Tarcoles River Empties Into The Pacific Ocean

[Ely Teehankee]

On the last day of my stay at the Villa Lapas Hotel, Ariel, Michelle & Kyla fetch me, and we went to the end of the Tarcoles river where it meets the sea. We were told by a foreign birder to try the shore where there are other birds. We were pleasantly surprised to see a wide variety of birds including the Roseate Spoonbill, giant Wood Stork. Snowy Egret and the Green Heron which resembles so much like our Little Heron.



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



The birds were in the shallow water of the sea near the area where the Tarcoles river empties to the sea. Fortunately the crocodiles do not go to the sea. Here you can see the Roseate Spoonbill about to enter the picture, the Snowy Egret in the center and in the background are the large Wood Stork scavenging for food at peace with each other.
1/5000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




The Snowy Egret (Egretta hula) 24 inches (61 cm) with its slender black bill.
1/5000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) 32 inches (81 cm) even at over 40 meters because of their size you can still get a decent picture of the bird.
1/2500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




A closer look at the Roseate Spoonbill with a Wood Stork right beside it.
1/4000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) 40 inches (102 cm) easily dwarf the Snowy Egret that is standing in front of it.
1/5000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 18 inches (66 cm) does not look very green and has dark coloration. It likes to crouch low when hunting for fish.
1/2000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




Here the Green Heron is walking tall.
1/2000 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400




Here he crouches low in preparation for his hunt for fish.
1/1250 sec., f/5.6, ISO 400





He goes down into the water to get closer to the fish that he sees from a distance.
1/1000 sec., f/8, ISO 400




Now he keeps a low profile ready to strike the moment he sees the fish. For those interested, you will be happy to know that I have captured some of the action when he took the fish and I will be posting it at a latter date so as not to have too many pictures on this thread.
1/1250 sec., f/8, ISO 400

[oespena]

Great photos sir!

[Ely Teehankee]

Nov 7, 2012 1:48:03 GMT oespena said:

Great photos sir!

Thank you Onnie. It was fun to have taken these pictures and grateful for the opportunity as situation like this does not occur often.

[Ariel Matias]

I remember this moment when we spent almost the whole morning photographing these birds. It was really fun and the best of all, we had the opportunity to photograph the Roseate Spoonbill.

[Ely Teehankee]

Nov 15, 2012 21:49:27 GMT Ariel Matias said:

I remember this moment when we spent almost the whole morning photographing these birds. It was really fun and the best of all, we had the opportunity to photograph the Roseate Spoonbill.

Remember the American guy who told us that he has been living there for 6 months and he never saw the Roseate Spoonbill. I believe him as he was the one who pointed to us where to go and when ask him about the Spoonbills he said he never saw any. It was truly a blessed day for us. Pura Vida!

[Edwin Matias]

Sir Ely,

Great Series, so many birds.....


Regards,
Edwin

[Ely Teehankee]

Nov 22, 2012 0:51:06 GMT Edwin Matias said:

Sir Ely,

Great Series, so many birds.....


Regards,
Edwin

Thank you Edwin. This place is truly a bird photographer's list of must go places. Not only are there plenty of birds but a lot of beautiful birds.