Ara Macao ~ Scarlet Macaws
Looking for that “life-lister”? They are here… if you’re a birder, prepare to have your life list greatly expanded. Some 350+ species have so far been recorded in the area. King Vultures, Currasows, Guans, Aracaris, Toucans, Mot-mots, Boat-billed Herons, Bellbirds, Jacanas, Tityras, Tinamous, Wood rails,Puff birds, Jacamars, Woodcreepers, 4 species of Trogons and a myriad of Hummingbirds in addition to Conures, Pionus and Amazon Parrots as well as the largest population of Scarlet Macaws in Central America.
All four species of new world primates that occur in Central America can be observed here at the farm regularly.River Otters feasting on, and enjoying fresh water Prawns. The huge Iguana “Rio” and his mate have a favorite Hibiscus they frequent only a few feet away from the guest house.
Cyanerpes cyaneus – Red legged Honeycreeper
The University of Costa Rica has camera trapped Jaguar, Jaguarundi, Ocelot, Puma, and Tyra in the area. The Ave Azul area is also a supreme habitat for many beautiful butterflies, moths, and other insect curiosities, such as the very rare Morpho cypris. Equipment is available on site to conduct “mercury vapor lamp bug nites”, where we often draw in huge beetles like Megasoma elaphus of up to 15 cm.
Matapalo and its beautiful beaches are nearby offering some of the world’s most famous surfing challenges. Many of the beaches in the area are monitored and protected by staff of international sea turtle research projects. Volunteers from all over the world assist in protecting turtle habitat and nesting sites from animal and human predators alike.
World renowned Corcovado National Park is within a very short distance on the same route accessing this preserve and is additionally filled with wildlife.
Drymobius melanotropis – Black Forest Racer
Click on images below to view larger size !
If you like check our full gallery also on FLICKR !
King Vulture – Sarcoramphus papa
Katydid sps.
Iguana – Iguana iguana
Howler monkey – Alouatta palliata
Bare-throated Tiger Heron – Tigrisoma mexicanum
Heliconia “sexy pink”
Gaudy leaf frog-Agalychnis callidryas
Fer-de-Lance,or Terceiopelo-Bothrops asper
Another Fer-de-lance outside kitchen door..Bothrops asper
Female Black-hooded Antshrike-Thamnophilus bridgesi standing on page of field guide of the species!
Rescued juvenile Great -crested Guan-Penelope purpurascens caught in a large Caleythea plant early morning.
The most feared snake in the new world tropics..Bothrops asper the Fer-de-lance.On the deck round midnight.
Roadside hawk,yes,thats the name..Buteo magnirostris fending off a Basilisk lizard on tree fern.
Late night Automeris moth. Mecury vapor bug lamp nights before and after full moons.
Huge jungle land crab..no name, up on the mountain.
Spectacled Caiman-Cayman crocodilus on the road at night.
Drapped Smiliscea tree frog, Smiliscea sordida
Crowned-woodnymph hummingbird,Thalurania colmbica
Crane hawk-Geranospiza caerulescens Eating cock roaches from Coco Palms.
Chunk-headed snake-Imaniodes cenchoa on veranda. Rearfanged and mildly posionous.
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan..Ramphastos swainsonii on our Papaya.
Cherries Tanager-Ramphocelus costaricenis on native Orchid.
Weird catterpiller species..when touched..dropped all its hair to reveal a small green worm.
Cat-eyed snake-Leplodeira septentrionalis eating tree frog eggs.
Casque-headed Lizard-Corytophanes cristaus.mostly arboreal.
Cerambycidae–Callipolgon sps-Flies only two months of the year.
Bare-hearted glass frog-Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum
Same frog…
Large brown Basilisk lizard Basiliscus vittatus
Several sleeping Basilisks on banana leaf.”Jesus Christ” Lizards.
Bare-hearted glass frog-Hyalinobatrachium colybiphllum with eggs.
Anteater,at night on coconut palm.
Anolis sps..check back!
Gladiator frog-Hyla rosenbergiin Pandanus.
Beautiful bird! King Vulture- Sacoramphus papa in front yard. One day we saw 14 birds on a dead cow just 2 k away.Probably all the birds in the peninsula in one place at one time.
Katydid sps..
Our Iguana,Rio, who hangs out just above the guest house in a large Hobo tree over the river.
Bird in the hand…Golden-hooded Tanager – Tangara larvata.
Bare-throated Tiger Heron-Tigrisoma mexicanum
Orchid species.Vanda sps.
The ever present Opossum..Opussum virgineanus
Megalamorph species..male in the rest room at midnight.
Masked Smilisca frog-Smilisca phaeota
Late night Tarantula in the restroom.-Megalomorph sps.
