LEAVING TURRIALBA FOR TORTUGUERO

Left the hotel paid the bar bill,it was a long drive to Cano Blanco on route we were vulture watching at Plana Vista where distant King Vulture obliged we think amongst Black and Turkey vultures.

As we boarded the boat at Cano Blanco mangrove swallows showed along with egrets and Anhingas.

We arrived around 1230 hrs as torrential rain came down.

We got our room then lunch we were entertained by Collared Aracari ,Blue Grey Tanagers and Black mandibled Toucan.

The rain kept coming we took the boat to the Turtle sanctuary and walked along the beach noting Whimbrel and Willet.
Strolling through Tortuguero village we saw a Grey necked Wood rail and Lineated Woodpecker.

love this loo in the town before spotting Montezumas Oropendola or revenge .

CATIE Agricultural institute near Turrialba

For Anna and Joan It was raining at Hotel Wagelia prior to leaving,egg on toast for breakfast the intrepid Explorers were off to see CATIE.
Greeted by our guide he introduced us again to the ubiquitous Montezuma's Oropendolas.

We walked through the grounds birds,butterflies and flowers galore.

Lots of Northern Jacanas particularly on the lake,scanning the trees many
over wintering American warblers.

A Collared Aracari leaves its nest and amongst the flowers the nest of
the Rufous tailed Hummingbird.

Lunch was at the cafeteria followed by a walk around the vast lake.

Amongst the Jacanas superb Purple Gallinules had juveniles in attendace as I flushed a Jesus Christ Lizard in front of me.

Next up was a Caiman which posed at close quarters before disappearing.

I was after the rare Boat billed Heron which resides here amongst its commoner cousins,eventually we were rewarded.

Another circuit of the lake produced breeding Cattle Egrets and Great White also Green Heron.

Not many passerines here although Black Phoebe obliged probable migrant.

Numerous Anhingas here,we left to visit a Sugar cane area where a couple of unusual birds showed.

Red chested and winged Blackbirds,Eastern Meadowlark and a House Wren.

Cartago to Guayabo

Left San Jose for the town of Cartago where we visited its old ruins and there Los Angeles Cathedral,the only bird of note was Rufous collared Sparrow.

Paolo our guide was born here so it was a privlige to visit his town.

The rain followed us to Guayabo where Aztec meets Forest here the first Costa Ricans of Aztec /Mayan descent established a small city.

Following the trails we made our way through the forest Brown jays were calling Tityras Cuckoos ,woodpeckers everywhere and the fabulous Keel billed Toucan now named Killbill by party.

At the bottom of the hill the elusive Sun Bittern was an added bonus as we walked amongst the ruins.

The light was poor for good photography but the rain had stopped,just in
time to photograph Montezuma's Oropendola's at there nest site,now that's a mouthful.

Costa Rica in seaerch of Resplendant Quetzal

Do you know the way to San Jose theres a crosswind on landing and then sunshine, our first day took us to Volcan Poas .

We saw Volcano hummingbird but not a good picture to be had it was a bit nippy in shorts as the clouds rolled,lots of tourists here including us, a Yellow thighed finch showed well but not its yellow thighs.

More obliging on route back to the bus was the Sooty Thrush.

After lunch we visited the museum in San Jose,where we saw life in Costa Rica through the ages ,more birds in the surrounding park before leaving.

Parrots were roosting in the park along with the ubiquitous Great Kiskadee's

Antigua Winter escape

Last week we were in Antigua escaping some cold temperatures here, tried fly fishing for Tarpon on and off all week with no luck.

This is  Coco bay lagoon apart from the Tarpon in it, the birdlife was pretty good.

Lesser Yellowlegs were fairly common and a few Spotted Sandpipers proved flighty. A trip to Nelsons Dockyard was very interesting and enjoyable for Caz and I .

Mean while back at the lagoon Wilsons plover obliged with a pair of White cheeked Pintail.

The land birds included the striking Grey Kingbird a sort of large shrike which posed nicely.

Lots more but finally managed to photograph Yellow crowned Night Heron on the last day.

wild goosander chase and on the Border with Lewis

Well it was off to Stockers again for the elusive Goosander but it was not around nor was the confiding Smew.Roger Dewey and I scanned to no avail but there was  Wigeon a plenty whistling down the wind.

From the kingfisher hide dabbling Shovelers aim to please and in the distance Grey herons were starting to nest.

Passerines were thin on the ground a few buzzing goldcrests and a great spotted woodpecker on the feeder.

Walking on noting Grey Wagtail and a large party of Red crested Pochards at the west end of the lake.

I saw Joe fishing the Colne he must be 80 odd he had a Robin for company after his maggots.

Did a full circuit tea in the café then home I rang Paul and we decided to cross the border to Ruislip where at the Lido the Jack Snipe one only was very obliging.

Stockers Lake a gem in surburbia

Well you might say the title is well known ,however it is due to all the hard work Friends of Stockers,bailiffs,photographers and birders have put in over the years.More and more people move to newer pastures,we have mourn there expertise in the field people like Joel and Richard Drew and now Andrew Moon.

So 2017 starts with a female Smew seen mostly from the Shell hide as it was again today in company with Gadwall and Wigeon.

The Wigeon whistled as the elegant White nun came close to the hide.

Above them a Kingfisher hunted from a lofty perch.

On to Stockers farm where Little Owl obliged be it distant,so back to Woodoaks Farm where another Little Owl was very obliging.

Finally caked in mud the track to the manure dump produced the wintering Stonechat.

So another day in the suburbs produces some quality birds.