Crowned Woodnymph
I have barely managed to process four days’ worth of photographs from Costa Rica, and have three more to go. And this was not a birding trip! But I find myself with a surfeit of hummingbird photos, so maybe it’s time to look at a few before I discover any more treasures.
Volcano Hummingbird
Perhaps the most unusual sighting was of the Volcano Hummingbird. Although conditions were not perfect for photographing this bird, it was cooperative and loyal to its perch on top of a short tree hugging a crater of the Irazu volcano.
White-Necked Jacobin
Even if White-Necked Jacobins were not widespread in Central and South America, they would be easily recognizable for their distinctive colors.
Green Hermit
In the middle of our work week we took a day off from banding and one feature of that day was visiting Rancho Naturalista for lunch and observing their hummingbirds at the feeders, like the Green Hermit above and the Green-Breasted Mango below.
Green-Breasted Mango
Rufous-Tailed Hummingbirds were numerous everywhere, and we were releasing them daily from the nets in the chayote fields. They appeared exotic again feeding in the vervain.
Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird
Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird
Black-Crested Coquettes are distinctive-looking little birds. Going through the pictures I wondered how I could have missed the fancy striping on their bellies, but I guess I was paying more attention to the black crest and the white posterior band that I guess makes them coquettish.
Black-Crested Coquette
Black-Crested Coquette
Black-Crested Coquette
Black-Crested Coquette
Crowned Woodnymphs used to be called Violet-Crowned Woodnymphs. I kind of like the old name better but they’re spectacular-looking little birds, whatever they’re called.
Crowned Woodnymph
Of course we saw Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds outside of the nets too.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
It’s been nice to have a four-day weekend to spend at home observing my new live-in birds. I hope to be back soon with reports from the home front as well as more from Costa Rica.
Crowned Woodnymph
All those hummingbirds are fabulous! Lucky you to have them close! 🙂
Thanks, H.J.! Actually they weren’t very close, for the most part. Only the feeder birds. The rest were lucky captures with the monster lens. 🙂
Wow! Wonderful photos of those little hummers. Coincidentally, a friend just arrived in Costa Rica a few hours ago. She said she was heading into the rain forest tomorrow. She, too, is a bird photographer. I hope she gets some images as gorgeous as yours.
Thanks, Bob! I’m sure your friend will see many more birds than I did and get great pictures. Costa Rica is doing a lot of things right for people and for birds… 🙂
Wonderful shots! Now I know why you lugged all your cameras and equipment everywhere we went. Thanks for sharing the photos
Thanks so much, Pat! There are more coming, but I never managed to get much editing done on the trip which would have helped me now. I like the challenge and I am just as surprised as you are by the results. 🙂
You have lived my dream! I am dying to go to Costa Rica and see the birds. These are great photos. My favorites are the white necked jacobin and green breasted mango. Such great names and fabulous birds!
It’s still my dream. I want to go back! You must go: Costa Rica has to be the easiest country to visit. The water is potable and delicious. You don’t need malaria medication, and I encountered no chiggers, which is really unusual (could have been something about the chayote fields, but still – bugs were not an issue). The food is delicious and the hospitality can’t be beat. And it’s beautiful and warm…. 🙂