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Crocodiles: These are
American Crocodiles, not Alligators. They will grow to over 20 feet, and
can live for more than 60 years. The Tarcoles River provides the perfect
habitat for these huge reptiles. Crocodiles have long snouts, extremely
sharp teeth and powerful bodies. They eat fish, horses, cattle, birds, and
anything else they can find!
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Anhinga: This bird actually swims underwater to catch its prey.
They spear small fish, instead of grasping them. Unlike cormorants,
they have long, sharp pointed beaks and longer necks. They have a noticeable"kink"
in their necks--a result of their lightning fast, thrusting action to
spear their prey with their beaks. They inhabit water surrounded by
trees and bushes so they can perch to stretch and dry their feathers.
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This tiger-face crab lives in the mangroves and burrows into the thick
mud trapped between the mangrove roots. This video shows our guide explaining
them to our guests.
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"Thank you very much for the wonderful experience! It is one we'll
never forget."
C.& J.
Maze, USA
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Great
Kiskadee:
Named because of their call, which sounds like "kiss-ka-dee,"
this bird is a member of the flycatcher family. It is boisterous
and catches large insects, small lizards, frogs, snakes. It will
even plunge into shallow water to catch small fish. It robs the
nests of smaller birds and can also overwhelm larger predatory
birds en masse.
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 Green
Iguana: "The
chicken of the trees!" can grow up to 6.5 feet and is hunted
by locals for food. As herbivores, Green Iguanas process and metabolize
their food extremely efficiently. |
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 Black
Iguana or Ctenosaurs: These
iguanas are herbivores and also eat insects. Their meat is not as
tasty. They are found in drier areas and are territorial. They will
bob their head up and down when threatened. |
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 Boat-Billed
Heron: Roosting
in the trees that overhang the water in daytime, these herons are easily
identified because of their thick bill. They are solitary feeders, preferring
to forage at night by sight and touch. Most other herons feed during
the day. Their larger bill may help them to forage for food in low light
levels. They usually lay 2 eggs which are very pale blue with rust colored
speckles.
 Crocodiles:
This baby croc
was sunning itself on a log jutting up from the river bottom. Young
crocodiles often feed on small aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates.
Baby crocs are often prey to water birds: such as egrets, storks, herons
and anhingas. Juveniles give alarm cries when threatened, summoning
their parents to the rescue.
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Roseate Spoonbill:
Gregarious by nature, they feed, roost and nest in groups. Not only is
their color striking, their bill is shaped like a spatula at the end.
Wading near the shore, they wag their head back and forth, using their
bills to sift crustaceans, fish and insects from the mud.
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"An excellent tour! Meal was super also. We saw many great birds,
etc. Guide was excellent - very well-informed and pleasant. Will recommend
this trip to others!"
The Taskers,
Canada
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 Basilisk
or "Jesus Christ Lizards": So-called
because they run across the water on their hind legs, these lizards
are truly amazing! They are omnivorous and can climb trees. The juveniles
typically escape predators by running across the water. Adults prefer
to dive to the river bottom to change directions and escape the other
way. The adults are powerful swimmers and can hold their breath for
several minutes.
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"I expected a nice trip -- got a great trip! The guide was excellent,
as well as the meal. I loved all of it!"
N. Tiefel,
USA
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Tricolored
Heron: This heron
is unusual because it prefers solitude, unlike its gregarious cousins.
It feeds by laying in wait or by stalking its prey which consist of
small fish.
Black-bellied
Whistling Ducks: Of
the three types of whistling ducks, this duck actually roosts in
the trees. It forages at night usually walking in shallow water
looking for mollusks, insects and seeds.