The Fiery-billed Araçari (Pteroglossus frantzii) is simply the Pacific Coast version of the Collared Araçari (Pteroglossus torquatus) that we are familiar with here in Turrialba. The former of these fairly small toucans (16-17 in) is even more striking because of the red-orange colour of its upper mandible:

Fiery-billed Araçari at Finca Estrella, courtesy of John Beer.

As you can see from the next photo, John and Larry go to great lengths to capture the photos that are so essential to these posts of mine:

Not recommended: Larry balances precariously on the veranda at Casa Amarilla, Finca Estrella

Here’s a view of Casa Amarilla:

No need to walk far for great birding at Finca Estrella; photo by John Beer

One of the highlights of our stay was a Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) that posed nicely on repeated occasions at the top of a very tall bare tree:

Let’s see: the Bat Falcon surveys its chances of finding prey. Photo by John Beer.

The little falcon, well capable of catching swifts, swallows and hummingbirds in flight, treated us to some spectacular swoops for more than 20 minutes. Here’s one of the take-offs:

Off we go: Bat Falcon in flight at Finca Estrella, courtesy of Larry Waddell

A final photo for this post shows that there are other raptors present at Finca Estrella:

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) at Finca Estrella. Photo by John Beer.