La Ensenada has mapped nature walks covering most of the property, since the area is rich in wildlife, especially birds.  Most mornings and some evenings nature walks were offered to our group, and I took advantage of most of them since I observe birds and animals at home.

Feburary 5, 2008 - Tuesday - I start our first full day at La Ensenada Lodge by taking an early morning walking tour to the local pond.  Along the way we see the Brahma bulls that are raised at La Ensenda ranch, as well as: Screech Owls (in the tree behind the kitchen), Red-lored Parrots, Violaceous Trogans, Clay-coloured Robins (the national bird), Rufous Motmots, Great-tailed Gracles (following the horses in the pasture), several termite nests (in the trees), and a big Spiny-tailed Iguana in the bush.  We see lots of wildlife at the pond: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, crocodiles, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and lots of small wading birds such as Sandpipers.

February 6, 2008 - Wednesday - I took another early morning walking tour through the pastures.  Along the way we see a Lineated Woodpecker on a dead tree, a pair of Snowy Egrets in a tree, and lots of warblers and/or flycatchers (yellow birds, that are hard to differentiate), and Rufus Motmots, and some Clay-colored Robins (the national bird of Costa Rica).  We heard parrots this morning, but I didn't get any photos. The termite nests in this area are over half a meter long, and are typically built in trees with thorns for protection from predators.

February 8, 2008 - Friday - our last full day at La Ensenada "Star" Lodge - Since I went to bed quite early last evening, I go on another early morning walk.  In fact, I got up at 5:30am, so I decided to take some photos of the sunrise just to prove I was up at that hour. Rigel Kentaurus & Hadar are visible in SE. We spotted a Cane Toad right in the Lodge's dining room area as we started on our walk.  These toads are very predatory to native frogs.  We see Motmots, Trogans and parrots this morning.

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