charliedoggett.net
My profession is to always find God in nature.
– Henry David Thoreau
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| One of the Sphinx Moths maybe – specific variety not found La Coope Supermercado Auto Repair Shop Atenas, Costa Rica |
During my first year or so here I was finding new butterflies or moths nearly every week but have not in months if not a year or longer recently. On the last two trips I saw several Banded Peacocks which are kind of common butterflies to me now and nothing else that would land. Both Arenal and Corcovado had several fast-flying butterflies that never landed or slowed down for a photo. That included several Blue Morphos at Corcovado. But this is my first photo in a good while and I cannot positively identify it. If you know, please leave a comment! Or email me. Cell phone shot.
And see my similar photos in gallery Butterflies & Moths.
¡Pura Vida!
My favorite birding group here now is a Tico Facebook group called: Asociacion Ornitologica de Costa Rica
The one photo I posted there from my Arenal trip was this Keel-billed Toucan that I also used on the cover of the book about Arenal Observatory.
Several comments were made but the most interesting was from Diego who said,
Las flores han de ser hermanas de las aves..!!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
The flowers have to be sisters of the birds..!!
It is possibly and old saying or even a quote from some writer (though my Google search did not find an author), but I thought it so interesting and true especially with some of the many colorful birds here in Costa Rica and I appreciate Diego’s comment!
Toucans are difficult to photograph even with the tower at Arenal putting me up on their level! But they certainly are a lot like flying flowers! 🙂
And if you like tropical plants but live “up north,” check out how you can go tropical in your house, year-around, 16 Tropical Plants to Grow Indoors. A reader wrote and suggested this.
Top 10 Most Welcoming Countries for Expats
An online article by Expat Organization InterNations
They put Costa Rica at #6.
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| A sign in the lodge property that is my motto for travels all over Costa Rica. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Variable Seedeater male Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
I tried again this morning and will again this afternoon and tomorrow morning, but have not found
my two target bird, Bare-necked Umbrella Bird and Yellow-eared Toucanet which I have a lousy dark photo of from Tenorio National Park, but I really want a good photo of one! Both birds are supposed to be here but you can never guarantee a find! As of Tuesday afternoon I do have photos of 27 different species of birds and 5 of those are new photo-finds for me! So not bad! They are:
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| Sunset over Lake Arenal at Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Yellow-throated Toucan Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Collared Aracari (A type of Toucan) Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Keel-billed Toucan Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Red Lored Parrot Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| “The Nest” or Birding Tower 92 ft tall — A Little Scary! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Freddy is there 8 hours a day with locked gate to the tower. 8 max people at a time including one staff member. Lots of warnings in English & Spanish. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Top of the English Warning Sign With long list of conditions below from pregnancy to vertigo! There are 146 steps going up and down and the tower does sway with wind & people movement. Today was my 2nd time up. Yesterday morning my birding guide took me up and we saw 0 birds! Nada! This afternoon Freddy used recordings of toucan sounds to attract them to the surrounding treetops! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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Sunset Behind the Clouds Tonight
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica
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And Scary Clouds at that! But No Rain!
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica
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| Red-eyed Tree Frog And yes, this one is orange and I can’t explain why. Usually bright red! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Semiplumbeous Hawk Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Gray-capped Flycatcher with insect in his mouth! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| House Wren Singing Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Buff-rumped Warbler Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Variable Seedeater Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
I took so many photos of so many birds and other animals that the above is just a sample from my guided bird walk this morning before breakfast. For more, see Trip Gallery Arenal Observatory
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| The Broader “Pre-Sunset”Look behind the Restaurant Deck (shot from my room) Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And the other extreme, zooming in on the sun behind the clouds tonight. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Danta Waterfall Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Crested Guan Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Great Curassow Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Montezuma Oropendola Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Green Honeycreeper female Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Mantled Howler Monkey Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Emerald Basilisk Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| One of the Lillies Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Hibiscus Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Tonight’s Sunset Over Lake Arenal Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
And today was eBird’s “Global Big Day” of bird counting. Here is a link to my eBird List of 11 species seen here at Arenal Observatory Lodge. All of the birding guides here were out counting today which is why I could not have a guided bird hike today. I have one tomorrow.
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| Yellow-throated Toucan Eating a Lizard Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Male & Female Great Curassow Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Lineated Woodpecker Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Montezuma Oropendola Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Red-legged Honeycreeper, female & male Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Palm Tanager Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Blue-gray Tanager Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| White-nosed Coati Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Arenal Volcano from my Lodge Room Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Sunset from my Room Deck Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
What can I say? The photos are worth a thousand words and this was just after getting here at noon today and eating lunch first. It is a totally amazing place and instantly one of my favorites! And with another 4 and 1/2 days yet to go!