A Couple of Repeat Birds

Hoffman’s Woodpecker Female
In my garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica
A little better photo than one posted the other day.

White-Ringed Flycatcher
In My Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

White-Ringed Flycatcher
In My Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

And my BIRDS GALLERY online

Blue-crowned Motmot

Blue-crowned Motmot
In My Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Blue-crowned Motmot
In My Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

The other day I told about missing a photo of a motmot, well at breakfast today I got one. Not my best shot with the cool tail partially hidden, but okay to be behind some leaves. 

See also my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY 

Do Overseas U.S. Citizens Vote?

I have already told you that I voted in an earlier post. But do other adult U.S. Citizens living overseas vote? Not very many! It is as bad or worse than the voting record of those living in the states. Here is an official U.S. Government voting statistics report with cool graphs showing how many and who votes of the 5.7 million total Americans living overseas (counting children): 

2.6 million are of voting age (18+) and most of those are not even registered to vote. Meaning that in 2014 only 4% of that 2.6 million voted! Shameful! But of the ones who are registered to vote (like me) we have a better record than many states or cities within the U.S. with 57% voting! These stats are based on the 2014 election and not necessarily what will happen this year. And it is now too late to vote absentee from Costa Rica. 
There are a lot of other interesting facts shown in the colorful graphs, so follow the above link to see more. 
Costa Rica has the 8th largest group of U.S. Expats. And San Jose, Costa Rica has the 6th largest group of U.S. expats of any city, with 3 of those 6 in Canada; meaning only Tel Aviv and London have more American citizens than San Jose (outside Canada). Interesting! And Costa Rica had the 8th largest turnout of expat voting in 2014. 

The Missed Birds!

Many Pass Through this Dead Tree at end of my terrace.
Yesterday I had no camera when
two Keel-billed Toucans stopped momentarily & then up the hill!
and a few days ago
A Blue-crowned Motmot landed in this same tree, briefly!
Links are to one of my photos of that same bird made elsewhere.

I think the toucans were looking at my Cecropia Tree (Arbole Guarumo o Yagrumo) which is suppose to attract toucans. So far that is as close to the Cecropia as I have seen them yet. Eventually! Pura Vida!

The dead tree is soon to be cut down, so maybe that will make the Cecropia more appealing! 🙂
The Cecropia or Guarumo o Yagrumo Tree beside my terrace (a deck in the states).
And remember that I put Spanish words/names in red (when I remember).  🙂
Toucans love this tree, but mine is still young, so eventually it will get toucans.
And for the birds I did get photos of, see my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY
Or maybe you would like more trees in my FLORA & FORESTS GALLERY

The Stewart’s in Costa Rica

Lucinda, Emily & Tim Stewart
At Veritas University in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica

It was a fun privilege to have lunch with these three Stewart’s today in San Jose. They were here partly because Emily is in a 3-month International Studies program at Veritas University. Plus they had a vacation weekend together at Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast and Tim & Lucinda a little getaway at Arenal Volcano. Wow! I’ve had 6 different visitors from Tennessee in less than two years! Maybe they haven’t forgotten me in Tennessee yet.  🙂

Anthony’s Gardens

On the hill behind my neighbor’s house he has this very full, lush garden that is more than camera shows!
Anthony has spent a lot of time and money making this full hillside garden next door.

And by his front door this nice garden in front of my house.

Anthony is a good neighbor for many reasons and his gardens are certainly one of those! Together we keep our landlord’s property looking good and we both use the same gardener to keep our yards up. If you live in Atenas, it is J&C Gardens or contact me to get the phone number or email address. We think they are very good.

Yes, this is the Anthony who made the garden-art clay bird in my garden though he does not have anything similar in his garden yet. He will eventually.

And there is my under construction FLORA & FORESTS photo gallery if interested.