We took an early morning walk around the lodge grounds with Fiery-billed Aracari the highlight, before going for breakfast. On the walk back we had several birds including hummers and a Black-crowned Tityra which Alan unfortunately missed.
We loaded up the car and began our drive to Monte Verde.
Another quick stop to look at Vultures and we were allowed to drive through a farm area and along a field edge to a river where there were hundreds of Vultures loafing in the trees, Crested Caracaras on the stream edge and Scrub Euphonia in the bushes.
We had a last chance at waders and shorebirds when we stopped by a bridge in Caldera with flocks of Pelicans loafing on the sandbanks inland and Forster's, Sandwich, Black and Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls on the ocean's edge. We had brilliant views of Frigate Birds, Mangrove Swallows and Pelicans flying overhead and Willet, Least and Spotted Sandpiper along the river edge.
We chose to wait for lunch until we got to Monteverde so we began the drive up a rough gravel road with lovely scenery. We stopped at a watchpoint as Luis was worried about the engine and there was a noisy steam of water gushing out under the bonnet. Several people stopped to help and one driver offered a large bottle of water, however this went through showing that the hose was punctured so it was arranged that the Hotel would send down a car to collect us while Luis waited for a mechanic to sort the car out. The views were lovely and one tree had an amazing show of mistletoe.
The driver looked one of the youngest ever, although we were assured that he was 17, and he soon collected us and our luggage which was strapped into the boot to stop it falling out. We arrived at El Bosque where we settle in and then walked through a shortcut to the Cafe Tramonti for a late lunch.
As we returned ready for a walk round Luis arrived, with the car fixed so we strolled round the site of the hotel with Chachalacas and Toucans and a group of Black Guans squabbling in a tree by the entrance to the trails. A Coati rummaged around the bins by the breakfast room and Western Red Squirrels foraged around the grass areas.
El Bosque doesn't do meals apart from breakfast, so we met up around 7.00 and drove into Sant Elena for dinner, surprising an armadillo as it crossed the road, over the path and into the bushes.
- Posted using BlogPress
We loaded up the car and began our drive to Monte Verde.
Another quick stop to look at Vultures and we were allowed to drive through a farm area and along a field edge to a river where there were hundreds of Vultures loafing in the trees, Crested Caracaras on the stream edge and Scrub Euphonia in the bushes.
We had a last chance at waders and shorebirds when we stopped by a bridge in Caldera with flocks of Pelicans loafing on the sandbanks inland and Forster's, Sandwich, Black and Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls on the ocean's edge. We had brilliant views of Frigate Birds, Mangrove Swallows and Pelicans flying overhead and Willet, Least and Spotted Sandpiper along the river edge.
The driver looked one of the youngest ever, although we were assured that he was 17, and he soon collected us and our luggage which was strapped into the boot to stop it falling out. We arrived at El Bosque where we settle in and then walked through a shortcut to the Cafe Tramonti for a late lunch.
As we returned ready for a walk round Luis arrived, with the car fixed so we strolled round the site of the hotel with Chachalacas and Toucans and a group of Black Guans squabbling in a tree by the entrance to the trails. A Coati rummaged around the bins by the breakfast room and Western Red Squirrels foraged around the grass areas.
El Bosque doesn't do meals apart from breakfast, so we met up around 7.00 and drove into Sant Elena for dinner, surprising an armadillo as it crossed the road, over the path and into the bushes.
- Posted using BlogPress
No comments:
Post a Comment