Finding Wildlife in Costa Rica part 1 - the Resplendent Quetzal
A Wildlife Photography trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica! In part 1 I focus on birds in the Talamanca Mountains where I stay in the little village of San Gerardo while looking for the Resplendent Quetzal. I also visit Dr. Alexander Skutch's house and tell some of his stories as a naturalist studying the birds of Costa Rica.
Cabanas San Gerardo: bit.ly/3JcfkF7
Helpful Guide, Johan Chaves: bit.ly/3OIXpXH
Birds of Costa Rica ID Book: amzn.to/3vpbzXf
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I'm in Costa Rica as we speak and I agree with everything you said about this beautiful country. I had the opportunity to see and photograph the Resplendent Quetzal in November of 2018. What an amazing experience that was. Great video thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more content.
Lucky you! Enjoy 🙂
Great to see a new video
So colorful!
this is the dream of every wildlife photographer especially birder and i am looking forward to the next part...take care Espen!!!
Nice video Espen. Well done!
Fantastic video - took me right back to San Gerardo!
Excellent!
epic shots
What an adventure, one day ..
Wonderful images Espen, and a wonderful film to go with them. Can't wait until the next episode.
Thank you very much Alasdair :)
Must have been an amazing trip. Great video, can't wait for the next one. Thank you for sharing Espen!
Thank you so much Iris :)
beautiful video
Awesome, Espen! Looking forward to the next vid.
Thank you Simon :)
Great video Espen, nice birds and amazing nature.
Thanks Christer!
Felt good while watching the video and awesome birds 🥰🥰 keep doing the good work!
Great to hear that, thank you :)
Loved every second of it, I know where I want to go next!
Good to hear! Thanks Evan :)
Incredible footage really capturing this country! Thank you for sharing and posting!
Thanks Zoe 🙂
A great adventure unfolding Espen. Can’t wait to see the next episode. Dude, I felt your pain at the beginning with the OM1 issues. Good job you had a backup 👍👍
Thank you Julian :) Yeah saved the trip having a backup!
This was outstanding! Can't wait for Part 2...Your Em1mkii performed wonderfully, I think. Prayers for your safety.
Thanks a lot :)
What a photographers' paradise! Your back-up camera is just as good. The pics are amazing
Thank you very much Sam :)
This is outstanding storytelling and beautiful film and photography! Thank you for sharing this with us all! Best content out there!
Thank you so much Brian! Really appreciate it 🙂
one of the best videos I have seen about birding in costa rica.
Thank you so much, means a lot 🙂
Very nice footage, so worth the wait! Also I highly appreciate how you handled the problem! Even it was a bad timing I like to see that you dont let the problem bring you down. This place looks so nice!
Thanks a lot Chiara 🙂
U r amazing, love from India
Me encantó
Gracias 🙂
Espen, I'm so glad that you got to visit that beautiful country. I have been there twice and have so much more to see in the future. Pura Vida!
Pura vida! Stunning place I agree, already want to go back 🙂
I had the good fortune to stay in the Monteverde cloud forest for a month in 2008. The park was closed to visitors from sunset to an hour after sunrise, so I had the place to myself. Watched several quetzals each day. Just through binoculars, since my point and shoot couldn’t capture any worthwhile images.
Brilliant. I have commented before but can’t stop watching this amazing film. The images show that it is the person behind the camera is what really matters not the equipment. Can’t wait for the next episode. Thanks.
Thank you so much David :) Very happy you're enjoying it
Beautiful ❤️❤️
Thank you :)
AMAZING! This place is on my bucket list and I better hurry as I am not getting any younger LOL! Looking forward to Pt . 2!
😅 Get on it!
Nice video Espen 👏👏 looking forward to see the next one 😃 greetings from Northern Norway 😉
Takk så mye Lucas :)
Awesome
Thanks Peter!
What a cracking film mate, loved it and what a range of wildlife in such a amazing habitat rich country! Top work mate, looking forward to Pt 2. Cheers M 👍
Thanks a lot Matt! Hope you’re well
Thank you so much for sharing the beautiful experience. I’m planning to do the same within a couple of months.
Nice one! Enjoy 🙂
Amazing video from this awesome place. Would be fantastic to be there one day. Looks like paradise. Waiting for part 2 :)
Takk for det Trond :) Maybe it would be a good Team Dovre goes to Costa Rica Adventure ;)
You handle the EM1ii like an extension of your own hand. Great shots. Excellent video.
Thank you very much :)
Great Video. The Cabanas where you stayed looks Fantastic for All types of Birds just shooting from the Patio! I might book a trip there.
