Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
The howling of the howler monkeys was heard as we anchored off shore and the sun broke through above the horizon.
It was a hard job to decide which photo to use today for the Daily Expedition Report, so many choices of wonderful things. Early this morning we hiked in the rainforest of Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula of Pacific Costa Rica. The early morning showers had left the ground damp and the leaves shining, glistening with droplets. The forest floor was covered with sprouting plants, and with the occasional sunbeam a young green color permeated the air around us. Groups had chosen to hike different trails, and the sightings were just as varied. A young fer-de-lance was curled among the dead leaves, hoping only to be left alone (and we were happy to oblige.) White-faced capuchin monkeys bounced overhead, and red-mantled howler monkeys moved slowly from branch to branch, while agoutis rustled through the undergrowth. A strange bark was heard, mysterious and hidden. Out on the beach, a family troop of coatis appeared and started working in a seemingly cooperative manner, some up the coconut trees, others on the ground testing the fallen nuts for accessibility to the inner meal. Serious chittering and caterwauling broke out for a while which startled us all, but the foraging continued soon after, and even the youngest member showed an amazingly blasé attitude towards our fascination with their every move and snuffle.
The afternoon proved to be an equally exciting time with sightings and happenings, and it all started as if on cue right after a delightful barbeque lunch on shore. Horses showed up for the intrepid riders, howler monkeys hung out for the longest time over the shoreline trail to the swimming beach, and a grand finale took place when a troop of extremely lively white-faced capuchin monkeys moved through the area, their goal the enormous mango tree overhead, in abundant production. For a while there, those of us who dared to walk underneath in attempts to photograph individuals stuffing themselves with mango, risked getting hit on the head with seriously large and heavy half-eaten mangoes. We had hopes that they might send down some un-damaged ones for us, but no such luck.
A sliver of the orange setting sun was framed between gray hazy clouds and a gun-metal sea.
The howling of the howler monkeys was heard as we anchored off shore and the sun broke through above the horizon.
It was a hard job to decide which photo to use today for the Daily Expedition Report, so many choices of wonderful things. Early this morning we hiked in the rainforest of Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula of Pacific Costa Rica. The early morning showers had left the ground damp and the leaves shining, glistening with droplets. The forest floor was covered with sprouting plants, and with the occasional sunbeam a young green color permeated the air around us. Groups had chosen to hike different trails, and the sightings were just as varied. A young fer-de-lance was curled among the dead leaves, hoping only to be left alone (and we were happy to oblige.) White-faced capuchin monkeys bounced overhead, and red-mantled howler monkeys moved slowly from branch to branch, while agoutis rustled through the undergrowth. A strange bark was heard, mysterious and hidden. Out on the beach, a family troop of coatis appeared and started working in a seemingly cooperative manner, some up the coconut trees, others on the ground testing the fallen nuts for accessibility to the inner meal. Serious chittering and caterwauling broke out for a while which startled us all, but the foraging continued soon after, and even the youngest member showed an amazingly blasé attitude towards our fascination with their every move and snuffle.
The afternoon proved to be an equally exciting time with sightings and happenings, and it all started as if on cue right after a delightful barbeque lunch on shore. Horses showed up for the intrepid riders, howler monkeys hung out for the longest time over the shoreline trail to the swimming beach, and a grand finale took place when a troop of extremely lively white-faced capuchin monkeys moved through the area, their goal the enormous mango tree overhead, in abundant production. For a while there, those of us who dared to walk underneath in attempts to photograph individuals stuffing themselves with mango, risked getting hit on the head with seriously large and heavy half-eaten mangoes. We had hopes that they might send down some un-damaged ones for us, but no such luck.
A sliver of the orange setting sun was framed between gray hazy clouds and a gun-metal sea.
