Tag: Roca Verde

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Dead Leaf Insect?

Unknown Insect
On my bedroom wall, Atenas, Costa Rica

Unknown Insect
On my bedroom wall, Atenas, Costa Rica
NOTE: this side view w/ something like a tail?
And curl like a dead leaf. Inch and a half long maybe.
2 inches?

There are several “dead leaf” insects in the books & online, even butterflies & moths, but I could not find one like this guy! Am I discovering new species?  🙂  Truly a land of discovery here!

As usual, I just went to bed without worrying about him and he was gone the next morning! Either a meal for one of my geckos or left the house, hid somewhere else in the house or died like many insects do every night.

See my OTHER INSECTS photo gallery

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Banded Skipper

Banded Skipper Butterfly (Possibly Chisos or Spiked)
Inside my house, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica
What is throwing me on ID is the 6 spots on each side – None in book with 6!
They all have 0-3. And none indicate orange bulb on antennae.

And see my Photo Gallery for BUTTERFLIES in Costa Rica with 54 species!

Or my newest photo book My First 50 Butterflies in Costa Rica  you can preview online free!

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Kitchen Window Jungle

What I see when standing at the kitchen sink looking out the window.
My home, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

There are prettier spots in my garden, but this is how it is at this spot this week. It is all constantly changing and further to the right is the prettiest now with a lot of Red Gingers blooming. 

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Dinner Guest

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Inside on my kitchen window screen, Roca Verde
Atenas, Costa Rica

I had Anthony over for dinner (with “to go” dinners from Chef Dan I’ll tell you about later). As we were about to sit down for dinner and TV News this little guy flew in and landed on the kitchen window. I partially opened the screen expecting him to fly out but that kind of trapped him between glass and screen. So after dinner I helped him get loose and he flew out the sliding class doors that are always open and where he flew in.

My photo gallery of BIRDS has hundreds of species of birds now.

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Rainy Season Garden

Rain Makes the Garden Grow! Thicker & More Lush!
Note that I replaced my Lantanas flowering border with red caladiums which will get fuller soon.
The other taller plants shaded the Lantanas and they require sun to thrive and bloom. New color in the shade!
The Maraca or Shampoo Ginger plant
has multiplied and grown very tall with
several blooms.
Heliconia
Across from the door I added a row of 20 of the small Heliconias with
little bright red & orange flowers that will bloom constantly
year-around when they mature. They help the “tropical look.”
One of the little Helconia up close,
like adding little jewels to my garden!

I’m always trying to improve my garden and during the rainy season is the time for new plants as the rain helps them to take root and thrive. Life in the tropics just keeps getting better!  🙂

¡PURA VIDA!

More flower photos in my FLORA & FORESTS GALLERY which is still under construction. 

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Masked Tityra Approaches My House!

But that is not as bad as it might sound! He’s not a bandit but a bird! And a nice one!

Masked Tityra
My Home Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Masked Tityra
My Home Garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Maybe he is wearing a mask early for Halloween. No? This is the first I’ve seen in my garden, but I did see one at the Rio Chirripó Retreat near Chirripó National Park.

And my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY include many more!

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Split-banded, Heliconia or Linnean Owlet Butterfly

Split-banded or Heliconia/Linnean Owlet Butterfly
In My House, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

 

Split-banded or Heliconia/Linnean Owlet Butterfly
In My House, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica
Sorry for out-of-focus image, but needed for identification, top side

Yes, the bottom side (wings folded) is similar to Owl Butterfly but the top side is different! The bottom is a fair match for “Split-banded Owlet” but the top seems to be closer to the “Heliconian or Linnean Owlet” meaning that I am not sure! Sorry top is not in focus but seldom opened and only for brief second rapidly. In both shots he is on my kitchen window screen.

See also MY BUTTERFLY PHOTO GALLERY for many more species of butterflies, 54 now!

For identification I am now primarily using the book A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. It has more photos and species included than any book I have found yet for this region and I double check on the internet. The National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to Butterflies is the best for North American butterflies but does not always include all in Central America such as this one which is close on the bottom side to one of the “Pearly Eyes” but not a match. The only Costa Rica book on butterflies is woefully lacking in species.

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Orange-chinned Parakeet

Orange-chinned Parakeet zoomed in on him in my Strangler Fig Tree
My garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Orange-chinned Parakeet zoomed in even more
My garden, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica

Most are very timid and it is difficult to get close enough for a good photo. See my collection of birds in my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY with nearly 200 shot in Costa Rica, a hundred in Nicaragua, plus more in Panama, Guatemala and Mexico. Central America is full of colorful birds!