My wife and I had the wonderful opportunity to take a trip to Costa Rica in early March, 2004. We travelled with a small group of photographers led by prominent bird photographer, Tom Vezo. The other photographers included Richard S. Mittleman, Bob Stronk, and Steve Hutchcraft. This was also the first major outing for my wife, who has just recently started taking pictures with a Digital Rebel we got for her a couple of months ago. We had a phenomenal local guide accompany us throughout the trip, Jonathan Sequeira. The breadth of his knowledge was stunning, and his ability to find and identify the extremely wide variety of species that we encountered was simply staggering. Added April 10, 2004: special thanks to Jonathan for correcting several of the i.d.'s and locations.

Most of our time was spent at Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest area in the mountains closer to the Pacific coast. We were also able to see quite a bit during the many hours of travel between these locations (much of it on rough, slow-going dirt roads). Despite going in the 'dry' season we did run into a moderate amount of rain. The photographic challenges were considerable, given the weather, the elusive nature of many of the species, the heavily vegetated areas they inhabit, etc. I had to rely on flash quite a bit more than I usually do for nature and wildlife photography.

This is the first of 3 Galleries of images from this trip. The second will feature several mammals (mostly monkeys), and the third will present a varied collection of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Some of the images may have some technical shortcomings that would ordinarily discourage me from posting them, but I wanted to present as diverse a collection as possible, to give at least the smallest of tastes of the incredible diversity present in this small, unique country.

All Content © Donald L. Cohen, MD
All Rights Reserved

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    images, along with all the others present in the various galleries,
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Collared
    Aracari

    
Image # 02328

    
Roadside en route to Tortuguero

    
Costa Rica
 

    
Canon 100-400L IS at 400
    mm

    
ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/250 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    0

    
Handheld
 

This was among the first shots I took on this trip. We left the San Jose area after breakfast and travelled in a small bus for several hours to where we would make the final leg of the trip to Tortuguerro by boat. This bird was spotted from the bus, and we made a brief stop to take a few shots. As will be true of many or most of my Costa Rica images, this is a true 'environmental' image showing the animal in its natural habitat, rather than the somewhat 'cleaner' images I often take.

     
 

    
Turquoise-Browed
    Motmot

    
Image # 02544

    
Roadside en route to Monteverde

    
Costa Rica
 

    
Canon 600L/f4 IS with 2x
    II Teleconverter

    
ISO 200, f/8, 1/320 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    +2, 500EX/BB at 0

    
Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley
    Sidekick
 

This was another roadside stop, this time while travelling Monteverde. Steve spotted this little bird which was quite a ways away, and because of its uniqueness, we stopped and quickly tried to setup and take a few shots. As seemed typical for this trip, the light and conditions conspired against us. He was heavily back-lit, and in the shadows of the tree he was perched in, virtually surrounded by branches. I tried to light him up with my flash and extender, but the distance (and f/8 aperture) made this of very limited success. I worked this image fairly heavily in Photoshop CS, taking advantage of the "Shadows and Highlights" tool, and was able to tone down the background, and make the bird much more prominent. A small branch behind its head was also 'cloned' out.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Image # 02340 Behind the Tortuguero Lodge Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS with 2x II Teleconverter ISO 640, f/8, 1/160 second Manual Metering, 550EX/BB at -1/3 EV Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

This was taken in the beautiful grounds behind the Tortuguero Lodge. We took turns setting up to photograph this beautiful hummingbird at its nest. Light was at a premium (as usual), so flash was again relied on, bumping up ISO to prevent the background from going completely dark. As my wife pointed out, even its nest is a work of art.

     
 

    
Social
    Flycatcher

    
Image # 02357

    
Behind the Toruguero Lodge

    
Costa Rica
 

    
Canon 600L/f4 IS with 2x
    II Teleconverter

    
ISO 400, f/8, 1/400 second

    
Manual Metering, 550EX/BB
    at -1 2/3

    
Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley
    Sidekick
 

It was incredible how much could be seen on the grounds behind the Tortuguero Lodge. This beautiful bird was kind enough to pose for us for several minutes, changing perch a few times. (I originally misidentified this bird as the Great Kiskadee.)

Olive-backed Euphonia Image # 02370 Behind the Tortuguero Lodge Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS with 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/250 second Manual Metering, 500EX/BB at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

Bare-Throated Tiger Heron Pair - Courting Behavior Image # 02385 Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 400, f/4, 1/160 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

When not exploring the grounds behind the Tortuguero Lodge, or hiking in the jungle beyone the grounds, we were able to travel by boat to the Tortuguero National Park, and search for wildlife of any type. We came across this pair of Tiger Herons, and had the good fortune to observe them as they displayed their courting behavior. Shooting from the boat for this, and many other shots, was certainly challenging, as we each shifted around for better views. Comoposition was tough to control under these circumstances, and at the distances we were typically shooting from.

