Birding on 3 continents

[Dave Williams]

What amazes me is there are so many frame fillers, how do you manage it!

[xelas]

25 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

What amazes me is there are so many frame fillers, how do you manage it!

 

Zvezda like to have tight photos ... so I crop a lot . But there are also those with minor crops; specially feeders at Casitas Tenorio offered close encounters.

[Dave Williams]

You still have to get pretty close or have a big lens to crop like that Alex. Impressed!

[TonyQ]

I have caught up before you reach 600. Your very high standard continues! A tough competition with @michael-ibk with incredible numbers from both of you. Will Michael have to arrange another business trip before the end of the year?

[michael-ibk]

Don´t tempt me @TonyQ!

[xelas]

18 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Will Michael have to arrange another business trip before the end of the year?

 

Don't put such ideas in his ears, please! Luckily I still have 3 more free days, and x-mas holidays .

 

[xelas]

BY 591 / AM 211

Tawny-capped Euphonia - Euphonia anneae

 

Arenal, 16.07.18

[xelas]

BY 592 / AM 212

Tawny-chested Flycatcher - Aphanotriccus capitalis

 

Turrialba, 26.07.18

[xelas]

BY 593 / AM 213

Tawny-crested Tanager - Tachyphonus delatrii

 

female

 

male

 

Sarapiqui, 20.07.18

Edited November 25, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 594 / AM 214

Thick-billed Seed-Finch - Sporophila funerea

 

female

Bijagua, 06.08.18

 

male

Arenal, 16.07.18

Edited November 25, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 595 / AM 215

Tody Motmot - Hylomanes momotula

 

Bijagua, 06.08.18

Edited November 25, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 596 / AM 216

Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus

 

Manuel Antonio, 03.08.18

[xelas]

BY 597 / AM 217

Tropical Mockingbird - Mimus gilvus

 

Arenal, 17.07.18

[xelas]

BY 598 / AM 218

Tropical Parula - Setophaga pitiayumi

 

Bijagua, 06.08.18

[xelas]

BY 599 / AM 219

Tropical Pewee - Contopus cinereus

 

Manzanillo, 21.07.18

[xelas]

When I started this year Big Year with a title of Birding on 3 continents, I have been "dragged" into forecasting something like "200 birds per continent" target; soon enough I have learned that getting 200 birds in Europe is close to impossible for a non-birders like us, thus all my hopes to reach at least the total of 600 were put into our last visited continent, and country. Well, as a repeated visitor to Costa Rica I have bet on a winning horse , and to make it run even faster, I have had the extra ace up my sleeves - Michael!

 

So, here I am, to announce the magical #600; among all the spectacular birds we have photographed in Costa Rica, Zvezda picked up this one to represent not only its country but also us, the happy birders. And what a special bird this is (I hope Angelito is still fluttering around some sweet flowers, somewhere).

 

 

BY 600 / AM 220

Talamanca Hummingbird - Eugenes spectabilis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Gerardo de Dota, 26.- 28.08.18

Edited November 25, 2018 by xelas

[lmSA84]

Congratulations! It's a fantastic effort and I've really enjoyed living vicariously through this

[xelas]

11 minutes ago, lmSA84 said:

Congratulations! It's a fantastic effort and I've really enjoyed living vicariously through this

 

Thank you! It was an unique experience ... and one that we want to repeat again!

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on reaching this incredible number @xelas ! And not only that but many, many great photographs!

[TonyQ]

Well done, what an incredible score. Beautiful birds all the way, and still more to come. Well done to both of you and a fine bird to mark 600.

[xelas]

Thank you both, @PeterHG and @TonyQ ! Bird photography is such a beautiful hobby ... just so time consuming, after one came home with all those photos ... Be warned, Peter, bring a lot of memory cards with you!

[Galana]

Well done my friend. It had to happen with your determination.

I am happy to pass on the '600 crown' to you this year.

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations from me as well!

 

A really magnificent effort, with an incredibly high standard maintained throughout!

[Tdgraves]

Well done on 600, what an amazing achievement 

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations Alex and Zvezda, I'm very happy you achieved your goal. Excellent photos all the way, and perfect choice for the bombastic Nr. 600!