Day 5 - 2017 Costa Rica Journal

We arranged for a private guide (Armando) to take us to the Carara National Park.  Armando is a delightful young man that knows his forest birds!

Carara National Park is a 4700 hectare protected area.  The elevations range from 328 to 1640 feet.  It is regenerating tropical lowland rainforest and tropical dry forest.  Carara is the Huetar Indian word for crocodile.

As soon as we get out of the car Armando is spotting birds!

Rufous-naped Wren

We enjoyed seeing a Turquoise-browed Motmot perched on a wire in the parking area.  This is a species of Motmot that we've not seen previously in our Central American Trips.

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Also spotted in the parking area was this Ctenosaur (aka Black Iguana) that had taken up residence in the drain pipe of an old building slab. We didn't think it was real at first!

Ctenosaur

The trails are well maintained which makes it easy to look for birds and walk at the same time!

Trail intersections were marked by these cute carvings.

We saw plenty of birds on our 6 hour trip but the Scarlet Macaw was our favorite.

Scarlet Macaw

In addition to some flying birds, Armando showed us this mated pair at a nest site.

Scarlet Macaw mated pair

We saw many different birds tucked away in the deepest, darkest parts of the forest. They were tough to see, but Mark did a great job getting bird pictures in the dark undergrowth! This little Streak-chested Antpitta is no bigger than a can of soda, and stayed on the forest floor. But his constant singing gave him away!

Streak-chested Antpitta

Another species in the antbird family was this Chestnut-backed Antbird. It was a little more cooperative.

Chestnut-backed Antbird

One group of tropical rainforest birds that we look forward to seeing are the trogans. On this walk we got great looks at both a male and female Black-throated Trogan. As is always the case with trogans, the male is more colorful than the female.

Black-throated Trogan male

Black-throated Trogan female

Other rainforest species on our walk were woodcreepers and puffbirds.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

White-whiskered Puffbird

Armando mentioned that he has some other birding places and even some “secret” hotspots that only he knows about.  We make arrangements for him to take us out again the next morning.

We head in for lunch and relax the rest of the day.

Next time:  Day 6:  Mangroves and more great birding!

Birds seen at Carara National Park:

Great Tinamou

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Short-billed Pigeon

Ruddy Ground-Dove

White-tipped Dove

Gray-chested Dove

Squirrel Cuckoo

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Long-billed Hermit

Stripe-throated Hermit

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Crowned Woodnymph

Steely-vented Hummingbird

Blue-throated Goldentail

Gartered Trogon

Black-throated Trogon

Lesson’s Motmot

Turquoise-browed Motmot

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Yellow-throated Toucan

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Brown-hooded Parrot (heard)

Scarlet Macaw

Black-hooded Antshrike

Slaty Antwren

Dot-winged Antwren

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Streak-chested Antpitta

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Plain Xenops

Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet

Greenish Elaenia

Northern Bentbill (heard)

Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher

Eye-ringed Flatbill

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

Stub-tailed Spadebill

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Boat-billed Flycatcher

Streaked Flycatcher

Rufous piha

Blue-crowned Manakin

Red-capped Manakin

Rose-throated Becard

Tawny-crowned Greenlet

Lesser Greenlet

Rufous-napped Wren

Riverside Wren

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Black and White Warbler

Tennessee Warbler

Kentucky Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Buff-rumped Warbler

White-shouldered Tanager

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Orange-billed Sparrow

Summer Tanager

Baltimore Oriole

Mantled Howler Monkey

Central American Aguoti

Black Iguana

Day 4 - 2017 Costa Rica Journal

We woke up to a foggy, rainy morning.  After breakfast we spent some time packing up then relaxing on our deck until the rain stopped.  Although we were snug and dry, the White-nosed Coati’s didn’t look like they were enjoying the rain!

White-nosed Coati

We also got looks at our only Black-cowled Oriole of the trip.

Black-cowled Oriole

One of the more common birds at Arenal was the Chestnut-sided Warbler. They were in non-breeding plumage and not as bright as we see them during spring migration in Texas. 

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Before we knew it, it was time for our last meal at Arenal Observatory Lodge.  The food here has been delicious.  Mediterranean style with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, chicken, fish, and outstanding desserts.

Our driver arrived right on time for our 3 hour trip to Hotel Villa Lapas. 

