M is for Motmot: an early morning pop of colour

Blue-crowned Motmot

The early wake-up call for the first birding of the day is always the best for me.

I am rested, full of anticipation and just love the fresh air.

The forests are alive with calls but at the same time they are still at rest. The light is muted and when my binocs find a bird, the colours just pop. Like the intense blue ring that separates the black crown and sides of the head of a Blue-crowned Motmot.

S is for Scarlet Macaws: Carara National Park

High up in a huge tree in the Carara National Park, Johan Fernandez found us 3 Scarlet Macaws, quizzically watching the world go by, Spider Monkeys and us humans on the metal bridge taking photos.

These were taken by Johan using my iPhone through his Swarovski scope. Remarkable sighting to add to a list of remarkable birding adventures here in Costa Rica.

S is for Sloth: and it has three toes.

Just look at me!

Sunday afternoon traffic on the Pacific Coastal road, a car full of travel weary friends, muggy and hot weather, watching Costa Ricans at leisure, then a charge of excitement, hazard lights on, brakes on, Johan has seen a sloth!

And there it was, the three-toed sloth, with its three toes in fine view. A ball hanging in a tree. A strange and wonderful creature to add to our evening checklist and I am so pleased.