COSTA RICA FEB 2024 PART 1 TORTUGUERO NATIONAL PARK

 Arrived in San Jose the capital of Costa Rica at sunset and spent the night in a local hotel before transferring by road to the Caribbean coast at Tortuguero the next day.It was an interesting journey across the mountainous central region which was shrouded in mist and drizzle,The main industry in the coastal region was banana production and exportation.

Eventually we arrived at our destination in the national park and after lunch set out on our first look around.

Evidently there are more than 1500 butterfly species in Costa Rica so identification could take a while.

ONE OF THE MANY HELICONUS

BOAT BILLED FLYCATCHER

GREAT KISKADEE

THE ICONIC RED EYED TREE FROG we were very lucky to see this one on our first outing.

we only saw one other and that was quite high up and at night by torchlight.

HOWLER MONKEY

SPIDER MONKEY

SPIDER MONKEY

ANOTHER SMALL TREE FROG.

The next morning it was a boat trip at first light.

MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA.

M O NESTBUILDING

MONTEZUMA  OROPENDOLA

DOZENS OFTHESE IGUANAS WERE WARMING UP IN THE MORNING SUNSHINE

A GREEN IGUANA

TRICOLOURED HERON

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NORTHERN JACANA

BLACK MANDIBLED TOUCAN

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BARE THROATED TIGER HERON

BLACK COLLARED HAWK

ANHINGA

IVORY BILLED WOODPECKER

A SECOND IVORY BILLED WOODPECKER

CAIMAN

BANDED PEACOCK

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THE CARIBBEAN

THE CARIBBEAN

MAGNIFICENT FRIGATE BIRD MALE.

GREAT TAILED GRACKLE

PALE VENTED PIGEON

BLACK MANDIBLED TOUCANS

TURKEY VULTURE

IGUANA SUNBATHING BY THE SWIMMING POOL.

SMALL POSTMAN

SMALL POSTMAN

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GIANT PATCH

GIANT PATCH

JULIA BUTTERFLY -ORANGE LONGWING

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JULIA B -OL

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ITS OFF TO THE VOLCANO  AT ARANAL FOR STAGE TWO.