We crossed over between two volcanoes today and down into the Pacific coast. The view is beautiful and we are in a bay, the Gulf of Nicoya. It is also really hot here today.
We started with an 6 am boat ride. Thankfully the Lodge had coffee available for us at 5:45 am. We drove through this small town to the boat launch at the Rio Frio. The boat ride was great again. We saw many birds, wading, and walking. We saw a Jabaru and our guide just had to take a view of American White Pelicans that were seen yesteday in a lake/pond just off the Rio Frio. We spotted the 4 Pelicans and this is the first report in 30 years of Pelicans in Costa Rica. Boat birding is so relaxing and all one has to do is sit and one still goes places. We had a even better looks at the Sungrebe today.
After breakfast we viewed a Pacific Screech Owl in a tree but next to the dining hall here. The owl is a small owl and it was roosting but still would open its eyes. We soon packed up and we had a drive to get past the two volcanoes and then down to the Pacific. We stopped at Upala for a washroom break - no mirrors today. We had a nice lunch at Limonal. The restaurant was right next to a bird rescue organization. There were saw two Scarlet Macaws that had free range during the day but were caged for the night. On the way down to the Pacific, we did see a Macaw that was totally free and wild. Apparently, the species is making a real comeback and the Macaws are everywhere.
Before we got to the lodge we stopped at Caldera, where we drove down an abandoned railway and got out. The place did not seem expecially birdy but we were mistaken. It was tick tick tick on our listing. There were many birds; Cinnamon Hummingbird, Steely Vented Hummingbird, White-lored Gnatcatchers, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Prothonotary Warbler, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (rufous morph) and the Plumbious Kite, to name a few. We actually stopped for the Mangrove Humming bird and the Mangrove Vireo. The birds were coming every two minutes. We saw the Striped-headed Sparrow and the Rufous-naped wren also. We were hot and tired but we kept on getting nice birds. We arrived at Lapas just before dark. Here at suppertime they have a buffet which makes it so easy for a crowd to eat. We did the daily check list afterwards and while sitting down waiting for everyone I noticed a long line of ants going up the wall beside me. I thought, no problem, the ants are going up and not bothering me. .... Well they did fall on me and were crawling on my arms and legs so I got up and moved to a non-ant highway.
We are tired tonight and it may be the heat and hopefully I will get some photos to put with today's narrative.
Here is one of the birds of the day. A Turquoise-browed Motmot.
Barb, Emily, Sami and Lynne
We started with an 6 am boat ride. Thankfully the Lodge had coffee available for us at 5:45 am. We drove through this small town to the boat launch at the Rio Frio. The boat ride was great again. We saw many birds, wading, and walking. We saw a Jabaru and our guide just had to take a view of American White Pelicans that were seen yesteday in a lake/pond just off the Rio Frio. We spotted the 4 Pelicans and this is the first report in 30 years of Pelicans in Costa Rica. Boat birding is so relaxing and all one has to do is sit and one still goes places. We had a even better looks at the Sungrebe today.
After breakfast we viewed a Pacific Screech Owl in a tree but next to the dining hall here. The owl is a small owl and it was roosting but still would open its eyes. We soon packed up and we had a drive to get past the two volcanoes and then down to the Pacific. We stopped at Upala for a washroom break - no mirrors today. We had a nice lunch at Limonal. The restaurant was right next to a bird rescue organization. There were saw two Scarlet Macaws that had free range during the day but were caged for the night. On the way down to the Pacific, we did see a Macaw that was totally free and wild. Apparently, the species is making a real comeback and the Macaws are everywhere.
Before we got to the lodge we stopped at Caldera, where we drove down an abandoned railway and got out. The place did not seem expecially birdy but we were mistaken. It was tick tick tick on our listing. There were many birds; Cinnamon Hummingbird, Steely Vented Hummingbird, White-lored Gnatcatchers, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Prothonotary Warbler, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (rufous morph) and the Plumbious Kite, to name a few. We actually stopped for the Mangrove Humming bird and the Mangrove Vireo. The birds were coming every two minutes. We saw the Striped-headed Sparrow and the Rufous-naped wren also. We were hot and tired but we kept on getting nice birds. We arrived at Lapas just before dark. Here at suppertime they have a buffet which makes it so easy for a crowd to eat. We did the daily check list afterwards and while sitting down waiting for everyone I noticed a long line of ants going up the wall beside me. I thought, no problem, the ants are going up and not bothering me. .... Well they did fall on me and were crawling on my arms and legs so I got up and moved to a non-ant highway.
We are tired tonight and it may be the heat and hopefully I will get some photos to put with today's narrative.
Here is one of the birds of the day. A Turquoise-browed Motmot.
Barb, Emily, Sami and Lynne
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