Today we had a lie in, followed by a good breakfast and met our guide, Jacob, for some birdwatching in the grounds of the lodge. Being adjacent to the National Park there is an abundance of wildlife around - you just have to spot it in the foliage ! We did well, seeing woodpeckers, tree creepers, manakins and tanagers, hummingbirds, howler monkeys and three toed sloth, all within a hour or so.
Afterwards we headed into the park proper along paths thickly covered by vegetation. The lodge had given us Wellington boots to protect our feet from possible snake bites and as the paths can be very muddy in places.
Jacob showed us many interesting trees and plants and explained their uses and origins. Not only is he a keen birder, but he is fascinated with plants and trees, so his knowledge is extensive. We made our way for a couple of hours through the forest and eventually ended up by a lovely fresh water waterfall where we were able to take a swim. This was very welcome as the heat and humidity are very high making the going very tough. After a refreshing swim we made our way out to the beach where the ranger station is located and enjoyed an excellent picnic lunch of salad, bread and fruit.
After lunch we made our way back along the beach and forest trail to our lodge. On the way we saw a Scarlet Macaw feeding on almond nuts in a tree. As we got to the lodge Jacob showed us a Hermit Humming bird sitting in her nest, which was attached to the underside of a palm tree fron. It was so delicate you could not believe it would support anything, let alone a small bird and her brood.
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