Back onto the bus and heading South to Uvita. This should be a much less developed coastal area and just becoming popular with the surfers. The beaches are protected so there won't be sunbeds or the usual beachfront paraphernalia. Here be whales!
Well, not quite here, but be patient because I hope we will shortly walk along the whale. Meanwhile Uvita beach looking North. Not too busy today. From about the same place I photographed the beach looking South, here we are looking towards the Marino Ballena National Park.
This huge and surprisingly quiet beach is perfect for anyone who is wanting to learn how to surf.
After all that exertion in the surf Helen is ready for a sit down in the little house that we have rented.
Or, better still a lie down on the terrace.
One of our neighbours from the jungle that is about ten yards away from our front door. This is the Scarlet Rumped Tanager.
Spotted in the forest is the Lineated woodpecker.
Not a very good picture I'm afraid, but this is the Great Kiskadee which has a brilliant yellow breast which is revealed in flight. For you taxonomists it is the only member of the genus Pitangus.
You remember that I mentioned whales at the start this blog. There's two reasons why. Firstly the Ballena Marine Nature Reserve was created to protect the whales. Although Blue and Wright whales are seen here, it is the Humpback that is the star. In July through to November, humpback whales arrive from Antarctica to calve in the warm water of Ballena. December sees the humpbacks from California and Canada swim south for calving until April. Also commonly seen marine animals are Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, Common and Bottlenose dolphins. We had planned a whale watching trip but the price tag of $140 rather put us off. We have had good whale watching both off New Zealand and New England in the past so we decided on whale walking instead. Puzzled, well have a look at the picture below.
This is the famous whale's tail that extends from Uvita beach. It is only walkable an hour or so either side of low tide. The whale's back is a sand bar and the tail or fluke is formed by rocks and sand. We walked along the beach towards the whale and encountered these spoors. There was no human accompaniment and without Cameron Roy to help, I used Google lens to identify that is was a raccoon.
Meanwhile overhead the peloton of Brown pelicans was pedalling past.
Here's a shot of Helen on the back. This was full low tide about 10.15am. The sun was relentless and the sand already too hot to walk on without shoes. This picture needs a little explanation. Helen has her back to the tail so the camera is looking down the whale's back, on the horizon to her left is the north pointing end of the fluke.
Having completed our whale walk we returned along the beachside trees for a little shade. Only when we passed the sign did we realise that we might not have been alone.
Moreover there was company overhead, as Helen spotted. This is, of course a Howler monkey. If you are wondering what the white monkey nuts are, then I can tell you that mature male Howlers have white testicles.
The day had one last surprise up a tree before we left to catch our bus. A three toed sloth.
So just a four hour bus ride to San Jose, a taxi to the airport and a 1.00am flight to Mexico City arriving after 4.00am. I better just finish with a final sunset from Uvita.
Well, not quite here, but be patient because I hope we will shortly walk along the whale. Meanwhile Uvita beach looking North. Not too busy today. From about the same place I photographed the beach looking South, here we are looking towards the Marino Ballena National Park.
After all that exertion in the surf Helen is ready for a sit down in the little house that we have rented.
Or, better still a lie down on the terrace.
One of our neighbours from the jungle that is about ten yards away from our front door. This is the Scarlet Rumped Tanager.
Spotted in the forest is the Lineated woodpecker.
Not a very good picture I'm afraid, but this is the Great Kiskadee which has a brilliant yellow breast which is revealed in flight. For you taxonomists it is the only member of the genus Pitangus.
You remember that I mentioned whales at the start this blog. There's two reasons why. Firstly the Ballena Marine Nature Reserve was created to protect the whales. Although Blue and Wright whales are seen here, it is the Humpback that is the star. In July through to November, humpback whales arrive from Antarctica to calve in the warm water of Ballena. December sees the humpbacks from California and Canada swim south for calving until April. Also commonly seen marine animals are Olive Ridley and Hawksbill turtles, Common and Bottlenose dolphins. We had planned a whale watching trip but the price tag of $140 rather put us off. We have had good whale watching both off New Zealand and New England in the past so we decided on whale walking instead. Puzzled, well have a look at the picture below.
This is the famous whale's tail that extends from Uvita beach. It is only walkable an hour or so either side of low tide. The whale's back is a sand bar and the tail or fluke is formed by rocks and sand. We walked along the beach towards the whale and encountered these spoors. There was no human accompaniment and without Cameron Roy to help, I used Google lens to identify that is was a raccoon.
Meanwhile overhead the peloton of Brown pelicans was pedalling past.
Here's a shot of Helen on the back. This was full low tide about 10.15am. The sun was relentless and the sand already too hot to walk on without shoes. This picture needs a little explanation. Helen has her back to the tail so the camera is looking down the whale's back, on the horizon to her left is the north pointing end of the fluke.
Having completed our whale walk we returned along the beachside trees for a little shade. Only when we passed the sign did we realise that we might not have been alone.
Moreover there was company overhead, as Helen spotted. This is, of course a Howler monkey. If you are wondering what the white monkey nuts are, then I can tell you that mature male Howlers have white testicles.
The day had one last surprise up a tree before we left to catch our bus. A three toed sloth.
So just a four hour bus ride to San Jose, a taxi to the airport and a 1.00am flight to Mexico City arriving after 4.00am. I better just finish with a final sunset from Uvita.
This is just to let you know that I am reading your blog and enjoying all, photo's are brilliant. x
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