Cano Palma- Day 13

I can't say we were disapointed to leave Cahuita. We had accomplished our one goal there but at a pretty high cost. It was nice to leave it behind as we headed for the Cano Palma research station near Tortuguero.

The bus rides and boat ride to get to San Fransisco from Cahuita were quite gorgeous.

I saw a lot of variable seedeaters (dark coloured almost finch-like birds) and there was an American Crocodile basking on a log.

We met Charlotte the station manager in San Fransisco and had another short boat ride to the station. The station was so alive! There were warblers and White-collared Manikins in the trees. Mealy Parrots were loudly calling as they flew overhead. People were very friendly and there were Strawberry Dart Frogs calling all over the place!

Strawberry Dart Frog (Dendrobates pumilio)

We were put to work straight away and scheduled to go on a night herp (reptile and amphibian) walk to help out with a Dutch student named Marks research project. In the dryer plots we found many Common rain frogs (eleutherodactylus fitzingeri) and Brandsford's Litter Frogs (Eleutherodactylus brandsfordii). The Fringe-toed Rain Frog (Leptodactylus malanonotus) was less common but we found a few in the plots. Strawberry Dart Frogs were everywhere! We also saw two white scorpions, large fishing spiders and a large tarantula. 

Litter Skink

Tarantula

  As we waded knee deep in water we found Stream Anoles clutching onto the blades of grass that were still above the water level.

Stream Anole (Norops oxylophus)

Stream Anole (Norops oxylophus)

On our walk back to the station I spotted a red worm climbing through the leaf litter that had accumulated in between the fork of a tree. A Red Coffee Snake although worm-like in appearance was much more interesting that what I had thought it was at first glance. The high water levels must have pushed this generally terrestrial snake into the trees. The water levels also meant a juvenile Caiman was seen right off the path quickly swimming away into the canal.

Red Coffee Snake (Ninia sebae)

Red Coffee Snake (Ninia sebae)