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| A sign in the lodge property that is my motto for travels all over Costa Rica. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Variable Seedeater male Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
I tried again this morning and will again this afternoon and tomorrow morning, but have not found
my two target bird, Bare-necked Umbrella Bird and Yellow-eared Toucanet which I have a lousy dark photo of from Tenorio National Park, but I really want a good photo of one! Both birds are supposed to be here but you can never guarantee a find! As of Tuesday afternoon I do have photos of 27 different species of birds and 5 of those are new photo-finds for me! So not bad! They are:
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| Sunset over Lake Arenal at Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Yellow-throated Toucan Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Collared Aracari (A type of Toucan) Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Keel-billed Toucan Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Red Lored Parrot Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| “The Nest” or Birding Tower 92 ft tall — A Little Scary! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Freddy is there 8 hours a day with locked gate to the tower. 8 max people at a time including one staff member. Lots of warnings in English & Spanish. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Top of the English Warning Sign With long list of conditions below from pregnancy to vertigo! There are 146 steps going up and down and the tower does sway with wind & people movement. Today was my 2nd time up. Yesterday morning my birding guide took me up and we saw 0 birds! Nada! This afternoon Freddy used recordings of toucan sounds to attract them to the surrounding treetops! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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Sunset Behind the Clouds Tonight
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica
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And Scary Clouds at that! But No Rain!
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica
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| Red-eyed Tree Frog And yes, this one is orange and I can’t explain why. Usually bright red! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Semiplumbeous Hawk Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Gray-capped Flycatcher with insect in his mouth! Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| House Wren Singing Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Buff-rumped Warbler Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Variable Seedeater Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
I took so many photos of so many birds and other animals that the above is just a sample from my guided bird walk this morning before breakfast. For more, see Trip Gallery Arenal Observatory
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| The Broader “Pre-Sunset”Look behind the Restaurant Deck (shot from my room) Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And the other extreme, zooming in on the sun behind the clouds tonight. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Danta Waterfall Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Crested Guan Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Great Curassow Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Montezuma Oropendola Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Green Honeycreeper female Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Mantled Howler Monkey Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Emerald Basilisk Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| One of the Lillies Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Hibiscus Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
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| Tonight’s Sunset Over Lake Arenal Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica |
And today was eBird’s “Global Big Day” of bird counting. Here is a link to my eBird List of 11 species seen here at Arenal Observatory Lodge. All of the birding guides here were out counting today which is why I could not have a guided bird hike today. I have one tomorrow.
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| Yellow-throated Toucan Eating a Lizard Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Male & Female Great Curassow Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Lineated Woodpecker Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Montezuma Oropendola Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Red-legged Honeycreeper, female & male Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Palm Tanager Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Blue-gray Tanager Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| White-nosed Coati Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Arenal Volcano from my Lodge Room Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
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| Sunset from my Room Deck Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica |
What can I say? The photos are worth a thousand words and this was just after getting here at noon today and eating lunch first. It is a totally amazing place and instantly one of my favorites! And with another 4 and 1/2 days yet to go!
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| Photo sent to mission team this morning as encouragement for their flight here tomorrow–Thursday. Sunset over Pacific Ocean while flying along west coast of Costa Rica in March. |
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| Sunset Over the Pacific From our little 12 passenger Sansa airplane on the hour-late flight back to San Jose. Along the West Coast of Costa Rica ¡Pura Vida! |
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| Overlooking my house on a cloudy sunset around 5:15. “And all is well on the western front!” 🙂 Yep, the sun shines from between 5 & 5:30 AM to the same in PM Every day, year around – 12 hours of dark & 12 hours of light! Nice! That’s because we are close to the equator. Same sunrise/sunset daily. |
And to my fellow Americans, forgive me for saying I was ashamed last night. The election did not go the way I thought was best, but God just may have something much better in store for us! So today I posted on Facebook the following quote and Scripture verse that better reflects my faith:
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| “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.” Psalm 41:1 |
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| Tamarindo Beach was my least favorite, yet it had the most people and was the biggest and busiest beach town with most housing, shops, restaurants. There were a lot of surfers here who I guess go out beyond those rocks or at a different spot. This is where we saw possible rent houses, but the last I heard from John, he is probably not going to buy one. |
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| Playa Hermosa or “Beautiful Beach” The one in Guanacaste – there are 3 or 4 in Costa Rica with this name! I think it is prettier than the bigger one in Flamingo, just not as long. |
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| Coco Beach (As sun is setting) North of Flamingo and Hermosa with brown sand but more recreational. It is the “Central Park” of the local community with big Catholic Church across from it and the big soccer field. There is a long boardwalk (sidewalk) along the whole beach with children’s playgrounds, skateboard ramp, volleyball, basketball, and many restaurants and bars right on the beach, plus statues, showers, water fountains, flower gardens, etc. The best beach for local people and children! |
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| Coco Beach Restaurant/Bar We sat in this restaurant for a drink and watched Tico families walk by with little children on tricycles or running and playing beyond those flowers. Further down teens were skateboarding or playing volley ball and a few were on the beach. Sorry I didn’t make more photos! A people place! Then back to Flamingo Beach . . . |
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| Another Flamingo Beach Sunset We went back to our favorite restaurant for dinner, Coco Loco & sunset! |
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| Flamingo Beach Sunset Changes Color! Watching the sun set while eating a great seafood meal is the perfect way to end another day of adventure in Costa Rica! And I found another A+ restaurant! I would even consider living on the beach just for these scenes if it were not SO VERY HOT, VERY HUMID, VERY EXPENSIVE! So I am sticking with my mountain sunsets, perfect weather, and lower costs. 🙂 |
I am thankful that John invited me to go with him to the beaches and the jungle boat ride! I got to see a whole new part of Costa Rica this week and it is as cool as all the other parts I’ve seen. Plus seeing several condos and how people live there compared to Atenas was fun and educational. Of course my favorite part was the boat trip on Rio Tempisque in Palo Verde Park! My next trip is the end of September to Manzanilla on the southern Caribbean coast where I will stay in a luxury safari tent hotel on the beach adjacent to a wildlife reserve. Hoping for more new birds and experiences. I got two new birds photographed this trip! (Crested Caracara & Crane Hawk) Now here’s one last photo from this trip, shot through the glaring windshield on our way to Palo Verde:
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| A Tamandua Anteater ran across this road as did an Agouti, but sorry, no photos! 🙂 |
For more beaches and other scenery, see my VISTAS Photo Gallery.
Or go directly to my total Costa Rica Photo Gallery called Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA