Red-eyed Tree Frog

 

Our exploration of Costa Rica began at Tortugero National Park nestled in the northeast corner of the country on the Caribbean. For the next three weeks we would fly around the country in small planes to different National Parks.

No visit to Costa Rica would be complete without observing the Red-eyed Tree Frog.

These iconic rain-forest amphibians sleep by day stuck to leaf-bottoms with their eyes closed and body markings covered. When disturbed, they flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge, webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks. This technique, called startle coloration, may give a bird or snake pause, offering a precious instant for the frog to spring to safety.

Red-eyed tree frogs, despite their conspicuous coloration, are not venomous. They are found in tropical lowlands from southern Mexico, throughout Central America, and in northern South America. Nocturnal carnivores, they hide in the rain forest canopy and ambush crickets, flies, and moths with their long, sticky tongues. National Geographic

The airport at Tortugero.

A Twin Engine Otter would be our mode of transportation around Costa Rica.

Humboldt Penguin

 

After our river cruise we spent a couple of days along the coast of Peru before we headed off to Machu Picchu. One of the places we visited was the Ballestas Islands. Here is was cool to see the Humboldt Penguins.

They get their name from the cold sea current that runs along the west coast of South America from Chile to Peru – and that was named after the explorer Alexander von Humboldt.

These penguins make their home on sandy beaches and rocky coastlines and generally live for between 20 and 25 years.

Red-legged Cormorant

 

The Red-legged Cormorant is an attractive coastal cormorant; locally fairly common in the Humboldt Current. Often seen perched on jetties, inshore rocks, and cliffs.

Note distinctive big white neck patch, pale scalloping on upperparts, brightly colored bill, and red legs.

Mainly feeds in small groups or as scattered individuals.

Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle

 

The Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle is one of the largest Amazon river turtles. It can grow up to 45 cm long and weigh up to 8 kg.

This species can be recognized by its black or brown oval carapace. Yellow spots on the side of its head give this species its common name. These spots are most prominent in juveniles and fade with age.

Tiger Leg Monkey Frog

 

Tiger Leg Monkey Frogs are native to South America.

They belong to a group of Monkey Frogs called Waxy Monkey Tree Frogs. They get their name from wax secreting glands on back elbows and rump. This wax, once secreted, is rubbed all over their bodies and seals in moisture.

The “monkey” part of the name comes from the way they move about.

The " Chunky Monkeys" were entertainment most nights on the cruise.

Amazon Tree Boa

 

Adult Amazon Tree Boas grow to an average of 5 and 6.5 feet (1.5–2 m) in length.

This species exhibits an immense variety of colors and patterns. The basic color can be anywhere from black, brown, or gray, to any shade of red, orange, yellow, or many colors in between. Some are totally patternless, while others may be speckled, banded, or saddled with rhomboid or chevron shapes.

Marilyn actually got to handle an Amazon Tree Boa.

Three Toed Sloth

 

The three-toed sloth is an arboreal animal, inhabiting the tropical forests of Central and South America. Their algae-covered fur helps camouflage the sloth in its forest environment. Sloths spend nearly all of their time in trees, descending to the ground only once a week to defecate.

Sloths are herbivores (plant eaters), feeding on a low-energy diet of leaves, twigs and fruit. Because of their slow movement and metabolism, it can take up to a month for a sloth to digest a single meal.

Sloths are among the slowest-moving animals on Earth.

We have seen lots of Sloths in Costa Rica however this was the only Sloth we seen on our Amazon River cruise. Until you have seen a Sloth it is hard to actually imagine how slow they move. Incredible.

Capped Heron

 

This gorgeous medium-sized heron is uncommon but widespread in lowlands of South America, barely extending into eastern Panama.

A combination of silvery back, buffy neck and belly, black cap, and blue lores (sometimes radiant turquoise!) help distinguish this species from other herons. Also note the long white plumes on the back of the head. Occurs around swamps, forested ponds, and rivers, usually singly.

