NatureFootsteps Travels: El Copal Lodge

2011-03-29

Costa Rica 110211 Friday Copal o Tetey

Translate? See Google translation in the sidebar!

Click to enlarge All photos NF Photo 110211

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Woke up at 5 for an early cup of coffee and some morning birding. My bed was a bit hard but I slept good none the less. And the room mate, that was supposed to be snoring, turned out to be not disturbing at all. The only trouble was to get up and down as we had three suitcases in that small space. I hope I did not drop anything through the gaps in the floor.

The kitchen staff, two beautiful local females, served us a cup of coffe. Then we headed into the forest. I figured out why we were up so early all the time. It´s because the birds get quiet around 10. It was so dark when we headed out that we needed the flashlights. And I only had that small one. Well, better then nothing. We went to the right side of the building.

Breakfast at 7.30 and then we went the same path we was on yesterday. We found some tiny lizards and a tiny frog that was hard do see it was a frog.

We were back at lunchtime. But had a while to capture some more snowcaps and butterflies. The bags should be packed and put down for the car to catch. I put it down and the tube too. But they did not take it. So I should be forced to carry it all the way down to the bus. I never understood why they brought it up in the first place. I did not need it. Well, I complained so Herman took it down. :)

On our way to the last lodge we were visiting a dam where a pair of Bat Falcons lived. They had been there for several years. At least they thought it was the same pair. They were gone for two years I think. But when we continued we got trouble. We were to pass a bridge over the river but they had changed it. Ading some suportive frame on it so the bus was to high. We had to turn around and drive around the lake instead of across. Einar was pissed of course and we lost birding time. We had to drive straight to the next lodge. Tetey Lodge. Getting there it turned out that HG Herman and Einar was staying in an other hotel. The place where we were supposed to eat a little later.

Brita and Karin went to find a shop and returned with cans of beer. So we sat in the lobby drinking beer and chatting when the bus arrived to pick us up.

We were picked up at19.00. It was not far. Food was good but the trouble started when people should pay. Because this was not included. Took a lot of time to sort out. :)

After dinner we used the VIP room for the birdlists. And then was driven back to our lodge.

This lodge had computers and they also gave me a user and pw so I could connect mine. Gave me an opportunity to send the diary to my self by mail. Always great to have a backup.

It is now 22.29 and I am going to bed. We are waking up at 5 again. Outside it is noisy. Lots of traffic and loud teens. What a difference to earlier.

More about CR here:

Costa Rica på NF Photo 2

Costa Rica Birdblogg

OM NÅGON FRÅN RESAN LÄSER DET HÄR SÅ VORE DET ROLIGT OM NI VILLE GE ER TILL KÄNNA. TRYCK BARA PÅ ORDET "KOMMENTARER" UNDER INLÄGGET SÅ KAN NI SKRIVA NÅGOT!
Labels: Resor, travel, trip, journey, vacation, Venedig, Venice, Camargue, Frankrike, France, Costa Rica, Öland, Sverige, Sweden, airplane, flygplan, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, ,El Copal, Bat Falcon,

2011-03-28

Costa Rica 110210 Thursday - Towards El Copal Lodge

Translate? See Google translation in the sidebar!

My World Tuesday, one day in Costa Rica this was my world

Click to enlarge All photos, NF Photo 110210 in Costa Rica

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Woke up 5 to join the morning birding at the lamp. We met at the balcony to see newly awoken hummingbirds. And to get a cup of coffee. Hermans wife attended. There was also a great sunrise to shot. It is a lot of lights in the valley that you did not see in daylight. After a while, at 5.30, we went to the lamp to see what birds liked some butterfly for breakfast. I could take some shots of both birds and moths even though it was pretty dark. No ID yet.

After breakfast we were divided into 2 groups. One for a harder longer walk and one easier. I choosed the "easy" one. But it turned out that we walked the same path most of the time. And the same ups and downs on slippery paths. But not that slippery here. On this walk I suddenly saw something on a branch. Something white, and it started to move. It was some kind of lice I think. Our group finished our walk in the fenced meadow we visited yesterday. It was more birds today then it was yesterday so it was great.

We should be packed and ready to leave before lunch so when we got back to our room we was in a hurry. Both Brita and I wanted to take a shower as we has been sweating. But the staff had removed some towels so we got a problem. But we managed to fix it. Mine was there but Britas was gone so she dried herself with a foot towel.
Tehn a final photo session at the feeders. Here a nice Green Hermit female.

After lunch, the usual rise , beens and chicken, we left to go to Copal Lodge. The road was bumpy and messy. Mostly dirtroad. In this are they grow coffee and sugercanes. The suger cane fieds was harvested but now they burned it and the smoke was all over he place. There are also a lot of cowboys here. I guess it is easier to ride a horse then to drive a car in those hills.

Arriving at the Lodge we had to stop downhill and to walk up. It was too steep for the bus. Only jeeps or similar could go up there. So, we walked and breaded heavily uphill. Then a jeep came up with the luggage. I and Sören was the last ones up. But, of course, I used my camera a couple of times.

The first bird we spotted was the snowcap and everyone started to take photos. This is a fast one and no feeders for help. But it was fun. There is one man in the group that always needs perfect shots. He gets it, but he is never satiesfied. Somehow it annoyes me. Overall his shots are better then mine, he should be happy.

The luggage came eventually and we got our beds. I sleep in the uppper bed this time and Lisa I think, belowe me and Brita in a single bed. This is a simple building build on poles. No heaters as it is always warm enough. The planks for floor are rough and you should not drpo small things as they can fall down to the ground. There is no heated water but showers if one like that. Light is switched off at 22.00h. This place is not conected to the outside world. But I like it. They are doing research here. Did not really figure out what but obviously something to do with the forest.

We birded a bit around the buildings and then walked into the forest. Steep as usual. Not much birds there but nobody seemed dissapointed as there were birds and butterflies around the lodge. I also saw a black humblebee. :) And snowcap.

Dinner was standard, rice, beans and something that looked and tasted like tunafish. The juice we was served was very good. They said it was made of some kind of seeds that had to stay in the water for awhile to release its taste.

We had only candles to light up in the diningarea. So it was hard to read the list when we went through what birds we had seen today. But Herman had a forehead lamp so the two of us saw rather good.

Now I sit in my upper bed and writes. The light will go out soon and I have my small lamp fastened on my watch. I need it to light my way to the toilet. OK, better finish, and hope I woudn´t need to go to the loa in the middle of the night.
El Copal Lodge

This is really the land of great contrasts. :)