randombirder

A poignant reminder how climate change is affecting the delicate rainforest ecosystems.  This sign was displayed within the Monteverde Cloud Forest. "Only fifteen years ago at this spot you could hear the sound of frogs.  Do you hear any today?   This cloud forest and all its magic is being transformed at an accelerated rate, and some of its inhabitants have not been able to adapt to such rapid change.  This is what happened to the legendary Golden Toad.  In 1987, more than a thousand individuals were observed, but by 1989 only a few individuals were found. None have been seen since. It was here in Monteverde where it was announced to the world that " Climate change has a direct relationship with the disappearance of species ""

This was the relaxing part, time spent on the beach and a few walks within the National Park.  The entrance was located at the end of the town and barely 100m from the accommodation. The beaches were lovely. Cahuita National Park held plenty of interesting wildlife such as the Howler Monkey, White-face Monkey, Sloth, and Racoon.  Birdlife was disappointingly sparse, but there were a few interesting things knocking around. Slaty Antshrike Three-toad Sloth Brown Basilisk Hawk sp. Common Opposum White-faced Monkey Raccoon Postman Butterfly Black-cheeked Woodpecker Royal Tern Little Blue Heron Northern Jacana Tropical Kingbird Bananaquit Bird Tennessee Warbler Golden Hooded Tanager Great-tailed Grackle

There's plenty to offer in La Fortuna and barely 500m from the centre of town is the Bogarin Trail presenting a great opportunity to see Sloth. This was our first real sighting and a real treat as this individual was palpably racing down a tree to presumably perform its weekly ablutions. Then there were two together in a single tree.  One was having a good old scratch.  Gorgeous creatures. The birdlife here was great too.  A couple of Black-mandibled Toucan posed beautifully along one of the trails. Black-mandibled Toucan Chestnut-sided Warbler White-throated Magpie Jay Of course there's the volcano that rises high beyond the town but its splendour can be cryptically hidden by a swirl of low cloud. It is a sight to behold. The food here is great too.  A wide selection of restaurants to serve a profusion of tourists that pass through the town.   The local dish is Casado, an incongruou...