Tag: Atenas

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“Athenian Memories”

A new mural has been added to Atenas Central as encouraged by the Mayor to represent memories of the past in this medium-sized coffee farming town and I was glad to see that it included a Lesson’s Motmot bird! 🙂

“Athenian Memories” Mural in Atenas Central next to the old High School building.
“Athenian Memories” Mural in Atenas Central next to the old High School building.

Google AI Summary:

The new mural near the City Hall in Atenas, Alajuela, is called “Memorias Atenienses ” and was inaugurated on September 24, 2025. It is the result of a collective effort involving the Municipality of Atenas, the community, and the mayor, with the aim of creating an artistic legacy for the canton.
• Name: “Athenian Memories”
• Location: Near the City Hall in Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica (Adjacent the old high school building across from Central Park fountains.)
• Inauguration date: September 24, 2025
• Description: It is described as an artistic legacy for the canton, created through a collective effort and strong teamwork between the municipality, the community, and the mayor.

The town’s Instagram Announcement of the mural:

Atenas Internationals Facebook Page on the mural:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/158109054229981/posts/31682131621400980/

Central Park across the street from the new mural.

¡Pura Vida!

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Red Cracker

This is my first sighting of a Red Cracker, Hamadryas amphinome (linked to iNaturalist). I did post one here earlier that I called a Red Cracker, but later found out that it was actually an Orange Cracker. Still learning! 🙂

Red Cracker on Cecropia Tree in my garden, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
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Snack at the Air Plant Cafe

This Rufous-backed Wren (my gallery link) stopped in one of my Nance Trees, not for a berry (wrong time of year) but for an insect snack out of the little Air Plant growing on the tree. 🙂

Rufous-backed Wren stopping for a snack from the air plant, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Rufous-backed Wren stopping for a snack from the air plant, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

¡Pura Vida!

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Banded Peacock

One of the most common or often seen butterflies in my garden is the Banded Peacock, Anartia fatima (my gallery link) and maybe also the most common in other places I visit in Costa Rica.

Banded Peacock, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Lesson’s Motmot

I’m glad this favored bird visits my garden often enough for me to see at least once a month now! See more photos from multiple locations in my gallery: Lesson’s Motmot, Momotus lessonii. Purely a Central American bird, found only from Panama to Southern Mexico.

Lesson’s Motmot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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White Angled-Sulphur Male

The big yellow patch is what indicates that it is a male, while the female has only the brown spot on each wing. The feature photo is one typical view with a greenish/yellowish hew on the folded wings while the top of wings are usually a bright white like the photo below where the same butterfly is strangely contorted. See more of my photos of this interesting butterfly in my gallery: White Angled-Sulphur, Anteos clorinde. They are found as residents from Argentina to Mexico with migrants going into the Southwestern U.S. and Great Plains.

White Angled-Sulphur male, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Blue-vented Hummingbird

He’s becoming a favorite among the flowers and not sure he comes to the feeders that are dominated by the Rufous-tailed. See more photos from this week in the GALLERY: Blue-vented Hummingbird.

Blue-vented Hummingbird, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

¡Pura Vida!

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Gray Cracker

Who has always been tan for me instead of gray, but the spots and not the color determines what species it is. 🙂

See my other photos of this species in my Gray Cracker Gallery.

Gray Cracker, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica — On a Cecropia Tree.

¡Pura Vida!

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Clay-colored Thrush Foraging

“The Clay-colored Thrush in Costa Rica eats a varied diet of insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates, supplemented by fruits and berries. They are found in diverse habitats across the country, including forests, open woodlands, gardens, and urban areas. They forage primarily on the ground by hopping and probing leaf litter, but also eat fruit from trees.” ~Google AI Overview.  See more photos in my Gallery Clay-colored Thrush.

Clay-colored Thrush, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Blue-black Grassquit Immature Male

The adult males are a strong black & blue while the adult females are brown. It is the immature males that have the mottled brown, blue & black look like this. See more photos in my Blue-black Grassquit Gallery. Including my favorite shot of females lined up on a barbwire fence at Carate adjacent Corcovado National Park back in 2009 on my first trip to Costa Rica. 🙂

Blue-black Grassquit immature male, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

¡Pura Vida!