Costa Rica - Day 6, Part 2

 Monday, January 16, 2023

We arrived at our next lodge, the Los Cruces Biological Station/Wilson Botanical Gardens at around 3:00.  This complex is owned and operated by the Organization for Tropical Studies, and is primarily a research station, but they also have rooms for visitors.  We were excited to visit this location as it is off the beaten path and not a well-established stop for birders. This location is about 3200 feet above sea level, so was cooler and less humid than our previous lodges. 

We checked into our room which had a large balcony overlooking the forest below.  Each room is named for a family of plant species, with that plant growing in the beds adjacent to the room. We were in the Marantus room. Marantus is a family of plants that are popular as house plants, and often referred to as Prayer Plants. 

 

After we got settled in we met Johan on the deck of the restaurant, where they have a small group of fruit feeders. We immediately started seeing some fantastic birds, including Speckled Tanager, Silver-throated Tanager, Crested Oropendola, and Fiery-billed Aracari. 

Speckled Tanager

Silver-throated Tanager

Crested Oropendola

Fiery-billed Aracari

We also enjoyed a Crested Caracara (a bird that we often see in Texas!) perched at eye level atop a tall palm.

Crested Caracara

Also coming to the fruit feeders were Green Honeycreepers. The male and female are quite different in appearance, but both are really beautiful. 

Green Honeycreeper female

Green Honeycreeper male

As night fell hundreds of Crimson-fronted Parakeets squawked their way overhead. You can always hear parrots and parakeets as they fly to their evening roosts!

Crimson-fronted Parakeets

Being a research station, meals were a simple affair and served in a cafeteria style. We presented ourselves at the counter, were handed a plate of food, and when finished returned our plate to the counter. Quick and easy.  Most of the other diners were college age students who were doing research at the station, but there were a few visiting tourists like ourselves as well. 

Next - A Canopy Tower, and more...