Earlier this month, I wrote a post about my trip to Costa Rica. The post has a ton of photos on it – probably the most that I have ever included in one single post. If I included the Hummingbirds, it would have had a ton more, so I decided to create a post specifically for them.
I saw many hummingbirds throughout the trip, but my closest encounters were at Monteverde Cloud Forest at their sugar-water feeders. It was almost like cheating, but it was a great experience to have so many new hummingbirds so close. I saw eight species here. It was raining, so photography was tough on the moving birds. I did manage to get some photos though!
Female Green-crowned Brilliant, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Green-crowned Brilliant, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Young Green-crowned Brilliant, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Monteverde Cloud Forest
I was extremely excited to get close-ups of one of my target birds, the Violet Sabrewing. What a gorgeous bird!
Violet Sabrewing, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Violet Sabrewing, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Violet Sabrewing, Monteverde Cloud Forest
I do not prefer feeder shots, but I’ll take what I can get when it comes to new birds. Some of these are the only doc shots I was able to manage of some of the species, so they are not that great.
Male and female Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Female Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Coppery-headed Emerald, Purple-throated Mountain Gems, Green Violetear, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Green Hermit, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird, Monteverde Cloud Forest
While out in the forest, we located a Purple-throated Mountain Gem incubating some eggs.
Purple-throated Mountain Gem on nest, Monteverde Cloud Forest
Other close-up viewing, again, happened at hummingbird feeders. These ones were on the property of the Trogon Lodge in San Gerardo de Dota.
Green Violetear with a Magnificent Hummingbird in the foreground, San Gerardo de Dota
White-throated Mountain Gem and Magnificent Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
Female White-throated Mountain Gem, San Gerardo de Dota
Green Violetear dualing with a Magnificent Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
I was able to get some photos around on other parts of the property.
Green Violetear, San Gerardo de Dota
Green Violetear, San Gerardo de Dota
Magnificent Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
Magnificent Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
White-throated Mountain Gem, San Gerardo de Dota
I was especially excited to see the Volcano Hummingbird. This tiny bird is endemic to the Talamanca Mountains.
Volcano Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
Volcano Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
Female Volcano Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota
In La Fortuna, I had plenty of good looks at the Rufous-tailed Hummingbird around the property of the Arenal Observatory Lodge.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Arenal Observatory Lodge
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Arenal Observatory Lodge
I also caught glimpse of a unique hummingbird while at the volcano.
Stripe-throated Hermit, Arenal Volcano
Other hummingbirds were seen in Corcovado during various hikes.
Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula
Blue-throated Goldentail, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula
Charming Hummingbird, Corcovado National Park, Osa Peninsula
This trip marked the first time I saw hummingbirds other than my local Ruby-throated. In total, I saw a total of 16 species of hummingbirds during the trip – obviously, every single one of them was a life bird!