And today something was happening in the park with school children, but I never found out what. Atenas, Costa Rica |
New Camera Lens, 150-600mm Zoom, Hand-held
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD On tripod on my terrace, but can be hand-held which is reason for choice. Got on sale at B&H Photo, NY, NY, shipped here through Aeropost Miami. Atenas, Costa Rica |
The following photos were made with the new lens the day it arrived. Birds were hiding! 🙂
An Anole showing his colors on my terrace – Shot at 400mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
Red Ginger at other end of my garden at 600mm focal length Atenas, Costa Rica |
Heliconia, shot at 600mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
Air Plant on powerline cable on road below my house, shot at 600mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
Tibouchina or Princess Flower zoomed in from behind at 600mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
Torch Ginger down the hill in my yard, shot at 552mm Atenas, Costa Rica |
I went to Alajuela this morning by bus to pick up the package with my new lens meaning it is early afternoon when I tried it out with above shots and only one bird this time of day and he was in shadows. But this will really help me in a lot of places I go birding because it is the only lens available at 600mm that can be used hand-held. I first saw one in use at Danta Corcovado that another visitor was using on a Canon camera similar to mine. I then did research online and found that it really works hand-held and has the equivalent of Canon Image Stabilizer called VC. And the cost is less than a third of Canon or other big brand 600mm telephoto lenses! It sells most places for around a thousand dollars while the others are 3 to 6 thousand dollars! The guy at Danta Corcovado paid $1,100 for his. I got mine on a sale for $779, but shipping and import taxes used up the other $300! But still a good deal and we will see if it really helps me on my coming trip to Arenal Observatory. The potential problem I am concerned about is that with more focal length you need more light and it the forest much is in the shadows. So Arenal will be a test! If I really like it, I will get another camera body dedicated to it. That way I can easily switch back and forth with my faithful 300mm which has served me so well for so many years.
Oxcart Parade 2018 Atenas
Rural Families is always the focus of Atenas’ Annual Oxcart Parade, last Weekend of April. Atenas, Costa Rica |
Here a teen is the “Boyero” (Oxen Master) with sis in cart and Mom & Dad Walking behind Atenas, Costa Rica |
A few Oxen are entered into the contest without carts, some by older children or teens I guess it is like FFA in the States or other programs to help budding farmers. Atenas, Costa Rica |
Last year our local University provided Latin Dancers – This year a team of ropers! Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica |
The university campus on the edge of Atenas is one of the many UTN (Universidad Técnica Nacional), this one focusing on farming with students coming from all over Latin America as possibly the best agricultural school in Latin America or at least the best in Central America. They are good about participating in major local events like this – good neighbors! Good citizens! We like our student farmers at UTN!
Though I’ve seen them before, I always enjoy! They’re good! Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica |
PEOPLE! You will have to go to my online gallery to see my interesting people shots. And there are always some very interesting and colorful people! Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica |
I know that I still post too many photos for a blog, but I have so many more interesting photos I want to share, thus it has to be on the photo gallery: 2018 Oxcart Parade. I’m working on it now and will try to finish today or tomorrow. Takes time!
Jane Goodall reads about Costa Rica with ‘Guardian of Nature’
And tomorrow is Atenas’ Oxcart Parade, so expect photos of that tomorrow! 🙂
A Map of My CR Travels Thus Far
I earlier listed some of the places scheduled for my visits the next few months and now I have extended the list for one trip every month through next February 2019. So if any of you guys in the states want to visit, you will have to work around my trips or join me on one of them! 🙂 I have a trip-a-month for May through February with reservations for places that will help fill in the white spaces on the above map with 4 repeats:
- Arenal Observatory, Arenal NP, a “best birding place” – May
- Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama – June
- Xandari Resort in the cloud forest north of Atenas – July
- Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiqui (repeat fav lodge) – August
- Banana Azul in South Caribe (the other repeat lodge) – September
- Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Piedras Blancas NP – October
- Estancia Rancho Humo, Palo Verde NP – November
- Si Como No Resort, Manuel Antonio NP (repeat park, new lodge) – December
- Manquenque Ecolodge, Boca del Tapada near Pital on Rio San Carlos (a new wild rainforest & wetlands) Sleeping in a treehouse for the first time! A top birding place seldom seen by most tourists. – January
- Turtle Beach Lodge, Tortuguero NP (repeat park, new lodge) – February
Copied from a blog of an expat living in Jaco, Costa Rica. 🙂 |
Crocodiles
American Crocodile “Crocodile Bridge,” Tarcoles, Costa Rica |
American Crocodile “Crocodile Bridge,” Tarcoles, Costa Rica |
American Crocodile on Wikipedia
Species Profile: Everglades National Park
Variegated Squirrel
Both Bizarre and Common Insects
Dobsonfly Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica |
Common Grasshopper Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica |
Rufous-naped Wren
Rufous-naped Wren Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica |
Rufous-naped Wren Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica |
Though wildlife was not the emphasis of the mission trip last week, I have a few animal shots that I will share the next few days from both the campus and the tourist day trip.
Cloudy Afternoons with Rain
We seem to be entering the “Rainy Season” ahead of May. Atenas, Costa Rica |