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Chris H Petersen Photography, Elkhorn, NE (2026)

09/08/2026

Sometimes by carefully studying their beak, you can tell what they eat.

If you can enlarge and look at the very tip of the beak, there is a tiny downward "hook". That is a classic style beak of a "flycatcher".

The Great Kiskadee certainly falls into the flycatcher family. But it breaks many of the flycatcher rules and uses that "hook" to catch and eat other things.

Besides flying off perches like this one to catch insects, Great Kiskadees eat berries, grab lizards and even dive into the water to catch small fish.

As always seems to be the case with flycatchers, there are several Kiskadees that look almost identical. If I misidentified this one please let me know.

They are found throughout Central America and are residents of Texas. A few have been see as far north as Nebraska, but those are rare sightings.

I really like the vivid colors and color pattern of the Great Kiskadee. I didn't have a photo, so I took this opportunity to capture a Great Kiskadee in Costa Rica.

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 200-800@800mm, distance 7.3m, f/9, 1/3200, +0.7 EV ISO 4000

09/07/2026

A portrait of "Intensity" in a pint size package. My, what big feet you have!

If I had posted this photo of the Pygmy Owl first, you would not have a perspective of it's size. Pygmy Owls are unbelievably tiny!

Look at the previous post of this owl in the context of it's habitat. Many of the leaves in these trees are larger than the Owl!

There are three species of Pygmy Owls in Costa Rica. This one is called the Central American Pygmy. And, as the name implies it is found in middle America forests.

I swear to you I did not touch those eyes! No brightning, sharpening or color enhancement! Big yellow eyes like this usually mean the Owl is diurnal. It hunts during daylight as well as in very dim light.

The first thing I noticed are the size of those talons! Wowser! Looks like overkill for an Owl that primarily feeds on insects and very small rodents.

And, what's up with those nostrils? I have no idea why they protrude so much unless it has to do with shedding rain in the tropical forest.

You get some idea of the Owl's size with that tree leaf on the left. They are only about 6 in in height. They weigh just 2 oz, about the same as two slices of bread!

It is going to very hard (impossible) to choose the best birds from my 2026 Costa Rica trip. But this Pygmy suprise in the forest has to be near the top of the list.

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 200-800@800mm, distance 14m, f/9, 1/400, -0.3 EV, ISO 1000

09/06/2026

Here's something a little different. The operative word is very LITTLE!

My usual tendenacy would be to crop way into this photo to show the beauty of this owl. In this case, an "environmental portrait" is required for some perspective.

The branches and leaves not only provide the context of habitat, they quickly show how very small a Central American Pygmy Owl really is!

If I have known it would have been possible, this Pygmy Owl would have been on my target species list along with the Quetzal. What a wonderful surprise!

The Central American Pygmy Owl is TINY! They only reach 5 to 7 inches in length. These little puff balls only weigh about 2 oz, about the same as two AA batteries!

This is one of the lesser known, and infrequently seen Owls in the Central American forests. They are so small that they mostly feed on insects.

No question this one is going in my 2026 BIG Year album. In addition to this environmental shot, there will certainly be some closeups of this little beauty!

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 200-800@800mm, distance 14m, f/9, 1/400, -0.3 EV, ISO 1000

09/05/2026

Ok, it doesn't get much more basic than this. Why this photo from Costa Rica?

The name of this bird is one of the most descriptive - Clay-colored Thrush. This monochromatic brown bird is the National Bird of Costa Rica.

For a country with so many exotic, colorful birds it seems strange to have this bird choosen as the beloved national emblem.

For one reason, it is very common and found in many areas. Kind of a bird for everyone's connection to nature and wildlife.

In addition to its accessibility, its song is associated with the rainy season. It has become a symbol of renewal and agricultural prosperity.

I have to admit that I was so mesmerized by the exotic colors of the other birds that I almost forgot to capture a photo Clay-colored Thrush with the ruby red eye.

Oh by the way, they are resident of Central and Northern South America. And, on occassion, they make it to the extreme southern tip of Texas.

Would love to hear your thoughts. Is there beauty in simplicity?

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 200-800@800mm, distance 8.5m, f/9, 1/400, -0.3 EV, ISO 5000

09/04/2026

The rest of the story behind this incredible "consolation prize" in the swamp.

When you go to a new wildlife location, its a good idea to identify "target species". These targets are the absolute "wowsers" that are often difficult to captue.

If you use a guide/tour they absolutely need to know your priority targets to plan areas and logistics where you have a chance of finding and photographing them.

In planning my BIG Year trip to Costa Rica, my ultimate target species were two of Costa Rica's most exotic, renown birds: the Resplendent Quetzal and Agami Heron.

The Agami Herons are relatively rare and reside deep in the forests most of the year. The best chance of seeing them are during breeding season.

We timed our trip for the Resplendent Quetzal and we captured some good photos. Unfortunately, were about 3 weeks too early for the Agami Herons.

One Agami Heron had been spotted in a swampy bog a couple of days earlier. Nothing to do but figure out how to get the Ole Photog and his gear into a canoe.

The Agami was not to be found that day. But I had the incredible experience of this beautiful saphire blue bird taking off from a log as we rounded the bend.