Villa Lapas is a 550 acre private reserve located in a beautiful forest valley along the Tarcolitos River just two km inland of the Pacific Ocean.  It’s only about 5 minutes south of Carara National Park which we will be visiting tomorrow.

We arrived in time to walk around a little bit before dinner. 

Our very comfortable room.

Another maid that decorates with flowers!

Deck and outdoor restaurant from the bridge over the Tarcolitos River.

All meals are served in the large outdoor restaurant.  Again the food was Mediterranean style with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, chicken, fish, and amazing soups!

Beautiful landscaping!

Heliconia sp.

Tamarindus sp.

We were told this is the Jicara Tree.

Road around hotel - Pacific lowland rainforest

And it looks like our White-nosed Coati will be replaced by Common Agouti here.

Common Agouti

Next time:  Day 5 - Carara National Park - Home of the Scarlet Macaw.

I decided to do the bird list a little differently for the second part of our trip.  This is a total list for Hotel Villa Lapas only.  Individual lists will follow after each individual trip.

Birding list for Hotel Villa Lapas grounds and road to the hotel:

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

White Ibis

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Short-billed pigeon

Inca Dove

Squirrel Cuckoo

White-collared Swift

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

Rufus-tailed Hummingbird

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Gartered Trogon

Fiery-billed Aracari

Red-lored Parrot

Scarlet Macaw

Dusky Antbird

Greenish Elaenia

Common Tody-Flycatcher

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

Social Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird

White-ruffed Manakin

Blue-crowned Manakin

Black-crowned Tityra

White-winged Becard

Rose-throated Becard

Lesser Greenlet

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Mangrove Swallow

Barn Swallow

Rufus-naped Wren

Clay-colored Thrush

Northern Waterthrush

Tennessee Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Rufous-capped Warbler

Blue-gray Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

Speckled Tanager

Variable Seedeater

White-collared Seedeater

Buff-throated Saltator

Orange-billed Sparrow

Summer Tanager

Blue-black Grosbeak

Painted Bunting

Baltimore Oriole

Black Iguana

Agouti

Day 3 (Continued) - 2017 Costa Rica Journal

This evening finds us on the Lava Tour.  Even though it’s only a 15 minute drive, we have our own driver and a guide.  Along the way our driver abruptly pulls over to the side of the road and our guide encourages us to quickly get out of the van.  All the while he is grabbing his scope and setting it up in the middle of the road.  We’re looking up on a cliff trying to figure out what he has found when he tells us to “look in the scope.”  He’s still not saying what it is until we get a good look.

Eyelash Viper

It’s a viper.  The Eyelash Viper - Bocaraca; oropel (golden morph - endemic).  This viper is small but very venomous.  The name “eyelash” refers to the hood like scales over each eye.  This amazing snake comes in six colors but the golden morph is known only from Costa Rica and blends well when concealed on ripe yellow palm fruits.  Several fatalities occur in Costa Rica each year as a result of bites from this snake.

We get great looks at the snake then pile back in the van and head on down the road to start the Lava tour. 

Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area.

 

Mark and our guide.

Along the 1.2 mile trail we encounter banana and pineapple plants.

Banana tree.

Pineapple plant.

Our guide explaining how pineapples are grown.

There are plenty of birds to look at also.

Red-lored Parrot

Social Flycatcher

At the summit our guide has Sharon draw a picture of a volcano on his dry-erase board that he uses to tell us interesting facts and stories about the history and activity of Arenal Volcano.

Telling the history of the area.

In July 1968 the Arenal Volcano suddenly and violently erupted. The eruptions continued for several days, burying over 15 square kilometers with rocks, lava and ash. When it was finally over, the eruptions had killed 87 people and buried 3 small villages – Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luís – and affected more than 232 square kilometers of land.

At the height of its activity, the volcano flung giant rocks – some weighing several tons – more than a kilometer away at a rate of 600 meters per second.

Lava rocks lining the trail.

Before the sun sets we enjoy great views of the volcano and Lake Arenal.