Anaconda

Perhaps the highlight of our Amazon River trip though was this 26 foot Anaconda. We skiffed into the rain forest and hiked into the bush for perhaps a couple of kilometers. Our guide knew of a swamp where he had seen Anacondas before however nothing was guaranteed.

On this day there were two giant snakes resting in the swamp. Incredible to see how huge these snakes are. And then to see them slowly slunk into the swamp is just crazy cool. It seems like they go forever.

Anacondas can grow to more than 29 feet, weigh more than 550 pounds, and measure more than 12 inches in diameter. Females are significantly larger than males.

Anacondas live in swamps, marshes, and slow-moving streams, mainly in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. They are cumbersome on land, but stealthy and sleek in the water. Their eyes and nasal openings are on top of their heads, allowing them to lay in wait for prey while remaining nearly completely submerged.

Female anacondas retain their eggs and give birth to two to three dozen live young. Baby snakes are about 2 feet long when they are born and are almost immediately able to swim and hunt. Their lifespan in the wild is about ten years.

They reach their monumental size on a diet of wild pigs, deer, birds, turtles, capybara, caimans, and even jaguars. Anacondas are nonvenomous constrictors, coiling their muscular bodies around captured prey and squeezing until the animal asphyxiates. Jaws attached by stretchy ligaments allow them to swallow their prey whole, no matter the size, and they can go weeks or months without food after a big meal. National Geographic

Ice Cream

 

A very memorable experience was our stop at Nauta, a small riverside village. I exchanged forty U.S. dollars into local monies, learned how to say ice cream in Spanish, and had an incredible time treating many local kids to ice cream. None came forwards and asked for money or ice cream but wow the smile on their faces as they raced off to the ice cream cart was well worth it.

Nauta

 

Nauta, a riverside village.

Great Black Hawk

 

We also had the opportunity to visit a riverside school. All the passengers chipped in and we delivered soccer balls and sports equipment to the kids. It was extremely rewarding to see how grateful the kids were.

One of the many birds hanging around the area was a Great Black Hawk.

Tropical Screech Owl

 

Today we ran lines ashore, tied off to some trees, and literally walked a plank ashore to visit a local family.

It was an excellent experience visiting with them, learning all about their lifestyle and learning to hunt with a spear and bow and arrow. It was at this point that I stayed behind the group practicing my bow and arrow technique with the husband.

All of a sudden Marilyn came running back down the path, frantically waving her hand, yelling at me to get moving. I knew something was up by all her excitement and for sure it was warranted.

Four Tropical Screech Owls sitting together on a branch. Sweet.

Piranhas

 

On this day we ventured up the Nahuapa River and after our wildlife observing got an opportunity to try our luck at fishing for Piranhas.

As luck would have it, Marilyn caught the first fish. The Piranhas we caught became our supper that night.

Piranhas are a dietary staple for many of the Amazon rain forest Indigenous people. I just love this image of a fisherman in his dugout canoe. We were in a skiff and our guide stopped to exchange with him and offered him some bottled water. I was at the front of the skiff, a spot Marilyn seemed to secure for us every day it seemed, and I asked if I could take his picture.

Another day we visited Choroyacu Creek and had a chance to paddle a dugout canoe. After convincing the locals that we had paddled a canoe our whole lives we were given the opportunity to paddle without a guide. Needless to say we felt very comfortable in the old dugout canoes and managed very well on our own. A rather cool, memorable experience.

Amazon River

 

To start our Amazon River trip, we first flew into Lima Peru, then flew over the Andes to the small riverside village of Iquitos.

At Iquitos we boarded our Amazon River boat, the Queen Violeta, to begin our journey. Starting where the Maranon and Ucayali Rivers meet. This is generally thought to be the start of the Amazon River.

For the next 8 days the Queen Violeta will be our home. Each day featured small skiff excursions into small tributaries or stops along the way to go ashore to observe river life.

I should mention that I ventured off the ship every chance I got. If crew was going into a riverside village for supplies I would join them and just wander around town checking out the local markets etc..

Life along the river.

Ghost Crab

 

Ghost Crabs are common shore crabs in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world inhabiting deep burrows in the intertidal zone. They are scavengers and predators of small animals.

