Author Topic: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica  (Read 17057 times)

Ann

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Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« on: February 28, 2018, 22:55:52 »
After the worst journey i have yet to endure (as detailed in my “Gods Driven Crazy” thread!), I finally caught up with my friends on what would prove to be an amazingly exciting adventure and a truly wonderful experience over the next couple of weeks visiting a number of private estates, gardens, farms and Lodges in the cloud- and rain-forests in different parts of Costa Rica where I hoped to find and photograph the elusive Resplendent Quetzal or even a Jaguar.

The Toucans were out in force to greet me when I finally reached the very remote Laguna del Lagarto Lodge in the forests in the far north of Costa Rica just five miles short of the Nicaraguan border.

The Lodge (originally a private house which was later extended with several very comfortable guest rooms) is reached after a long drive through the rain on a dirt-road through pine-apple fields and protected wild forest.

The Lodge stands in its own extensive gardens and forest besides a river. Feeder stations have been set-up directly in front of its covered verandas so that even when it rains, (after all, these are Rain-Forests!) you can photograph in comfort and stay dry. The natural background is the soft green foliage of the forest and the staff keeps the feeders fully supplied with fruit so animals and birds of myriad species arrive in an endless stream to enjoy this bounty.

Two different kinds of Toucan (Keel-billed and Black-mandibled Toucans) and their boisterous and rather aggressive cousins, the Aracari, are among them:

Akira

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2018, 00:06:14 »
Welcome back, Ann!  These stunning images prove that your survival game over the hemisphere was worthwhile.

Thank you for sharing!  Could we expect more?
"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

Bill De Jager

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2018, 03:45:30 »
Blown away here, and looking forward to more!

tommiejeep

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2018, 05:24:03 »
Great colours, well done.
Tom
Tom Hardin, Goa, India

Erik Lund

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2018, 09:05:54 »
The first image is very radiant a most impressive creature ;)
Erik Lund

Anthony

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2018, 11:57:14 »
Wonderful!
Anthony Macaulay

Jack Dahlgren

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2018, 14:18:42 »
Beautiful start to the thread. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest.

David Paterson

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2018, 17:39:28 »
Resplendent really is the only word for these birds, whose colours test your credulity and and even your sanity. But because these are Ann's work we know these ultra-exotic birds are real. Birds out of paradise after the journey from hell.

elsid

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2018, 18:51:55 »
Very beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing.
Never measure the height of a mountain until you reach its top

armando_m

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2018, 21:32:03 »
Wonderful photos ! Thanks for sharing them
Armando Morales
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Jakov Minić

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2018, 23:15:13 »
The first image is very radiant a most impressive creature ;)
+1
The LGBT rainbow colors are just stunning!
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CS

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2018, 00:17:26 »
A delight for these old eyes, Ann!
Carl

Ann

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2018, 00:52:58 »
I am thrilled that so many of you are enjoying these photographs.
I will get back to some of the larger birds which I was able to photograph later but, meanwhile, here are some of the smaller brightly-coloured songbirds which delighted me in Costa Rica.

They included several species of the Tanagers and Honeycreeper family among others.
I am no ornithologist but have added what I believe to be their correct names and hope you will tell me where I have got them wrong.

I was using the truly splendid Nikkor 500 mm FL E (rented — although how I would love to own that expensive monster!) for these shots. I had hoped to be able to handhold it but that proved to be beyond my capabilities.


Golden-headed Tanager


Silver-throated Tanager


Green Honeycreeper (male)


Green Honeycreeper (female)


Red-legged Honeycreeper


Summer Tanager


Blue-grey Tanager


Flame-coloured Tanager


Speckled Tanager


Akira

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #13 on: March 02, 2018, 03:43:18 »
It is totally impossible NOT to enjoy such amaging birds of stunning color!  Thank you again for sharing!

"The eye is blind if the mind is absent." - Confucius

"Limitation is inspiration." - Akira

armando_m

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Re: Resplendent Rainforests of Costa Rica
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2018, 13:29:15 »
Incredible colors, thanks!
Armando Morales
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