodcreeper, Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa RicaZebra-striped Hairstreak, Hotel Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo, Limón, Costa Rica
And one of many shots of sunrise this morning that I haven’t all processed, but will eventually share more, including the throng of local people out at sunrise on Saturday morning! 🙂
One of the more common butterflies all over Costa Rica is this Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima (my gallery link) and as these two recent photos in my garden show, the top of its wings are a very dark brown & red with a brilliant white while the bottom of the wings are paler or a light brown and red. Of course, as always in nature, there are a few exceptions or variations, but not many in this species. See my gallery linked above. It is another of the many species found only in Central America & Mexico.
Banded Peacock, Atenas Alajuela, Costa RicaBanded Peacock, Atenas Alajuela, Costa Rica
Though the Rufous-tailed continues to dominate my garden and especially the feeders when I fill them, the other hummingbird that I still have in spite of the Rufous-tailed is the Canivet’s Emerald Hummingbird (linked to my gallery) and he is a less common hummingbird anywhere here in Costa Rica and is only found from Southern Mexico to Costa Rica. But it seems to occasionally show up and I appreciate her spunk in putting up with the rufous-tailed! Either a male or female has been in my garden from the beginning in 2015, one of the first species I photographed there. Here’s three different views of this female (back, side & front) or go to gallery for more . . .
The Mimosa Skipper – Cogia calchas (linked to butterfliesandmoths with more photos & location map). It is a new species for me and another mostly Central America butterfly found from Mexico to Venezuela. With the naked eye it first looked almost solid black but by removing some of the shadows of the side view in Photoshop Elements I got that erratic pattern to show and aid in identification. I continue to be amazed at how many new species I am finding this early in the season (this one was March 31). Here are two photos, a side view and an almost top view plus there are more in my Mimosa Skipper GALLERY.
When on a boat on the Rio San Carlos and we saw these two Ibis, I first thought they were vultures, based on their perching stance and dark color, but they are Green Ibis which are not always green in color! 🙂 It was cloudy and about to rain and they were looking for some fish to eat. 🙂
If you look in my Green Ibis Gallery you can find some with a greenish hue, but many tend to be dark brown or near black with sometimes a reddish-brown hue. I don’t know why. If you look close, these seem to have a greenish hue on their necks and the base of their beaks, and that is all! 🙂 Here’s one shot. Go to the above gallery to see more.
Green Ibis, pre-rain fishing, Rio San Carlos, Maquenque Eco Lodge, Boca Tapada, Alajuela, Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida!
Flash News: I have Covid!
All those 2+ years of rampant Covid in 2020-2021 and I never had it! (Though I had cancer which is worst!) 🙂
Well, I came back from my trip not feeling my best and it kept getting worse, aching all over like the flu, sore throat and coughing, runny nose, etc. I went to the public clinic ER and they thought I had Dengue Fever, but after two days of blood tests, they said “No, not dengue!” Then told me to take lots of fluids and rest. Not being satisfied with that, I went to my private clinic and Dra. Candy immediately got a Covid Test on me and it was positive. I have several meds to take and I’m quarantined for 5 days, clear again next Wednesday. It’s the bronchitis, coughing and phlegm that bother me the most. Tylenol takes care of the fever. Just be glad when it it gone! 🙂
The Giant Ceiba Borer or Euchroma gigantea (iNaturalist link), is one of the larger borer beetles that inhabits the warm tropical lowland jungles of Central and South America from Mexico to Argentina. And quite a sight to see! 🙂
This was one of my very last photos this morning before leaving Maquenque Eco Lodge (lodge website) on one of the handrail posts going over the bridge/dam between the lake & lagoon. And just before beginning another adventurous road trip back to Atenas through pineapple fields, heavy traffic, clouds/fog, rain and winding mountain roads, arriving just barely in time for my appointment to receive a new dental bridge. 🙂
Giant Ceiba Borer, Euchroma-gigantea, Maquenque Eco Lodge and Reserve, Boca Tapada, Costa Rica
More to Read About this Insect . . .
And don’t miss the iNaturalist article linked above! And my photo will soon be a part of the iNaturalist photo collection on this species. 🙂
A much more detailed blog post: ALEPHROCCO A natural history blog by Christian Alessandro Perez-Martinez
Bibliography on Euchroma gigantea by Maya-Ethnozoology
This one almost fooled me because I did not see his yellow breast that I always associate with the Kingbird, I almost called it a Palm Tanager, but it’s not! Confirmed by Merlin as the Tropical Kingbird (linked to my gallery).
