Barred Yellow

This is just my third time to see this unusual Yellow (among the many Yellows!). The Barred Yellow, Eurema daira (linked to my gallery) is found from Argentina north to the deep south of the U.S. It’s uniqueness is the brown, orange & yellow bars on the top of wings. The side view is similar to many Whites & Yellows. I’ve seen it twice here in Atenas and once at Arenal Observatory (where I’m headed tomorrow). See photos from other countries including the U.S. at butterfliesandmoths.

Barred Yellow, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Tropical Checkered Skipper

This one I’ve seen multiple times in my garden but still love him: the Tropical Checkered Skipper, Burnsius oileus. You can see my other photos in my gallery or what others have submitted to butterfliesandmoths.

Tropical Checkered Skipper, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak

The Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak, Strymon bazochii, (butterfliesandmoths link) is a new species for me and a nice one! I have these same 3 images in my gallery, so I won’t link to it. But I was fortunate to get both the side view and a top view, which really helps with the identification! And with all the wind this year, few ever land with wing open and it is very difficult to catch one in flight on the camera as I did here! 🙂

Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Fawn-spotted Skipper

A new butterfly for me and like most now, in my garden! 🙂 The Cymaenes trebius or common name of Fawn-spotted Skipper which I think was a poor choice (many others look more like fawns) but I didn’t make the names for these little jewels! 🙂 Here’s one photo and you can see all four of my shots in Fawn-spotted Skipper GALLERY or see photos that others have submitted from Central America, Mexico and South Texas in butterfliesandmoths.org where you too can submit your butterfly photos for research and sharing with the world! Please share!

Fawn-spotted Skipper, Cymaenes trebius, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

Buff-throated Saltator

One of four species of Saltators in Costa Rica, Buff-throated Saltator, Saltator maximus (my gallery link), is one of the more common species quietly eating fruit, berries and seeds in the trees from lowlands to 1800 meters on both slopes of Costa Rica and found from Mexico to South America. Read more about on eBird. Here’s 3 shots from my garden in Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica . . .

Buff-throated Saltator, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Banded Peacock Butterfly

The old regular Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima (linked to my gallery), is back and I will see him regularly now throughout the rainy season, one of the most numerous butterflies in my garden, but also seen all over Costa Rica as the above link to my gallery will show. These 4 shots are from two different days recently.

Banded Peacock Butterfly, Atenas, Costa Rica
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Great Southern White

Not new for me, but an understated, simple beauty, I think – the Great Southern White, Ascia monuste (my gallery link) and here are 3 recent photos from my garden . . .

Great Southern White, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Iguanas in the Heat

I captured these two different Black Spiny-tailed Iguanas (my gallery link) dealing with the higher heat than normal this year. They seemed to almost be panting like a dog does in the heat. As with the rest of the world, Costa Rica has broken temperature records this year and all of us from the birds and iguanas to the people are looking forward to the start of the rainy season, which is normally in May! Our Dry Season (December-April) is considered Summer here and we are concluding our hottest summer yet! Global Warming is very real!

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Red-spotted Scrub-Hairstreak

This Red-spotted Scrub-Hairstreak or Strymon ziba is another new species of butterflies for me! Also found only in Central America and southern Mexico. See more of him on butterfliesandmoths. Here’s one of my shots and you can see more in my gallery: Red-spotted Scrub-Hairstreak.

Red-spotted Scrub-Hairstreak, Strymon ziba, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Blurb is offering a flash sale on all my photo books for 3 days, April 21-23. Use the discount code:  FLASHAPRIL

Beautiful White-winged Dove

Three totally different shots . . .

White-winged Dove, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

And a surprising image of him/her taking flight . . .

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