CR 8 Batsu Garden

On a hillside above Savegre lodge a garden has been set up for birders, and particularly for bird photographers.  I had Batsu Garden all to myself on the second morning at Savegre, and I was especially happy to see the Acorn Woodpecker,  bigger than life, and a life list bird.  The locals call him the "Clown" hummingbird.
Here are some shots from that experience, plus a few more from Marino's tour. 

Marino knew where a Quetzal's nest was, and we waited for 40 minutes quietly until he flew in.

Black-faced Solitaire

Spangle-cheeked Tanager

Marino was very excited that I got a picture.

This is a bird endemic to CR and Panama

And here he is!

Acorn Woodpecker. 

He showed up almost immediately.  I couldn't believe it.

Magnificent Hummingbird

M.H.

M.H.

Flame-colored Tanager

Flame-colored Tanager (f)

Volcano Hummingbird (f)

Endemic to CR and Panama

V.H.

V.H.

V.H.

Green Violetear

G.V.

Silver-throated Tanager

S.T.

Another bird Marino was really happy for me to see.

Lesser Goldfinch (Uncommon)

L.G.

Purple-throated Mountain-gem (f)

Endemic

Mountain Elaenia

CR 7 : 1st.day Savegre: Quetzal!

And here is one of the "target" birds for Costa Rica, the Resplendent Quetzal.   It looks like a child's imaginary drawing of a bird. But I had (along with about 75 others) a view at 6:00 AM on the road to Savegre Lodge, thanks to Marino's guidance.  Later he took me out for a three-hour walk through the botanical gardens and mountain trails around the lodge and this is part of the results.

Dave sitting on the front deck of his cabin.

Chestnut-capped Finch

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush

Flame-colored Tanager

White-throated Mountain-Gem

Hairy Woodpecker

(Not the same species as our N.A. Hairy)

Spiny-green Lizard

White-throated Mountain-gem

Slaty Flower-piercer (f)

Slaty Flower-piercer (M)

Yellow-thighed Finch

(Well, what else could he be called!)

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Emerald Toucanet

And here he is!

One of the great birds of the world, worshipped by the natives

And a big part of Costa Rica's Eco-tourism

the Resplendent Quetzall

It is also the national bird of Guatamala

CR 6: Rancho to Savegre

Finally some decent shots of hummers.  The 3-hour trip from Rancho to Savegre was highlighted by a stop for lunch at a restaurant that featured a platform alive with Hummingbirds.  With decent light, I got some good shots (finally) after struggling with lighting. 

A few shots left from Rancho

Here is a Rufous-tailed Hummer that lost half it 's tail.

Chestnut-sided Warbler headed to the states.

A much-better photo of the Red-throated Ant-tanager

Grey-chested Dove

On the advice of the group of pro photographers at Rancho, I tried using my flash

and this was the results of a White-necked Jacobin

Great bird shows up my last morning in Rancho

Golden-winged Warbler

This is a female Snowcap.  I missed the male.

The Mot-mot showed up on the feeders, to the ecstasy of the pro photographers.

Volcano Hummingbird

A endemic to Costa Rica

This was at the lunch stop with all the feeders.

Fiery-throated Hummingbird

and in the right light.

Gorgeous bird!

Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher

another endemic to CR

Stripe-tailed Hummingbird

About $5.40 for the combo

Market on Rt. 2