Our group of 11, our NatGeo guide (Cesar), and our bus driver got an early start as we headed to the Monteverde cloud forest. I kept watching for birds as the bus was moving, and saw lots of vultures (a few Turkey but mostly Black), pigeons, and doves. All of a sudden, our driver hit the breaks. He saw something he thought we should see. Perched together on a concrete wall just along the road was quite a sight for us.
Wood Stork
Juvenile White Ibis
Snowy Egret
Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill
Well, that was a great start to the day. We made a stop about half way up to the cloud forest, and I got a few shots of a flying Gray Hawk. A bit farther up the road, we saw our first monkeys of the trip.
Gray Hawk
White-faced Capuchin Monkey
We finally arrived at the El Establo Lodge where we would be spending two nights. The lodge appeared to be fairly new. It was built on a steep slope, and there were multiple buildings along the slope of 20 guest rooms each. Going to meals required catching a shuttle or taking our tour bus because of the steep terrain. We ate at three different places in the lodge. Two of them were mediocre at best, but the fine dining restaurant was excellent. Our room was really strange. There was enough room for 3-1/2 queen size beds, but we had 2 beds, and the rest of the room was empty. There was no closet, no drawers, and no hooks on the walls, so we lived out of our suitcases on the floor. There were only a few small lights (other than in the bathroom), so it was difficult to see anything in the evenings. There was no air conditioning or heat. Two small windows above large glass windows overlooking the cloud forest could be opened and had screens, but the only other small windows we could open (in the bathroom) did not have screens. It got quite chilly at night.
After lunch and getting settled, we traveled to the Monteverde Cloud Forest private reserve. Our primary target bird was the Resplendent Quetzal, and we soon saw one. Unforunately, the bird was backlit and had its back to us, its head was mostly hidden by leaves, and there was light drizzle.
Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal
We continued along the trail, and saw quite a few birds. At one point, Cesar stopped us. For about 10 feet along the trail, thousands of army ants were on the move and crossing the trail. We waited for about 10 minutes, and when the number of ants diminished, we, at one at a time, ran quickly over the ants, and then stopped to make sure none of the ants were on our shoes or legs.
Army ants
The trees and vegetation in the cloud forest were extremely dense, and Cesar pointed out several interesting facts about the botanical aspects of the forest. What amazed me the most were the tree sized ferns that were millions of years old. Most of the trail was very dark with little sun reaching below the tree canopies.
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Azure-hooded Jay
Collared Redstart
Collared Redstart
Collared Redstart
Collared Redstart
Common Chlorospingus
Common Chlorospingus
Common Chlorospingus
Common Chlorospingus
Costa Rican Warbler
Purple-throated Mountain Gem
Red-faced Spinetail
Red-faced Spinetail
Ruddy Treerunner
Ruddy Treerunner
Sooty Thrush
Summer Tanager
Slaty Antwren
Olive-striped Flycatcher
Today's life birds (trip# 5-16): Resplendent Quetzal; Azure-hooded Jay; Collared Redstart; Common Chlorospingus; Sooty-capped Chlorospingus (not photographed); Costa Rican Warbler; Purple-throated Mountain Gem; Red-faced Spinetail; Ruddy Treerunner; Sooty Thrush; Slaty Antwren; Olive-striped Flycatcher.
Click here to continue on the trip in Monteverede on January 8
Jump to start of trip; January 5/6
Jump to Monteverde Cloud Forest; January 7
Jump to Monteverde Cloud Forest; January 8
Jump to Tarcoles River Cruise; January 9
Jump to Corcovado National Park; January 10
Jump to Golfo Dulce; January 11
Jump to Golfo Dulce; January 12
Jump to Coiba National Park; January 13
Jump to Panama Canal; January 14
Jump to Gatun Lake January 15
Jump to Panama City trip extension January 16-18
Jump to Final remarks and trip bird list