Some of the quietest moments in Costa Rica happened along the water’s edge. Herons and egrets stood nearly motionless, their reflections soft in the surface below, until a sudden movement broke the stillness. These birds seemed perfectly at home between motion and calm—patient, deliberate, and beautifully composed in their surroundings. This collection brings together a range of these water birds, each one offering a glimpse into that balance of stillness and subtle activity.
Egrets were a constant presence along the water’s edge—bright against the darker surroundings, sometimes perfectly still, and other times moving with surprising grace.
The Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Western Cattle Egret
In contrast to the bright egrets, the herons felt more grounded—subtle in color, slower in movement, and often more closely tied to the landscape around them.
Great Blue Heron
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
Boat Billed Heron
Green Heron
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Along the water’s edge, smaller flashes of color appeared briefly among the branches and shoreline.
American Pygmy Kingfisher
Green Kingfisher
In the end, it was the stillness that stayed with me—the quiet moments where movement slowed, reflections settled, and the presence of these birds felt as much a part of the water as the landscape itself.
