Unibersidad La Paz

[Ely Teehankee]

I have been taking pictures of birds since I arrived at Costa Rica and this is the 28th day. It is also the last day, as I leave for Los Angeles early morning the next day so that means no birding in the dark.
Ariel Matias who planned this trip brought me to Unibersidad La Paz and along the way we saw Keel-billed Toucans, Fiery-billed Aracari, and the elusive Violaceous Trogon along the orchards. I am glad that I went on this trip as this was where I saw birds that I have never seen before.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, with Canon 2X TC . Gitzo GT3530LS tripod, Wimberley WH200 head. Manual exposure in available light.



Violaceous Trogon (Trogon violates) (Male) 9 inches, is the only trogon in Costa Rica with a yellow orbital ring.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600



I finally got to see the toucan that I used to see in the cartoons. This is the Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfurous) 18 inches with the bright multicolored bill. It was a delight to see and photograph this graceful bird that hops from branch to branch with the greatest of ease.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/1250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/1600 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600



1/1250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/1250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/1000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/1000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/100 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/800 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/640 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




1/640 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 18 inches with bright rufous underparts and long tail.
1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600




A flock of Black-whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) 21 inches with rose-pink bill and feet are just sitting next to a pond resting before they start eating worms and snails that are in the pond.
1/160 sec., f/8, ISO 1600




Rose-throated Becard (Puchyramphus aglaiae) 7 inches female. This is one of those rare times that the female looks better than the male.
1/125 sec., f/8, ISO 1600

[steve pryor]

Ely,
The last one: Pachyramphus aglaiae latirostris - female bird.

[Ely Teehankee]

Aug 24, 2013 10:55:29 GMT steve pryor said:

Ely,
The last one: Pachyramphus aglaiae latirostris - female bird.

Thank you Steve, I would never have guessed it.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Wonderful set, Ely. I hope to see similar exotics this December in Brazil and Ecuador and perhaps Costa Rica.

[Ely Teehankee]

Aug 31, 2013 10:18:40 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

Wonderful set, Ely. I hope to see similar exotics this December in Brazil and Ecuador and perhaps Costa Rica.

Thank you Ramon. Those are some of the best birding places for bird photographers like us to experience. I am sure you will have a great time photographing those beautiful birds.