Well, what can I say that would adequately describe an incredible ten-day trip to a tropical country blessed with an abundance of fabulous, colorful bird life? It was overwhelming, to put it simply. The well thought out logistics were handled by the dynamic duo, Alec Humann and Patrick O Donnell. And, in spite of coming down with a flu-like virus (COVID 19? I'm still not sure), I was able to see over 300 life birds - with thanks due to many of my travel companions!
The hummingbirds were amazing, the flycatchers and doves were puzzling, the raptors were so incredible, the honeycreepers and tanagers were so colorful, trogons, macaws, and parrots —all captivating, and then sooooo many others left me breathless - like the oropendolas, resplendent quetzal, cotingas, tityras, tody-flycatcher (a favorite), antbirds, the ubiquitous kiskadee, et al... wow... It was overwhemimg.
Now that I’m home and recovering from foot surgery, I’m able to enjoy the trip all over again through my photos. Here are about a third of what I took...
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_4864.jpg)
Golden-browed Chlorophonia
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Yellow-winged Vireo
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5121.jpg)
Rufous-naped Sparrow
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5185.jpg)
Collared Redstart
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A very poor photo of a Spangle-cheeked Tanager
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Silver-throated Tanager
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5258.jpg)
Black Guan
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5305.jpg)
Coppery-headed Emerald
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5346.jpg)
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5316.jpg)
Clay-colored Thrush, Costa Rica's national bird
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5148.jpg)
Scintillant Hummingbird
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5448.jpg)
White-tipped Sicklebill
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5356.jpg)
Blue-gray Tanager
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5378.jpg)
Common Chlorospingus
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5401.jpg)
Bat Falcon
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5475.jpg)
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5496.jpg)
Orange-chinned Parakeet - super cute, super noisy, super fun!
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5507.jpg)
Another shot of a beautiful Blue-gray Tanager
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5529.jpg)
Great Kiskadee
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5562.jpg)
Low light photo in the forest of a Spectacled Owl
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5615.jpg)
Black Hawk-Eagle
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5669.jpg)
Red-legged Honeycreeper
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5677.jpg)
Buff-throated Saltator, a seedeater
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5891.jpg)
Gartered Trogan
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_5950.jpg)
Banaquit
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_6036.jpg)
Common Tody-Flycatcher
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_6054.jpg)
Black-headed Nightengale-Thrush
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_6100.jpg)
Emerald Tanager
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_DSC_6090.jpg)
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_IMG_5491.jpg)
Yellow-throated Euphonia
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_IMG_5521.jpg)
Russet-naped Wood-Rail
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_IMG_5549.jpg)
Boat-billed Heron
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_IMG_5589.jpg)
White-throated Crakes
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_IMG_5636.jpg)
Scarlet McCaws
![blog photo](/images/blogs/13078/large/blogs_13078_IMG_5595.jpg)
Howler Monkey - and boy, do they HOWL!