Carara National Park & the Tarcoles River
Looking at the weather forecast and the projected track of Hurricane Otto I decided to run SW away from the storm, back past San Jose and across to the Pacific Coast. In fact the Carara National Park looked like a good birding destination. After about an hour of driving the rain had eased off and I felt it had been the right decision. In fact I was able to stop a couple of times to look at some roadside birds.
Bare Throated Tiger Heron - tigrisoma mexicanum
I spotted this Bare-throated Tiger Heron on the edge of a field in some long damp grass which was probably a good spot for frogs and toads. A very handsome bird. It tucks its neck down very neatly, the feathers seem to envelope the bend.
Bare Throated Tiger Heron - tigrisoma mexicanum
As I got close to my destination I crossed the Tarcoles River. The bridge here is a favourite observation point for people to view the teeming crocodiles in the river below. I am not particularly fascinated by crocodiles as once you have seen one you've seen them all so to speak, but I was taken aback by the sheer size of them. Some can reach 7 metres in length and this is one of the World's highest concentrations of these much maligned beasts. However apart from size they all look the same to me.
I was more interested in the birds of which there were a few including this Yellow Headed Caracara. I saw more of them later but quite like this shot so here it is. These are known colloquially as Tick Birds as they sometimes sit on Capybaras or Three Toed Sloths to pick Ticks and other invertebrates from the fur.
I was more interested in the birds of which there were a few including this Yellow Headed Caracara. I saw more of them later but quite like this shot so here it is. These are known colloquially as Tick Birds as they sometimes sit on Capybaras or Three Toed Sloths to pick Ticks and other invertebrates from the fur.
Yellow Headed Caracara - milvago chimachima
I don't usually speculate much about the hirundines that wheel around above me, they are just too difficult to identify confidently and I've never been a fan of looking at tiny specks in the distance. However I could see that the ones on the overhead cables were a bit different so I took a photo and later identified it as a Purple Martin, the largest N. American Swallow. Oh well, another one for the life list, if I kept one that is.
Purple Martin - progne subis
Shortly afterwards I arrived at the entrance to the National Park where I arranged for a guide for a few hours the following morning. Then I walked one of the public trails which didn't reveal very much but at least I stretched the legs after a long drive. The first photo I took was not a bird but a White Faced Capucin Monkey. They seem to have a very mournful expression which I hope does not indicate their state of mind, I'm sure they must be happy sometimes.
White Faced Capucin
One or two birds did show up, This is a Rufous Browed Wren. At least this one looks happy, probably because of the fat juicy moth he has caught and is savoring to prolong the pleasure.
Rufous-naped Wren - campylorhynchus rufinucha
Rufous-naped Wren - campylorhynchus rufinucha
I was forced into using flash again in some of the darker forest stretches. The Yellow Bellied Elaenia was a good sighting even if the quality of the photo is not great. This was one of a small, very noisy flock that seemed to be having some kind of a conflict, two of them actually fell to the ground physically squabbling at one point. I don't think yellow-bellied implies fearfulness. Peace brothers!
Yellow-bellied Elaenia - elaenia flavogaster
One more forest bird of the day, a Rufous-Capped Warbler. I didn't quite nail the focus here but I post it as it is another lifer.
Rufous Capped Warbler - Basileuterus rufifrons
At the Park Entrance office I enquired about somewhere to stay and they were quite happy to recommend a nearby eco hotel called Cerro Lodge which turned out to be the nicest of all the places I stayed in. Beautiful, comfortable, good food and all at a very reasonable price. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Once I had settled in I shot a few birds around the fruit feeders including the very common Blue-grey Tanager...
Blue Grey Tanager - thraupis episcopus
...and a female Summer Tanager.....
Summer Tanager - piranga rubra
....and a nice Cherie's Tanager. This is identical to Paserini's Tanager which I had seen at La Selva, but I know from the book that in this location it has to be Cherie's. Suits me, another for that hypothetical life list.
Cherie's Tanager - ramphocelus costaricensis
So, safely away from the ravages of Hurricane Otto, at least for the time being. I enjoyed a very nice dinner and retired to bed early ready for some more birding adventures in the morning.