Nice! Such a nice place
Excellent video and it puts Costa Rica a few places higher on the wish list. The E-M1 ii is still a fine wildlife camera, and I'm now in two minds about my choice to move to the new OM-1. Let's hope your OM-1 crash is (1) easily fixed, and (2) a sporadic problem, and not a recurrent glitch in the camera model. I've seen no other reports of OM-1 blackouts, but it's important for photographers to report problems as well as the wonders of improved autofocus and high-ISO performance. So thank you for that! Please tell us, at some point, how your problem was resolved.
Thank you Nick :) I think it's a one off, I've not heard of anyone with a similar problem. OM sent me a replacement and it's worked perfectly. I can highly recommend the camera, the difference in focus performance and ISO on the OM-1 is incredibly good.
Pleased you got sorted pal! Just waiting on mine to arrive ! 300mm just arrived I traded in my Canon R5 ! Let’s hope I made the right choice 😬😬😬😬😬🇬🇧
@@jasonwarnes7411Hi, I just read your comment. I am also considering switching from the R5. What are your experiences in the meantime?
Great to see this video. I was there in Jan 22. Miriam’s was a great place where I saw a number of regional endemics. I spent 3 days in San Gerardo before going on to the Golfo Dulce and Osa. Dipped on the Emerald Toucanet but saw a few Resplendent Quetzals (always semi obscured in cover though). Great birding there, I look forward to your next instalment.
Thanks Jeremy! A fantastic place!
Pura Vida Espen! Amazing shots and wonderful display of color and life. We absolutely love Costa Rica and can't wait to get back there later this year. We were lucky to spot a pair of quetzals in Monteverde. Excellent job!
Pura Vida Chris and Ken 🙂 that’s the one place I would have like to go as well, but unfortunately didn’t manage to fit in. Would love another shot at the quetzal, such amazing birds! Thank you
GRANDIOSO MI PAÍS!!!🇨🇷🇨🇷
Such A Beautiful country you got 💯💯
Love from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada! We watched your video recently on our TV and decided to come on the laptop belatedly to acknowledge watching the best video ever made on wildlife with a splendid music. It was a wildlife, animal in environment/habitat photography, informative documentary and music all at the same time.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to do that 🙂 glad you enjoyed!
Hey, Espen , just joined, incredible vidéo..and pics, thx man. Keep going. I Hope to visit that spot too.
Thanks a lot 🙂
Loved this video, what amazing photos you got. It really is a delight to bird off the deck at Miriam’s quetzals, we’ve been there before, such a huge variety of species. Greetings from Costa Rica and pura vida 🦥
Thanks a lot! A great place indeed 🙂
Great video and narration. Thanks for sharing. Visited Costa Rica few weeks ago and spent time in Monteverdi and Bajos Del Toro. A true birders paradise, especially Bajos! I didn’t know what to catch and what to let go and never seen such a vast amount of bird varieties. Can’t wait to go back!
Thank you very much Hanna :) I missed those places, I definitely have to go back as well!
Excellent video. That is perhaps my favorite back porch. I've been there several times and I'm glad you took the time to mention how wonderful Miriam and the rest of the folks at Miriam's are. They really take pride in showing off their birds and incredible back porch. The food is pretty good too. I've stayed several times in a rental cabin near the bottom of the valley but always stop and fill up my memory cards on the trip down and again on the trip back out at Miriam's.
Yes, such a great place and nice people. I really enjoyed their food as well 🙂 thank you
What’s the name of this establishment? I would love to visit that back porch one day :)
@@BlakeAndElis Meriams - there’s a link in the description
That was really good, glad you had a spare camera.
Thanks a lot Jason! It saved the trip :)
Wonderful first video of Costa Rica! Too bad about your OM1, I can’t even imagine what went through your head. That being said, your EM1 shots are beautiful. Looking forward to your second video.
Thank you very much Karin :)
Looks like an amazing trip even with camera issues, looking forward to next episode
Cheer Ian!
I'm glad you enjoy your stay in my country, I don't know anything about camaras but I think your photos were great
Thank you very much Sue 🙂
Great video and trip Espen. And kudos for staying calm despite the technical glitch. Really highlights the value of travelling with a backup. I flirted with going down to a single camera, but backed off for just this reason.
Yeah, I'll never do that after this 😬
Very enjoyable video. Well done
Thank you Scott :)
Great video!
