One final post of the completed bird sighting list for the trip.  There are some we heard and did not see, some we saw and couldn't get a good enough visual is identify the species. But overall we did positively see 33 birds. The following is the list:

Costa Rica 2014 Bird List

Anhinga- female-( Anhinga ahninga)
Magnificent Frigate bird - Juvenile-(Fregata magnificens)

Rufescent Tiger Heron-(Tigrisoma mexicanum)
Fasciated Tiger Heron - Adult-(Tigrisoma fasciatum)
Great Egret- (Ardea alba)
Reddish Egret-(Egretta rugescens)
Black Vulture-(Coragyps atratus)
Ruddy Turnstone- non breeding plumage-(Arenaria interpres)
Red Loried Amazon Parrot- (Amazona  autumnalis)
Yellow Nape Amazon Parrot-(Amazona  auropalliata)
Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird –male-(Campylopterus hemileucurus)
Violet Sabrewing Hummingbird – female-( Campylopterus hemileucurus)
Green crowned Brilliant Hummingbird- male-(Heliodoxa jacula)
Green crowned Brilliant Hummingbird- Female-( Heliodoxa jacula)
Violet crowned Woodnymph – female-(Thalurania colombica)
Violet crowned Woodnymph- male-(Thalurania colombica)
Steely vented Hummingbird- Male-(Amazilia saucerrottei)
Steely vented Hummingbird- Female-( Amazilia saucerrottei)
Bronze tailed Plumeleteer- male-(Chalybura urochrysia)
Plum throated Mountain gem- male-(Lampornis calolaemus)
Plum throated Mountain gem- female-( Lampornis calolaemus)
Emerald toucanet-(Aulacorhunhus prasinus)
Keel billed toucan-(Ramphastos swainsonii)
Yellow eared toucanet-(Selenidera spectabilis)
Acorn Woodpecker-(Melanerpes formicivorus)
Clay colored robin -(Turdus grayi)
Red breasted blackbird-(Sturnella militaris)
Cattle egret- Pacific Coast-(Bubulcus ibis)
Muskogee duck-(carina moschata)

Great Kiskadee-(Pitangus sulphuratus)

White Throated Spadebill-(Platyrinchus mystaceus)

Zone Tailed Hawk-(Buteo albonotatus)

Great Patoo- (Nyctibius grandis)

Trogon-heard

Mot Mot- saw but not sure which one

Three wattled Bellbird- heard but did not see

Costa Rica and Pura Vida

Monteverde seemed to be the apex of the trip for me.  Not only was that when we crossed the Continental Divide, it was when the reality of going home began to set in.  We had several more towns with one and two night stays.  I could feel it, a bit of sadness in my soul. I love Costa Rica, the people, the wonderful ecosystem.  I believe one could ask two questions a day about the environment, flora or fauna, for a lifetime and still never know everything about Costa Rica. Perhaps that's what appeals to me, the mystery's still there. 
You may recall this was a study abroad class called Tropical Ecology.  We had group discussions with our instructor several times throughout the trip and they were always inspiring. They kept us focused. One of the regular questions was what did you learn about the tropics you would have not fully appreciated from just reading the text.  My answer is: everything.  The people, the humidity, the cross winds, feeling the effects of Boyles Gas Law, seeing fauna I had only seen on Nova or National Geographic shows.  Seeing them face to face, watching their activities and seeing them in their natural environment.  I could not have learned any of that from the text alone.  I would definitely recommend going if you want to really have a tactile experience learning about the tropics.
Today will be my last blog entry, so I will end with some photos and call it a wrap.  Thanks to those of you who tuned in.
One last think I wanted to mention, the term "Pura Vida". When we first arrived, we were told the term and when it was used and an attempt was made to get a robust,

group Pura Vida.  It was followed by some mumblings of an apparently shy group to use the phrase when we were not sure what it meant.  "Pura Vida" means "Pure Life" and by the end of the trip, I definitely understood exactly why the people said that.  They do live a Pure Life.  I for one am glad they welcomed me, taught me the history, flora and fauna as well as the culture of this wonderful place.  I will be back.

On to Monteverde

Dr. Terdal discussing Boyle's Gas low and the very tactile ability to
experience it with your senses.

Ok today we have crossed Lake Aernal with a fun water "Party Barge" cookouts, dancing, swimming and of course I brought to the front the history behind this area.  Today we are in Monteverde, Monteverde is a spot where you can hike up to a point on the very tip of the Continental Divide.  The Continental Divide is also called the Great Divide. "It is a natural boundary line separating the waters that flow into the Atlantic Ocean or gulf of Mexico from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean"(USGS 2014) The line runs North to South along mountain ranges.  The above description discusses the Continental Divide in the US, and I have been to that point in the State of Colorado as a young man with my father, the zoologist, I never forgot him explaining this as I had never considered it before.  Today we hiked to the Continental Divide in Costa Rica, again the line runs North to South with a little meandering with the naturally formed mountains.  So, I have been to the Continental Divide two times on the same hemisphere of the earth. Pretty amazing for a guy who is 44 yrs. young!!

clouds dissipating and moving downward

Clouds moving upward

To the left and above you can almost see the clouds rising to the point where the platform is.  These clouds have taken a long journey from the Caribbean Ocean across lands, gathering dust and nutrient, pushing their way to this place.  From here the winds and clouds visably go

Here is the platform built right on top of the apex of this point of the continental divide

Video of clouds moving up from the Caribbean Side of Costa Rica
 

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Clouds and moisture moving over the top of the mountains and down the Pacific side along with river water runoff.