If you look at the head and that long decurved beak, you will see that it is an Ibis. While the spectrum of blue colors is incredible, it's actually a Green Ibis.

The Green Ibis perfers secluded habitat similar to the Agami Heron. It is found in dense vegetation of forested wetlands and swamps in Central and South America.

In sunlight, the wings, back of the neck and top of the beak appear as shades of green. In this dim light the colors refracted shifted to amazing blues and purple!

No, didn't not get a photo of the world's most beautiful Heron, the Agami. But I was thrilled to see and capture my first Green Ibis inflight.

Stay tuned. The quest and journey for two more target species continues!

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 100-500@500mm, distance 33m, f/7.1, 1/1600, -0.3 EV, ISO 6400

09/03/2026

Looks like a turkey with curly hair and yellow bubblegum stuck on its beak.

Ok, let's start with what it is not. It might look a bit like a turkey, acts like a turkey, but it is not a turkey. It is called a Curassow and lives in the tropics.

Currasows live in the low land forests and primarily feed on the ground. They were hunted and fed families much like wild turkeys in North America.

I have photographed the Greater Curassow on previous trips to Costa Rica. Males are black with a white "undercarriage". Females are more brown with a dark head.

I have never seen a large yellow ball on the top of the beak like this one! The cere is part of the bird's facial skin around the beak. Wattles grow under the beak.

This yellow ball is a fleshy, bumpy protuberance that is part of the cere above the beak. Part of a male's courtship display, itsignals maturity and vitality to females.

With those dark curls on the crest, and that bright yellow ornate k**b, this guy should no trouble attracting a mate to make more Curassows.

In this photo it looks like he is strutting to attract females. The truth be known, he is racing ahead to get to the ripe bananas before the other Curassows.

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 100-500@227mm, distance 8.5m, f/7.1, 1/800, -0.3 EV, ISO 640

09/02/2026

A "snake bird" drying on the rack. Original story by an Ole Photog.

Someone asked me today which AI program I use to generate the backstories with my photos. The answer is I don't use one.

I have always written my descriptions and backstories the old fashioned way from scratch, after researching several sources.

Two reasons. One, writing it a great way to keep my old brain fresh. Second, it is a unique way to connect with those that follow.

The Photo Backstory:

The official name for the bird in this photo is Anhinga. It comes from Indians in Brazil and means "devil bird".

Inquiring minds want to know why it is also called the "snake bird". That long thin neck looks very much like a snake.

It has a habit of swimming with only its head and neck above water making it appear like a like a swimming snake.

Anhingas literally "fly" under water using webbed feet to swim very rapidly to catch prey. Special feathers to make it easy to dive.

Their feathers are not waterproof like those of a duck. So you often see them perched like this one so they can dry out in order to fly.

Anhingas can be found near water in the coastal U.S. This one was captured at Cano Negro in Costa Rica.

It came to my attention that Facebook "penalizes" posts with long descriptions. I want know ... do you value my "backstories"?

Likes and Comments on posts are appreciated! If you enjoy my work I invite you to Follow this Page so I can reach others like you.

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 100-500@249mm, distance 8m, f/4, 1/2500, 0EV, ISO 5000

09/01/2026

The egrets thought they were pretty cool ... until the "Big Guy" showed up!

That Big Guy on the right is a Jabiru Stork, and they are huge! The taller white bird standing up is a Great Egret. And it even looks like a midget next to the Jabiru!

The Jabiru is standing in deeper water so you can't see it's full height. They grow up to 55 in in height, with wingspans over 9 feet!

The name "jabiru" comes from a native language meaning "swollen neck". They have an interesting swollen patch of red skin below that dark black head and beak.

Jabiru Storks are found in the wetlands of Central and South America. As you might imagine that huge beak hunts fish, amphibians, reptiles and even mammals. It even looks like he could eat a small Snowy Egret!

Unfortunately, the physics of a telephoto lens do not enable getting all birds in focus when they are different distances from the lens.

But I processed this photo because it is a perfect reminder of the incredible boat safari experience at Cano Negro in Costa Rica. Fantastic species in the wetlands!

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 100-500@428mm, distance 56m, f/6.3, 1/400, +0.3 EV, ISO 1250

08/31/2026

The "yellow claw" races forward to catch the next meal on the flats at Cano Negro.

I have seen and photographed Snowy Egrets in the U.S. They are fairly common in Florida. I have even photographed a couple migrating through Nebraska.

When their feet are under water, they look very similar to a Great Egret. Albeit the Snowy is substantially smaller in stature.

What makes Snowy Egrets unique in the Egret world are those bright yellow feet! And that yellow stripe up the back of their legs.

Reddish Egrets are notorious for being maniacs racing about on the flats. This is the first time I've been close to a Snowy running, agreessively stalking prey.

For me, what makes this photo special is the spray of water behind that yellow foot indicating how fast it is moving. A "freeze frame" capturing behavior.

Snowy Egrets are year round residents in parts of Costa Rica, and lot breed there. The bright yellow feet and patch in front of the eye indicate breeding plumage.

Photog Nerd Data:
Canon R5mkII, 200-800@707mm, distance 20m, f/9, 1/3200, -0.3EV, ISO 1000

Chris H Petersen Photography

09/08/2026

09/07/2026

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

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08/31/2026

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