Untamed Central America...Laguna del Lagarto

Laguna del Lagarto Lodge, 12-14 September 2019

It's a 5 hour drive from Rancho Naturalista north to Laguna del Lagarto Lodge situated close to the border with Nicaragua at Boca Tapada. Although there's undoubtedly going to be tons to see there, we are heading there for one main reason - the chance to film King Vultures.

However we arrive after dark, go straight to dinner and then Mike and myself take a 30 minute 'Caiman' walk with Henry, one of the Lodge guides. Well, this turned out to be a very worthwhile activity. Henry is a short, portly Costa Rican gentleman who proceeds to walk off down the track into the darkness with 4-5 guests close behind. Then, quite unexpectedly, he starts to call out to the local Caiman in German! I'm frankly astonished to see 4 or 5 Caiman emerging out of the gloom, eyes glowing orange in the torchlight and heading straight for us. They're use to doing this every evening and we get very close views and even get to touch them. All photos of the Spectacled Caiman were taken on my phone. Everything else on my Nikon P1000.

Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus

Spectacled Caiman, Caiman crocodilus

Here you can see their identifying feature, the 'bridge'
between and in front of the eyes, like on a pair of specs!

Caiman crocodilus

I was so impressed with Henry's talent for finding reptiles that he agreed to take me herping around the lodge grounds later that evening...alas we didn't see a single thing!  Oh well, you can't have everything.

Next morning we were up bright and early to be in the vulture hide by 6 am. For a number of years the owner and operator of the Lodge, Kurt Schmack Anonius, has been putting food out for the local King Vulture population and he has attracted quite a crowd. We were in there by 6 am and already there are 3 King Vultures and 25-30 Black vultures squabbling over the pig off-cuts that have been laid out for them. The hide affords fantastic views of anything coming in to feed.

Room with a view and the guests don't seem to mind.

Black Vulture

Black Vulture

King Vulture, adult

These are exceptionally beautiful birds

King Vulture, adult

King Vulture, juvenile

King Vulture, juvenile

King Vulture, juvenile

King Vulture, juvenile

Vulture fun and filming over, I retreat to complete some drone footage while Nigel and Mike do the pieces to camera in the hide. After 45 minutes of filming it's time for lunch and a chance to catch up with some of the other birds using the lodge garden.

Olive-backed Euphonia

This obliging Pale-billed Woodpecker was just stunning. What a great looking bird!

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Montezuma's Oropendola

Palm Tanager

Shining Honeycreeper, male

Shining Honeycreeper, male

Red-legged Honeycreeper, Juvenile male

Black-cowled Oriole

Black-cowled Oriole

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Blue-gray Tanager

Brown Hooded Parrot

Brown Hooded Parrot

Green Honeycreeper

Green Honeycreeper

Red-legged Honeycreeper, female

Black-capped Tityra

Clay-colored Thrush

Golden-hooded Tanager

Another Olive-backed Euphonia

Passerini's Tanager

Yellow-throated Tucan

 Think you'll agree, that's quite a bountiful garden! Before we left Laguna del Lagarto, we spent our last morning on the 15th filming close by. On the return to the Lodge I found this beautiful little Micrurus alleni lying in the open, which is a little unusual for these shy snakes.

Micrurus alleni

Micrurus alleni