Untamed Land

Untamed Land
Untamed Land

Saturday, June 22, 2013

The Moose and Monteverde

Before I get started on the photos that Dan shot in Monteverde, Costa Rica, I have to show a few shots of the visitor that showed up at work yesterday.
The young bull sauntered up to the main entrance to the Boy Scout office/store, and casually began licking the residue of salt off of the porch. (Salt is spread on the slippery boards to melt ice in the winter.) There were customers wanting to get in and others wanting to leave. Everybody had to wait. 
This is the third time that I have seen a Moose block entryways in buildings, this office, an elementary school, and a nature center. My co-worker Andrew shot these photos using his ipad.
One last shot through the window in Andrew's office. What the photos don't show is the horde of mosquitos hovering all around this poor guy.
Monteverde is located in the Cordillera Central of Costa Rica. Most of the original forest has been converted into cow pasture. There are a few protected areas like Monteverde National Park, and this area that I photographed near the Fortuna Waterfall.
Little birds like this White-winged Tanager can be difficult to pick out from among the chaotic tropical vegetation.  Dull colored birds are that much harder to spot. This photo, and those that follow were all taken by my friend Dan.
One incredible species of woodpecker, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker. There are at least two other similar neotropical woodpeckers that I know of, Cinnamon Woodpecker, and Chestnut Woodpecker. The bird above is probably eating termites or ants off the ground.
The ultimate prize for birders traveling to Costa Rica, the Resplendant Quetzal.
This photo almost shows the male's glowing red belly.
A large pheasant-like bird that is heavily hunted in unprotected areas, the Crested Guan. It is a relative of the chachalacas.
Another heavily-hunted game bird. These are Spotted-bellied Bobwhite. They are quite tame in Monteverde.
An unidentified species of anole.
Another very tame animal in monteverde. So long as you don't try to touch a Coati. They have large canines.

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