Me pulling up some roots for our lunch |
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Costa Rica 2011 Part 5: Don Juans Organic Farm
Today we went to Don Juans Organic Farm. This farm amazed me since it is
fully sustainable by itself. Electricity is provided by methane
produced by cows.
They grow yuca, tomato, coffee, lettuce, pineapple, papaya, sugar cane, cucumbers, corn and herbs. Tobacco, citronella, basil, oregano and flower of death are grown on the edges to keep insects off the produce. Crushed sugarcane is used to make their own candy and liqour.
Friday, 29 April 2011
Costa Rica 2011 Part 4: Adrenal volcano area
Today we drove to our next hotel: Hotel San Bosco. After dinner we went to the Baldi Hot Springs. They are very gorgeous and had multiple pools of different temperatures. I do wish I could have seen it when it was natural and untouched but the man made ponds and waterfalls did have a certain appeal after a few days of hiking and snorkeling. Since we went at night it wasn't to warm or busy.
Our hotel had a very fragrant tree nearby with yellowish flowers. It was called Ylan Ylan and I would say is one of my favorite smells.
On our travels in the adrenal area we see adrenal lake which is 84km2 and has a dam that provides the majority of Costa Rica's electricity.
We hike through the park on a hanging bridges trail. Strangle figs were seen choking out trees. Tarantulas were hidden in holes on the cliffs. We saw a broad billed mot mot and crested guans. Mot mots are one of my favorite birds I saw on this trip. They have long tails and are brightly coloured.
The bridge sways as you walk on it but it provided a fantastic view of the many bromeliads and orchids hanging on the trees.White collared swifts were seen nesting near a waterfall. Belle billied woodpecker, orioles, keel billed toucans and peckeries were also sighted.
Duchmans pipe was a plant we frequently saw along the walk. The guide mentioned to us that the root of this plant was previously used by indigenous as a form of birth control.
My favorite find on this walk would have to be blue jean frogs. These small red and blue poison dart frog were calling on the moist forest floor at the base of some trees. I was the first person to see them.
The view of the volcano was really clear on some days and driving around we saw many great landscapes.
We go out for drinks at a local bar that night and enjoy a bit of the town. The locals are watching soccer on the TV in the bars.
Our hotel had a very fragrant tree nearby with yellowish flowers. It was called Ylan Ylan and I would say is one of my favorite smells.
On our travels in the adrenal area we see adrenal lake which is 84km2 and has a dam that provides the majority of Costa Rica's electricity.
We hike through the park on a hanging bridges trail. Strangle figs were seen choking out trees. Tarantulas were hidden in holes on the cliffs. We saw a broad billed mot mot and crested guans. Mot mots are one of my favorite birds I saw on this trip. They have long tails and are brightly coloured.
Mot mot |
Duchmans pipe was a plant we frequently saw along the walk. The guide mentioned to us that the root of this plant was previously used by indigenous as a form of birth control.
My favorite find on this walk would have to be blue jean frogs. These small red and blue poison dart frog were calling on the moist forest floor at the base of some trees. I was the first person to see them.
The view of the volcano was really clear on some days and driving around we saw many great landscapes.
All volcanoes in C.R. are made into national parks |
Adrenal volcano |
Liz and Tarra |
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Costa Rica Field Course 2011 Part 3: Playa Gandoca WIDECAST Turtle Conservation Project
We were given a lecture today by Claudio Quesada Rodrigues from the WIDECAST turtle conservation project. We learned about all of the different kinds of sea turtles, current research and conservation. I would highly recommend volunteering for this program if you are interested and have the time/money to do so.
Later that night we got to see a leather back turtle laying eggs on the beach. This female was 1.5 m long and laid 80 fertilized and 30 unfertilized eggs.
No cameras or flashlights were allowed around her so I didn't get any pictures.
Later that night we got to see a leather back turtle laying eggs on the beach. This female was 1.5 m long and laid 80 fertilized and 30 unfertilized eggs.
No cameras or flashlights were allowed around her so I didn't get any pictures.
Monday, 25 April 2011
Costa Rica 2011 Part 2: Cahuita National Park
We spent most of the days at Cahuita National Park walking the trails and snorkeling on the reefs. Unfortunately my waterproof camera broke so I have no pictures of the reef.
We walking along the trails and you could see beach almond palm trees growing into the wind to help with seed dispersal.Leaf cutter ants follow distinct lines across the trails guarded by their soldiers. They use these leaves to grow a fungus in their nests. We searched for bats hidden in coconut leaves and found empty tents created from chewing the secondary veins but none held bats. We did see five bats hanging onto a tree by the river.
There were some interesting snakes that I had never seen before.
This park, although not very big, holds so much life that is right in front of you. We didn't even need to go out looking for things but saw them right from the trails.
