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. . . is what fills this latest of my photo books and maybe my last, at least for a time. Blurb killed their old design software and I don’t like their new one, so definitely fewer and maybe no more books. Too much work and frustration with a poorly designed software!
You can preview every page of this newest book for free by clicking the book cover photo below or going to: https://www.blurb.com/b/12835485-roca-verde-butterflies
¡Pura Vida!
This is one of the few hummingbirds not totally chased off by the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, though he is only an occasional visitor to my Porterweed Flowers.
See more of this species in my gallery: Blue-vented Hummingbird.
And two more totally different shots . . .
Continue reading “Blue-vented Hummingbird”
POSTSCRIPT:
OOPS! The eBird Checker just told me I’m wrong on this ID and that this is actually a Turkey Vulture with no red showing and that the little yellow showing on the head is due to light and a blurry photo. Oh well, I’m leaving the original post below but moving this photo to my Turkey Vulture gallery, Plus it is interesting to note that the iNaturalist AI called this a Yellow-headed and three people on iNat agreed with that ID. So once again, IDs are difficult! (Especially with weak photos!) 🙂
A Lifer or first-time-seen bird for me! And he was in the sky above my garden! 🙂 In Costa Rica they are found only on the Pacific Slope (which I’m on), but usually more on the coast and in the marshes, says my bird book. They look a lot like the Turkey Vulture with a shorter tail and more contrasting white on outer primaries. The book also says they usually stay closer to the ground and the marshes than this one, which was flying in circles in the valley hills like a Turkey Vulture. This one has only a little yellow on his head which indicates an immature one, as they get more yellow when they age. Also, my observation was that he was flying with raised wings more than the Turkey Vulture who seems to always be gliding with flat wings stretched out. Since this is my only photo, I will not link to my gallery but rather to eBird where you can find more information and much better photos! 🙂 And the iNaturalist CR observations page and map shows where they are seen mostly, including in the marshes of the north along the Nicaragua border where I will be again in July and will look for them this time. 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
The most common species of squirrel in Central America is this Variegated Squirrel, Sciurus variegatoides (my gallery link). Here’s 3 shots of a very active one in my garden who, in one photo, is gathering material for a nest. And I’m back to doing posts in real time with just a few more photos from March when I was staying 10 days ahead on posts. Hoping the winds will die down and more birds and butterflies will be visible.
Or Yigüirro in Costa Rica Spanish, as the national bird that sings in the rains every May. See more of this simple but iconic bird in my GALLERY: Clay-colored Thrush, Turdus grayi (gallery link).
It was still windy when I captured this very determined butterfly feeding on the flowers. Maybe the worse part of the January to March constant winds blowing here is no butterflies! And somewhat also my allergies to the constant dust blowing in! 🙂 But the Polydamas Swallowtail (my gallery link) seems to be one of those few tough (or strong) butterflies who can fly in the winds and is maybe the most seen butterfly during this time period. I do also see some Banded Peacocks and tiny brown Skippers in my garden, but only occasionally, plus way up in the trees are some Yellows that seem to stay high, with almost no other butterflies. But that will start changing in April & May as the winds stop and my peak of butterflies in my garden is May to September! And yes, that is the rainy season. Just one shot of this Polydamas.
¡Pura Vida!
One of those semi-rare birds that I don’t see very often at home or on trips, though the most common of 8 different cuckoos in Costa Rica . This one was hiding in the shadows of a Nance Tree earlier in March, never showing the front of his/her bright B&W tail, thus no great photos like with the one that posed for me back in 2017. 🙂 But in nature photography you take what you get and try to make the best of it! 🙂 See my collection of Squirrel Cuckoos, the gallery! Just 3 shots here . . .
One of many shots of the Atenas hills at or near sunrise found in my gallery: From My Roca Verde Terrace (gallery linked) . . .
¡Pura Vida!
The Peruvian Shield Mantis – Choeradodis rhombicollis (Wikipedia link) is found mostly in Central & South American tropics. I photographed this one last week at Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort. And yes, he is related to the Praying Mantis, also found here. In my gallery I have him with other Hooded Mantises, Genus Choeradodis. But both iNaturalist & Google Lens were specific with a species name on this one. 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
Hiding in a piece of vegetation in the Los Angeles Cloud Forest Reserve two days ago. See more from several other locations in my gallery Masked Tree Frog, Similisca phaeota.
¡Pura Vida!