[Weevil]

Thanks Weevil.
I took my old DA 55-300 as a backup but didn't need it.
While there are nearly as many bird species in Costa Rica as there are in all of North America, a lot of the forest birds especially can be really hard to find. The local guides have a much better eye than I do and sometimes use their own imitations or recorded calls to coax them out of the undergrowth.
The cloud forest in the highlands is really special - very lush vegetation, the trees covered with bromileads and waves of water droplets washing over the landscape. Yes, we did get both male and female Resplendent Quetzals, though not the best photographs ever!

Wow cool!

When you talk about guides, was that an organised tour especially for birding / bird photography?

I must try that one of these days!

[jacamar]

Weevil - We have done organized tours before but on this trip we hired our own guide for each of the locations we went to. It's expensive but a group guide provided by a reserve or whatever has to satisfy the needs of everyone from intensive listers to casual visitors to keen photographers which doesn't always work out well - we were looking for a variety of birds (but not a mega - list of birds we could hardly see), good views, and the ability to spend the time needed. Both of our guides were professional bird photographers and could advise us on settings etc. They took us to productive spots in the general area, not just the reserves. They can also take into account any physical limitations people have. Spending time with a guide also gives you a bit of insight into the country and its people. If you visit an area for a period of time you can hire a guide for just one day and really get a head start.

[cmohr]

One from last year,
Pentax K-1, with Sigma 500mm/f4.5.

[bspn]

One from last year,
Pentax K-1, with Sigma 500mm/f4.5.

Nice, Mama bringing home supper.

[Lowell Goudge]

Weevil - We have done organized tours before but on this trip we hired our own guide for each of the locations we went to. It's expensive but a group guide provided by a reserve or whatever has to satisfy the needs of everyone from intensive listers to casual visitors to keen photographers which doesn't always work out well - we were looking for a variety of birds (but not a mega - list of birds we could hardly see), good views, and the ability to spend the time needed. Both of our guides were professional bird photographers and could advise us on settings etc. They took us to productive spots in the general area, not just the reserves. They can also take into account any physical limitations people have. Spending time with a guide also gives you a bit of insight into the country and its people. If you visit an area for a period of time you can hire a guide for just one day and really get a head start.

sounds like you had a good birding trip. welcome back to the great not so white north

[swip]

A few more tropical beauties from Costa Rica - light conditions were difficult more often than not.

Collared Forest - Falcon



Yellow - throated Euphonia



Lesser Ground - Cuckoo



Black-capped Nightingale - Thrush



Slate-throated Redstart



Collared Trogon



K-3iii, DA*300mm f4, the 1.4xTC was only used for the cuckoo shot.

All amazing shots.

[jacamar]

sounds like you had a good birding trip. welcome back to the great not so white north

Thanks Lowell - it's back to the usual suspects and the mud and slush - until the next snowstorm comes along! But I do think our Long-tailed Duck stands up pretty well against anything else the world has to offer.

All amazing shots.

Thanks swip - the improvements on the K-3iii and Topaz helped quite a lot!

[Mbaez]

Mockingbird with berry

Pentax K3II + HD 1.4x + Pentax DA300 @ f/5.6 ISO2500

[Pentaxians]

Large Niltava, male and female.

[Weevil]

Weevil - We have done organized tours before but on this trip we hired our own guide for each of the locations we went to. It's expensive but a group guide provided by a reserve or whatever has to satisfy the needs of everyone from intensive listers to casual visitors to keen photographers which doesn't always work out well - we were looking for a variety of birds (but not a mega - list of birds we could hardly see), good views, and the ability to spend the time needed. Both of our guides were professional bird photographers and could advise us on settings etc. They took us to productive spots in the general area, not just the reserves. They can also take into account any physical limitations people have. Spending time with a guide also gives you a bit of insight into the country and its people. If you visit an area for a period of time you can hire a guide for just one day and really get a head start.

Interesting ! thaks for the info!

[Weevil]

Near the feeders today...


Épervier de Cooper / Cooper's Hawk [Accipiter cooperii]
exif on flickr

[Ian Stuart Forsyth]

A couple more additions

[Weevil]

2013 archives photo never published...


Paruline masquée / Common Yellowthroat [Geothlypis trichas]
#pentax_fa250600
exif on flickr

[Paul the Sunman]

DFA 150-450 @ 450mm; Growling Grass Frog

[Paul the Sunman]

White-browed Scrubwren