Thank you :)
Fantastic video clip 👌👌 Costa Rica on my wish list. Sorry to hear you had a major problem with OM-1. One reason I am keeping my EM1 mark iii cameras. Both as backup to my OM-1 and use for flowers, fungi, lichen, some insects and amphibians and for macro work. I had the same issue with my 150-400mm + 1.25TC which developed a fault whilst I was in Cyprus. Think I told you at the time. Now repaired by OM Systems and working fine. Lucky I had my 40-150mm and X2.0TC with me so could still get shots. Keep on posting your great wildlife video clips and photos 😊😊
Good stuff! Also good to have the two cameras so you don’t have to change lenses in the humidity, l was a bit wary of that. Thanks a lot 🙂
PURA VIDA! Fantastic video, you're evolving more and more into an excellent wildlife videographer. I'm loving Costa Rica, was there very happily with my old OM-D E-M5ii & 40-150mm. And just saw a male Quetzal just 100 m after the entrance to Monteverde Park. It was a lazy guy: Having completely ruined his tail feathers.
Pura Vida :) Thanks a lot Joerg!
Great video and bought back good memories of my own trip to Costa Rica in February. Its much drier then although still very cold at night in key Quetzal locations. As you have stated dawn around Avocado trees were the best locations. I stayed at the Trogon Lodge which must have been close to where you were and managed to get some decent shots. I hired a car which made get between the key locations very easy as the roads, as you know, are pretty good. I found it odd driving from this location to the coast and the temperature going from 0c to 36c in a couple of hours. Also, I found the Monteverdi Cloud Forest a bit disappointing and the Corcovado National Park absolutely amazing. I hope there are move vlogs of your trip to come. Thank-you for sharing.
Thank you, that's great to hear it brought back some good memories :) I think I'd hire a car on my next visit and yeah the temperature changes is such a shock!
That’s the way to get in there, find your wildlife exposure. Complete immersion. Oh yeah, I even forgot that there’s just no coffee like domestic Costa Rican. Those Ticos will let the gringos take all the ripe bananas they want. But the coffee?!? Oh NO, that coffee is for the compañeros!! They can take the botched batches, the bad rejected coffee can go to USA…. THANKS FOR SHARING!! ¡Pura vida!
Thx Espen, I saw you walking around San Gerardo de Dota some days ago. I didn't knew that you're here in Costa Rica. Greetings and enjoy it!.
Ah cool! Yeah I was in Costa Rica for about three weeks this summer incredible country 🙂
@@EspenHelland if ever come back again let me know it i would be your translator also help you to catch up some more birds species. Take care fella.
Great stuff Espen. I had the privilege of meeting Alexander at his home in 1992 (I think it was anyway). He signed my birds of Costa Rica book too, charming man.
That's amazing Alan, would have loved to have met him
@@EspenHelland Indeed, great man. We were part of a WINGS bird group and he entertained all fourteen of us for coffee and snack...
Sorry to hear about the OM-1 breakdown though. Anyhow, your EM1 II footage looks awesome!!! I sort of having somewhat similar situation in May this year. I got my OM-1 in April but it was DOA. I had to wait till mid June to get mine. I was planning to use it with my EM1 III during my trip to Thailand and India late May. Anyhow, I look forward for your part 2 soon. Hope to go to Costa Rica soon either this or next year. So this great timing to see. Cheers.
Thank you Narin :) Sorry to hear about your experience too. I've been sent a replacement which works great so probably that's just a one off. Hop you had a great trip east!
Love your work as always. You once again saved me a couple of grand!. Itching to buy an OM1, but I'm staying with my EM 1 MK2. It's all about the photographer. Cheers.
Thank you Ian :) the EM1i worked great as a backup camera, though I was sent a backup OM-1 towards the end of my trip and there quite a few images I can take with the OM-1 that I just didn't have a chance with on the EM1ii. Birds in flight in particularly.
@@EspenHelland I live in San Francisco, so if you ever need anything. I also have a cabin in Fritsla Sweden if you need a base to explore the forests there.
@@ianjefferson694 thank you kindly Ian 🙏
Wow what a shock to realize your OM-1 died and in that situation too. I would have had a mental breakdown for sure if that had happened to me. Just switched to the Olympus OM-1 from canon and now realize that of course I must have a backcup housing, have been looking at the em-1 mk2. Your description of the trip to CR is among the best I've seen, really gives an honest and personal picture, I've already started planning my trip there :) probably going mid October if anyone else is interested in tagging along please let me know! As soon as you have more info on what happened to your OM-1 please let us know. A superb report Jesper / Roland from Stockholm Sweden
Thank you Jesper! Apologies for the delayed reply. It was the IS motor which they have now fixed. Hope you're in Costa Rica right now and enjoying it :) The em1ii worked for me as a backup and you can get it very reasonably.
