Well, what can I say that would adequately describe an incredible ten-day trip to a tropical country blessed with an abundance of fabulous, colorful bird life? It was overwhelming, to put it simply. The well thought out logistics were handled by the dynamic duo, Alec Humann and Patrick O Donnell. And, in spite of coming down with a flu-like virus (COVID 19? I'm still not sure), I was able to see over 300 life birds - with thanks due to many of my travel companions!
The hummingbirds were amazing, the flycatchers and doves were puzzling, the raptors were so incredible, the honeycreepers and tanagers were so colorful, trogons, macaws, and parrots —all captivating, and then sooooo many others left me breathless - like the oropendolas, resplendent quetzal, cotingas, tityras, tody-flycatcher (a favorite), antbirds, the ubiquitous kiskadee, et al... wow... It was overwhemimg.
Now that I’m home and recovering from foot surgery, I’m able to enjoy the trip all over again through my photos. Here are about a third of what I took...
Golden-browed Chlorophonia
Yellow-winged Vireo
Rufous-naped Sparrow
Collared Redstart
A very poor photo of a Spangle-cheeked Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager
Black Guan
Coppery-headed Emerald
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Clay-colored Thrush, Costa Rica's national bird
Scintillant Hummingbird
White-tipped Sicklebill
Blue-gray Tanager
Common Chlorospingus
Bat Falcon
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Orange-chinned Parakeet - super cute, super noisy, super fun!
Another shot of a beautiful Blue-gray Tanager
Great Kiskadee
Low light photo in the forest of a Spectacled Owl
Black Hawk-Eagle
Red-legged Honeycreeper
Buff-throated Saltator, a seedeater
Gartered Trogan
Banaquit
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Black-headed Nightengale-Thrush
Emerald Tanager
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Yellow-throated Euphonia
Russet-naped Wood-Rail
Boat-billed Heron
White-throated Crakes
Scarlet McCaws
Howler Monkey - and boy, do they HOWL!