Category: Atenas

Posted on

Great Spreadwing

This Great Spreadwing Damselfly (my gallery link) has the scientific name of  Archilestes grandis and the Spanish common name of Caballito Crucifijo Mayor. The name refers to the fact that it is one of the few damselflies that always lands with wings spread out. And this is my 4th sighting of one in my garden. It must like Atenas too! 🙂 See more photos in my gallery linked above.

¡Pura Vida!

It is still windier than usual for May, but less frequently now. I’ve photographed a lot of birds in my garden but no great photos yet. And fewer butterflies. 🙂 I’m staying home and resting this weekend because of a little stomach virus (taking medications) and want to be full of energy for my Monday to Wednesday visit to Xandari which has been a good butterfly source in the past.

Posted on

Light & Shadow + Pause 5 Class Notes

The theme of today’s online class was “Light & Shadow” and you can see my class notes and comments at Pause 5: Light & Shadow. (linked to my notes) Still not excited about the class, but this was a good photo-activity! 🙂

So I went outside at about 3pm yesterday (not the best time for long shadows, but okay). Here are a few of my shots in a gallery that won’t work in the email, so one pix for the email and then go to the online post for the gallery . . .

Every forest is light & shadow! This one across the cow pasture by the stream.
Continue reading “Light & Shadow + Pause 5 Class Notes”
Posted on

Pause 4: Sensation and Emotion Class -May 15, 2026

I am continuing the “Photography & Mindfulness” online class with #4 being day before yesterday or done yesterday for me. And of course a blog post each time with a link to my notes, comments and one or more of my photos that I think sort of relate. I’m not quite as “ethereal” or maybe it’s “psychological” as my teacher in Spain, but hoping this focus on mindfulness will help me to be more mindful and sensitive in making creative and meaningful nature photos. If interested, go to my online notes on this particular class at : Pause 4: Sensation and Emotion -May 15, 2026 NOTES.

I think that a red flower always produces more “sensation or emotion” than any other color. 🙂

And About the Feature Photo . . .

Dying Cecropia Leaf with green spots or “Green Islands”

From Google AI: “Green islands” on a browning leaf are caused by living pests or pathogens that manipulate the plant’s hormones. They excrete cytokinins (plant growth hormones) that trick the leaf into delaying its natural death and keeping its green chlorophyll active in that specific area.

¡Pura Vida!

See all of my notes from this class at my Photography & Mindfulness page.

+ My Friday Trip to Immigration

Continue reading “Pause 4: Sensation and Emotion Class -May 15, 2026”
Posted on

Laverna Metalmark

One of the most seen butterflies in my garden was seen the first time this year a couple of days ago, so maybe we are about to get back to normal (if the wind will just stop blowing!). 🙂 See my photo collection at Laverna Metalmark.

Laverna Metalmark, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Posted on

Juno Silverspot

As butterflies slowly return, even in the wind, I welcome another former regular, the Juno Silverspot (my gallery link) even if not really good photos. I’ve seen him flying by more than landing anywhere, but barely managed to get these two shots, side view & top.

Juno Silverspot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Juno Silverspot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Posted on

Yigüirro Work Satisfaction

The rainy season here is believed by many to have been “sung in” by the Yigüirro or Clay-colored Thrush. Rain usually starts around the middle of May, while this year it started in early May. And sure enough, the Clay-colored Thrush sang almost constantly throughout April and the rains started the first week of May! I think this image of a Yigüirro in one of my Nance Trees has that look of a “job well done!” 🙂 And it continues to rain almost every afternoon.

Yigüirro or Clay-colored Thrush, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

See more photos of this National Bird of Costa Rica in my gallery: Clay-colored Thrush.

Posted on

Ziba Scrub-Hairstreak

I’m trying to be more patient, just sitting on the terrace long enough to see something like this hairstreak land on one of my flowers for maybe 20 seconds, meaning that one then has to be quick to snap a photo! 🙂 This one is not a stranger to my garden as you can see in the gallery: Ziba Scrub-Hairstreak, Strymon ziba. The former English common name was “Red-spotted Scrub-Hairstreak” and the Spanish common name still is. I guess some committee somewhere makes all these name changes for both birds and butterflies.

And, with it still being quite windy, I’m forced to be patient and wait for one to show up in the lulls of the wind. And the same patience is needed for an interesting bird to land in a tree too, as they eventually will, even on windy days. 🙂

Ziba Scrub-Hairstreak, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Posted on

Leopard Moth

My first sighting of one of these, on my bathroom wall yesterday. There are more species of moths than butterflies, but most are nocturnal, thus I see fewer.

Leopard Moth, Hypercompe caudata, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

This moth is in the Erebidae Family of moths, the family from which I’ve seen my most moths. See the gallery (linked above) to see some of the others in this moth family.

Posted on

Copper Anole

Rainy Season has definitely started, with rain every afternoon now, BUT it is still windy! Meaning that there are still not as many birds or butterflies as usual. But I did find this anole on my terrace the other day, and fairly confident of the identification of Copper Anole, Anolis cupreus (my gallery link).

Copper Anole, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Posted on

An Old Regular is Back!

This Banded Peacock (my gallery link) was back in my garden yesterday for the first time in a while. I’ve also seen a couple of species of Sulphurs and the Yellow that flies around high up in the trees. But the only regular continues to be the Polydamas Swallowtail which seems to handle the wind easier than the other. The wind is lessening some now, but there is still wind and those gusts which are difficult for butterflies. I’m trying to be patient. 🙂 And oh yes, another big rain yesterday afternoon! So maybe the rainy season has started early this year! 🙂

Banded Peacock on a Lantana flower (Lantana camara ), Atenas, Alajuela

¡Pura Vida!

And I hope that any readers who live in Residential Roca Verde will check out my new photo book: Roca Verde Butterflies with 180 species photographed in Roca Verde. Click that link for a free preview of every page! Roca Verde seems to be a significant haven for butterflies! Including a couple of species rarely seen according to iNaturalist.

🙂

CLICK the above book cover for a free preview of all pages.