The Accidental Birder

Last week, Geographic Expeditions published one of my essays, Diversions. The story also won first place at the 2023 Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference last August. The piec...

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/10/22/an-iceland-birding-story-i-hadnt-shared-until-now/

The Great Florida Birding Trail, which spans over 800 miles across the state crosses right through Central Florida, offers considerable birding, wildlife and nature opportunities you can't get at...

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/06/05/adjacent-birding-in-kissimmee-florida/

Something about hummingbirds feels delicate, precious and even otherworldly...that's why I've pulled together my favorite photos from our recent trip.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/05/20/humminbirds-of-costa-rica/

From the moment we booked our trip to Costa Rica I wanted to make sure that I had the opportunity to see the Snowcap. I first learned of this little hummingbird during a live virtual birding even...

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/05/13/costa-rica-a-final-stop-at-rancho-naturalista/

I understood in that moment why artists depicted angels with wings, and why the ancient Mayas and Aztec worshipped this bird . There was something divine about it.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/05/11/costa-rica-cloud-forest-birding-at-savegre/

I marveled at the crimson head of the Pale-billed Woodpecker that hammered away on a tree. And the Black-mandibled Toucan was closer than I’d ever seen.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/05/03/costa-rica-birding-puerto-jimenez/

Having family with a house in Costa Rica is amazing. Each morning I awoke to the distant call of toucans.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/04/29/costa-rica-from-guanacaste-to-dominical/

Howler monkeys in the distance screamed and bellowed in response. They weren’t happy to hear the truck either.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/04/25/costa-rica-birding-rio-celeste/

That's when a flurry of Montezuma Oropendulas, Brown Jays, Pale-billed Aracari, Crested Guans and Great Currasows appeared and clamored to get to the fruit.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/04/11/costa-rica-loads-of-birds-at-arenal-observatory-lodge/

Everyone came rushing toward me as I pointed into the forest with my right hand. Honestly, I don't know how they missed its bright yellow breast gleaming in the open as it perched on the branch.

https://theaccidentalbirder.com/2023/04/06/birding-costa-rica-arenal-and-hanging-bridges/