Coast of Costa Rica

Not able to post much due to poor internet access via satellite. Stay tuned this weekend for pics and videos and stories.

Cloud Forest-revised

Here is an update of this post which has the promised humingbird video which Karen took on her iPhone 4Gs in the wind and the rain at 5,000 feet. There were multiple feeders and they were all around us.

Cloud Forests are rain forests at a mountain elevation. As they are up in the clouds, the rain is called horizontal rain, and the leaves are always dripping, rain or not. Very much like the coastal forests of the Pacific Northwest only no fir trees, all broadleaf. Yesterday we walked through the Monteverde Reserve at 5,000 feet. The birds were mostly small and yellow or green I'm not a birder and don't remember all the names but there was a flycatcher among others. We have a great hummingbird video we'll post later. This morning from the hotel we saw bright yellow and black and bright orange and black birds. An easterner might think Baltimore Oriole, but I think it is an SF Giants bird. The walk through the cloud forest was wonderful and calming, especially I'd you gee up in Seattle rain.

This morning we also saw some watusa (think big rat or guinea pig) and some coatimundi on the grounds of the hotel. Pics to come, really.

MonteVerde

After quite the trip in our small bus, we are up in the clouds. Saw howler monkeys along the way. Two nights in the cloud forest. This afternoon we take our first naturalist hike. We hope to post some pics later.

And here are more pics:

This is an owl butterfly.

A Brahma Bull from the roadside. Imported when they thought they could get into the cattle and dairy business fifty years ago. They cut down a lot of forest in Costa Rica before they realized the value of the forest. Fortunately, this has turned around in the last few decades. They support the forests which are growing back quickly through carbon offsets and tourism.

Seems to be working.

One Day to Go

Wrapping up some things at Mediasmith. Major presentation today. This afternoon we begin the big pack and prepare for the load out tomorrow morning at 0 dark hundred. Stay tuned to this blog for postings and photos.

Two Days to Go

Just two days before we leave. We are trying to concentrate on work while doing those last minute checklists. Stay tuned for this great adventure. Lots of blog entries and pix anticipated.