Saturday, February 19, 2011

The 'Real' Costa Rica : Fincas, Byways, Birds , Preserves



When Craig brought Jerry over to Montezuma, he told us " Come visit me at my cabina, get off the beaten path and see the 'real Costa Rica.' So we did.!



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A major challenge for wildlife is human damage to habitat, very obvious in the fincas, teak tree farms, eroded cattle grazing clearings, and pineapple plantings in various parts of Costa Rica.




Still, along the roadsides and in the deep valleys one can find the 'Secret' Costa Rica.























We never imagined how much fun we would have and what all we would observe while there. Thanks, Craig!


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Thanks to 'Costa Rica Craig' and his vehicle, we were able to see this amazing huge social nest colony of Montezuma Oropendula located off the gravel road traveled by the bus from Quepos to San Jose.











































Lucky shot of a







Rufous-tailed hummingbird, taken out the canopy level back window of Craig's cabina in the hilly farm country on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. Great getaway he has there, a secret place in a tiny Tico farm community where its easy to observe the sights and sounds of the locals as they go about their daily biz among some of the most beautiful wildlife and scenery on the planet.












Some of Craig's relatives have bought property in an area of farms and have a private preserve which includes land in a deep canyon with waterfalls.
































One of the most exotic birds in Costa Rica is the Fiery-billed Aracari. Click on the photo to better examine the striping on the bill.



















Costa Rica Craig (not his real name) old friend and host for the outings pictured on this post, calls this species of toucan the 'fruit loop birds' after the iconic image of a US branded breakfast cereal back in the day:














































Another colorful Chestnut-mandibled Toucan was bowing and calling for a long time, allowing us to creep up under its tree to video and photograph it. We could also hear its mate answer across the valley....

















































The stop action photo makes the little Rose-throated Becard look comical as it prepares to fly down..





















































We saw two chachalacas fly up to a tree top high above the lush valley at sunset. Chachalacas are about the size of chickens, but with longer tails.

















In the picture below you see one take flight from behind, the wings in a 'v' and the broad tale spread. The other one soon followed....






































Fiery-billed Aracari... the camera catches this beautiful bird just about to land! (Click on the photo to see more of its colors, then hit back.)




































Hola from Costa Rica!


For more stories and pictures of budget travel in Costa Rica , see our latest pages by clicking on the following link:

http://www.traveljournals.net/travelers/rmalone/journals/3615/

Birding Costa Rica : Mot mot, Masked Titra, toucan, Aracari
Vista de Mar
2011-02-15
35

Secret Costa Rica : Hiking down to the waterfall with Costa Rica Craig
Vista de Mar
2011-02-14
44

Hanging Out with Costa Rica Craig : Birding and Hiking, off the beaten path in Costa Rica
Vista de Mar
2011-02-13
43

Leaving Montezuma for Further Adventures with Costa Rica Craig
Puntarenas
2011-02-12
13

Tales from the Jungles of Costa Rica: Hiking Cabo Blanco Preserve sound set for 1950's horror movie
Montezuma
2011-02-11
88

Life is a beach at the waterfront Hotel Arenas
Montezuma
2011-02-09
32

Pacific Sunrise, Parrots and Pizote , life at Luna Llena
Montezuma
2011-02-08
20

Hiking in Costa Rica up the remote Rio Lajas
Montezuma
2011-02-07
68





















Thursday, February 10, 2011

Luna Llena Hotel, Wildlife Watching Overlooking the Pacific


Once again we are thankful to stay at the wonderful Luna Llena Hotel. The very basic buildings of this older property have beautiful decorations and nice furnishings, and the former hostel still allows guests the use of the kitchen. The lush gardens, beautiful views, and the access to wildlife are superb. The staff are friendly and competent, a pleasure to stay with.

Click on each the pictures for a larger, more detailed view--



The day begins at 5:30 am with a spectacular Pacific Sunrise.....




Baby White-necked Capuchin Monkey clings to mama's neck as she browses in the canopy at Luna Llena Hotel.







Laura tells Jerry, our friend from Austin, the names of the various birds we are seeing. She consults 'Birds of Costa Rica' which was a Christmas gift from her sister Susan and brother in law Steve. View from the top floor of Hotel Luna Llena is of the surrounding canopy and the confluence of the Golfo Nicoya and the Pacific Ocean. It is simply stunning.



