Costa Rica - Cruising Down the Rivers . . . Birds and Beasts

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The rivers tours were not my favourite but offered some interesting sights.

We did trips along both the Sarapiqui River and the Tárcoles River hoping to see all kinds of birds, wild-life and local development. The boats were covered and open, built especially for tourists to view the birds and wildlife along the shores. Unfortunately, because of the lack of rain, the rivers were low and the river banks were deep and wide. The birds and wild life were way over there and without binoculars or zoom-lensed cameras the viewing was limited.

BUT having said that, folks on the tour contributed lists and photos they took, so not all was lost. Our guide was great in pointing out the various bird and wild-life, even if I couldn’t see them.

The Sarapiqui River is a tributary of the San Juan River and helps irrigate this region. It winds through dense rain forests. It’s very important for water resources and biodiversity protection of the area.

 

There was a turtle along the way but the most interesting thing was the Anhinga (snake bird) we encountered.

It is a water bird, sometimes called a water turkey. It earned the description as a snake bird because when it swims, only the neck appears above water and looks like a snake ready to strike. As well we watching it skim along the water; we caught it sunning itself on a log while it dried out its wings.

 The Tárcoles River is reputed to be one of the dirtiest and most polluted in Costa Rica carrying about 67% of sewage and industrial wastes of over 50% of the country’s population. It is about 111 km long and the watershed covers up to 2,121 kms. BUT it also houses one of the world’s largest crocodile populations with about 2000 in the area (about 25 crocodiles per square kilometre). (Costa Rica Journeys - September 6, 2011).

The one we encountered was extremely docile and didn’t even disturb the egret wandering along the bank.

 

Birds

Kay, a fellow traveller recorded sighting about 68 birds . . .

With the help of others (with special credit to Jim), here are some of the birds we captured digitally:

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Black Vultures

Great Curassow

Crested Guan

Great Blue Heron

Green Honeycreeper

Montezuma Oreopendola

White Hawk

Passerini

Red-legged Honeycreeped

Reseate Spoonbill

Social Flycatcher

White-necked Jacobin

Yellow-throated Toucan

 Beasts:

Howler Monkey

Iguana

Sloth

Vaughnda on the Water Buffalo

Onto the Butterflies and the Orchid Gardens