February 25 – Cruise in the Damas Island mangroves

Super early pick-up today…6:00am.  We are going on a cruise through a nearby mangrove forest and the timing is dependent on the tide.  So 6:00am it is. 

It took about an hour to pick up all the other guests…the town is very hilly with narrow roads.  After everyone was picked up we had a quick bathroom stop and another 15 minute or so drive to our launch point. 

The group then split up…the kayakers and the boaters.  We are in the boater group. 

The estuary we are cruising through is lovely with narrow channels and calm waters.  Even with the boats engines it seemed calm and serene. 

The waters were so calm that in many places the reflections on the water were almost like mirrors 

The roots of the mangroves are very photogenic.

We really didn’t hear a lot of bird calls during the cruise and we didn’t see nearly as much wildlife as on our previous cruise.  But we did find a few things of interest although more of the wildlife seemed to buried in the bushes.  So photography was difficult.

Bare-throated Tiger Heron

Spotted Sandpiper

Black Iguana baby, on a limb over the water so we could get real close.

The nest of a Mangrove Hummingbird, with two chicks inside.  This was also on a limb that stretched far out into the water so we were able to get close and get reasonable photos of such tiny birds.  Two little chicks waiting for mom to come home with lunch.  Never saw the mom but seeing the babies was magical.  The nest was so tiny...I'd estimate maybe an inch diameter.

Whimbrel

Frigate bird soring high above

Tri-Colored Heron

Willet

The area consists to two rivers that come together and eventually broke out a huge opening to the sea and created a large island, Damas Island.  The river expanded widely here and we saw a lot more birds here.

Snowy egrets on the shore

Yellow-Headed Caracara

A flock of Royal Terns on a sand bar.

White Ibis

Mangrove Cuckoo

We eventually headed back as the tide was going out.  Just before getting to the launch site we found one white-faced capuchin eating a piece of fruit fairly close to the water. 

After the cruise we were taken to a restaurant for breakfast (at 9:30 in the afternoon)  We were back at the hotel by about 11:00.  We spent the rest of the day working, napping and being lazy.  We took a walk late afternoon for an early dinner.  Another great day in Costa Rica.