Hey,

Change of plans. I was out collecting bird data at 5am for two days but soon realised that it would not work out. The guy who came to help me learn the bird sounds hardly spoke english and only seemed to be able to identify a small number of species. I had a big lump in my stomach because the organisation around the entire project was very poor and because I was only able to identify 3-4 species. I spoke to one of the people in charge at the camp and he was very positive when I said I wanted to change my dissertation topic. I'd heard of loads of people who drastically changed their project and I never thought I was going to be of them- now I'm doing dung beetles.

It's an interesting project where I look at the potential preference of microhabitat around the Base Camp. It's hard work- I walk a transect every day collecting the beetles we've trapped and refilling them with horse dung. It takes about three hours to do a transect so it's a good workout and it feels like I'm finally on top of things. Changing my project meens that I will stay at the Base Camp for the rest of my time here.

It's nice here. We have all the computers at this camp which meens that I'll be able to write more often and sometimes we might even have film nights. Last night we watched the Truman Show. When it rains we are protected enough not to go to bed soaking wet which is very much appretiated. The weather is temperamental and usually it's quite warm and sunny in the morning and afternoon whilst the evenings and night are dominated by heavy rain. About 15 min before it starts raining everything becomes darker and big clouds pour down into the camp over the trees like thick smoke and you can hear how the rain is pouring down not far away. The food is better than I expected although it's mostly the same thing- rice and kidney beans or spagetti and everything is served with corn tortillas that taste of nothing. Breakfast is the best meal- they have peanut butter(!!) and both oats and corn flakes to choose from. What I miss most is fresh fruit and vegetables and fresh milk (we get milk but it's powder milk). Also I miss being able to speak to people! It's amazing how I've underestimated the freedom of picking up a phone a call home. It gets loanly and most of the people I've got to know here are leaving in two days either going to other camps or going home.

For the week I'm travelling on my own I think I'll go to La Ceiba, which is a city on the north coast, and relax. I've had enough of adventures and by the time I'm done here I'll need a holiday. Many might think that I'll get back all tanned and skinny.. try pale and bitten all over. The forest is not the most glamurous place to be. However the forest is beautiful and it's wonderful to see the diversity and the combination of seasons all in one. The trees are several times bigger than at home and on a mountain slope the structure of the forest can change from leaf bearing trees to conifers in a few steps. The forest floor is always covered in fallen degrading leaves while the trees are green. In some places there are wines haning down from the trees thich enough to be small trees and strong enough to play Tarzan with. I've seen a few humming birds and a small green Tucan which was quite cool. They have a fair share of reptiles as well and I was able to hold a green coral snake that they caught at the edge of the camp as well as a tree frog that found it's way in to where we were eating.

Think I've talked for too long now. Miss you all loads and can't wait to get home.

Love xxx

Cecilia