Bird sightings

When we first got to our new address in Atenas, we were disappointed that there didn't seem to be much bird activity here.

WARNING:  Anyone not interested in seeing bird pictures can leave this blog now.

Well let me show you what we have been seeing right from our balconies - we have a bigger terrace at the front door and a smaller balcony out the back. There are times that it feels like we are in an aviary - so many birds!

Here we go!

Blue-Gray Tanager

These remind us of Budgies because of the blue colour and also the size. They are often seen here.

Keel-billed Toucan

We never saw those at the other place but here they are seen once and a while. They sound like frogs.

Streak-backed Oriole

Similar to the Altamira orioles we saw in Texas.

Baltimore Oriole

This is where they winter!

Cocoa Woodcreeper

I first thought this was a Streak-headed Woodcreeper until I noticed the dark upper bill. These climb a tree so fast that it often results in no picture.

Chestnut-backed Antbird?

Boat-billed Flycatcher

These look very similar to the Great Kiskadee but are a bit bigger and have a flatter bigger bill.

Rufous Mourner?

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Another species that winters here!

Summer Tanager female

The male is all red!

Rufous-naped Wren

I love this bird! First, it's super cute. But its song sounds very happy but loud! I do like to hear them as they often will look at each other while they sing. They talk to each other. They also make cute little purring sounds to each other.

Orange-chinned Parakeet

We normally hear them before we see them. They often fly overhead while squawking loudly. Did I mention they were loud?

All kinds of weird fruits are seen on trees

Bananas are everywhere: in people's yards, on the side of the road, etc. They must be taken down from the tree before they are ripe because otherwise the birds and the iguanas get to them.

Numerous butterflies flutter around including the famous Blue Morphos which is really beautiful in flight. We don't know what kind this is in the picture.

The male Summer Tanager

What a beauty!

Fiery-billed Aracari 

This tree is quite close to our back balcony.

Smooth-billed Ani

We saw a small family of young Anis the only time I went down the "big" hill with Glen. After he could hardly push me back up the hill with the wheelchair, we decided that I shouldn't go back. It was epic!

Views of houses up the mountain seen from down the hill. It seems that here houses are just built wherever people decide is a good spot.

Blue-crowned Motmot (also called Lessons Motmot)

This bird is magnificent and we see him quite often! His turquoise crown is an iridescent colour that seems to be lit. It's hard to see here, but he has two rounded feathers at the end of his tail that are attached by unfeathered quills. He often will sit on a branch and move his tail from side to side like a pendulum.

Montezuma Oropendola

Our first time able to take a picture! We keep seeing these birds in flight with the bright yellow band at the end of their tail but could never take a picture. I did get better shots to be seen later.

Grayish Saltator

Streaked Flycatcher

Black-crowned Tityra

This is the gorgeous male. The female is also pretty but not as striking.

Black-crowned Tityra female

As you see, the female is also a beautiful bird. We were lucky to get to see both. Those photos are taken from our front porch.

I'm always excited to see Toucans! We call the Keel-billed Toucan the Fruit Loop as he is the one that looks like the one on the cereal box.

Masked Tityra

We were very lucky to get to see the other member of this species. Also stunning!

Grayish Saltatos

Swainson's Thrush

Motmot with seed

Close-up of the tail to show the two rounded feathers at the end.

Rose-throated Becard male

Cute bird. The female is the more colourful one. 

The Squirrel Cuckoo showing his beautiful tail while launching himself into flight.

Our view of the mountains from our back balcony. At night, the mountain is dotted with many tiny lights coming from the homes we can't even see during the day.

Fiery-billed Aracari

 A shot showing the red band adorning his front. It looks a bit like a tutu when it's fluffed up.

Great Kiskadee

 Another loud bird! They sound like they're always yelling at each other as they respond to the other's call.

Termine nest

Oranges

 Oranges are also everywhere! So we've been drinking fresh-pressed orange juice in the morning.

Not sure what these are

THE hill

 I know that the picture doesn't do it justice because it looks pretty tame here. But let me tell you that even in a car it's scary as it twists and turns all the way all the while with quite the grade!

Black Vulture

 We see them circling above us looking for something to eat and keep telling them that we're not dead yet!

Great Kiskadee

Black-headed Trogon

 What a cutie! So adorable with his small beak and round eyes. The little puffed head makes me want to hold him and kiss him. We have not seen him often.

Not a bird.

We have bats that roost on the walls of our back balcony. They don't bother us but their poos have to be swept off the floor every morning - a job that Glen does before I even get up.

White-winged Dove

 There are many different kinds of doves here as well as many different pigeons.

Hoffman's Woodpecker

White-tipped Dove

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Yet another pretty bird. They are all different but that's what I find fascinating.

Inca Dove

 Notice the pretty pattern of the feathers.

Hard to identify - Cotinga?

This is Stumpy. He's a lizard of some kind that got his tail chopped off. Unfortunately, we don't see him anymore. Probably got eaten.

Mangoes - not ripe yet.

The cute little Rufous-napped Wren

Hoffman's Woodpecker female

 

This is where we sit and see most of the birds. In front of the chairs are many kinds of trees offering different seeds at different times. Always something to eat for the birds. No need to feed them!

These flowers were on a tree at our entrance that arches over the bridge. So pretty!

But what got me real excited was to see two very rare birds, rarely seen in Costa Rica! They stayed for about two weeks and then they were gone. What a treat! But that is for the next blog.