Our guide hands everyone flashlights and we head back down the mountain.  It’s a little difficult navigating the very rocky downhill trail with just the puny light from the flashlight.  About half way down he asks everyone to stay on the left side of the trail and to walk up to a certain point and stop.  He will follow behind us.  This was a very smart request because we were unaware of any danger and no one panicked.  After we stopped and turned back around our guide pointed his flashlight on the other side of the trail.  You guessed it, another snake.  This one is the most dangerous snake in Central America.  The Fer-de-Lance (Bothrops asper).  It causes the most snakebite-related deaths among humans in Costa Rica. Venom from this species contains an anticoagulant and causes hemorrhaging.  Other large vipers are more inclined to escape when they feel attacked, but the Fer-de-Lance is more likely to strike.  We were lucky to have such a sharp-eyed guide!

Fer-de-Lance

Our tour finishes at the Frog Pond.  Even after the snake encounter we are looking forward to walking around the pond looking under plant leaves and in leaf litter for these colorful frogs.  Although this is not the rainy season our guide finds several frogs for us, including the Red-eyed Tree Frog that is featured prominently in Costa Rica travel literature but is actually quite hard to see. The Lodge built this pond in a stream to encourage the natural presence of rain forest frogs. 

Red-eyed Tree Frog

Narrow-headed Tree Frog

Rain Frog

Next time: Day 4 - Continuing our trip, another beautiful lodge, the Pacific Ocean, more birds and other critters.

Birds seen on day 3: 54

Snakes: 2

Frogs: 6

Crested Guan

Cattle Egret

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

King Vulture

Gray Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

White-tipped Dove

Green Hermit

Violet-headed Hummingbird

Crowned Woodnymph

Rufus-tailed Hummingbird

Gartered Trogon

Collared Aracari

Yellow-throated Toucan

Keel-billed Toucan

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Hoffmann’s Woodpecker

Brown-hooded Parrot

White-crowned Parrot

Red-lored Parrot

White-fronted Parrot

Great Kiskadee

Social Flycatcher

Gray-capped Flycatcher

White-ringed flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird

Masked Tityra

Brown Jay

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

House Wren

Clay-colored Thrush

Tennessee Warbler

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Buff-rumped Warbler

Passerini’s Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

Palm Tanager

Golden-hooded Tanager

Bay-headed Tanager

Emerald Tanager

Silver-throated Tanager

Green Honeycreeper

Blue-black Grassquit

Thick-billed Seed Finch

Bananaquit

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Buff-throated Saltator

Black-striped Sparrow

Summer Tanager

Red-winged Blackbird

Melodious Blackbird

Black-cowled Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Montezuma Oropendola

Yellow-throated Euphonia

Olive-backed Euphonia

Howler Monkey

White-nosed Coati

Eyelash Viper

Fer-de-Lance

Rain Forest Frog

Rain Frog

Red-eyed Tree Frog

Yellow Tree Frog

Narrow Headed Tree Frog

Cane Toad

Day 3 - 2017 Costa Rica Journal

Day 3 finds us up on the deck early, checking out the feeding tables.

One of the birds visiting the feeding table was this beautiful Emerald Tanager.

Emerald Tanager

 After breakfast we headed out to hike some of the 7 miles of trails on the property.  This lodge is also a spa.  We didn’t have time to partake in any of the spa offerings but we did walk by the beautiful spring-fed infinity pool.

The grounds are landscaped beautifully.

We decided to head down the Waterfall Trail. 

After crossing this hanging bridge (there are several on the property), it didn’t take long to get to the 20 foot waterfall.

Mark walking across one of the many hanging bridges.

We found lots of beautiful and unusual flowers.  Some of which we are still researching names.

Screwpine (Pandanus sp.)

Of course, we saw plenty of birds along the way.

Crested Guan

Keel-billed Toucan

Golden-hooded Tanager

After the waterfall we crossed another hanging bridge and started down another trail.

We passed beautiful lush green fields.

Once out of the forest we started seeing some different, grassland birds.

Yellow-faced Grassquit

Thick-billed Seedfinch

On our way back from a great morning of birding and hiking, we came across this beautiful Malachite Butterfly.  Although Mark has seen this butterfly a couple of times it was a first for me!!!  I have been wanting to see this butterfly for many years.

Malachite Butterfly

After watching the Malachite and other butterflies for a while it was back to the lodge where we waited for lunch. 

We weren’t the only ones waiting for lunch!

White-nosed Coati

Next time:  Day 3 - Part 2 - Fruit, frogs and a whole lot of lava.  Also, our bird list for day 3.