Excellent video Espen! Switching to the E-M1 Mkll doesn't seem to have hurt your results too much -- great images and video.
Thanks a lot Greg :)
5km at 2700m without acclimatisation is pretty heavy going. I'm impressed that you only sounded slightly out of breath. On a separate note, now I'm going to have to accelerate my planning for a trip to Costa Rica next year before your subscribers book everything out...
😅 I actually got a lift right after I filmed that :)
That was amazing! I can’t wait to see the next episode. Sorry about your OM-1, that’s a bummer. Luckily you had a back up camera.
Thanks a lot Nathan! So glad I did :)
Hi, Just came back from Costa Rica last week! Although i had a wonderful time there, wish i had seen your chanel before i went! Would have several tips for where to stay for birding, transportation to remote locations, etc! P.s. my main caméra, the Nikon p950 went dead 2 days before the end of my vacation too, and was left with my small Canon SX740 !!! LOL! Will definitly check your chanel before going somewhere!! Many thanks 😊😊😊
I’am waiting for next video! I was in Costa Rica two years ago but unfortunately not in rain forest. That’s why i must comeback. In this year i was two month in Panama but it is different.
Thank you :) I'm sure that must have been good as well
I chose to purchase the EM1iii over the OM1 because of the bricking issue some users have had with the OM1. So sorry to hear it happened to you Espen on such an epic trip. I hope OMDS gets to the bottom of the issue for you and all others that have had this problem. In the meantime, for me, I continue to take your wildlife course so that I’ve got the best possible settings for my next adventure.
Thanks a lot :) glad you're making use of the settings course as well. I've been sent a replacement and had no issues since, and never had any before. So hoping that was a one off.
Hello, I came across your channel today while doing some research into Costa Rica. Great video! In one week I will be in Costa Rica! I will be staying for 2 months in the southwest Pacific side in Zancudo. I know virtually nothing about photography but I did buy a pre-owned Canon Rebel T3i to take better photos than my camera would. I am looking forward to photographing all of the animals and nature that I will be surrounded in. My rental house is nestled at the edge of the jungle but only a couple hundred yards from the beach. Would you have any advice to share about beginner photography, Costa Rica itself, or anything really?! LOL Again, very nice video, I'm going to check out the rest of your Costa Rican videos next. Gracias, Paul
Thanks a lot Paul 🙂 I’m sure you have a great time! Too many things to get into a message 😅 make sure you know your camera inside out before going. Hiring a local guide is a great way to get to get to know the area and see lots of interesting wildlife.
Nice video Espen…
Thank you Adam!
Absolutely stunning photography and video. Thank you! Also, love your clothing and your hat! Where can we get that hat? 😁❤️ Looking forward to watching much more of your videos. Thanks again!
Thanks a lot Dana 🙂 I will make a video going through gear and research for the trip. Got the hat from Tiso
Espen watched both the films - fabulous. I also have an OM1 and a problem with blackouts & power on issues and am returning to the dealer for a fix. Happy to share the details with anyone, especially OMSystems Cameras if it helps diagnose/fix.
Thank you Richard 🙂 unfortunate about your OM-1 hope they get it sorted for you
Thank you for the reply@@EspenHelland Faulty sensor - replaced and working flawlessly now. Hope they've fixed yours too.
Hi ❤ your voice you have good pictures
Thank you 🙂
What an amazing trip. You coped really well with the OM1 problem. Any idea what it was and has it been repaired? Only just got mine and looking forward to using it. Are you still planning a user guide?
Thanks David! Sending it in now to be looked at, OM was very helpful and sent out a replacement that's worked great and never had a problem with it before. I'll be working on an update for my current OM System course which will include the OM-1 :)
Had my OM-1 since May 1st, 28,000 shots later and so far no problems, 90% of shots using electronic shutter. Keeping fingers crossed no issues turn up.
Good to hear Gary! I've been sent a replacement and had no issues, think it was a one off.
Great video! May i ask what lens u r using
Love your work Espen. Hope you got your camera fixed.
Thank you David :) OM were great and sent me a replacement that I got to use towards the end of my trip
I really enjoy your video's and thinking of a self guided trip to Costa Rica and was wondering if you would advise booking accommodation before hand or just winging it? Thank you Espen.
I booked quite a bit before hand, if you're going in the dry high season you definitely want to book way ahead of time. I was there in the rainy season and it was never full anywhere I went.
