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| Arenal Volcano |
From Cano Negro we moved to the central highland mountains at Arenal Observation Lodge and Arenal Volcano National Park. The grounds and surrounding forest are just spectacular, and the beautiful volcano views just add to the magic. The volcano has quit flowing lava from the summit since our last visit in 2002 but it is just as impressive.
Arenal bird list
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| Waterfall near the lodge |
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| Arenal Reservoir from the observation deck |
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| Coatimundi were easily seen on the grounds |
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| Coatimundi |
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| Central American Spider Monkey |
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| White Hawk |
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| Montezuma Oropendula |
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| Laughing Falcon |
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| Male Great Currasow |
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| Female Great Currasow |
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| A night outing produced a Black-and-White Owl |
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| And a Kinkajou |
We headed due east from Arenal for the Carribean lowlands of
La Selva Biological Station. Our first stop was at Bogarin Trails, a private nature preserve near the town of La Fortuna. The fruit feeders and trails provided many great birds.
Bogarin bird list
A stop along the way at Rio Fortuna Waterfall for a chance at Lanceolated Monklet didn't produce that bird, but a consolation White-whiskered Puffbird did put in an appearance.
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| La Fortuna Waterfall |
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| White-whiskered Puffbird |
The tropical lowlands extend for miles at close to sea level from the base of the mountains to the coast. La Selva is an important research station adjacent to Central Volcanic Conservation Area and Braulio Carrillo National Park in this area. Susan reached 3000 world life birds here with a beautiful
Snowy Cotinga. Yipee!
La Selva bird list
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| Birding the trails at La Selva |
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| A river runs through it |
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| Semiplumbeous Hawk |
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| Black-throated Trogon |
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| Male White-whiskered Puffbird |
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| Rufous Motmot |
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| Green Honeycreeper |
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| Endangered Great Green Macaw |
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| Great Green Macaw |
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| Spectacled Owl |
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| Dusky-faced Tanager |
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| We finally picked up a few Nicaraguan Seed-Finches here |
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| Nicaraguan Seed-Finch |
A quick stop at the El Tapir Reserve on the way back into the mountains netted a Black-crested Coquette, among other hummers.
El Tapir bird list
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| Black-crested Coquette |
Moving back into the highlands, this time on the Pacific side of the mountains, we spent a day plus at the high mountain area of Savegre River Valley (San Gerardo) and the Paraiso Quetzal Lodge. The down jackets we carried in our suitcases for days were busted out for the near freezing temperatures at dusk and dawn. As expected, the birding and scenery were exceptional.
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| Mountain view from the lodge |
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| And the sunset was amazing |
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| Rio Savegre |
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| Dusky Nightjar |
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| Golden-browed Cholorophonia |
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| Female White-throated Mountain-gem |
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| Flame-colored Tanager |
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| Black-cheeked Warbler |
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| Lesser Violetear |
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| Collared Trogon |
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| Ruddy-capped Nightengale-Thrush |
Even though we've been birding hard from dawn to dusk for two weeks, we were up for a night excursion to see one of the toughest owls there is - the Unspotted Saw-Whet. We were out until 1:30 am after a semi-successful outing where we heard three saw-whets and saw a pair of Bare-shanked Screech-Owls.
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| Bare-shanked Screech-Owl |
We awoke bleary-eyed the next morning, and before leaving the central highlands we made one more stop at the high point of the Inter-American Highway - Cerro de la Muerte - at 11,400 feet elevation. Here the target was Volcano Junco, only found in this high altitude
Paramo habitat.
Cerro de la Muerte bird list
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| Volcano Junco |
One week to go, the south.
You guys tired out Bob B. Amazing job and adventure. Three thousand species each. Way to go. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteGreat photo of you and Susan and Arenal.
ReplyDeleteMore great birds and scenery.
I loved watching Oropendulas building their nests and going in and out of them.
I found roosting bats at La Selva and a great iguana in a tree at eye level.
Thank you for sharing.