Lesser Volletear Hummingbird

There were dozens and dozens of these exquisite hummingbirds all feeding from the flowering trees and plants in a beautiful garden just below the cloud forest in Savegre, Costa Rica.  Oh what a sight to see and photograph.

The Resplendent Quetzal at Dawn in the Cloud Forest in Costa Rica

Yet another view of the Resplendent Quetzal.  We were so darn lucky to find this beautiful bird perched next to some kind of native avocado tree in the cloud forest.  Look at that tail!  We got up at 4:00 the next day after this photo was taken and took the hour long drive up into the clouds to maybe find him again, but no such luck.  In fact, when we got there at dawn, we joined a group of about ten other photographers and waited and waited and waited and waited.  It was freezing cold.  Yumiko had her hands in my pockets as she had no gloves.   The guy behind us had a flask of whiskey and offered it to us for a little warmth.  I thought it was a little too early in the morning and so we kindly declined.

Mom and Babe Sloth in Somebody's Back Yard in Costa Rica

The Dancing Hummingbirds

The Resplendent Quetzal

We woke at 4:00 a.m. to get to the Cloud Forest by dawn.  There was a chance we might see the beautiful but elusive and endangered Resplendent Quetzals.  And there he was!

Conversation with the Howler

We stared at each other for a LONG TIME

Two Caiman Posing in Costa Rica this Very Morning

The Last Step

This little baby sea turtle joined dozens of other newly hatched babies this afternoon in Tortuguero, Costa Rica and entered the Caribbean Ocean to start the treacherous  journey of life.

We are here in Costa Rica

Yumiko and I arrived two days ago and what an adventure it has been already!!  Yumiko was carrying two cameras and two lenses in her back pack as we were heading off to photograph the baby turtles emerging from the sand and running out to the sea.  As she was walking she mentioned to me the walkway was mighty slippery.  And before we knew it, she had slipped down on her back - SLAM!!  She was totally O.K., but when we opened the camera covers, glass everywhere.....  Luckily only the glass filters on each camera had shattered.  The lenses and cameras were just fine.  Sheesh.....  Here are a few photos from yesterday's shoot.

Yumiko and fellow photographer Scott taking pictures of baby turtles returning to the sea

Three Toed Sloth welcoming us to Costa Rica

Spider Monkey not too thrilled we have arrived in Costa Rica

Little Red Eyed Frog taken last night in the garden  of our hotel