Golden-browed Chlorophonia of San Gerardo de Dota

[Ely Teehankee]

Alex is an excellent bird guide that I met in Myriam's Quetzal Lodge. He is married to Lilian, the daughter of Myriam. I spent a whole day with him starting early in the morning where he showed me this tree that bears a fruit similar to a "Colmillo", dog tooth. The birds like it and another bird that I took pictures of feasting on this tree is the Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager:
birdphotoph.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=worldbirds&action=display&thread=8654
This is one of the prettiest bird that I have seen in Costa Rica. It is called Golden-browed Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia callophrys) 5 inches (13 cm) in length. The combination of bright green and intense yellow sets it apart from other highland birds. All the pictures shown here are that of the male bird.



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



Looking for the Trogon, I had my 2X TC on as I was expecting the bird to be some distance away. As there were none around, Alex brought me to this tree and asked me to wait for the birds. He stayed on the other side of the tree as I positioned myself on the other side. Soon the birds started coming and I was able to take my first picture of this beautiful bird.
1/50 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600 with 2X TC




It looks like the bird caught an insect and was about to swallow it.
1/50 sec., f/5.6, ISO 1600 with 2X TC




This time I did not have the TC on and I think the pictures are better as the bird was only 6.02 meters from me.
1/50 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200



Even looking straight to my direction, the bird still looks very relax and looking for the ripe fruit to eat.
1/50 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




I like this angle best of all. Even if the bird is a male he looks very pretty.
1/50 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




He finally sees a ripe fruit and is about to go for it.
1/50 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200




He fully opens his mouth to take the whole fruit unlike other birds who would pick on the fruit piece by piece.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800




Than just like the Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager he would eat around the fruit with his beak until only the skin is left.
1/250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800


Thank you again Alex for a very memorable day. Pura Vida & Mabuhay.

[Ariel Matias]

Very nice captures of this not-so-easy to find specie. This is more difficult to find than the quetzals. The pictures remind me that I need to go back there again and ask Alex to help me locate and take photos of this beauty. Thanks for sharing.

[Ely Teehankee]

Jul 25, 2012 21:39:05 GMT Ariel Matias said:

Very nice captures of this not-so-easy to find specie. This is more difficult to find than the quetzals. The pictures remind me that I need to go back there again and ask Alex to help me locate and take photos of this beauty. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Ariel for your appreciation. I love this gorgeous bird. If you recall, I kept on asking you to come earlier on my last day at San Gerardo. But than you would have to leave much earlier in the morning to catch this bird at 6:00 AM. Maybe it was also meant to be that way because we got very close pictures of the Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher. I hope the Colmillo is bearing fruits as this is almost a sure thing that the birds will be there. I believe you can take better pictures of this bird if the light is right. Pura Vida & Mabuhay.

[Ely Teehankee]

People have been asking me for the name of this plant, and according to Alex it is the (Satyria meiantha) from the family of Ericaceae and it is edible.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

What a gorgeous bird! Well done Ely.

Did the sun pop out just as the bird started to eat the berry?

[Ely Teehankee]

Jul 28, 2012 22:44:37 GMT Ramon Quisumbing said:

What a gorgeous bird! Well done Ely.

Did the sun pop out just as the bird started to eat the berry?

I was there before sunrise and took some pictures before the sun came out and that is with the high ISO. When the sun came out there there were a lot of uneven lightings which is dreadful to me as there will be an imbalance on the lighting on the bird for the same picture as some of the pictures here. If I stayed longer than the light would also be on the harsh side as it would be later in the morning. Ideally it would be best for the bird to be in the shade of the tree when the light is harsh. The bird is small and sometimes the leaves would interfere in the picture as the birds stays inside the tree. Situation could be difficult but with time & perseverance it is possible to get an excellent picture of this bird. Thank you Ramon for your appreciation.