Can you find the Third Bluebird? (Click to enlarge)

Little Hawk in Black and White

Just playing a little with the computer and this little hawk today in Valley Forge.

One More of the Resplendent Quetzal

Green Iguana Turns Orange

This big bad boy - about five feet long bobbed his head up and down to show us who was boss of the rain forest.  Quite imposing.

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

The Harrier has Returned

So wonderful to see this handsome hawk in Valley Forge today.  I saw him far in the distance, just standing on the ground.  I took his photo, then advanced about ten steps and took another.  Then advanced another ten steps and took another and on and on.  He let me get so close.  What a thrill to see this beauty up close.

Working on a Little Photo Book for Natalie and Pete Stepanoff

Natalie and Pete about to Tie the Knot

O.K., We are going to do this!!

Flower Girl and Icon Girl

The Priests

The  newest little Stepanoff

The Brothers

Yeah!!!

More Yeah!!!

Mom and Grandmother of the Groom

Natalie looking for the Groom

Still Looking

And Still Looking

Here he comes.  Yes that is the groom!!

Floating on down (rather fast I might say)

Still coming

About to touch down!!

Open Arms - That's Natalie's bouquet!!

Made it!!

Love Sweet Love

Love those Goggles

And the Hug

And the Bagpipes

And another Kiss

Mom and others watching the dancing

Natalie - beautiful Natalie

And the rest is history

Pete and Natalie Get Married

On Sunday, Yumiko and I went to the wedding of Natalie Butler and Pete Stepanoff.  We took thousands of photographs and I am now slogging through all of them.  This is one of Yumiko's many gems.  More to come!!

Lincoln's Sparrow

The Cutest Spider EVER!

I found this little jumping spider on a tall leafless spine of some kind of plant in the woods in Valley Forge.  When I first saw him he was crawling up a thread of something he had spun (not jumping).  Then he saw me or my lens and was just as curious as could be.  Not fearful at all, he jumped closer and closer and finally I lost him when I think he may have jumped onto me.  Here are two photos.  Click on the photo to expand and just look at those four eyes!

Hanging Out on a Leaf Wins Second Place in BetterPhoto.com Contest

"Oh! Oh! Oh!

Golden Crowned Kinglet impressed by the 600mm lens this morning in Valley Forge.