August Flowers Gallery

You email readers be sure to CLICK “READ MORE” to see the gallery of 10 flowers (not all) I photographed in August . . .

Milkweed

There were fewer than usual with both less sun and less rain this year.

Continue reading “August Flowers Gallery”

Ironclad Beetle

This Zopherus jansoni (iNaturalist link) is one of multiple species of the Ironclad Beetle, this one found only in Central America and just photographed on my terrace. Here’s four shots from different angles . . .

Zopherus jansoni – An Ironclad Beetle, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Ironclad Beetle”

Giant White

There are many Whites and some are easily confused, but this one seems to be the most common in my garden and you can see other photos of it in my Gallery: Giant White, Ganyra josephina. Here’s 2 photos (when possible, I always try to get a side view & top view) of the one in my garden 3 days ago . . .

Giant White, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Giant White”

Fiery Skipper

This is just one of the many looks of the Fiery Skipper,  Hylephila phyleus (my gallery link) as you can see in that gallery link. Just one shot here from my garden the other day . . .

Fiery Skipper, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Motmot, New CR Video & Neighbor’s Death

The Motmot is sitting on the gutter of my house looking down into my gardens for insects to eat. 🙂 And remember that my house is on the side of a hill, so I can walk up the hill and look down on my roof. 🙂 The motmots are more frequent this year which maybe makes up for the fewer toucans I see now. See more photos in my gallery: Lesson’s Motmot. (From all over Costa Rica.)

Lesson’s Motmot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

And read on for a link to the newest Costa Rica nature video on YouTube… And the unexpected death of my next door neighbor.

¡Pura Vida!

Continue reading “Motmot, New CR Video & Neighbor’s Death”

Rainforest Caiman & My Birthday Cake

There are two ponds here at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, and both can have Caiman in them, with a total of 3 Caiman living here, a smaller version of the American Alligator. They are a native wild animal in this area, seen in most forests and farms. The 2 shots on land were at the central pond and the water shot at the Caiman Pond along the entrance road. Below these 3 Caiman photos are three of me and my birthday cake last night when the younger staff members sang “Happy Birthday” to me – in English! The first time since I moved to CR 10+ years ago! I had gotten use to “Feliz Cumpleaños.” 😊

See more of my photos of Caiman in my Caiman Gallery.

Caiman at Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Piedras Blancas National Park, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Rainforest Caiman & My Birthday Cake”

Heraldica Clearwing

The Heraldica Clearwing, Ithomia heraldica (my gallery link) is a common-looking orange & black butterfly that’s found only in Costa Rica and Panama say some sources, while others say from Columbia to Mexico. Either way, mostly Central America. Here’s a couple of shots from my trek on Calle Nueva the other day.

Heraldica Clearwing, Ithomia heraldica, Calle Nueva, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Heraldica Clearwing”

2 Butterfly Peacocks

seen on Calle Nueva that morning are the same as what I have regularly in my garden. Check out my photo collections in their two galleries with better photos than these two:

Banded Peacock, Calle Nueva, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “2 Butterfly Peacocks”

Copper Anole

This same species of Anole I posted in 2018 and thought then that one of my books called it a “Stream Anole,” but I am now using iNaturalist more now (but use both books & it) and this is the iNaturalist match for both photos of this species: Copper Anole, Abaniquillo Centroamericano de Bosque Seco, Anolis cupreus (my gallery link). It is found only in 3 countries, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala and here only on the Pacific Slope. It is interesting to see the big difference in how he looks when displaying his dewlap and not in these two photos . . .

Copper Anole, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Continue reading “Copper Anole”

Mexican Heather

Mexican Heather – Cuphea hyssopifolia (Wikipedia link) is sometimes called “False Heather” because it is not a real heather or even in the Heather family, just another unique Central American flower. This one was a “hitchhiker” with another plant from a nursery (Vivero), I think it came with one of the Lantanas that I bought and planted. Anyway, I like it as something a little different and have it in a pot with some Lantana where it attracts only those tiny little butterflies like Blues and Hairstreaks.

Mexican Heather – Cuphea hyssopifolia, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.” – Gerard de Nerval

¡Pura Vida!