This weekend I go to Xandari Nature Resortnear Alajuela, which is the only place in Costa Rica that you can see all of my Costa Rica Photo Books, other than at my house. I installed the library of photo books in January there for the benefit of their guests and this weekend I will be adding two more books, the only ones made since January for all of Costa Rica. (I also did a photo book on my Roca Verde neighborhood birds, but figure that is too narrow a focus, but may decide to take one of those too.)
Two new books for the Charlie Doggett Photo Library at Xandari Resort.
Doing some things on impulse is part of being retired in Costa Rica I think and I’m tired of being cooped up at home in Atenas. One of my favorite nearby get-a-ways announced they were open on weekends only for now with special discounted prices, so I took the bait and will go to Xandari Nature Resort this weekend, an hour away, Friday afternoon to Monday morning; to hike their forests, waterfalls and most beautiful gardens. Hope to get some good photos and will avoid group hikes or any other interactions with people, eating alone, maybe even relaxing in their solo hot tub by reservation. But mainly some new nature experiences, some with my mask and face shield as we continue to fight the spread of COVID19 here. I will stay safe! And I forgot to say yesterday that I now have my “Permanent Residency” in Costa Rica! 🙂
There are dozens of species of Skipper Butterflies and in fact I have 17 plus species in my Costa Rica Butterflies Gallery. This morning after breakfast I walked into the garden to see what I could find and though I saw more, here are 4 different species of Skipper Butterflies I got usable photos of – CLICK to enlarge:
Esmeralda Longtail Skipper
Chisos Banded Skipper
Plain Longtail Skipper
Yellow-rimmed Skipper
Four Skippers at Breakfast this Morning
Border Opens to More Countries: Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and China. So if you live in one of those “safer” countries, you can be a tourist in Costa Rica! Come on over! The water’s fine! 🙂 You will have to be certified free of Coronavirus and follow a few new health rules, but everything else is great as always here!
Another repeat butterfly species for me on the same flowers I saw the Simple Patch butterfly the other day while walking to town. Observing and enjoying NATURE is the best way to survive the world-wide pandemic, in my opinion! 🙂
New species for me that is – Scientific Name: Chlosyne hippodrome, and two common names: “Simple Patch” in A Swift Guide to Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, my only good printed guide, while several websites are calling it “Simple Checkerspot,” with checkerspots and patches being “cousins” in the larger “Brushfoot” family of butterflies or maybe checkerspots being a type of patch butterfly – not clear to me yet. Confusing? Yeah, labeling butterflies has always been difficult for me and I still have several “unidentified” butterflies in my gallery. There doesn’t seem to be as much world-wide coordination of butterfly naming and following like with birds.
But anyway, this one is similar to Crimson Patch which I already had a photo of and also similar to the Banded Peacock of which there was one flying near where I got this guy on a zinnia at the Corner of Avenida 8 & Calle 3 while walking to town. Butterflies continue to amaze me! 🙂
Another repeat butterfly for me today, though I only got a side view. The top view of this guy is a lot different – white with two yellow splotches plus the little brown spots you can barely see here, though I was unable to photograph the top this time. See more in my White Angled Sulphur Gallery. Another interesting butterfly I can enjoy in my garden during this rainy season.
I have studied the Swift Guide to Butterflies of Mexico & Central America plus the internet and cannot find an exact match, but certain it is in the “Poanes” scientific family name with many called something Poan Skipper, thus my generic name here. It is my second time to see this butterfly in my garden, see my Poan Skipper Gallery for the other one. I have decided it was the angle of sunshine that caused my first one to appear more orange and thus I originally called it “Evergreen Poan Skipper” which is not correct, partly because book says they live only in Mexico. Maybe we have an un-labeled Costa Rica version? Hey! It still happens in all categories of wildlife here. 🙂
This is my first of this particular Cattleheart and I got them mating! In my CR Butterflies Gallery I have 4 other species of Cattlehearts but not this one until now. It is found from Mexico south to Costa Rica with supposedly fewer this far south, but they were in my garden and for this photo on the outside wall of my house. I’m up to 110 species of butterflies here now! 🙂
Another repeat butterfly for the blog, but a special one found almost only in Central America, the Giant White (Ganyra josephina) (Wikipedia), seen from South Texas through Mexico and Central America to northern Columbia, with rare strays into New Mexico & Kansas. They are plentiful here in Costa Rica though difficult to photograph because they are constantly on the move and I seldom get in sharp focus. These three shots from my garden yesterday morning. And all of my earlier shots of Giant White Photo Gallery were also from my garden. 🙂 CLICK image to enlarge.
Butterflies continue to demand my attention around the house as seen by this guy yesterday – the Giant Swallowtail (and I’ve shown several on the blog).
With only wrens and thrushes around the house now, I hope to check out Calle Nueva this morning or tomorrow morning for maybe some different birds. The days remain pleasant with partial sun and usually an afternoon shower, keeping everything green! Costa Rica’s “Winter” or “Rainy Season” is still my favorite time of year here. Pura vida! Pure life!
Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
Costa Rica Travel Rules
Entrance & Travel Protocols for My EU, UK, and Canada Friends who can visit beginning August 1. This list is thanks to our friends at “Two Weeks in Costa Rica” website & blog. It is really mostly common sense precautions since we still have cases of COVID19 here, like washing hands, wearing mask, and expecting some differences in the “yellow zones” and “orange zones” which are based on how many cases there, including fewer businesses opened. There is also a required health insurance you can get at the airport.
Sorry for the inconveniences but our Ministry of Health precautions are the reason Costa Rica has the lowest COVID rate in all of Latin America or maybe all of the Americas.
