Blogs from Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 2

Well, the day we’ve been both dreading and looking forward to….time to leave this magical and cool place but also to welcome our nuclear family. Before breakfast we walked along the very rocky and rapid small river – yes, found more of those cute Torrent Tyrannulets. They are the size of English robins - little balls of birds. We did NOT see any herons (David’s hope) or American Dippers. After breakfast we were encouraged to walk just a little ways up the hill – yep, 2 female Quetzals. And then 2 males. Then while we were trying to pack up a cleaning lady encouraged us to look up in the tree just next to our room – yep, a pair. So, we were full to overflowing in our wish to find these amazing birds. We managed ... read more

Another fun day in the mountains. We didn’t get up with the chickens today – actually partook of the breakfast that comes with the hotel. Not quite as good as Dona Rita’s but fine. And we picked up our spare take away breakfast that was our consolation prize for not being able to get out of the gate yesterday. Actually we walked down the road a bit beforehand, along the small but very fast-running and full of rocks Sevegre River, looking for the bird that I had seen on videos about the area – the Torrent Tyrannulet. And we saw one – a NEW LIFER. Plus a MOUNTAIN ELAENIA. The weather was lovely all morning – when the sun was out I was down to just a shirt. When the wind blew I was glad for ... read more

Well, we made tearful goodbyes to Dona Rita and Wendy and Samuel the toddler. Heard that Wendy’s dad only died 7 months ago, blood clot complication of hip surgery. What a shock to the family. After extolling the benefits of attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend and reading Dr. Chapmans Five Love Languages book, we packed up and left our wonderful simple life. It was amusing – the little dog Dorie had faithfully been sitting outside the front door, but of course it is often left open for the breeze. Jean was out on the deck waiting for the breakfast, and who should appear but Dorie – having walked through the house. Very naughty dog. She got in troube with Mama. We considered stopping at some places for birding on the way, but the traffic was so ... read more

Another early morning. Mama brought our breakfast in at 6:30 (photos) so we could head out to La Selva Biological Research Station for a tour. The tour started slow – the group was too large: 11 Spanish speakers and 5 English: us, another man who teaches such things, and a Japanese couple on their honeymoon. Also, it was a general tour so everyone kindly was shown every lizard and frog and a few things through the scope when we did manage to spot a bird. We spent a long time learning about the center, and that were are 12 different “life zones” based on altitude, temperature, and humidity in Costa Rica. La Selva is connected to almost all of these thanks to the fact that there is a clear “corridor” from this lowland to the heights. ... read more

Well we managed quite well to sleep under the mosquito netting. We actually used a light blanket because of the fan. Never did see a mosquito either. Up at 5:15 but David heard the howler monkeys while dozing before that – thought it was wind kicking up! I forgot to mention that yesterday it did thunder around us at 4ish but must have jumped over this mountain – it never rained then. Yet the weather forecasts always say it’s raining, every day. Just coffee and ½ nutrition bar before meeting Wendy at 6, though she also brought us 2 bananas. Hiked just down the road and across into the neighbor’s area, slowly and listening the entire way. The dogs came with us. We learned a lot from Wendy. She explained that they only spot birds in ... read more