Tag Archives: osa peninsula

Bicolored Antbird

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Bicolored Antbird

I’m especially fond of Bicolored Antbirds (Gymnopithys leucaspis) because the blue orbital skin around their eyes makes them look like they’re wearing goggles. I’ve often seen them flitting low by the trails around Luna Lodge, seemingly following along on the hike and staring at us. More likely they’re scouting out swarms of army ants. Although antbirds don’t typically eat ants, they appreciate the multitude of bugs that hunting army ants stir up from the forest floor. Why waste energy pecking about on the ground when tens of thousands of marching insects will do it for you?

A white belly distinguishes the Bicolored species from other Antbirds that sport blue goggles.

A white belly distinguishes the bicolored species from other antbirds that sport blue goggles.

All media is copyright costaricawildlife.net, 2013.

Great Blue Heron

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A young great blue heron wades in the shallow water where the Madrigal River meets the Pacific.

A young great blue heron wades in the shallow water where the Madrigal River meets the Pacific.

This is one of my all-time favorite photos from Costa Rica. In 2006, I came upon this elegant young great blue heron fishing at the mouth of the Madrigal River in the Corcovada National Park. I watched and photographed it for a long time until it eventually took flight over the waters of the Pacific shore.

Great Blue Heron Takes Flight

All media is copyright costaricawildlife.net, 2013.

Boa Constrictor

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A boa constrictor hangs and waits for something to eat.

A young boa constrictor waits for something to eat on the Osa Peninsula.

Boa constrictors live on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica, from sea level to around 1000 meters. This small boa was found hanging among some roots along the beach between Carate and the Corcovado National Park. If you look closely just below the snout, you can see the blur of its flickering tongue. Unlike other snakes in Costa Rica, the boa constrictor is not poisonous, and while they grow very large, pose no real threat to people.

All media is copyright costaricawildlife.net, 2013.

Scarlet Macaws

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Two scarlet macaws fly overhead at the beach near Carate on the Osa Peninsula.

Two scarlet macaws fly overhead at the beach near Carate on the Osa Peninsula.

It’s been a year since I finished daily sketches, a project to draw and post a picture every day in 2011. The best part about that blog was the unexpected way that it connected me to friends and family. While I won’t have time to make a sketch every day in 2013, I think I will have a few minutes to post a photograph, video, or drawing, about the wilderness of Costa Rica. I’ve visited Costa Rica more than half a dozen times over the last decade, and I hope you will enjoy these daily glimpses into the abundant wildlife that lives there.

Scarlet Macaws, also known as Lapas Rojas or Lapas Coloradas are my favorite bird in Costa Rica. It is common to see them and hear their loud squawks in the rainforest, ranchland, and beaches of the Osa Peninsula. Like great friends and family, they stick together for life!

A pair of scarlet macaws in a tree along the road near Puerto Jimenez.

A pair of scarlet macaws in a tree along the road near Puerto Jimenez.

All media is copyright costaricawildlife.net, 2013.