June 3, 2018 - Costa Rica - Bird nests and babies

While we were in Costa Rica, I was able to photograph some birds on nests and some with babies already hatched. This Gray-headed Chachalaca and its three chicks ran across the paved street at Hotel Arenal Manoa in San Carlos. The Chachalaca is a large bird, 20 inches in length. They were fairly common on this trip, but this is the only time I saw one with babies.

ChachalacaGrayheadedwithchicksHotelArenalManoaCarlosCostaRica20180410

Social Flycatchers were very common at Hotel Arenal Manoa. This pair built their nest in a banana or plantain tree (I have trouble telling them apart). One adult is sitting at the top of the photo and the other one is lower in the photo on the nest.

FlycatcherSocialnestbananabunchHotelArenalManoaCarlosCostaRica20180410

Here’s a closer view of the bird sitting on the nest. There are many kinds of flycatchers in Costa Rica and at 6 inches, this is one of the smaller ones. Let’s hope the babies fledge before the fruit is ready to be picked.

FlycatcherSocialnestbananabunchHotelArenalManoaCarlosCostaRica20180410

Here’s one of the Social Flycatchers bringing a feather to line the nest.

FlycatcherSocialwithnestingmaterialHotelArenalManoaCarlosCostaRica20180410

During our visit to the Botanical Orchid Garden in La Garita, this hen and her chicks were hunting for bugs on the lawn. This is, of course, not a wild bird but the babies are still cute.

HenandchicksBotanicalOrchidGardenGaritaCostaRica20180413

At the Rainforest Lodge in Sarapiquis, this Clay-colored Thrush had a nest under the roof right outside our room. The Clay-colored Thrush is about the same size as our American Robin and it is the national bird of Costa Rica. Notice the bill and head of one of the babies sticking out from under the adult.

ThrushClaycolorednestRainforestLodgeSarapiquisCostaRica20180406