The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (eBird description) is definitely the most common hummingbird in my garden, to the point of having chased away other types of hummingbirds. 🙂 And it may be the most common all over Costa Rica or at least I’ve seen it all over! In my Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Gallery you will see my shots from 9 locations in Costa Rica. It is found only in Central America and the northern edges of South America. Because it is found almost everywhere in Costa Rica, I will not link Trip Galleries for this bird but just credit the feature photo and my second favorite Rufous-tailed shot which appears below with the two places linked . . .
Continue reading “FAVE BIRDS – Rufous-tailed Hummingbird”FAVE BIRDS – Sunbittern
One of those thrilling moments of discovery was the first time I finally saw a Sunbittern, even though planned and expected but not guaranteed, there it was! And after a few shots of a plain walking bird along the stream, he finally opened his wings for this shot of spectacular color and design! Read the Backstory for more on the experience.
The Sunbittern (eBird description) is found along water in Central America and the northern half of South America. See my Sunbittern Gallery for my images made at La Mina near Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba; Macaw Lodge near Carara NP; and at Tapirus Lodge, Braulio Carillo NP. See links at bottom of post for all three of these trip galleries and links to these 3 lodges in The Backstory.
Continue reading “FAVE BIRDS – Sunbittern”Rancho Naturalista THE BOOK
Scenic La Mina near Rancho Naturalista
La Mina, Costa Rica |
La Mina, Costa Rica |
Guia Miranda La Mina, Costa Rica |
La Mina, Costa Rica |
La Mina, Costa Rica |
Sunbittern (the way he is mostly seen, blending in with the rocks) La Mina, Costa Rica |
Sunbittern (a short flight) La Mina, Costa Rica |
Sunbittern (posturing to scare a predator, like 2 large eyes of a larger animal) Some butterflies do the same thing. La Mina, Costa Rica |
You can see this unique place from Rancho Naturalista lodge near Turrialba, Costa Rica
And I have now added the bird photos from this trip to my Costa Rica Birds photo gallery.
Let me drink from the waters where the mountain streams flood
Let the smell of wildflowers flow free through my blood
Let me sleep in your meadows with the green grassy leaves
Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace
Let me die in my footsteps
Before I go down under the ground.~Bob Dylan
And a “Feeling Old” story from today. I came back from Turrialba with a bad cold or “flu” they call it here. I tried an over-the counter thing that did nothing, so to avoid two visits and long waits at public clinic, I went to my old private doctor, Doctora Candy, who was not in today but her new intern was seeing patients, Dr. Andres Carmana.
He looked like a little boy, one of those young men out of university and medical school who just looks younger than he is (“not yet wet behind the ears”), but really nice and efficient as he explained things to me professionally in English in a very young-sounding voice. Gave me 3 prescriptions. And I almost smiled when he told me “You can just call me Dr. Carmana.” You know you are old when everyone who serves you looks to you like a child. 🙂
Flowers at Rancho Naturalista
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
At Rancho Naturalista or in a nearby forest All near Turrialba, Costa Rica |
See also my photo gallery called Rancho Naturalista Flowers which includes flower shots from my 2015 trip to Rancho Naturalista
Farm Fresh Food at Rancho Naturalista
Farm fresh food at every meal from the on-property farm! Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
All meat and dairy products from their own farm, even the cheese! Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Low Season means Fewer Guests These 2 birders from states there my 1st two days only Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
My 77th Birthday Cake! I was not expecting! (Mercedes told them.) Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Just one piece! Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
And their website: Rancho Naturalista
Rancho Naturalista – The Place
One of the friendly staff at Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
My excellent young Birding Guide, Mercedes! Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Main Lodge & Dining Room (office, kitchen, library, etc.) Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
My Cabin for the Week Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Tile steps invite me down from my cabin Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Observation Deck above the bird feeders and vistas I had coffee at 5 AM each day here |
One of the Vistas Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
“I never get tired of blue sky.” -Vincent Van Gogh Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Early Morning Fog adds Mystery to the Forest! Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
And Recognition is Good! Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
And their website: Rancho Naturalista
Butterflies at Rancho Naturalista
Mexican Silverspot Rancho Naturalista, near Turrialba Costa Rica |
Common Ur-Satyr Rancho Naturalista, near Turrialba Costa Rica |
Black-bordered Tegosa La Mina, near Rancho Naturalista,Turrialba Costa Rica |
Variable Cattleheart Rancho Naturalista, near Turrialba Costa Rica |
Checkered White Butterfly OR Cabbage Moth Rancho Naturalista, near Turrialba Costa Rica |
See my Costa Rica Butterflies & Moths Photo Gallery.
Unknown Snake at Rancho Naturalista
Unknown Snake I zoomed in or cropped one photo for this closer look. Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Unknown Snake I’m guessing about 2 meters long. Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
He was outside in front of the laundry room and as we gave him attention, he disappeared in the leaves and undergrowth of one of the flowers. At first glance he is a dark brown snake, like the one I saw cross a trail here on my arrival day. At closer look he seems to have an orange belly or at least up front and to have other colors than just brown on his back or dorsal side. See first image. He is similar to 3 or 4 in my snake book, but not an exact match, so I am not naming him.
5 Bird Nests Seen at Rancho Naturalista
Snowcap Hummingbird Nest Wayne’s house near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Sunbittern Nest (vacant now) La Mina near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Royal Flycatcher Nest We waited a while but never saw the bird. La Mina near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Montezuma Oropendola Nest Used by another bird below Wayne’s house near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Olive-backed Euphonia Nest Inside the top of Oropendola Nest Wayne’s house near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
Olive-backed Euphonia Nest Inside the top of Oropendola Nest – Baby visible here. Wayne’s house near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
See photo of several Oropendola Nests in a tree at Selva Verde Lodge.