Same speeder…
Long-billed Hermit Hummingbird-Phaethornis longirostris
Another late night Arachnid..Scorpion,from the genus-Cenruroides
Smilisca phaeota – New Granada cross-banded tree frog
Red-legged Honeycreeper,Cyanerpes cyaneus
Nephila clavipes – Golden orb-web Spider
Primary rainforest…
C. cupiennius, spider female
Emerald Tanager-Tangara florida
Hysiboas rosenbergi..The Gladiator frog…
Scinax eleaochroa
Female Green Honeycreeper..Chlorophanes spiza
Brown Katydid…Later…
Medio meter false Terciopelo n Croton round midnight…
Smokey jungle frog – Leptodactylus pentadactylus
Green and black poison arrow frog,Dendrobates aratus.
Woodharvestman – Harmless psudoscorpion..
Spider latin name
Wandering spider, cupiennius sps.
Waiting Terciopelo – Botrops Asper – under the Aviaries
Veiled fungus,Phallus indusiatus..Also known as the “Stink Horn” fungus.
True Vanilla Orchid from Madagascar.. Vanilla fragrans
5 ft. Bothrops asper under aviaries at night.
Squirrel monkeys on Brazillian bananas in front yard.Saimiri oerstedii.
Huge Calynda sps female,(green) with two males,brown.
Terciopelo-Bothrops asper.Most feared snake in the new world tropics.
Terciopelo eating a mouse round 3 in the morning.
Siprotea stelenes butterfly on Heliconia.
Safari ants eating a scorpion Cenruroides. late night
Saddleback moth caterpillar on Ti plant.VERY toxic.Gave Rubyann high fever and flat out incapacitated for 4 days after only a brush.
Geranospiza caerulescens,Crane hawk.Long orange legs and an appetite for roaches and scorpions.
Crax rubra,The Great Currasow. Making a great comeback in the Osa.
Female Crax rubra on the river in the Chocolate trees below the guest house.
Scarlet Macaw,Ara macao cyanopetra in Alemandro trees,Puerto Jimenez.
Red-capped Mannakin. male…Pipra mentalis
Red-capped Mannakin…
Same male…
Smoky Jungle Frog
Bare-hearted glass frog..Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum.
Female walking stick..some 8 inches long
Leptophis ahaetulla..Parrot snake..rear fanged mildly poisonious..
Parrot snake…
White-faced Capuchin monkey.Cebus capucinus
Amazon Kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona.
Saddleback moth caterpillar. VERY toxic.
Amazonica sps. of Anthurium..”Amazon Mask”.
Masked Smilisca frog Smilisca phaeota
Large brown Basilisk lizard Basiliscus vittatus
Megalamorph species…Osa peninsula.
Wood Scorpion.Cenruroides sps.
Grey-necked Wood Rail…Aramides cajaneaCalled “Cocaleka” in Spanish.
Wood Stork,Mycteria americana.
Orchid bee on native Orchid..Front yard.
Scarlet Macaw,Ara Macao cyanoptera in yard near aviaries.
False Terciopelo on Alocasia,Amazon mask.
Terciopelo or Fer-de-Lance,Bothrops asper.on front deck.
Wandering spider.10 cm.late night on Varigated Pandanus.
Terciopelo.,Bothrops asper means velvet in Spanish.The most feared snake in the new world tropics .
Brown Kaydid..
Masked frog.Smilisca phaeota
After hours Parrot snake in Lime tree,Leptophis ahaetuila.
Beautiful Crane hawk,Geranospiza caerulescens in Coconut tree.
Roadside hawk,Buteo magnirostris,.on tree fern.
Amazon Kingfisher,Chloroceryle amazona.
Ringed Kingfisher,Ceryle torquatus
Spear-headed Katydid.Copiphora rhinoceros.
Iguana iguana at Ave Azul
Crane hawk…
Early morning rescue of a Crested GuanPenelope purpurascens baby Crested Guan.A real jungle rariety.
Adult Spectacled Owl.Pulsatrix perspicillata
Rear-fanged Parrot snake.
Same snake…
Pqpilio sps.
Large Spectacled Caiman..Caiman crocodilus Two animals rest below the kitchen window everyday.
Series of tanks containing several species of snakes for viewing. We always try to have at least one large Terciopelo on exhibit.
Orchid bee Euglossa sps..Pollinating native Orchid in our natural greenhouse.
Female Boa constrictor ~ Boa constrictor on the road near the house
Latest World and Tropical News
Ave Azul de la Osa
Wake each morning to the magical laughter from a gang of Australian Kookaburras and the drum like sounding calls of African crowned Cranes. The greeting of dawn is completed by the roar of Howler monkeys staking their territory high above the tropical trees. These are the sounds of an undisturbed jungle forest habitat and working exotic bird farm “Ave Azul de la Osa”. From the Blog
Conservation News
Read and learn about interesting facts and news on Conservation in our Blog!
Fun Facts – A plural of Animals
