charliedoggett.net
 |
| Banded Skipper Butterfly (Possibly Chisos or Spiked) Inside my house, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica What is throwing me on ID is the 6 spots on each side – None in book with 6! They all have 0-3. And none indicate orange bulb on antennae. |
And see my Photo Gallery for BUTTERFLIES in Costa Rica with 54 species!
Or my newest photo book My First 50 Butterflies in Costa Rica you can preview online free!
 |
| What I see when standing at the kitchen sink looking out the window. My home, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Inside on my kitchen window screen, Roca Verde Atenas, Costa Rica |
I had Anthony over for dinner (with “to go” dinners from Chef Dan I’ll tell you about later). As we were about to sit down for dinner and TV News this little guy flew in and landed on the kitchen window. I partially opened the screen expecting him to fly out but that kind of trapped him between glass and screen. So after dinner I helped him get loose and he flew out the sliding class doors that are always open and where he flew in.
 |
| Green Thorntail Hummingbird Female (pretty sure) My garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Great Crested Flycatcher (most likely?) My garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
And my online photo gallery for more BIRDS
 |
| Rain Makes the Garden Grow! Thicker & More Lush! Note that I replaced my Lantanas flowering border with red caladiums which will get fuller soon. The other taller plants shaded the Lantanas and they require sun to thrive and bloom. New color in the shade! |
 |
| The Maraca or Shampoo Ginger plant has multiplied and grown very tall with several blooms. |
 |
| Heliconia Across from the door I added a row of 20 of the small Heliconias with little bright red & orange flowers that will bloom constantly year-around when they mature. They help the “tropical look.” |
 |
| One of the little Helconia up close, like adding little jewels to my garden! |
I’m always trying to improve my garden and during the rainy season is the time for new plants as the rain helps them to take root and thrive. Life in the tropics just keeps getting better! 🙂
 |
| Masked Tityra My Home Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Masked Tityra My Home Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
Maybe he is wearing a mask early for Halloween. No? This is the first I’ve seen in my garden, but I did see one at the Rio Chirripó Retreat near Chirripó National Park.
And my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY include many more!
 |
| Municipal Water Truck Goes Down Every Street Every Day when the public water system is “down” Here it is across the street from La Carreta Restaurant. Those palm trees are at the Central Catholic Church at the Central Park. |
Our public water comes from the same source as Grecia’s over a mountain or two from Atenas. It is pumped through large water mains (big pipes) through the mountains, over rivers and deep canyons to Atenas. Sometimes the water main breaks or something stops the flow. This time, for more than week now they have supposedly been trying to fix a broken pipe that goes over a canyon on a little bridge that was broken when a huge tree fell during a thunder storm. It has become a real problem for some homes and businesses that must have water – well – all must have! And most are asking “Why is it taking so long?” One article said they are waiting on parts to arrive from overseas.
Even in developing countries we depend on water! And the water truck is like a pied piper with a crowd constantly with it. It is beginning to remind me of Africa around here! We were regularly without water in The Gambia and I always kept large bottles of water “just in case.” You adapt! 🙂
Well, if you are a Trump supporter, I hope you find another country to move to! I will not personally welcome you to Costa Rica!
My Costa Rica Photo Gallery: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA
 |
| Split-banded or Heliconia/Linnean Owlet Butterfly In My House, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Split-banded or Heliconia/Linnean Owlet Butterfly In My House, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica Sorry for out-of-focus image, but needed for identification, top side |
Yes, the bottom side (wings folded) is similar to Owl Butterfly but the top side is different! The bottom is a fair match for “Split-banded Owlet” but the top seems to be closer to the “Heliconian or Linnean Owlet” meaning that I am not sure! Sorry top is not in focus but seldom opened and only for brief second rapidly. In both shots he is on my kitchen window screen.
See also MY BUTTERFLY PHOTO GALLERY for many more species of butterflies, 54 now!
For identification I am now primarily using the book A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. It has more photos and species included than any book I have found yet for this region and I double check on the internet. The National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to Butterflies is the best for North American butterflies but does not always include all in Central America such as this one which is close on the bottom side to one of the “Pearly Eyes” but not a match. The only Costa Rica book on butterflies is woefully lacking in species.
 |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet zoomed in on him in my Strangler Fig Tree My garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet zoomed in even more My garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
Most are very timid and it is difficult to get close enough for a good photo. See my collection of birds in my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY with nearly 200 shot in Costa Rica, a hundred in Nicaragua, plus more in Panama, Guatemala and Mexico. Central America is full of colorful birds!
