A few shots left over for La Selva Biological Station, and then on to Selva Verde Lodge, a wonderful lodge built right in the jungle, and full of trails, iguanas, and birds. I would go back in a second, the rooms were so comfortable, food superb, and even walking between the rooms and the reception and restaurant on covered walkway, there was plenty of nature to see.
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Ah Ha! I thought I had erased this photo, the Common Pauraqui, which Neal and Sally got to
see the second day at La Selva Biological. Although I prefer the other photo, to actually see one
twice was a miracle. |
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| Crested Guan |
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These are Nicaraguan White Tent bats. They are fully grown, and about the size of a moth ball.
Sally has a wonderful video of them stirring around so you can see their tiny faces. |
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| Luis Vargas, Sally, and Neal |
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A great disappointment that I couldn't get a good photo of a fabulous bird, the
Great Curassow. I have always wanted to see one, and the signs all around La Selva Biological
feature a picture of one, so I had hopes. Neal found one later in good photo conditions, so
I look forward to seeing it. And whining a bit.
Life list |
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Slaty-tailed Trogan
Life list
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On to Selva Verde Lodge
This gives you an idea of the density of the forest around the Lodge. |
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| The suspension walkway bridge over the Sarapiqui river. |
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If you look closely, there is a Tiger-heron resting on the rocks on this side of the river, almost
exactly in the middle of the picture, on the edge of the rocks. If I had seen him......
(taken with the I-phone) |
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| I passed this leaf on the way to breakfast every morning, finally succumbed. |
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| Who says dinosaurs don't still exist? |
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In the upstairs dining hall, there was a balcony to sit and watch feeding stations.
A perfect place to relax, drink coffee, and have the birds (and animals) come to you. |
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| Including a Golden-hooded Tanager |
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| Passerini's Tanager |
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Montezuma Oropendola
And that comment about dinosaurs....... |
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| Blue Morpho butterfly. When he flies, the wings are iridescent blue. |
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| Palm Tanager |
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| Buff-throated Saltator |
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| And my first really big Iguana, over 6 feet long |
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| Another one, come to raid the feeding stations of bananas |
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| What an astounding creature |
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| Here, two huge males are seeing which one will give ground. The left one ruled. |
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A boat trip on the Sarapiqui.
This is a couple from Brazil, finishing up six weeks of birding!
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| Mangrove Swallow |
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An American Crocodile.
Easily 12 feet long, he was very impressive.
American Crocodiles are found in Florida. |
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| Solitary Sandpiper |
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Green Kingfisher.
Finally, a decent shot. This is a female. |
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| Long-nosed Bats |
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| Green Heron, common in Massachusetts |
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| Tropical Cormorant |
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| Little Blue Heron |
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| Green Ibis |
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| Bare-necked Tiger-heron Life list |
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| Anhinga |
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| Snowy Egret, headed north |
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Ringed Kingfisher. (female)
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| Amazon Kingfisher |
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| Summer Tanager |
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| Poisonous tree frog perhaps one-half an inch long. |
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I didn't have a guide with me when I shot these monkeys (from a huge distance away).
I assume they are Howlers |
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| Green-crowned Brilliant |
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On my last walk to reception for our ride back to Bougainvillea,
another Spot-crowned (I believe) Woodcreeper |
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Final dinner at Bougainvillea Hotel, San Jose,
with Sonia Nunez, our trip planner, coordinator and transportation resource, and
all-around great person. I wish Juan Carlos could have joined us.
A wonderful 12 days of birding with wonderful company,
great conversation, great food, good beds (mostly), and
above all, the beautiful country and birds of Costa Rica.
I am ready to go again. |