@@EspenHelland Thank you Espen much appreciated.
Wow…awesome job. By the way may I know which bird lodge you staying at San Gerardo ? I'm been there before just a very short visit during 2020 pandemic.
Thank you :) stayed at cabanas san gerardo
Great video and memories of my "unseasonably wet" trip to Costa Rica in 2010 also in search of the Respendant Quetzal. I'd be really interested in your gear list for the trip and an update on your worrying OM-1 issue. I also have the OM-1 and an EM1ii as back up. And what did you shoot your video with?
PS What was your 210mm lens? Many thanks.
Thank you Steve! I'll probably make a video where I go through gear and research etc. The video I shot with a mixture of a GoPro 10, iPhone, Mavic drone and my em1ii for the wildlife footage
40-150mm with 1.4x teleconverter
Wonderfull video and birds. But I'm not sure to understand what's happened with your OM1. Because my english isn't as good as I'd like. The upgrade of your OM-1 didn't work, did it? And the camera has crashed ? 🤔 Thank you for the beautiful pictures of your trip. 😉
Thank you Christophe :) It seemed to be some technical issues with my particular camera. I've been sent a replacement and it works perfectly
How did you plan the trip? I'd be interested in hearing about how you chose the accommodations and transportation within Costa Rica. I've visited a couple of times for work, but never left the capital.
I'll make a video on this and gear I brought later on
Espen what a shame I didn't know it was you on Tarcoles beach taking pictures of the birds. I was there with a group of friends that same day. I live here in Costa Rica and i have the best Olympus technitian, he has saved my camera more than once!!! Well next time you get around my beautifull country, send me a message, will love to take you down to some places reserved just for ticos jajaja.
Haha that's funny! were you the group of photographers? someone from that group sent me some photos they'd taken of me 😅 Would be great to get an insiders tour on my next visit thanks :)
When that happens count me in, it's super rare to see olympus photographers here in CR based on my own experience 😂, reporting from Cartago work my trusty em1mk2
I noticed you never used the teleconverter. Was this because it was too dark or because the birds were close enough to not need it? Fabulous video BTW. Loved both episodes.
Thanks James! Mostly the birds were getting quite close, there’s also the high humidity that made me wary of changing lenses too much.
Great episode. Makes my remember “ date the camera and get married with the lens”. By the way, How worst was the mark ii? There you have another episode!😬
😅 thank you Andres 🙂
👍👍👍
If you’re ever interested in doing any filming in CR again I have a wonderful cabin located on 2 acres of primary rainforest in the Osa Peninsula just had a crew from National Geographic here last week
Neat video. What camera do you use for doing the videos?
Thanks Don! A mixture of GoPro 10, iPhone, Mavic drone and em1ii
Looks like a great trip. Shame about the OM-1, please keep us updated on what the problem was.
Thanks Mark :)
Interesting video, did you get the OM-1 repaired? Must have been terribly frustrating 😖
OM were very helpful and sent me another one that I got to use at the end of the trip :)
what time of year were you there? We are headed to CR in 6 weeks and am of course hoping to see quetzals but didn't know the part of the males losing their tail feathers.
I was there in June so you might be good, but best to check up on it.
Wish I had seen your video earlier Espen. My Om1 crashed as well sent off for repair and waiting to see what happens. Did they tell you what it was?
Sorry for late reply, it was the IS motor, all fixed now :)
@@EspenHelland They did not tell me what it was but i think the same. They replaced the camera working well now. Cheers.
Hi Espen, have OM Systems revealed what the problem was on your OM-1?.
I’m getting it back this month so I’ll probably find out then.
Hi Espen, hopefully you are able to talk about it.
Hi Espen. I'm interested in your waterproof jacket in this video. Please can I get more information about this jacket and where can I buy it? Thank you very much.
It was a gift from Trond Westby and Stavanger foto. I would check with Stavanger foto and see if they sell any
@@EspenHelland Thank you very much for your answer 👍
David Attenborough said the quetzel looked like it was designed by the committee.
👍📷😎
Did you do the trip with an organised company or off your own back?
Went on my own, but joined a trip and hired a guide occasionally. I'll make a little video at the end I think where I go into what I brought and research etc
can you please tell the lodge here ?
It’s in the description
What is the name of the place where those women talked to you and showed you quetzales? The one with that clear bluish walls :) Like at minute 5.00
It's called Miriam's, about half way down the San Gerardo/Savegre valley.
sorry for delayed response, but looks like you got a good answer :)
What time of year did you visit?
June-July