Wildlife watching is hit and miss, and we suppose that some who stay here miss a lot of it. Robert saw a paca, a large rust colored tailess rodent with spots on his way back to the room from the bathroom one night. Besides birds and monkeys, the property also hosts a variety of other animals including paca, pezote, agouti, as well as the more familiar (to us) armadillo, racoon. Skunks here are tiny and spotted, and one waltzed through the main floor after dinner one night!


The 'hotel' is like a hostel in that guests have access to a furnished communal kitchen and dining area. It has thin walls, is simply constructed, the deferred maintenance is an apparent challenge-- a railing installed a bit short moves dangerously when a guest grabbed it to steady hinself down the steep concrete steps. The next rail shows obvious rot from the tropical climate. The monkeys jump up and down and slam on the corrugated plastic roof sometimes lifting up the corners with their hands.


The furnishings, decorations and gardens present, in part, a wonderful ambience for guests. Mother nature does the rest.!



Two huge Lineated Woodpeckers worked the trunk of a huge tree across the street from Luna Llena.




Collared Aracari, one of the most exotic birds we see at Luna Llena.

Similar in appearance to the more well known toucan, it differs with the beautiful luscious colors on its breast, and exotic markings on its beak. What an exotic looking bird!


Mantled Howler Monkey often sound off at sunrise and sunset with their booming calls, but also when a loud bus or quad bike strains up the hill past Luna Llena Hotel.







Note the red on the backs of the Collared Aracari, awesome looking birds, feeding on the fruits of the tall mature trees of Montezuma. They also have yellow stomachs with red barring.


For a listing of more stories and pictures of beautiful Montezuma, Costa Rica, cklick through to the page linked here:

http://www.traveljournals.net/travelers/rmalone/journals/3615/


A Mess of Monkeys in Montezuma
Montezuma
2011-02-06
38

Behind the waterfall
Montezuma
2011-02-05
50

Breakfast 'Attack' at El Sano Banano ; y lunch at beautiful Ylang Ylang with Jerry
Montezuma
2011-02-04
40

Adventures with Costa Rica Craig: 4x4 road from Cabuya to Mal Pais
Mal Pais
2011-02-03
14

'Fear and Loathing' in Montezuma: Snake in the Shower, Tarantula in the Toilet
Montezuma
2011-02-02
24

Colorful Cabuya
Cabuya
2011-02-01
29

More of Montezuma : jungle/beach/gulf/ocean
Montezuma
2011-01-31
31

Sunrise over Montezuma
Montezuma
2011-01-30
37

Cruising the Golfo Nicoya on the Ferry to Paquera
Paquera
2011-01-29
27

Monkey Yoga in Montezuma
Montezuma
2011-01-28
14

Alajuela Tropical Hostel near San Jose, Costa Rica airport
Alajuela, Costa Rica
2011-01-27
3





Friday, February 4, 2011

Montezuma Monkey Yoga

Hola Amigos!

We are really enjoying seeing the Monkeys again here at Luna Llena. Swear the movie Avatar must be based on their acrobatic antics...






Neighbor walked into early morning attempt to capture our room with garden/pacific view, also reminded us of Avatar...



For more stories and pictures in our pages at Traveljournals.net, click on:

http://www.traveljournals.net/travelers/rmalone/journals/3615/

A Mess of Monkeys in Montezuma
Montezuma
2011-02-06
38

Behind the waterfall
Montezuma
2011-02-05
50

Breakfast 'Attack' at El Sano Banano ; y lunch at beautiful Ylang Ylang with Jerry
Montezuma
2011-02-04
40

Adventures with Costa Rica Craig: 4x4 road from Cabuya to Mal Pais
Mal Pais
2011-02-03
14

'Fear and Loathing' in Montezuma: Snake in the Shower, Tarantula in the Toilet
Montezuma
2011-02-02
24

Colorful Cabuya
Cabuya
2011-02-01
29

More of Montezuma : jungle/beach/gulf/ocean
Montezuma
2011-01-31
31

Sunrise over Montezuma
Montezuma
2011-01-30
37

Cruising the Golfo Nicoya on the Ferry to Paquera
Paquera
2011-01-29
27

Monkey Yoga in Montezuma
Montezuma
2011-01-28
14

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Monkey Yoga in Montezuma


Monkey Yoga in Montezuma

White-headed capuchin monkey bends out over his leg in a classic yoga pose near where we are having our breakfast. His head is facing the ocean down the hill from our hotel in his habitat.

For more pictures of monkey yoga poses, please see