Up at 5.30, breakfast at 6 - lovely fresh fruit,yogurt, scrambled egg and toast enough to set us up for a days hike and birdwatching. We went on the waterfall trail with the couple from Taiwan and a an excellent guide ( he spoke very little English which was unnoticeable as he knew all the birds names in English!). The other English couple -Chris and Sal, who were from Greenwich and escaping the Olympics having unsuccessfully tried to get tickets and feeling constrained by the travel and parking restrictions around their house- set off for a DIY walk around the wetlands.
The find of the day was not a bird but a Sloth - the guide spotted it in a secopia tree; we then watched it move quite quickly to another tree where it stayed and was in the selfsame position when we returned down the route at approximately 3pm after having our packed lunch by the waterfall!
( see 30/7/12 for a full list of the all the many birds I can remember seeing!)
When we returned we had a cup of coffee ( no tea - John after initial withdrawal symptoms got used to his new reality!)and watched the hummingbirds on the feeders - but sadly no marmosets eating the bananas put out for them. We were asked if we wanted to go on the night drive to see the rare great snipe which was close by - we said yes as they limit the trips and they would be unlikely to repeat it while we were there. Tramping through the fields at dusk and then during the dark gave a whole different perspective and yes we heard and then saw the great snipe - excellent.
We returned for dinner - the food was brilliant and we had a lovely home cooked meal which catered well for vegetarians and meat eaters - after a busy day there was no time for jet lag but another early night beckoned. I had forgotten how testing a slow birdwatching walk and standing looking is on the legs - I am used to brisk walks and no standing still - indeed the different muscles I used were a tad stiff and sore - but they were helped by a hot shower and plenty of stretching!