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Transition Dry to Rain Forest

The region between Puntarenas and Jacó beach on the central Pacific of Costa Rica has more diversity of plants, trees and animals than nearly any other region because of its unique transition zone  geography.  Along the coast to the north the tropical dry forests dominate in Guanacaste and on the Nicoya Peninsula and to the south the true rain forests take over as the typical climate gets wetter the further you travel.

Carara national park in the center of the zone has the best of both worlds and there’s a good chance you can find and photograph nearly any species from the northern or southern ecozones without the heading four hours one direction or the other.  Below are photos of a few of the species we spotted and you can see more on the Carara photos page.

 

Female black-headed trogon (Trogon melanocephalus)
Female black-headed trogon (Trogon melanocephalus) in the hills above the Tarcoles river. There were three or four males calling from the surrounding trees but they all moved down the hill so we never found out who won the mating competition.
Crested owl (Lophostrix cristata)
Crested owl (Lophostrix cristata). This is the dark morph, there is also a pale version in Costa Rica. Taken by the light of a flashlight on a night hike on a back road along the southern edge of Carara national park (the park is not open to visitors at night)
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) along the banks of the Tarcoles river on the western boundary of Carara national park Costa Rica
Macaw eating palm fruit
We watched for half an hour as a pair of scarlet macaws (Ara macao) taught their youngster to feed on palm fruits.
Scarlet macaw diving
Scarlet macaw diving from a perch in the mangroves nearl Playa Guacalillo and Bajamar. The mangrove estuaries are not protected by the national park but the famous macaws come here to roost every night after foraging in Carara all day.
Northern ghost bats (Diclidurus albus)
Northern ghost bats (Diclidurus albus) are solitary, rare and notoriously difficult to find. They prefer humid habitats like the areas around the lake and river in Carara national park wich is remarkable for its diversity because of its location in the transition zone between the southern rain forests and northern dry forests of Costa Rica. This female ghost bat was roosting about fifty feet up in a palm (long telephoto lens) and sheltering a tiny infant under her wings.
Huge trees like this strangler fig are only found in old growth protected forests like Carara national park
Huge trees like this strangler fig are only found in old growth protected forests.
flycatcher
flycatcher
Blue spotted butterfly
Blue spotted white stripe butterfly
Capuchin monkey silhouette
Capuchin monkey silhouette, Carara national park Costa Rica
Bijagual waterfall
Bijagual waterfall – The forest immediately alongside the Rio Tarcolitos is not technically in Carara national park but it is nearly as well preserved.
Black Ctenosaur
Black Ctenosaur or Garrobo (Ctenosaura similis) The juveniles are similar to green iguanas (Iguana iguana) but the spines on the tail are a dead giveaway. Much more common in the dry forests of Guanacaste farther north but this one was in the trees above Carara national park on the central Pacific
Monkey climbing
Monkey climbing
forest and flowers
Forest and flowers
Black and white owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata)
Black and white owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata)
Aracari
Aracari
Pale billed woodpeckers
Pale billed woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) on a trunk in the transition dry forest of the Central Pacific Costa Rica. Distinguished from the very similar looking Lineated woodpecker by the red continuing down his neck versus only above the eye and under the chin
Pale billed woodpecker
Pale billed woodpecker
Pastures
Pastures with mist in the trees
Praying mantis
Praying mantis
The Splitleaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) or Swiss cheese plant is a common epiphyte that can be found on trunks up to 50 feet off the ground. Seedlings start on the ground and grow towards darkness (most plants seek light) seeking a trunk to latch onto and climb up to the light. All parts of the plant contain potassium oxalate which is poisonous to humans
The Splitleaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) or Swiss cheese plant is a common epiphyte that can be found on trunks up to 50 feet off the ground. Seedlings start on the ground and grow towards darkness (most plants seek light) seeking a trunk to latch onto and climb up to the light. All parts of the plant contain potassium oxalate which is poisonous to humans but if the fruits (shown here) are picked and stored in a cool dry place until the outer rough layer dries and drops off. The inner flesh is edible and tastes a bit like a sweet version of jackfruit.
Tarantula
Tarantula found hiding in the space between banana leaves and the main stalk
The Río Tarcoles
The Río Tarcoles under morning mist as it exits Carara National Park
Crocodile bridge over the Tarcoles river Costa Rica
The famous crocodile (lower left in photo) bridge over the Río Tarcoles in Costa Rica. On the Costanera (Hwy 34) 10 km (6 miles) south of the intersection of Hwy 34 and Hwy 37 (the Caldera or the “new” highway) you can park on the north end near a couple of small sodas and souvenir stands

 

Ray & Sue

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Wildlife Refuges & Reserves
  • Karen Mogensen Nature Reserve
  • Portalón Estero Rey National Wildlife Refuge
  • Hacienda Barú National Wildlife Refuge Photos
  • Rainmaker Biological Reserve Photos
  • Hills of Portalón Wildlife Refuge
  • Bahía Junquillal National Wildlife Refuge Photos
  • Playa Hermosa-Punta Mala National Wildlife Refuge Photos
  • Transition Dry to Rain Forest
  • Caño Negro Photos
  • Gandoca Manzanillo Photos



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