Whimbrel
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Costa Rica: Whimbrel

Compared to the other shorebirds on Jaco Beach that morning this Whimbrel seemed enormous, and yet he had the coordination of a ballerina.

Postman Butterfly
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Costa Rica: Postman Butterfly

Another one of Costa Rica’s colorful butterflies is the Postman Butterfly. We saw them on a frequent basis around our villa. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

blue-gray tanager
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Costa Rica: Blue-gray Tanager

While staying in the La Fortuna area of Costa Rica, we were walking back to the hotel when we heard this incredible bird song emanating from a dense tree. It was full of colorful Blue-Gray Tanager singing their hearts out.

Rufous-naped Wren
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Costa Rica: Rufous-naped Wren

Every morning we’d hear a Roufous-naped Wren outside our villa. He liked to sit on the power line and sing his heart out, I’m assuming he was hopeful for a mate, but maybe he just enjoyed hearing himself.

Blue Morpho
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Costa Rica: Blue Morpho

The first time we saw one of these incredibly bright butterflies both Theresa and I thought it must be a tropical bird.

Temperate Rain Forest
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From Tropical to Temperate Rain Forest

How quickly we replaced the warm humid climate of Costa Rica’s tropical rain forest with the cold humid climate of the Olympic Peninsula’s temperate rain forest.

Spotted Sandpiper
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Costa Rica: Spotted Sandpiper

Jaco Beach is known for its nightlight but the area is full of wildlife as well. This Spotted Sandpiper was just one of the many birds we spotted while relaxing on the shoreline.

Ground Anole
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Costa Rica: Ground Anole

Very common in Costa Rica but can be hard to pin down; they are fast and elusive when they need to be.