Our Rescue Duck!

Costa Rica has two seasons, the High Season, which is December to April on the Central Pacific coast, and the Green Season from May until November.  It is now nearing the end of October and there has been very little rain this season until this week.  The past few days have brought the torrential downpours that the rain forest is famous for.

And along with the rains came this little bird that appeared to be in distress.  We are not sure if it was injured, rain soaked or just a young sea bird separated from it's mother but it was sitting in the street and could not fly.  It did not seem afraid at all and welcomed the warm hands that took it in and gently carried it to safety.  When it was released into our backyard it still did not fly but waddled off into the swimming pool!  It was quiet content to paddle around in the blue water the rest of the day as if to say...  "I am a lucky ducky to have found this beautiful pond to call my own!"


Now remember that we have a lovely family of basilisk lizards that reside in our backyard and Loco was lounging on the pool deck when this little bird went cruising by as if she were the princess of the pond.  She swam up and down and around and around!  It was an amazing sight to behold and reminded me of how much we enjoy being surrounded by nature.  I went back about my business and when I went back later to check on this little creature she was napping on the pool deck and stirred when she saw me.  She began to waddle all around the backyard as if to be checking out her new surroundings until she grew weary and nested down for another nap.

Later when I went to check on her whereabouts I did not see her anywhere.  Maybe she is tucked away in some of the tropical plantings for the night....  or maybe she flew away!  I will name her Amelia in hopes that she can fly and Amelia this is my message to you . . .

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!" 

Enjoy my video of Amelia . . .

Do you know what kind of duck....I mean bird she is?

Our Rescue Duck! from Deb's Dalliance on Vimeo.

Is it a dog? . . . Is it a frog? ...NO . . . It's a Bird!

Waking to the sounds of birds singing is not unusual when you live at the beach in Costa Rica with the rainforest only minutes away.  Sometimes the singing is so loud you would think that they are right there in the room with you, which is not far from true when you live open air with the windows always open and they are perched in the palm trees in your yard.

But on this morning the sound was a little different.  It was actually called to my attention by our dog Bimbo who began to bark ferociously on the edge of the bed and demand to be put down.  You see she is but a little Maltipoo, part Maltese, part Poodle weighing only 10 lbs but is of the mind that she is 10 feet tall and rules the world and everything that crosses her path.

I lowered her to the floor so she could continue her pursuit and went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee and go see what the fuss was all about.  As I opened the slider to the back terrace I thought that I heard the sound of a growling dog and proceeded with caution as I looked around to see where the sound was coming from.  After a moment I decided it sounded more like a giant bull frog with its long and steady croaking sound but I had never heard one that sounded that loud.  It was long, loud and deep and in the early morning dawn had an eeriness about it that gave me goose bumps.  Still looking around to find the culprit before I turned Bimbo loose to viciously attack, my eye followed the sound upward to see the most amazing bird perched gracefully on top of the wall that runs along the back of our yard.  It was one of those "Whoa" moments where you gasp a little and do a double take to grasp what you are seeing. 

Now when I talk about the birds singing and hanging out in our backyard I am referring to the little guys that you expect to normally be there in a backyard jungle paradise...  Not a huge long legged creature that growls like a dog and croaks like a frog!  As I watched him in all his glory he stretched his neck up to the sky like he was doing his morning yoga session to prepare for the day while slowly moving from side to side and as he did this he again let out the long, deep throaty sound that made me jump back and close the door to prevent Bimbo from going closer for fear that he might just enjoy her for his morning breakfast!  . . . and of course to get my camera!


And so you have it.....   another beginning to just another day of Pura Vida in the rainforest jungle of paradise amongst the birds!

So....can anyone name this bird?

I have looked through several pics to try to find what it is but can't seem to find one that compares to it.  It is really tall . . . about 2 - 3 feet when stretched out.  I am sure it is a sea bird of some sort and thinking maybe a species of the heron ...but his legs look too short.  

Too bad he did not turn around and pose for me with a front view.  Maybe he will come back tomorrow and I will be ready with my video to capture his eerie growl!

Interesting how my dalliance with my camera has led me to learn more about our feathered friends.  Even those that croak and growl instead of singing a nice melody!

                 

Visit my website to view more fauna of Costa Rica!

deb's dalliance / fauna

Special thanks to my friend Marianna for letting me know that this amazing bird 
is a Bare Throated Tiger Heron!   

See the video below to hear it Croak....  I mean sing!

After learning more about this morning visitor my thoughts were 

confirmed that this unusual noise it makes is a mating call!