We started the early morning walk at 5:45 am with coffee for a change which was great. We then drove to a nearby mountain road leading to the town of Bijogual. This was a thick forest and the morning song was beautiful. The sun had risen by the time we got there and it was warm already. We had several good bird sightings; Tropical Gnatcatcher, Rufous-capped Wren, Collared Forest Falcon and Yellow-fronted Toucan. There were lots of birds and some traffic on the road also. People going to town up the hill and some on the back of pick-up trucks standing up. We waved and they waved back.
We went back to Lapas Lodge for breakfast and then headed off to the dry arid area nearby, which is a totally different ecosystem than where we are staying. The area we visited was like Texas or Arizona dry, scrub lands. It was stinking hot. This area had specific birds; Olive Sparrow, Yellow-green Vireo, Banded Wren, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, White-lored Gnatcatcher and the Gray Hawk. We tried to stay in the shade of the minibus as it was so hot in the sunshine. From here we turned left at the bottom of the hill and we were on the Pacific coast with the rip tide and the surf rolling in. The area was kind of weird. The odd home was tidy and well-kept while most in some state of repair or needing repair. The best view in the world was at the doorstep. We parked and went to the shore where there is a pond before the sand dune of the beach. We saw shorebirds: Whimbrel, Sanderling and a rare white morph Reddish Egret. There were Brown Pelicans, Caspian Tern, Short-billed Dowitcher, Western and Least Sandpiper. By noon the sun was baking our brains (at least it was baking mine). We were hot and tired and headed back to the lodge for lunch.
On the way up the little mountain to our lodge, we stopped for Painted Buntings, both male and female. After lunch several of went to cool off in the pool and hot tub outside. The hot tub was not really hot but the water jets were great to get the knots out of one's back. This was a quick pool trip as we left at 2:45 pm for a boat ride on the Tarcoles River and to travel down by the Mangrove swamp. This river has American Crocodiles which are dangerous and unpredictable and aggressive. We saw several large crocodiles including one giant one who went under our boat. On a hot day it is wonderful to be on the water and looking for birds. we saw the usual herons that we are familiar with along with several that belong south. The Bare-throated Tiger Heron which is a spectacular heron. We also saw the Gray-cowled Wood Rail, Green Kingfisher, Yellow-naped Parrots and the odd lizard, and Iguana. We also saw the Mangrove Swallow, Mangrove Vireo and the Mangrove Warbler, each beautiful in their own bird species. It was getting to be dusk and we were still looking for the Mangrove Hummingbird. The full moon was coming out and we arrived at the hotel in the dark.
As supper, there were a couple of ladies dining this evening (not of our group) that were wearing the briefest of bikini tops. There was nothing left to the imagination and maybe they were hot this evening!
It was another great day. The birds of the day according to our guide Steve were the Collared Forest Falcon and the Mangrove Vireo. But each bird we saw was special.
Here are some of the birds and animals that we saw today.
Barb, Emily, Same & Lynne
We went back to Lapas Lodge for breakfast and then headed off to the dry arid area nearby, which is a totally different ecosystem than where we are staying. The area we visited was like Texas or Arizona dry, scrub lands. It was stinking hot. This area had specific birds; Olive Sparrow, Yellow-green Vireo, Banded Wren, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, White-lored Gnatcatcher and the Gray Hawk. We tried to stay in the shade of the minibus as it was so hot in the sunshine. From here we turned left at the bottom of the hill and we were on the Pacific coast with the rip tide and the surf rolling in. The area was kind of weird. The odd home was tidy and well-kept while most in some state of repair or needing repair. The best view in the world was at the doorstep. We parked and went to the shore where there is a pond before the sand dune of the beach. We saw shorebirds: Whimbrel, Sanderling and a rare white morph Reddish Egret. There were Brown Pelicans, Caspian Tern, Short-billed Dowitcher, Western and Least Sandpiper. By noon the sun was baking our brains (at least it was baking mine). We were hot and tired and headed back to the lodge for lunch.
On the way up the little mountain to our lodge, we stopped for Painted Buntings, both male and female. After lunch several of went to cool off in the pool and hot tub outside. The hot tub was not really hot but the water jets were great to get the knots out of one's back. This was a quick pool trip as we left at 2:45 pm for a boat ride on the Tarcoles River and to travel down by the Mangrove swamp. This river has American Crocodiles which are dangerous and unpredictable and aggressive. We saw several large crocodiles including one giant one who went under our boat. On a hot day it is wonderful to be on the water and looking for birds. we saw the usual herons that we are familiar with along with several that belong south. The Bare-throated Tiger Heron which is a spectacular heron. We also saw the Gray-cowled Wood Rail, Green Kingfisher, Yellow-naped Parrots and the odd lizard, and Iguana. We also saw the Mangrove Swallow, Mangrove Vireo and the Mangrove Warbler, each beautiful in their own bird species. It was getting to be dusk and we were still looking for the Mangrove Hummingbird. The full moon was coming out and we arrived at the hotel in the dark.
As supper, there were a couple of ladies dining this evening (not of our group) that were wearing the briefest of bikini tops. There was nothing left to the imagination and maybe they were hot this evening!
It was another great day. The birds of the day according to our guide Steve were the Collared Forest Falcon and the Mangrove Vireo. But each bird we saw was special.
Here are some of the birds and animals that we saw today.
Barb, Emily, Same & Lynne
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