I took my last mountain bike ride along the trails overlooking the Pacfic Ocean this morning. Even though it was 5:30 am when I left, and dawn would not yet peek above the ridge for 20 minutes, the heat and humidity were oppressive. However upon reaching the trailhead at the end of my ride two new birds awaited … a Crested Caracara and a Cinnamon Hummingbird. I gathered some quick photos and departed to enjoy a cold shower. Oh yeah … it snowed yesterday in northeastern Minnesota!

Crested Caracara and a Cinnamon Hummingbird

I am also posting now images of three birds I photographed yesterday morning … a Great-crested Flycatcher, a White-Lored Gnatcatcher, and a pair of White-Fronted Parrots.

Towards the end of today’s mountain back ride over the Costa Rican Pacific Ocean hills I found a Streak-Backed Oriole in the process of building a nest. Orioles weave straw and grass on the very end of branches to create a 100% enclosed domicile!

My Canon Sx-60 takes photos at a rate of approximately 7 frames per second. Thus, you are looking at 2 seconds of nest building. This is one very active / busy bird!!! The first photograph is a close-up of the home building Streak-Backed Oriole. The other 13 images are the time lapse photos. (view a 47 second video of the same oriole building it’s nest)

Close-Up

Two Seconds of Nest Building

It is the time of the year for love! Birds are pairing off, and fighting for both mates and territory. At the end of this morning’s sunrise mountain bike ride two Turquoise Bowed Mot Mot birds awaited me on the gate that sets off the trailhead. Getting off my bike I followed the love birds till they finally posed for my camera.

At that point I heard a HUGE racket and watched as five male Streak Backed Orioles fought over one female. The young lady had plenty of attention including this male!

Finally, I had almost given up getting a good photo of a Black Headed Trogon. These birds tend to hang out high in a tree’s canopy which makes taking pictures real difficult. In addition, I had been told if I got real lucky a Trogon would come down low and turn is black back to me … revealing not black but beautiful turquoise and blue colors.