Nocturnal Visitors!

Hola Amigos -

Last night we had many nocturnal visitors around the lights at our house!

Enjoy - Steven Easley

Images from Monteverde!

Hello friends,

My latest journey was with Dr. Danny Farrell a photographer from Florida. We took thousands of photos during a 2 week trip around northern Costa Rica. We took so many photos that I may have to put up as many as 5 different posts to cover all of the good shots.

We visited Monteverde - Cano Negro - Arenal - Liberia - Palo Verde - Solimar - and Punta Leona. This first post is of some shots from the Monteverde area!

Enjoy - STEVEN EASLEY

Target Birding with Sir Bart Brown

Hello Friends,

A couple of weeks ago our good friend Bart Brown was here with us in Costa Rica. We took him in search of a few really difficult target species. We visited Punta Morales - Cano Negro - La Selva - and Silent Mountain near Turrialba.

On our first day we found several Wilson's Phalaropes, which was a first for Bart in Costa Rica.

Next in Cano Negro we were able to locate the very localized Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet!

Our third new bird for Bart came in La Selva. Smashing views from 15 feet away of the skulking Slaty-breasted Tinamou.

The trip up Silent Mountain was difficult, but very productive. We had excellent views of Rufous-rumped Antwren and quick, but satisfactory views of Sharpbill - both new for Bart.

Bart now stands at 749 in the country, just one more bird and we get to yell out Bingo!!!

Here are some photos that were taken during our trip with Bart.

Enjoy and Good Birding, STEVEN EASLEY

Glass Frogs Galore!!!

Hello Friends,
Here are some of my favorite Glass Frog images taken last year.
All of the shots posted on this blog were taken at Las Esquinas Rainforest Lodge near Golfito, Costa Rica. The rainy season is now on it's way, so may the glass-frogging begin!
Enjoy!!!
STEVEN

Tortuguero Jan. 2010 - Blast from the Past - Part 2

More images from Veragua and Tortuguero...

Tortuguero in January - Blast from the Past - Part 1

Hello Friends,

These are some images that were taken on a trip to Veragua Rainforest and Tortuguero National Park in late Jan. 2010. Magdalena and I took our close friend Bart Brown to these spots in search of a few target species. In Veragua we had great views of Sulphur-rumped Tanager, one of our targets, as well as many other nice things.

While at Tortuguero we nailed the very rare Greater Ani, the shy Least Bittern and we had fantastic views of the secretive Green-and-rufous Kingfisher.

I hope you all enjoy our photos!

Good Birding,

STEVEN EASLEY

More Images from Birdfinders CR Tour #2

Images from Birdfinders Costa Rica Tour #2

Hello Friends,
Here are a few images taken on the Birdfinders Costa Rica Tour #2.
We finished with an impressive 516 species seen with another 20 species heard only.
Lovely Cotinga, Tiny Hawk and Barred Parakeet were personal highlights, but many other great birds were seen. Magda was able to add yet one more species to her quickly growing CR list. She is now up to 760 in the country, which is pretty amazing.
More posts to come!
Best wishes, STEVEN

Baird's Tapir Video!!!

Lovely Cotinga!!!

More Reptiles from the Birdfinders Tour

Hello Friends,

The Rainforest Hog-nosed Pit-Viper was taken in the La Selva Reserve on the STR trail.

The Fer de Lance was seen and photographed in the La Selva Reserve near the cafeteria.

And the Pug-nosed Anole was taken at the Rainforest Lodge, Braulio Carrillo NP.

More posts are on the way!

STEVEN EASLEY

The Birdfinders Costa Rica 2010 Tour Proves to be a Record Breaker!!!

Hello Friends,

Magdalena and I just finished the Birdfinders Costa Rica Tour 2010. This year proved to be our best ever. We broke last years record by 4 species and finished with a total of 544 SPECIES SEEN with another 20 birds that were "heard only".

We also found some pretty stunning reptiles as well. Fer de Lance, Hog-nosed Pit-viper, Eye-lashed Pit-viper, Nothern Cat-eyed Snake, False Coral-Snake, Pug-nosed Anole, Casque-headed Lizard and Central American Banded Gecko.

Magda was also quite pleased with several birds seen, as they were new for her. She managed to add 5 more species to her CR Bird List. Long-billed Curlew, Cave Swallow, Yellow-winged Tanager, Yellow-breasted Chat and Slaty-breasted Tinamou all bit the dust!!!

I got 1 new CR bird, which had become somewhat of a bogey bird over the years, the Yellow-breasted Chat!

We have a couple of days to rest and then the next Birdfinders Costa Rica tour begins.

That's all for now!

STEVEN EASLEY

Some of Our Latest Images from Costa Rica!

Info about the images posted...

The American Golden-Plover was taken in Palo Verdo NP, Costa Rica.

The Lichen-mimic Katydid was taken at Rancho Naturalista Lodge, Costa Rica.

The Gray-headed Dove shot was taken in Cano Negro, Costa Rica.

The Eye-lashed Pit-Viper was taken at Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica.

And the (Northern) Royal Flycatcher was taken in Carara NP, Costa Rica.

I will be posting more photos and stories shortly. We finally have high-speed internet at our house and should be able to update everything much faster.

ALSO - Long-billed Curlew bites the dust near the Tarcoles River, which now puts me at 775!!!.

The full story plus images will be posted shortly.

STEVEN EASLEY