I still have lots of birds that I have not shown from our time up in the Rainforest Highlands at Las Carolinas Eco-Lodge, but it seemed appropriate to show a few images I took at our new location, Las Catalinas on the Pacific Ocean (NY Times Article). I will get back to wrapping up our time in the rainforest, but each day now I start with a bird hike at 6 am. When the temperature will soar to almost 100F by noon, it is important to get up before the sun. While sunrise technically is earlier that 6 am, the golden orb does not peek above the hills to the east till pushing 6:30. While birding I am rarely very far from the Pacific.

• One of my very enjoyable tasks while down here in Costa Rica is updating my Costa Rican Birding Book … The Birds of Las Catalinas (Free full copy PDF’s of Version 1 are available). While the major focus of the book is the birds of this region, Version 2 will also cover El Viejo Wetlands and the Rainforest Highlands. Full copies of Release #2 will also be freely available as a PDF Download.

From this morning’s bird hike …

Turquoise-Browed Motmot

Grooved-Billed Ani

In my earlier posts from our time spent at La Carolina Lodge I mentioned that our hosts grew or raised most of the food we ate. Thus, their extensive acreage included a working farm which bordered the rainforest up in the highlands. Most mornings I would hike and bird the fields. Perhaps this post should have been titled “The Attack of the Southern Lapwings”!

On a late afternoon hike before supper I spotted a family of four Crested Caracaras. The “Mexican Eagles” (another name for the Caracaras) were posing nicely for me, but in my excitement to get in position to take some photographs I failed to pay attention to the loud bird song very near me. Major mistake! Within moments I was under attack, being dived bombed within inches of my head by a pair of Southern Lapwings. These somewhat large shorebirds are noted for occasionally nesting in farm fields (Wikipedia Link). Anyhow, in my attempt to get a good angle on the Caracaras I obviously got to close to the Lapwings nest, which I until their attack did not even realize was near. Live, Learn and Run! (yes … I made a very quick exit).

• My book on Costa Rica Birding will be significantly updated in May to include information from this current trip. Anyone may download a “full version PDF copy“ without charge of my current version. When available, version 2 PDF’s will also be available at no cost.

Crested Caracaras (bird with tannish brown head is a youngster)

Southern Lapwings (after attacking me)

Today is the second in my posts about our time up at La Carolina Lodge, an eco-tourism rainforest lodge (read part 1) located in the Costa Rican Rainforest Highlands. While waiting and watching for the Yellow-Throated Toucan in the pouring rain, a pair of birds flew in to the bananas. I immediately thought … cool … another toucan species, just smaller! I was introduced to the Collared Aracari. While not as large as its cousin, this bird spelled “cool” in terms of appearance. Better yet, it also liked bananas. (wikipedia link)

• My book on Costa Rica Birding will be significantly updated in May to include information from this current trip. Anyone may download a “full version PDF copy“ without charge of my current version. When available, version 2 PDF’s will also be available at no cost.

Collared Aracari (Toucan Two or Too!)

Collared Aracari … The Movie! (video link for email subscribers)

And more pics …