While I’m here in Bristol, England, viewing as many as four Common Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) at a time on the River Frome, John and Milena back in Turrialba, Costa Rica, have sent me beautiful photographs of some of the signature species of the Angostura Dam on the Río Reventazón.

Starting with kingfishers, there is a strong contrast between the two locations in that only one species of kingfisher can be seen in England, while Costa Rica has six. England’s Common Kingfisher is perhaps even more beautiful, however, than its American cousins. Here is Wikipedia’s photo of that species, whose males and females, unlike American kingfishers, are identical in plumage:

Common Kingfisher, to be seen on many rivers and lakes in most parts of England.

John and Milena Beer added to their extensive photo collection with the following lovely shots of kingfishers at Angostura:

Male Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona) at Angostura, courtesy of John and Milena Beer

In many respects the Amazon Kingfisher is a larger version of the rather more common Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) but, as the following photo shows, the female Green Kingfisher with its two breast bands (the lower band is less distinct) is rather different:

Female Green Kingfisher sitting on what looks like the Earth’s globe; photo by John and Milena Beer.

I must add to these John and Milena’s latest sighting, also at Angostura, of the Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata):

Male Ringed Kingfisher. Its measured length of 41 cm makes it one of the world’s largest kingfishers.

See my next posts for more news from both Costa Rica and Bristol.