ALONG FOR THE RIDE WITH JOHN GAMBLE: March 2014

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Day 5 in Costa Rica

Today we left Earth University and traveled to Tirimbina Rainforest Lodge. We had a tour of the rainforest with a guide. Got to see the Honduran White Bats that make a tent out of large leaves. Later went on a demonstration of how they make chocolate from the Cocoa nuts. The first group of photos was from the morning walk at Earth U. and the second group at Tirimbina.

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Black-striped Sparrow

Red-rumped Tanager

Roadside hawk - That is its real common name.

Crested Caracara

Start of Tirimbina photos

Heliconias are growing wild everywhere

White-collared Manakin nest with female

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Yellow flowering tree - no leaves just yellow blossoms

Chestnut-headed Oropendolas - Different species

Blue Jeans Frog - One of the poison dart frogs

Passion vine flower on the rainforest floor

Leaf cutting ants

White-whiskered Puffbird

Broad-billed Motmots

Agouti in the rainforest

Bats from the research presentation that we had at night. Large diversity of bats in Costa Rica including insect eater, fruit eaters, fishing bats and vampire bats.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Day 3 in Costa Rica

We traveled around Earth University, visiting the banana plantation, packing house and cattle operation. Our host Harvey Anselmo Valentine Harriett is a great birder and got up every morning early around 5:15 to take a few of us early riser around. The birding was fantastic. Here are a few of day three photos.

Montezuma Oropendola

Green Iguana

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

White-collared Manakin

Clay-colored Robin - The national bird of Costa Rica. Go figure with all the beautiful birds.

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

Howler Monkey - This was the alpha male leading a small pack. They really roar early in the morning or when they get riled up. Our driver Ronald, got this group going when we were in the banana plantation.