The reef was also spectacular but you could see that it was quite damaged. Its a very good thing this area is now protected. The reef had a lot of interesting thing including Caulerpa (sea grapes), turtle grass, Verongula (vase sponges), fire coral, polychaete worms and fire worms. Gorgonian corals or sea fans were seen swaying back and forth with the waves.Spiny lobsters were hiding under the coral during the day. Long spined sea urchins were seen all over the reef.
As I glided over the reef many juvenile yellow tailed damsel fish with their bright blue spots were seen on elk horn corals. Sergent majors, blue tangs and grunts were seen in schools around the reefs edges. Stoplight, queen and rainbow parrotfish were seen nibbling away at the reef as cleaning gobies eat off of them. A large tree underwater was home to some porkfish and sharpnose puffer fish.
We walking along the trails and you could see beach almond palm trees growing into the wind to help with seed dispersal.Leaf cutter ants follow distinct lines across the trails guarded by their soldiers. They use these leaves to grow a fungus in their nests. We searched for bats hidden in coconut leaves and found empty tents created from chewing the secondary veins but none held bats. We did see five bats hanging onto a tree by the river.
There were some interesting snakes that I had never seen before.
Vine snake, we actually got to see one of these guys grab onto another ones head. Possibly was trying to eat it? |
Eyelash vipers came in many colours but these ones were found the most because they stood out so much
We saw large groups of howler and white faced monkeys. They were eating monkey guava fruit which is very fragrant and has long white flowers. A female would be seen leading the group and the alpha male would be seen at the back. Two toed and three toed sloths were seen moving very slowly or sleeping in trees. Some white faced monkeys got very very friendly. Yes it is on my head and succeeded in opening up my backpack and pulling out my flip-flops. This was a pretty surprising but kinda cool experience. The tour guide is poking it with a stick trying to get it off of me. |
They are adorable when not trying to steal your shoes! |
Baby howler monkey |
Pair of herons |
The reef was also spectacular but you could see that it was quite damaged. Its a very good thing this area is now protected. The reef had a lot of interesting thing including Caulerpa (sea grapes), turtle grass, Verongula (vase sponges), fire coral, polychaete worms and fire worms. Gorgonian corals or sea fans were seen swaying back and forth with the waves.Spiny lobsters were hiding under the coral during the day. Long spined sea urchins were seen all over the reef.
As I glided over the reef many juvenile yellow tailed damsel fish with their bright blue spots were seen on elk horn corals. Sergent majors, blue tangs and grunts were seen in schools around the reefs edges. Stoplight, queen and rainbow parrotfish were seen nibbling away at the reef as cleaning gobies eat off of them. A large tree underwater was home to some porkfish and sharpnose puffer fish.
Labels:
Birding,
Costa Rica,
Monkeys,
National Park,
Snakes
Location:
Cahuita, Costa Rica
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Costa Rica Field Course 2011- Part 1 Cahuita Lodge
For University I am required to go on at least one field course or do an equivalent course at Guelph. I couldn't pass up the opportunity so I went to the tropics. The Costa Rica Rainforest and Reef course is amazing. The prof Hamish is equally as amazing. The group of us met up at Pearson airport in Toronto and flew into San Jose and stayed overnight in a hotel there.The area was very nice and we explored a bit but there wasn't many wild areas nearby.
Our wonderful tour bus for the two weeks |
View in the city |
Lesser Kiskadee? on the coast |
Very pretty orchid at the lodge |
I dont know how to flip this around on here yet.... |
Taryn and her buried treasures |
Liz and the puppies on the beach |
Beach near the lodge |
And many sloths were climbing around the lodge at night.
Mother sloth with baby holding on after we had a lot of rain |
On the beach at night |
Green and black poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus) |
Large toad! |
Red eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas) |
The place where we got on a boat to go out snorkeling had a beautiful orchid growing on a sign that I just couldn't resist taking pictures of. So many orchids were in bloom when I went. It was fantastic.
Cattleya? |
Some cool invert life was crawling around too |
Eastern kingbirds
Howler monkeys
Black cheeked woodpecker
Passerine tanager
Many iguanas and basiliaque lizards starting to sun themselves in trees
Blue-grey tanager
Black chested jay
Short billed pigeon
Great kiskadee
Grey headed chachalaca
Keelbilled toucans
Oropendulas
Rufus tailed hummingbird
White lined tanager
Clay colour robin
Social flycatchers
Banded back wren
Variable seed eater
Mastetyra- red face white body
Great kingfisher
Melodious black bird
Bright rumped tila
Crimson fronted parakeets
Blue headed parrots
Blue headed parrots nesting in a tree nearby our lodge |
Location:
Cahuita, Costa Rica
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