Just Hiking Around

I realized I hadn't posted pics of some of my hikes...so here you go.

COBANO:

    Every Monday I go with Mary to the town of Cobano to go shopping for our weekly groceries, produce, and animal feed....along with anything else we might need.  Compared to Cabuya, where I live, Cobano is a city.  I found out that Edwin's family lives in Cobano and when he discovered I liked hiking, he wanted to go with us to Cobano to see his family and to take me hiking.  So, instead of shopping with Mary, I went with Edwin and met his family and went hiking.  His dad was pretty funny.  He got out his guitar and insisted on singing to me....he even got out a music video of a Mexican group so he could show me that he could play along with them.  He was quite good and he had a good voice...it was entertaining.  I also met his mom, his sister, and his niece.  They were all very nice.  After meeting them, we went on our hike to a nearby hill.  We didn't see many animals, except birds, but it was a pretty view....and a good workout.  On our way down, there were a lot of beautiful butterflies.  Edwin's mom was waiting for us with coffee and this amazing dessert made from plantains, milk, and canela and azucar.  YUMMY!!!!

that is the hill we are headed to

Edwin, in his typical pose, on the road to the hill

an iguana on the side of the road

and we weren't even at the top for this view..that is the
ocean by the way.

This was like a driveway leading up to the path we
took up the hill.  It was a hike in itself.  Edwin is
trying to demonstrate the steepness.

The path up....wait, can you see the path?  

At the top of the hill, it was pretty dense
vegetation....there was a lot of crawling

one of the views from the top

an even better view of the ocean...once we were at
the top.

Next time, we climb that hill

vultures enjoying the air currents up here

That is Cobano to the right.  Looking down on the
area farms.

Black vultures hanging out

local howler monkeys 

HIKING AROUND CABUYA:

I try to remember to take my camera with me when I just go out walking.  some of these shots are from the the trail near Cabo Blanco and some are just along the road in Cabuya.

a woodcreeper

one of the many parakeets here

a beautiful blue bird that wouldn't look at me...hmmph

A female howler enjoying a snack...You can see an old,
well healed burn injury.

You can't tell in this pic but I was about to get
rained on....I was hustling back home before it hit.

A very tidy little bird grooming its wing.

A gray-necked wood rail just hanging out in
somebodies yard.

Groove-billed Ani

one of the larks....I just really liked his mohawk

All of the vines here send out roots...it is
pretty cool looking.

Moss sending up its spoophyte....for all you biology nerds

A large tree with a tunnel...yes, I crawled
through it for those of you wondering.

A very cute little snail

A very pregnant howler hanging upside
down for some choice leaves.

snail's eye view of the forest floor

A female Hoffmann's woodpecker

I loved how the leaves here look like somebody
came through with a pair of scissors to cut patterns
out on the leaves...I think it is from caterpillars when
they hatch....but that is just a guess of mine.

Another one for you biology nerds...
this is an example of thigmotropism.

Looking up a very large tree.

CABO BLANCO:

Ok, after many attempts to walk through Cabo Blanco, the oldest national park in Costa Rica, I finally made it.  Well, of course I went on the day they were closed and had to sneak in....through the jungle....I didn't time it right however and didn't get to quite make it to the ocean at the end of the park (the tip of the Nicoya penninsula) because it was starting to get dark...I had left at 1:30 thinking that would be plenty of time.  I will get back there before I leave....just have to time it better.  It was nice being the only one walking around.  I got to see 2 groups of pizote (coatimundi)...one lone male and a family with twins.  I also saw about 7-8 deer and several groups of howlers.  It was a nice hike.

some pretty cool looking roots

The path leading into Cabo Blanco...after I had snuck in

crossing one of the small creeks in the path

My first Coati sighting....well, the first that posed for
a picture....this lone male wasn't bothered by me at all.
He just kept on foraging for bugs and stuff.

foraging after deciding I wasn't a threat

A clearing in the jungle.  You don't realize how bright it
really is once you enter the rainforest....until you
come across a clearing like this.

I am standing on a tree that had fallen.  If
you look at the tree still standing, you
will see that the tree I am on used to
be a part of the one that is still standing.

One of the herons

You are here!  And it is getting late so you better book it
sign.

Black-headed Trogon

one of the paths winding through the jungle

If you look carefully, you will see a momma pizote
and one of the babies.  Their were twins but one of
them decided to venture elsewhere.  There were about 6
pizote in this herd.  It was getting dark..in the jungle
so it got harder to take photos.

I just really like how fungus grows here.

one of the deer....as it runs away from me

bridge over the creek on the way back

some really cool slime mold.....it was too pretty to pass up

WALKING AROUND THE FINCA (FARM)

Edwin called one day while he was clearing the path up to the river....he had seen a tamandua....an anteater....an oso hormiguera.  I was very excited...I hadn't seen one of those yet.  So, I ran up to the farm...ok, I walked...it is uphill and it was hot.  By the time I got there, the tamandua had moved up into the trees and was taking a siesta.  I also took some pics of the finca as I walked around.

the road coming down from the farm

As you enter the farm, the path to the right will take
you to the waterfall...It is a bit overgrown but Edwin is
taking care of it as I post this

Leaping Capuchins Batman!

This poor little guy had lost his tail but it looks
like he is on his way to growing a new one

I have no idea...it is just pretty

The first camphut on the farm where volunteers can
stay.  This one still needs some work though

A path up to some of the enclosures here at Rainsong

One of the habitats....none of them are in use right now
since all of the animals are down the road.

Another habitat on the farm

Walking up to the third camp hut.  This one is back
a ways and is now unfortunately near the road.

View of the third camp hut.  This one was my favorite even
though it needs some work

One of the showers on the farm...this is the one the
guys use.

I found this little (ha ha) guy crawling across
the road...I think he is similar to our Asp
caterpillar in Texas...so I wasn't about to
touch him.

This is why it is so hard to see some of the arboreal wildlife!
They blend in too well....Camoflauge?  Who needs it?

A closer shot of the anteater sleeping in the tree top....
I guess he looks pretty comfortable.

Yep, definitely asleep.  But, he does have a very cute
nose.

For anybody that doesn't know where bananas come from..
this one is for you.