We stayed at Copalinga lodge , haven for birdwatchers. Doug did some serious birding and we all enjoyed the Tanagers on the banana feeders, the Hummingbirds on the Verbena and Hummingbird feeders, and the tropical landscape. Look on the bird page in the near future for bird photos. Here are a few highlights of our time at Copalinga and Podocarpus:
- We saw many moths and butterflies. Now, the moths were a little disconcerting when they fell from the overhead lamp during dinner, or zoomed by our face, or got caught in the bathroom sink. But they were super cool: a wide variety of colors and sizes, from smaller than a fingernail to as wide as an adult hand. The butterflies were beautiful and diverse.
- Flowers and Orchids. Copalinga has an Orchid garden and we enjoyed seeing many flowering plants in the park.
- Bats. They like the same banana feeders that the Tanangers enjoy during the day.... we saw them zooming by as they took a flying bite.
- Rain! Boy did it rain. The hydro-power system the lodge uses had to be shut down one day so it wouldn't get ruined from the silt that builds up in heavy rains. The kids and Elena enjoyed hanging out in the hammocks while the rain poured down. Doug was out in the downpour looking for birds.
- Waterfalls. And playing at the base of the waterfall. Also seeing the change in water volume after the rain... no more tranquil pools to splash in.
- Warmth and humidity. A nice switch from cool and drier Cuenca.
- Colibri. Hummingbirds. They are just SO cool to watch, and especially when they are zooming around by the breakfast buffet, close enough to watch with the bare eye and holding still for a few minutes.
- Meeting other travelers. At the lodge we met three German dentists on break from some volunteer work, a French couple working on the light rail project in Cuenca, Ecuadorans, Spaniards, and a young American couple that we keep running into in Cuenca. Oh, and the owners of the lodge are Belgian. It is exciting to be in a place where people are talking in three or four languages about the natural wonders around them.
- Surprises. Lucia and Gabe spotted an eel like creature in the water.... ongoing investigation to figure out what it was.
- Tropical sounds including the very loud hum of the Bombuscaro river, tree frogs, cicadas and horses. And rain on a tin roof.
- Landslides. Lots of them, small and large. It looks like road repair is a constant activity in the Zamora area!
- A bee tree... abuzz with bees humming in and out.
- And last but not least, it appears that the entry area to Podocarpus Park has some connection with Narnia- check out the lamp posts in the picture.