SUN DIPPING BEHIND A MOUNTAIN, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE AREA, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

      We sat on the beach and watched the sun dip behind a montain and sailboats in the distance.  It was a beautiful sight.

BREEDING SPOTTED SANDPIPER, HOTEL RIU GUANACASTE BEACH, GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

   For a week Sharon and I vacationed at the Hotel Riu Guanacaste in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.  We had a great time.  We birded in the hotel area and took birding trips with local guides.  Costa Rica has many beautiful birds that we saw and we added to our Life List.

   The breeding Spotted Sandpiper in the photo is about the only shorebird we sighted and one of the first photos we took.  It is in breeding plumage: bold spots on the neck, breast and underneath and an orange bill.

FEMALE LONG-TAILED DUCK, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

COMMON GRACKLE, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

RED-NECKED GREBES: EATING FISH, IN NEST, SWIMMING & TAKING OFF, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

TREE SWALLOWS, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

MIGRATING FLOCKS OF DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

   We saw several large flocks of Double-crested Cormorants flying overhead.  They are probably migrating to their breeding grounds in the area.