The name "ghost crab" derives from their generally pale coloration enabling them to blend in with the sand and the fact they are semi nocturnal.

Well, this concludes our birding trip through Florida. Tomorrow we will start on an Amazon River trip covering some of the wildlife, birds, people and sights of a trip down the Amazon River on a small river boat.

Wild Boar

 

Wild hogs can reach weights of more than 150 pounds and measure 5 to 6 feet long. Wild hogs occur in all 67 counties of Florida. They are found in a wide variety of habitats but prefer oak-cabbage palm hammocks, freshwater marshes and sloughs, pine flatwoods, and more open agricultural areas.

They usually travel in small family groups or alone. Wild hogs eat a variety of plants and animals and feed by rooting with their broad snouts. They may disturb the soil and ground cover vegetation and leave the area looking like it has been plowed.

Bobcat

 

Another exciting find on Cape San Blas was our first ever Bobcat. The only image I have managed to obtain was taken very, very early while out birding one morning.

Widely distributed throughout Florida in deep forest, swamps, and hammock land. Thick patches of saw palmetto and dense shrub thickets are important as den and resting sites. In rural areas, bobcats can range five or six square miles and generally cover their territory in a slow, careful fashion. In urban to suburban areas, the range of territory usually decreases to 1 or 2 miles.

Armadillo

Cape San Blas also presented another lifer for us. The Armadillo.

Man, I can remember coming across our first ever Armadillo and thinking how fortunate we were to observe this fascinating creature unaware that it would become a common occurrence in Florida.

Armadillos are widespread in Florida, but they're not native to the state. They were brought to Florida back in the 1920s and 1930s and reproduced quickly. By the 1950s, these invasive mammals were found throughout most of Florida. Armadillos are related to anteaters and sloths.

Pygmy Rattlesnake

 

Until we started touring Florida, I had no idea that Pygmy Rattlesnakes even existed. We have seen them on Cape San Blas and on St Vincent Island Nature Refuge. There is a local resident that will ferry you and your bike across to the island for a small fee. Once on the island you are free to tour the many swamps, forests and beaches. The entire island is a nature preserve and you are likely to encounter snakes, Red Wolf, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, alligators, plus all kinds of shorebirds. And there are always Bald Eagles and Great Horned Owls nesting on the island.

Most people in the area wear snake guards on their shins while gardening or landscaping.

Sometimes they lie sunning across the trail and without close inspection resemble sticks.

Most adult Pygmy Rattlesnakes are about 12-24 inches in total length. This is a very small snake, but it is thick for its size. The body color varies from light to dark gray, and a lengthwise row of black or charcoal blotches disrupts a reddish-brown stripe running down the middle of the back which can be clearly seen on this image. The tail is slender and ends in a tiny rattle. The head is distinct from the neck and has a black diagonal line just behind the eye. The coloration of juveniles is the same as described for adults, except the tail tip of juveniles is bright sulfur-yellow in color.

Florida Manatee

 

If you are ever down in Florida looking to observe some Manatees I highly recommend Blue Springs State Park. We had seen Manatees at other Florida State Parks, like Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee, which has an incredible river cruise along the spring, however Blue Springs offers some incredible nice views.

The West Indian Manatee or “Sea Cow” is also known as the North American Manatee and is divided into two groups, the Florida and the Caribbean.

Cottonmouth

 

Cottonmouths, also called water moccasins, are venomous snakes found in the southeastern United States.

They're called cottonmouths because of the white coloration on the inside of their mouths, which they display when threatened.

Cottonmouths are semiaquatic, so they're comfortable both swimming in water (hence their other common name of water moccasin) and basking on land.

They are the only venomous snake in the U.S. that spends a lot of time in the water.

I observed this Cottonmouth, which I estimated to easily be six feet long, while hiking in St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida. I watched it swim along the shoreline, it’s whole body visible from shore, hoping it would come my way.

When it finally came ashore it was not bothered by my presence at all and in fact snaked along my path directly towards me forcing me to move out of the way.