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The other morning I had about four species of birds feeding on the flowers of my Cecropia or Guarumo Tree and one of them was a new species for me! A White-winged Becard, Pachyramphus polychopterus (linked to eBird). He is smaller than the Rose-throated Becard I’ve seen several of here and like that one is less colorful as a male. In this species the female is a golden orange or tan and more colorful than this male photographed here. Here’s three shots including one of him eating a caterpillar:
Here’s some butterflies I photographed on the hotel property during my stay there. The only two that are new species to me (if labeled correctly) are the Felder’s White and the Blue & White Heliconian. Love them all!
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE.
The caterpillar among the photos appeared on my leg right at the hem of my shorts. The Hot Springs attendant took a flat rock and scooped him up then on to the flower on which I photographed him. He looked scary at first, thus today’s quote:
“Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”
― The Little Prince
¡Pura Vida!
And by the way, I’m home now for at least 3 weeks! I’ll wrap up these reports, a gallery and photo book soon on this interesting “wild west” vacation. Then prepare for a relaxing repeat visit to Arenal Observatory in November.
This morning a quick walk through my garden gave me photos of these four butterflies plus I kept seeing a bright yellow one (probably one of the Sulphurs) who would never slow down enough for a photo. But here’s the four I got (CLICK to see larger):
There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.
~R. Buckminster Fuller
See all my butterflies in my Costa Rica Butterflies Photo Gallery!
¡Pura Vida!
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| Our guide told us a lot about plants as well as animals. I’ll do a separate post about plants & flowers in the forest. The 2 young men behind the guide are from Chicago. 3 of us on hike. Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Parsa or Synchlora gerularia Moth I’ll research more when I get home. Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown Insect, a little beetle Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown Insect, a little beetle Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Stink Bug Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown Caterpillar Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown Caterpillar Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown Butterfly Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Glasswing Butterfly Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Red-tailed Dragonfly Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Walking Stick Insect Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Paw Print of Ocelot At least our guide thought so. See three toe prints right of beige leaf. Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
And the next morning this guy was in hotel garden – he fits with day hike varmits:
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| Hooded Mantis Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort & Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
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| Hooded Mantis Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort & Nature Reserve San Ramon, Costa Rica |
We saw a lot more stuff and he told us about plants used for medicines, not only by natives, but also by modern pharmaceutical companies. Interesting but I will never remember most of that! 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/diane.stewartcarrier/videos/vb.1240732740/10205325645240886/?type=2&theater Click the arrows and watch it full screen!
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| Caterpillar to Chrysalis in still photo stages. (From internet-not my photo) |
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| The resulting Monarch Butterfly (this is my photo) La Paz Waterfall Garden, Costa Rica |
And in some ways, we people are metamorphosing
as our world changes around us! Even that can be profound!
As Paul said:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB