AmpsRepsCR

SCOUTING TRIP REPORT ON

Amphibians and Reptiles

Weather: Mostly overcast to partly cloudy with intermittent evening showers, sometimes extending into the early morning hours.

Winds NE 0- 10 mph; Temp. 70F to 85F; Relative Humidity 80- 90%

Time: 0600 - 2300 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez, Didier Castro, Adolpho Gonzalez and I; occasionally other lodge guests.

Material and Methods: We conducted visual and auditory, walking surveys, primarily in the morning and evenings, using bincoculars (8 x 40; 10 x 42) and two hand-held DSLR cameras fitted with telephoto lenses (Nikon D3X with a Nikkor f 5.6 80-400 mm VR lens and a Nikkor Fisheye lens; Nikon D 3100 with a Nikkor f 2.8 19-200 mm IF VR lens). We also used a Kodak pocket-size, auto-focus digital camera with a flash, which in some cases out-performed the Nikon D 3100 and 19-200mm lens for close-up photography. Battery-powered (AAA) headlamps were used for night surveys. Observations were recorded in a field notebook. Vocalizations of birds and frogs were often recognized and correctly identified by our guides Didier Castro and Adolpho Gonzalez. High-top rubber boots, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and insect repellent were used due to the widespread occurrence of biting arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes and chiggers) and poisoness snakes. All animals were either photographed in situ (arthropods and birds) or captured, positioned nearby for photographs and immediately released unharmed (amphibians and reptiles). Photos were uploaded, edited and stored on an 8 GB Sandisk thumb-drive, using a HP laptop computer.

Areas Covered: 1) Laguna Del Lagarto (LDL): We walked the well-marked trails through a 100 ha rainforest, including primary and secondary growth. Many openings and large tree-falls in the forest had resulted from a tornado (highly unusual in this region) touching ground briefly here last year. These highly productive, sunlit patches, attracted many insects and other animals. Several low-lying depressions held rainwater in more or less permanent lagoons or swamps. These are the favored haunts of such specialities as Agami Heron (Agamia agami), Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) and the famous "Jesus Christ" Lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons ). Outside of the forest are clearings (e.g. LDL lodge, Santa Rita), large tracts of pasture land with isolated tall trees ( i.e. tropical savanna) with small herds of emaciated cattle, heart-of-palm and box-lumber "reforestation" monocultures. The lodge grounds, about 1.5 ha, is set on a hill overlooking one of the largest forest-lined lagoons in the region. This area has been cleared and replanted with an assortment of native and non-native flowering shrubs, together with a regularly mowed ground cover of Bermuda grass. A few tall, native forest trees dot the lodge landscape (fortunately none of these was uprooted by the recent tornado and almost no damage was done to LDL buildings). Trees and branch arrangements are used near the elevated and covered dining area for bannana-bait stations to attract fruit-loving birds such as Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis), Brown-hooded Parrot (Pionopsitta haematotis), Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii), Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani) and Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma). Tall fruiting trees on the lodge grounds attracted Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata), Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua), Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and many other frugivorous animals. We spent at least 2 hours daily observing and photographing animals at close range around the lodge. The entire LDL property (500 hectares) consists of rolling hills and swampy depressions (the deeper, permanent ones with caiman and turtles and fish (e.g. a rare native Gar) are called "lagoons"), at an elevation of about 100 -120 meters above sea level.

2) Santa Rita (SRG). We observed and photographed birds in Adolpho's garden, just off the main road through the village of Santa Rita. Fresh bananas were placed in half sections of giant bamboo, positioned in the center of the garden. Many flowering shrubs (Bougainvilla, Hibiscus, Heliconia) in the garden and one hummingbird feeder attracted insects (mostly Hymenoptera) and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds (Amazilia tzacatl). Two visits to the garden were made, each for about one hour: April 2 (1600-1700 hrs.) and April 6 (1030-1200 hrs.).

3) Santa Rita Lagoon (SRL): Adolpho led us on an expedition around the northern margin of Santa Rita Lagoon, through secondary rainforest, swamp forest and the vegetation-choked lagoon. We walked slowly and quietly on a muddy trail, stopping frequently to view the marsh from different angles. Our survey included the open marsh on either side of the roadway, where we made several brief visits in transit between LDL and Boca Tapada during the time of our stay at LDL. Traffic on the roadway between LDL and Santa Rita was minimal; an hour or more passing without a single vehicle.

