Many of the places we visited had either hummingbird feeders or large plantings of purple verbena which provide nectar year round. San Luis Canopy/Tanager Watch even had sprinklers out around the feeders for the birds to bathe, cool off and hydrate. It hadn’t been raining much in Costa Rica, so it was a welcome addition for them.
One of the rare hummingbird highlights was visiting with David at Tranki Gardens where we waited under a canopy for a White-tipped Sicklebill, a trap-line feeder, to arrive. David said that it liked his large heliconia flowers as part of its feeding route. When it flew in, it fed and dusted its head with pollen before heading to its next planned spot.
Our visit to Paraiso Quetzal Lodge was also very memorable. It started raining when we arrived for lunch. The Fiery-Throated and Talamanca hummingbirds didn’t mind as they swarmed the feeders flashing their wings and showing their colors in a buzz of activity.
It wasn’t always easy to capture images of hummingbirds. They move quickly and were often chased off by bully Rufous Hummingbirds. We are happy with the large number of colorful and interesting new hummingbirds that we saw!