Some of the forest we hiked through on the way up to the Continental Divide

An epiphyte fallen from the canopy.  This plant does not root in soil, rather roots off the tree,
If it can get the moisture it and sunlight it will live right where it is.

!0 People max on the canopy bridge we walked across. 

A "Monkeys eye" view from the forest canopy.  A lot of these are designed so
foot traffic from tourists will not disturb the forest floor.

Another epiphyte, beautiful colors.

A spider spinning the perfect web all night, then sit back and enjoy your catch.

Thumb in photo to show size of this millipede.

This is what the rain forest looks like.  It is thick, dangerous and you had better have an experienced guide with you.

Stats I like to collect on elevation, distance and names of places I have been.

Hiking back down the pacific side.

Photo op, it was a cloudy day that day.

Just as Dr Terdal is giving his lecture on Boyles gas law and the meaning of the Great Divide, as if by

Devine nature, the clouds cleared and we could see to the Pacific Ocean about 45 KM (We measured on my map later)away from where we were.  Soon as we saw it, this mysterious place covered in clouds again.

More of the lush forest below

 

Another view from the trail on a cloudy day.

More pics from down from the Great Divide

Lush valleys often cloud covered at this elevation.

 All the vines and epiphytes growing on one downed tree trunk.

Look at the size of the trunks and buttress roots on this tree!!

Local flora for my flower readers.

And again, the concept of "help us keep our land clean" a recycyling bin to clean your pack after the hike.

These were the founders of the Natural Reserve Santa Elena Cloud Forest.

Opportunistic Cuoti  a member of the raccoon family.

 

La Fortuna- The name and the story.

This beautiful town called La Fortuna, came by its name in a rather ominous way.  Today a busy tourist area, this was once farmland nestled under the now famous Arenal Volcano.

In 1968, the then named "Cerro Arenal" erupted violently on the 29th of July at 7:30am. The area was believed to have been an extinct volcano.  It was discovered that it was not, in fact, an extinct volcano but a very alive volcano that is active even today.    www.arenal.net/arenal-volcano-1968-eruption.html

Ledgend, the locals, tell the story as the current area named "LaFortuna" is named as such for the fortune these people experienced as the whole area with exception to La Foftuna was wiped out by the lava flow of the eruption in 1968.  The old town was flooded and a man made lake was created.  A cross from the old church used to stand above the water there in the lake, it has been struck by a boat since then and is no longer visable.

 Above and right is the new Church of LaFortuna and an amazing public garden around the church.

A drain in the dam infrastructure just below the dam.

The view from the leisure water taxi. There is another for transport only.

What happens in Lake Arenal today, tourism and some short history lessons.

 This is the area of the old cemetery from the pre-eruption(1968) area of LaFortuna.  Some of the old grave markers still exist.  It has a feel, a vibe to the area, something special happened here.  I have traveled to Auschwitz, Germany to see the place where the concentration camp was.  This place had a similar feel to the air, look to the earth.   There were clues there as well, what happened long ago, what could the trees and stones that sit before me tell me if I could understand their words. 

This is the old town, not forgotten, but most of it hidden, the locals say it was too painful to rebuild, to look at all the time. So a man made lake was made in this area.  What you see are the hints and clues as to what really happened in this place.

 I felt such a strong sense of presence here.  I was not alone in number or in thought.  I kneeled next to the grave to the left, put my hand on the headstone that still fought through the elements to remind me, and prayed.  I prayed for the people of LaFortuna, present and past.  I asked they receive good fortune for their distress.  A time for the people to gather and eat and drink and dance, in the shadow of this grand place.  I was reminded how small we are as a people in the true scheme of things.  I felt connected, like I have only a few times in the past, connected to something bigger something still unexplored by me.  I was sincerely moved by this place.  I will never forget the feelings I had at Auschwitz or here.  Very different history, very similar feelings.

 Another grave to remind the tourists, this is a place to be revered. 

 Christian Aleya our amazing tour guide showed us all over Costa Rica.

 And I did mention dancing right??

 We docked near one of the land masses still present here.  I was told in 3 months, none of what we were seeing would be visible.  It would all be under water.  So I was glad for the glimpse into the past, from the present, and into the future of this beautiful place.

 We decided this was a pig skull, likely left from previous barbecues, it had a bullet hole square between the eyes.

I hiked a bit from where we docked.  So overcome with the feeling of this place.  The enormous red ants reminded me quickly to get back on the beaten path.  They burn like fire!!!

 It was a very relaxing day of transport, if you are going to take a taxi to Monteverde, the best way is across the lake.  Two hours shorter and look at the scenery!!

 One of the coves to the left, and below, it took the excellent equipment of Emily DeMoss to identify this bird who appropriately posed for us, wings outstretched and proud.  At first, my thoughts were in the Heron family, and I had about decided that was my official attempt at an ID when I noticed this bird has webbed feet!!!! Back to the drawing board, while it took only a few minuites to locate once I got in "zen" mode with my field guide.  Below is the very patient Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) a female specimen.  She was so patient as the Captain turned the boat and this novice bird watcher took in as much detail as possible.

 Some more interesting equipment for the dam.

Off to Monteverde, we had a memorable stay there!!