Recent photo excursion to Costa Rica

Flame-colored Tanager


Scarlet-rumped Tanager


Red-throated Guan


Silver-throated Tanager


Rufous-tailed Jacama


Speckler Tanager


Chestnut-capped Brushfinch


Emerald Toucanet


Two-toed Sloth


Buff-throated Saltator

Black bear in Yellowstone NP feeding on whitebark pine cones.

My biennial bird photo trip to Arizona was very unproductive due to drought conditions this past year. Few migrants, even fewer wildflowers. But, getting out of the cold into wartmer conditions was a wonderful way to spend my 82nd birthday.

Gambel Quail


White-winged Dove


Harris Antelope Squirrel


Lucifer Hummingbird


Curve-billed Thrasher


Gilded Flicker


Red-tailed Hawk


Striped Skunk


82 is the new 60

Woodpeckers are found in every major continent except Australia/New Zealand. They are absent from the polar regions (makes sense…there are no trees). Worldwide there are over 200 species, 22 in North America. Here are a few:

White-headed Woodpecker-Oregon


Lewis's Woodpecker-California


Golden-fronted Woodpecker-Texas


Acorn Woodpecker-California


Northern Flicker-Oregon


Gila Woodpecker-Arizona


Arizona Woodpecker-Arizona


Nuttall's Woodpecker-California


Downey Woodpecker-California


Black-backed 3-toed Woodpecker-California

Birds are more plentiful and diurnal, mammals are fewer and many nocturnal. Here's a few I was lucky enough to encounter.

Tamandua-Panama


Coati Mundi-Costa Rica


Geoffrey's Tamarin-Panama


Agouti-Costa Rica


Jaguar-Brazil


Pallas Long-tongued Bat-Costa Rica


Tufted Capuchin-Brazil


Giant Otter-Brazil


Red Squirrel-Ecuador

This one was taken at the Pond at Elephant Head, near the mouth of Madera Canyon, Arizona

Such a rich variety of animals in the desert habitats we've been schooled to believe are "desolate."

Cardinal


Painted Redstart


Gila Woodpecker


Rock Wren


Verdin


Lazuli Bunting


Ravens


Elegant Trogon


Curve-billed Thrasher


Canyon Wren

Primarily in Southern California (Mojave Desert) and SW Arizona (Madera Canyon, Portal, Organ Pipe NP, etc.)

Some of my favorite areas to explore and observe wildlife are the southwestern deserts. Photography is especially good at water sources, both in the riparian zones of the limited streams and at ponds, springs and seeps where birds frequent daily. With or without a blind, one can spend the day photographing numerous colorful species. Here are a few:

Vermillion Flycatcher


Loggerhead Shrike


Indigo Bunting


Gambel Quai


Cactus Wren


Roadrunner


Phyruloxia


Summer Tanager


Scott's Oriole


White-winged Dove

A few more from the field and forest in this area.

Hermit Thrush


American Kestrel


Brown Creeper


Lesser Goldfinch


House Wren


Red-tailed Hawk


Northern Pygmy Owl


Song Sparrow


Common Raven


Anna's Hummingbird

Taken along coasts and in bays-At 81 my balance has deteriorated enough I don't want to attempt to go out on a tour boat to photograph off-shore birds. Should have done that 20 years ago.

Bald Eagle


Surf Scoter


Western Gull


Common Murre


Osprey


Double-crested Cormorants


Brown Pelicans


Black Brant


Rhinoceros Auklet


Peregrine Falcon

Most shorebird shots require just sitting quietly and letting them come to you. Note the differences in beak shapes and sizes as they utilize the same areas for different food sources.

Sanderling


Whimbrel


Marbled Godwit


Dunlin


Greater Yellowlegs


Long-billed Curlew


Least Sandpiper


Black-bellied Plover


American Avocet


Black Oystercatcher

A little of both. I have a couple acres of old redwood forest.

More birds

Varied Thrush


Dark-eyed Junco


Chestnut-backed Chickadee


Steller's Jay


Yellow-rumped Warbler


American Robin


Band-tailed Pigeon


California Quail


White-crowned Sparrow


Wilson's Warbler

Areas along the Humboldt County and De Norte County coast and adjacent forests in California.