PALO VERDE NATIONAL PARK IS ONE of Costa Rica’s birding “hotspots”—more than 200 species of birds have been recorded here. Although we saw only 30 species today, Palo Verde was definitely a hotspot. The thermometer in our car registered an honest 42°C. That’s 107F by the 9/5C° + 32°= F° formula. If you aren’t good at maths, it equals ¡Mucho calor! Trust me.
Hot Spot
The last 25 kilometers of the two-hour drive from Playa Flamingo was on gravel. But some enterprising—and very talented—artist painted scenes of many of the Park’s birds on rocks along the entrance road. There was a bit of whimsy, too. The painting of the bittern, an unusually shy bird, was partially hidden by grass, just the way we almost see it.
Great Egret, Rufous-necked Wren, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill
Jacana, Jabiru, Bittern, Hummingbird
Thicknee, Crested Caracara, Turquoise-browed Motmot and Great Kiskadee
We saw some real birds, too. The whistling ducks and jacanas were especially photogenic today. We added a new parrot for the trip, the Orange-fronted parakeet and watched a lone jabiru glide high in the sky.
Orange-fronted Parakeet
