17th February - Kura Day Three, Uvita, Costa Rica

 The morning was dry and sunny, so the whale watch was on.  A taxi took us down to an office in Uvita and from there into the Parque Nacional Marino Ballena and onto the beach.  Here we boarded a small but fast boat, and after what seemed like an age we headed out to sea.  Due to the size of the boat and the experience we had last time we went out on the sea here in 2017 I decided not to take my Canon and was left to use my phone.

We headed out at speed and very quickly came across several more boats, and despite all the cautioning words from the guide about "you might not see anything" we came across two Humpback Whale adults, a male and a female, plus a young calf.

From late December through to late March, a population of northern Humpback Whales swim from the Oregon Coast towards Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.  

The female Humpback, the male had a distinctive white dorsal fin.

There are two seasons for whales in Costa Rica with the other being from July to September and then it is more around the Gulfo Dulce in the Osa Peninsula.  While in Costa Rican waters the whales do not feed, having stored up during the northern summer in the rich feeding grounds around Oregon and British Colombia.

The male and female together.  

The females come here to give birth and see her calf through the first few months of their life in the warm waters of the national park.  Males will also be preset normally to shadow the females to ensure they have the best opportunity to mate.

The female with her calf.

We watched the whales for about 20 minutes.  The water here is not that deep and the whales stayed close to the surface.  There were a couple of times when it looked like one of the adults would dive, but the tail never really came out of the water.

Costa Rican regulations require boats to move off when they have watched for the 20 to 25 minutes if too many arrive, we headed south along the coast past the rocks we could see from Kura, after a short while we came across a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins.  The dolphins seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them.

They would come alongside the boat swimming under the boat and longside on the bow water.

There are two species of dolphin seen in the Costa Rican waters, these Bottlenose Dolphins and the Tropical Spotted we saw off El Ramanso.

Leaving the dolphins we headed towards the cliffs where there was quite a spectacular arch to see.

The tour ended and we had to wade through the sea and back on to the beach.  From there we were taken back to Kura where there was a lovely view of where we had just come from, the Whale's Tail just off Uvita beach.

We spent the afternoon by the pool, interesting there was very little bird life, much fewer vultures than the day before and no sign of the King Vultures of yesterday, how lucky was that?

But what I did manage to see was a group of seven Wood Storks, down, close to the beach, clearly a record shot.

The harsh call of Scarlet Macaws saw a pair fly across below us, the first time I have seen them here at Kura.

the clouds out on the ocean were an indication that there could be a spectacular sunset.

We sat with a drink and watched it unveil.

The light producing a spot on the ocean.

Golden light spread out across the ocean towards us.

I went up to the top of the building for a different view.

Looking south towards the Osa Peninsula.

The spectacular clouds reflected in th infinity pool.

Wonderful clouds.

Dark shadows from the clouds across the ocean.

This video was of the final moments of the sun as it set for the day.

And the final shot needs to be of Perry on the edge of the pool

We were leaving in the morning and after some discussion the pick up was arranged earlier than we were initially advised.  The journey to the airport was eventful, and we just managed to avoid a closure on the highway, taking the old road to San Jose.

Our fourth visit to Costa Rica was as wonderful as the previous three.  The trip list ended with 211, the highest of our trips while I was pleased with the 77 lifers.  It was sad to leave, but I think now we have covered most of this lovely country, stayed in some spectacular properties and met some truly wonderful people.

Thank you Costa Rica!

24th April - Hill Head and Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

I hadn't been down to Titchfield for awhile and decided to start there today.  After checking in I walked around to the sea wall opposite the reserve west entrance.  It was an overcast, cold day with a north westerly wind, the sea though was very calm and the tide rising.  A Bar-tailed Godwit was on the beach, but then flew off and headed towards the reserve and out of sight.

There was a significant movement of hirundines, mostly Swallows, but also Sand and House Martins, coming in off the sea and heading across the reserve and up the valley.  This was the first large number of hirundines I have seen this year.

On the beach were Turnstones and about twenty Sanderling, many of which were showing partial summer plumage.

A flock of eight Little Terns came in off the sea and they too flew across the reserve.  This raised the hopes of something happening on the water, would this be the first real movement of the spring.

It didn't really happen, but there were three Whimbrel that passed, while one was seen very high up circling above us.

The notable sighting of the morning was of two Dolphins that wee picked up in the mid channel of the Solent.  They were either Common or Bottlenose Dolphins, there were glimpses of two colours on the side when they did come well out of the water, this would indicate Common, but then the dorsal fin could be Bottlenose.  I would say they were Bottlenose.

One of the many swallows to pass through.

At 13:00 the sea watch was called off, very little had moved.  I decided to head on to the reserve.  Mediterranean Gulls called as they passed overhead.

 

A quick check in the Meon Shore Hide did not produce much, so I walked down to the Spurgin Hide, where a male Marsh Harrier passed by on several occasions.

But aside from a Coot feeding her family of four chicks, there was little else going on, so I decided to head out, but stopped at the Pumfrett Hide in the hope there could be something about.

There was no sign of the Little Terns and Bar-tailed Godwits that had flown in the direction of the reserve earlier.  There were plenty of Avocets paired up and this one sitting on the cause way.

When all else fails there is always the Sanderlings, and seeing them this morning on the beach in various stages of summer plumage I was interested to see if they were on the roost behind the sailing club.

Walking along the sea wall, I could see a small group so I walked carefully along the beach and edged closer.  I wanted to see if I could get some different shots this time, so please bear with me as I think I have managed to get some.

They were clearly unconcerned with my presence.

Catching one behind the pebbles.

Here a chance to appreciate the reddish brown colouring coming through.

Standing on one leg.

With a bit of beach litter.

More of the plumage.

Everyone likes a good scratch, it looks as if the Sanderling is smiling as it scratches.

Tucked down behind the ridge of pebbles.

Bath time!

Some more blurred foregrounds.

Three quarters of the summer plumage.

Finally some flew off.

As I made my way back to the car, I heard a Lesser Whitethroat singing from the bramble by the viewpoint.  I managed to get a glimpse as it flew across in front of me.  From the bridge I could also see the Marsh Harrier pair above the river up the valley.