Category: Nature

My profession is to always find God in nature.

– Henry David Thoreau

Posted on

African Trees?

I like looking up the big hills on two sides of my little house on the side of a small hill. The other day I snapped photos through my zoom lens of two trees that I liked the looks of: First is an African Tulip Tree which I know the identity of, but the second one and my feature photo is labeled by Google LENS as a Ficus Thonningii Tree which is native to Africa, though the iNaturalist AI would not specify a species, it just said that is is probably one of the Ficus Trees or one of the Squirrel Trees. (First I’ve heard of squirrel trees!). 🙂 But anyway, I like both trees and I’m sharing these two by photos. And if both are from Africa, it is not that unusual here for people to plant trees and shrubs/flowers from other tropical continents.

African Tulip Tree, Residential Roca Verde, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “African Trees?”
Posted on

Gray-headed Chachalaca

This large bird usually moves around my trees in groups or families and always “chattering.” 🙂 Here in a Nance Tree. See more photos in my gallery: Gray-headed Chachalaca.

Gray-headed Chachalaca, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Gray-headed Chachalaca”
Posted on

Punta Leona Trip Gallery . . .

. . . is finished and ready for visits! Just click the gallery image or go to this web address: https://charliedoggett.smugmug.com/TRIPS/2025-12-23-27-Punta-Leona

CLICK IMAGE to go to the gallery.
Continue reading “Punta Leona Trip Gallery . . .”
Posted on

Likes & Dislikes – Punta Leona

Maybe my biggest “LIKE” is the many species of birds you can see at Punta Leona like these Scarlet Macaws.

LIKES

  • Huge transitional forest as a private protected reserve with a large number of plant & animal species. I photographed 21 species of birds on my first visit in 2019, but with a lower energy level this trip and not as good a birding guide, I got only 11 species of birds, though I did also photograph 11 species of butterflies (more than last time), plus 8 species of other animals! They have correctly named it a “Nature Resort.” 🙂
  • Great Beaches & Underwater Activities that include the safest and best two beaches for children in coves and absolutely no undertow and very tiny waves. For divers (wish I was one), the first Central American Underwater Museum and first “Restored Coral Reef” that add to the uniqueness of this resort. And of course many other water sports plus a huge array of landside activities and sports for the hyperactive.
  • Punta Leona Hotel (Selvamar) has excellent rooms snuggled in among the tall trees with birds and monkeys, internet in your room, full breakfast, and all at what I consider a fair or good price.
My room in Selvamar section of Hotel Punta Leona, Costa Rica.

Read on for my dislikes and a gallery of more hotel photos.

Continue reading “Likes & Dislikes – Punta Leona”
Posted on

Christmas Crowds

It doesn’t seem as crowded in these photos as it felt in person walking on the beach and the bulk of people were in the shade of the beachside forest trees that I did not photograph, feeling like I would be invading their privacy. Nor did I try to photograph the monkeys that usually hang out in those trees because of all the people and I’m guessing that is also where most of them went to the bathroom with no public baños or porta-potties. The week before Christmas through New Years Day are the busiest days on all of Costa Rica beaches and in public parks, etc. since more Ticos are on vacation those two weeks than any other one time.

Enjoying the calm waters.
Continue reading “Christmas Crowds”
Posted on

Beach Pleasant Views

That title is because tomorrow I will show some “Crowded Views” (Not pleasant to me) of the beach as sort of a contrast and then the following day I will report on all my “Likes and Dislikes” of Punta Leona and why. And I know that one of these pix shows some of the crowds, but I included it here for the lush forest that Punta Leona has right up to the beach and the new maybe 15-20 story beachside hotel that is under construction on Mantas Beach as a part of Punta Leona Beach Club & Nature Resort.

Now some Mantas Beach views that I like . . .

When you walk from the current hotel, swimming pools, restaurants, and recreation areas, this is your first view of Mantas Beach, Punta Leona. Kind of nice I think.
Continue reading “Beach Pleasant Views”
Posted on

Pompeius Skipper

This little brown skipper with a historic-sounding name was at Punta Leona Nature Resort as he sometimes is in my garden. See my gallery Pompeius Skipper – Pompeius pompeius for more photos of this “brown is beautiful” little butterfly. 🙂

Pompeius Skipper, Punta Leona Nature Resort, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

My 2025 Punta Leona GALLERY is now finished!

Posted on

The “Trail of Giants”

“Sendero de Gigantes” is the unofficial nickname for the main forest trail at Punta Leona Nature Resort because of some really large trees on the trail. It took me two tries (2 days) to get the 100+ meters uphill from my room to the trail entrance on the main entrance road and then I didn’t even hike it because after a rain it was a muddy, slippery mountainous trail with lots of steep climbs and I tend to fall on wet surfaces, especially on wet steep inclines like this trail had. In fact I nearly fell going downhill into the trail entrance, so I decided not to hike it for my own safety. The occasional disappointments of being old! 🙂

After this introductory photo, there is a gallery of 4 more shots at the entrance. For younger people who love forest trails, this would be a good one! Especially for the big trees! And maybe some wildlife! 🙂

Forest Trail, Punta Leona — Limited parking at the trail entrance.
Continue reading “The “Trail of Giants””
Posted on

Tidepool Exploration

One of my plans for this second visit to Punta Leona was to photograph lots of interesting sea creatures in the Tidepools of Playa Mantas at low tide. Well, the low tide time I could go out for was cloudy and misty rain, but that is okay if there are sea creatures! 🙂 But I was disappointed with no starfish, seahorses, blowfish, crabs, etc! Only a couple of minnow-like fish, lots of broken up coral and shells and some fossils and lichen. But below this introductory photo are photos of what I did find and it was interesting, even if not what I was expecting. I will try tidepools again in September when I’m on the Caribbean Coast and see if my luck is any better there. 🙂

Playa Mantas at Punta Leona, Costa Rica at Low Tide, with
Rocky Tidepools circled in RED where most photos were made.

Continue reading “Tidepool Exploration”