FAVE BIRDS – Sunbittern

One of those thrilling moments of discovery was the first time I finally saw a Sunbittern, even though planned and expected but not guaranteed, there it was! And after a few shots of a plain walking bird along the stream, he finally opened his wings for this shot of spectacular color and design! Read the Backstory for more on the experience.

The Sunbittern (eBird description) is found along water in Central America and the northern half of South America. See my Sunbittern Gallery for my images made at La Mina near Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba; Macaw Lodge near Carara NP; and at Tapirus Lodge, Braulio Carillo NP. See links at bottom of post for all three of these trip galleries and links to these 3 lodges in The Backstory.

Sunbittern at La Mina, Costa Rica
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Scenic La Mina near Rancho Naturalista

Shots from the scenic La Mina area along a mountain stream near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica, where we found the Sunbittern (la tigana), making it a special place!

La Mina, Costa Rica

La Mina, Costa Rica

Guia Miranda
La Mina, Costa Rica

La Mina, Costa Rica

La Mina, Costa Rica

Sunbittern (the way he is mostly seen, blending in with the rocks)
La Mina, Costa Rica

Sunbittern (a short flight)
La Mina, Costa Rica

Sunbittern (posturing to scare a predator, like 2 large eyes of a larger animal)
Some butterflies do the same thing.
La Mina, Costa Rica

You can see this unique place from Rancho Naturalista lodge near Turrialba, Costa Rica

And I have now added the bird photos from this trip to my Costa Rica Birds photo gallery.

Let me drink from the waters where the mountain streams flood 

Let the smell of wildflowers flow free through my blood

Let me sleep in your meadows with the green grassy leaves 

Let me walk down the highway with my brother in peace

Let me die in my footsteps 

Before I go down under the ground.

~Bob Dylan

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Child Doctor?

And a “Feeling Old” story from today. I came back from Turrialba with a bad cold or “flu” they call it here. I tried an over-the counter thing that did nothing, so to avoid two visits and long waits at public clinic, I went to my old private doctor, Doctora Candy, who was not in today but her new intern was seeing patients, Dr. Andres Carmana.

He looked like a little boy, one of those young men out of university and medical school who just looks younger than he is (“not yet wet behind the ears”), but really nice and efficient as he explained things to me professionally in English in a very young-sounding voice. Gave me 3 prescriptions. And I almost smiled when he told me “You can just call me Dr. Carmana.” You know you are old when everyone who serves you looks to you like a child.  🙂

Sunbittern!

Sunbittern
La Mina, near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica
Sunbittern
La Mina, near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica

Sunbittern
La Mina, near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica

Sunbittern
La Mina, near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica

Sunbittern
La Mina, near Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica

This is a first sighting bird for me and the primary bird I wanted to see on this trip, so I am very happy to have seen it today and add it to my Costa Rica collection. I have added twelve new species  to my Costa Rica list this trip which is really good. I got others today but will show them tomorrow, since I wanted to show several shots of the sunbittern today.

Also I am very sore, having fallen in my room this morning. I made the mistake of spraying myself and my shoes with insect repellant at the front door, leaving an oily residue on the tile floor which I then slipped on and fell. I managed to walk 3 or 4 km today at La Mina and saw the Sunbittern after a pre-breakfast walk 2 km down the road here, just sore in my right leg and hip. I rest tomorrow and they are taking good care of me at the lodge! I may do some birding here tomorrow and work on more blog posts. 
Read about Sunbittern on Wikipedia   a bird found only in neotropical Americas on mountain streams at a certain altitude (and in a few zoos).

And my photo gallery of other Costa Rica Birds  before this trip. These will be added next week.

Retired in Costa Rica!