4) Boca Tapada (BT): We made two visits to the outskirts of Boca Tapada (April 1: 1600-1630 hrs; April 6: 0930-1000 hrs.). We surveyed the roadside fence lines overgrown with flowering shrubs, adjacent pastures with scattered trees (i.e. savanna) and ploughed taro fields. The second visit on April 6 was specifically for refinding the Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala), which I had seen on April 1; the bird was not found this time. Some local foot traffic occurred along the roadway during both of our visits, in addition to one or two other vehicles.

5) San Carlos River (SCR): We traveled by covered motorboat between Boca Tapada and Boca San Carlos (at the Costa Rica - Nicaragua border) on April 7 (0830-1230 hrs.). The northward current was estimated at 3-5 mph; water level relatively low ( rising as high as 30 feet during the rainy season), with exposed, muddy, snag-ridden banks. Tall riverine forest occurred only along the banks; pasture land and savanna covered the adjacent hills. A few small villages and docks were seen along the way, including an abandoned elementary school that reportedly closed after graduating its only student last year. The captain of the boat, together with Didier, our guide from LDL, readily spotted birds and other animals and manuevered the boat for photos. Despite the swift current, they managed to get us close enough for some really fine photo opportunities. We stopped for lunch at the border town of Boca San Carlos (BSC), where a group of Costa Rican police graciously welcomed us and allowed us to take their photograph. Subsequently we strolled along the main trail through town, photographing butterflies, people and scenery. The nearby intersection of the San Juan river marks the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua; several Nicaraguan police were posted on the opposite shore. The return voyage upriver produced several more species for our day-list, including two Tropical Sliders (Chrysemmys ornata) and two groups of Long-nosed Bats (Rynchonycterus naso) on partially exposed branches in shallow water on the east bank. The cost of this excursion was $25 per person.

Amphibians and Reptiles noted ( Reference: Savage, J. 2002. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. Univ. Chicago Press. 954 pp.)

Gaudy Leaf Frog ( Agalychnis callidryas) 1 in low vegetation at edge of lagoon, LDL; one captive in LDL screened plant enclosure (photo).

Smilisca sp. 1 edge of lagoon, LDL.

Dink Frog ( Eleutherodactylus sp.) 1 calling after dark next to forest trail, LDL.

Green and Brown Litter Frog (Eleutherodactylus sp.) 1 active in leaf litter, swamp forest, SRL (photo).

Blue-jeans Dart Frog (Dendrobates pumilio) 10-20 diurnal, active on and near trails throughout, LDL; SRL (photos)..

Black and Green Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus) 6 - 8 diurnal, active, pairs together on forest floor throughout LDL, though less commonly found than D. pumilio (photo).

Cane Toad ( Bufo marinus) 4 chiefly nocturnal around edges of the lagoons; also in gardens, LDL (photo).

Tropical Slider (Chrysemys ornata) 2 sunning on exposed snags, east bank of SCR (photo).

Black Turtle ( Rhinoclemmys funerea ) 2 a pair at edge of lagoon, SRL (photo).

American Crocodile (Crocodilus acutus) 3 ad, juv; adult entered water as we approached; west and east banks of SCR; (photos).

Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) 6 ad, juv common in lagoons at LDL; fed fish at night by LDL staff (photo).

Hog-nosed Viper ( Porthidium sp.) imm. coiled up on forest trail, LDL (photo).

Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis supercilliaris) 1 nocturnal, crawling slowly across forest trail, LDL (photo).

Ground Anole (Norops humilis) 2 low branches at edge of secondary forest, LDL (photo).

Emerald Basilisk "Jesus Christ Lizard" (Basiliscus plumifrons) 10 on shore (ad male) and amongst sticks and water lilies (f; imm), LDL; young individuals running on water (photo).

Common Basilisk ( Basiliscus vittatus ) 2 on land near edge of lagoon; not seen in or on the water, LDL (photo).

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) 5 ad m;f Adult females on sandy shores with burrows; grassy embankments, SCR; adult male coming to banana feeder at LDL (photo).

Black Ctenosaur (Ctenosaura similis) 1 ad female climbing to nest cavity in tall tree in marsh, SRL (photo)

House Gecko (Hemidactylus sp.) 4 active on exterior and interior walls of buildings at night.

Four-lined Ameiva (Ameiva quadrilineata) 1 running quickly through garden outside of our room, LDL.

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