Semiplumbeous Hawk Image # 02466 Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/400 second Evaluative Metering at +2/3 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

The most astonishing thing about this shot is the fact that our guide Jonathan was able to spot him. It was way up in the trees, and even when we told us where it was, it still took us quite a while to see it. With the bird sitting in the shadows, almost obscured by other trees and branches, and heavily backlit, and trying to shoot it from a rocking boat, this was an almost impossible shot. The Shadow and Highlight tool in Photoshop was very helpful in bringing out what was contained, but hidden, in the original Raw file.

Anhinga Portrait Image # 02408 Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 2x II Teleconverter ISO 400, f/8, 1/640 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

While most of the birds we saw in Costa Rica were new to me, there were many familiar species, including Snowy Egrets, Cormorants, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and this Anhinga. This was taken from the boat as we explored the Park, and with its beautiful breeding colors, and somewhat rare sunshine, I couldn't resist shooting a nice tight head-shot.

Ringed Kingfisher Image # 02459 Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/400 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

The various Kingfishers we saw in Costa Rica were just as elusive as they are in this country. We spotted this one a ways off, and I was able to get a shot or two before he took off.

Slaty-tailed Trogon Image # 02493 Tortuguero Lodge Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 500, f/4, 1/80 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

We originally planned on another boat ride the morning this shot was taken, but the skies didn't cooperate. During breakfast, someone spotted some birds feeding in a tree immediately adjacent to the Lodge where we were staying, so a few of us went up the stairs to a 2nd floor location that was pretty much on eye level with the birds that came and went. I would rather have had this bird a bit smaller in the frame, but I couldn't back up any more, and so had to be content with a somewhat tight image. Also, I had unfortunately left my flash in the room, so had to rely on natural light alone, which as usual was limited, with the background being fairly hot. Once again, Photoshop enabled me to rescue this image and make it at least somewhat presentable.

Black-cheeked Woodpecker Image # 02530 Roadside en route to San Jose Costa Rica

Canon 100-400L with 1.4x II Teleconverter at 520 mm ISO 400, f/8, 1/250 second Evaluative Metering at +2/3 Handheld

Another species spotted from the bus while we travelled from Tortuguero towards San Jose. It was a quick grab shot, with no time to set up the 600L, so I did what I could with the 100-400, adding the 1.4x II Teleconverter. This is also fairly heavily cropped, further limiting the quality of this image. But I decided to include it anyway, because I got lucky in capturing a new species (to me), with a well-extended tongue. I believe the i.d. is correct, but if not, please email me.

Violet Sabrewing Female Image # 02624 The Fogden's "Hummingbird Gallery" Monteverde, Costa Rica

Canon 100-400L at 400 mm ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/125 second Manual Metering, 550EX at -2/3 Monopod/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

This is a mandatory stop for anyone in the Monteverde area. The Fogden's have apparently been feeding the hummingbirds here for a number of years, and the number and diversity of the birds that can be seen here is quite impressive. In addition to the almost constant motion of these birds, the ambient light whenever I was there was extremely limited, necessitating reliance on flash to illuminate the subject, and high ISO with slower shutter speeds, to try and optimize background lighting. I'm not certain of the correct species i.d. here, so please email me if you know for sure.

Blue-crowned Motmot Image # 02559 Monteverde Lodge Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 400, f/4, 1/500 second Manual Metering, 550EX/BB at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

Tom Vezo had arranged for feeders to be placed at various places in the grounds behind the Monteverde Lodge, in hopes of attracting birds to more favorable shooting locations. This was partially successful, and we did have some opportunities to shoot some Blue-crowned Motmots. These grounds, like those behind the Tortuguero Lodge, held quite a bit of wildlife, and we spent a fair amount of time exploring.

Immature Little Blue Heron Image # 02405 Tortuguero National Park Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 400, f/5.6, 1/1250 second Evaluative Metering at -1/3 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

While a species common to the Southeast US, I included this particular one, as it shows an individual only part way through the transition from the all-white juvenile, to the all-blue adult.

Gray Hawk Image # 02545 Roadside en route to Monteverde Costa Rica

Canon 600L/f4 IS and 2xII Teleconverter ISO 200, f/8, 1/500 second Evaluative Metering at +1/3 Braced on Bus Window

Jonathan spotted this hawk (the first and only of this species I saw) while we were travelling on our bus from San Jose to Monteverde. There was really no time (or place) to get out and shoot, so I just grabbed my camera, pulled down the window, stuck it out, and managed to get off a few shots before it took off.

Violet Sabrewing Image # 02616 Fogden's "Butterfly Gallery" Monteverde, Costa Rica

Canon 100-400L at 220 mm ISO 400, f/5.0, 1/250 second Manual Metering, 550EX at -2/3 Monopod/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

We spent a fair number of hours shooting these incredibly beautiful hummingbirds. They would go to a feeder for a brief period, move away and hover for a second or two, go back to feed, repeat this cycle a few times, and then fly away. Trying to get them in focus, with acceptable composition, during these brief times with a clean background, was challenging, to say the least! But we all came away with a few nice images. I would have wanted a somewhat brighter background, but this was late in the afternoon, the clouds were fairly heavy, so this was not to be.