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This all black bird can be found on both slopes of Costa Rica and in some areas is quite common. He is the only totally black bird in Costa Rica with even his bill and eyes being black. Read about him on eBird or see more of my photos (better ones) in the Melodious Blackbird Gallery.
¡Pura Vida!
Occasional birds are still showing up in my garden, just not near as many as in the past. You can see more of my photos of this species in my Melodious Blackbird GALLERY. Or read about them on eBird. Another bird found only in Central America and parts of Mexico. Here’s three shots in my garden the other day . . .
I must admit that I was more focused on butterflies than birds when we walked Calle Balsilla last week, plus we were later getting there which means fewer birds, but I did get these 4 bird species along with my 11 species of butterflies! 🙂
Interesting that the above dove is the only bird I photographed that was not totally black in color! 🙂
Continue reading “Calle Balsilla Birds”
Whether at home or at one of the many forest lodges of Costa Rica, all of my mornings are melodious with bird songs waking me gently. And one of those singing is the Melodious Blackbird (eBird) photographed here at Guayabo Lodge, Turrialba. See more of my photos of this bird in my Melodious Blackbird Gallery.
This second image is my preferred photo as a “painting” or work of art. 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
More of this adventure in my “Trip Gallery” 2022 Guayabo Lodge.
First a Turkey Vulture soared overhead like a messenger from God, then 3 simple birds landed in 3 different trees and I felt close to God during breakfast today – even without colorful, rare or gorgeous birds – just plain birds smiling at me as I smiled back!
My heart is like a singing bird.
~Christina Rossetti
And tomorrow morning, Saturday, I leave for Palo Verde National Park. See yesterday’s post for more information.
¡Pura Vida!
I took my camera out for a later breakfast today and though earlier is better, I did get shots of these three familiar friends. I include two of the dove because front view and back view is always different! Click image to see larger.
‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
~Emily Dickinson
¡Pura Vida!
Another busy day today with Spanish Class here and minor surgery in Alajuela, but always time to photo a bird in my garden! 🙂 The above photo is of a Montezuma Oropendola sitting in my Guarumo or Cecropia Tree – my favorite place to watch birds, but unfortunately the light (for photos) is not good there, especially in the morning. They nest in our neighborhood visiting occasionally. And the bird below in my Yellow Bell Tree is a Melodious Blackbird. And I saw a squirrel cuckoo this morning, but didn’t get a shot.
Minor surgery? My dermatologist just went a little deeper on a growth removal for a biopsy. Only two stitches. If it turns out to be cancer, he will go even deeper next time to make sure he gets it all. An almost routine thing for us older people! 🙂 Otherwise I’m very healthy after a great week in a rainforest.
Tomorrow I have breakfast with the niece of David & Lynne Wells (Nashville friends) and her husband, child & nanny. They’ve rented a gorgeous house with an infinity pool for a week here in Atenas and using my driver, Walter, to take them to a few sights (volcano, waterfalls, beach & fishing) on top of resting here with possibly the best vista in Atenas. A great vacation plan! 🙂
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. ~Marcus Tullius Cicero
¡Pura Vida!
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| Melodious Blackbird But the pink bump on the chin is not normal, so I have also posted on ornithological FB group asking about it. In my garden at breakfast this morning. Atenas, Costa Rica |
And my photo gallery of BIRDS
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| Cinnamon Hummingbird Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica |
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| Turquoise-browed Motmot Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica My first to see in Costa Rica, though I saw many in Nicaragua. |
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| White-tipped Dove Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica I almost called them Inca for the scaling, but white tips on tails ID them. |
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| Warbler of Some Kind (I’m pretty sure but hard to ID) Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica |
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| Hoffman’s Woodpecker Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica |
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| Blue-gray Tanager Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica |
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| Boat-billed Flycatcher Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica Several flycatchers look similar, but the bill and red cap ID this one. |
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| Melodious BlackbirdCerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica Very similar to Bronze Cowbird which has red eyes an this one doesn’t. Only the Melodious Blackbird has everything black, eyes, bill, feet. |
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| Cerro Lodge Entrance Cerro Lodge, Tarcoles, Costa Rica Last time I stayed down here it was at Villa Lapas which further off the highway,
closer to Tarcoles, & deeper in the forest, but services and facilities are similar.
This one is actually in the middle of an upscale housing development but with
plenty of land for privacy and lots of birds. The gate is like what the neighbors
have to enter their mansions. Good friendly service, views, birds and food.
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I’m saving the birds photographed at Carara National Park for tomorrow since I got a lot at the lodge and the park was my last stop before going home. Some nice birds at the park this time! Better than my last trip there.
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| Smooth-billed Ani Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| White-winged Dove Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| White-tipped Dove Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua The difference from White-winged is the tail is tipped white |
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| Inca Dove Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| Bronzed Cowbird Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| Clay-colored Thrush Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| Rufous-naped Wren Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| Melodius Blackbird Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
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| Streak-headed Woodcreeper Montibelli Nature Reserve, Nicaragua |
Whew! It was a lot of birds! A wonderful trip!