We were up at 0445 having a cup of coffee in the room and were down at reception all booted and suited for the very cool (but dry) mountain air by 0520am for the Quetzal quest. We set off as planned at 0530 and headed in the bus up the valley to a local farm where an enterprising farmer lets bird watchers onto his land to watch the quetzals for $5 each ( payable only if you see them - which is fair). We walked up to a wild avocado tree with lots of small green fruits which is what the Quetzals feed on and waited - it was 'parky'! A very noisy green violet eared hummingbird making a very loud 'chiff chaff' call was dominating the airwaves. Within the first half an hour we saw a quetzal fly in and out like a torpedo - you saw a flash of red underbelly and green back but that was all - but it did keep the spirits up. The farmer then appeared and took us to a tree further up the mountain side ---the climb was a tad steep but we all made it huffing and puffing......and there we watched a female quetzal with her back to us for 40 or so minutes - she did turn around slightly and look at us .....but no male in sight. After about 20 minutes she did go to an adjacent avocado tree which allowed us to see her red front - albeit the light wasn't good for photographs we had some enjoyable watching - she then flew into a tree further away which seemed to set a male into action one, he clearly wanted to be alone flew off and eventually came fleetingly into the avocado tree she had been feeding in before flying off quite quickly. We guessed he may be going to the first tree we were watching so headed down the slope again ---on our return Juan Carlos searched and found a beautiful male sitting under the canopy but in sunlight. I took lots of photos but not many good ones as for some reason the birds seem to pull their heads and necks right down.....so on a lot he looked headless! At about 8.15 we finally left feeling our early morning start had been worthwhile. On the way back we paid the farmers wife the $5 each - well worth it - and hopefully it will help support the family who lived in a simple Costa Rican home. On the way back to the bus we crossed a river and spotted a torrent tyranulet - a minute grey and white bird and quite a contrast to the male resplendent quetzal with his long tail plumes (specially grown to attract females).
On our return we went straight into breakfast and just after 9 we met again to go for a walk with Juan Carlos around the grounds and on a nice easy path to a waterfall - not large but the river at this point was quite rocky so it was picturesque. En route there and back we saw lots of birds including a humming bird sitting on two tiny eggs, the size of tic tacs (we saw them on our return as she was off her nest!) the highlight was seeing a male and female quetzal - the views were even better than we had earlier in the day. Even though the male had his back to us our guide an intrepid bird watcher and photographer ventured into the river and took excellent pictures with his own and then our cameras of the front of the bird!
On our return it was nearly lunch time - we were back just in time as the pm showers started and continued throughout the afternoon. Before lunch I went to the spa to see if they could fit me in for a facial - yes - but at 1pm so I had quick lunch and then went down for my facial, a sauna and jacuzzi. When I had finished I returned to find John mid packing so I retreated to the bar area to use the wifi; he joined me when he had finished for a cup of hot chocolate - latter we sat by the fire and went through my days photos - of the 235 I had taken I reduced them to 100.
We all went to dinner at 7pm - albeit not a great vegetarian spread the mixture of hot vegetables, soup and salads was sufficient particularly as they had a range of deserts which need sampling - the pears in wine and bananas in sauce were particularly nice - particularly with vanilla ice cream!
The other birds seen today included:- black vulture, blue and white swallows, magnificent hummingbirds, white throated mountain gem hummingbird, scintillant hummingbird, acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, grey breasted wren, sooty thrush, American dipper, red collared redstart, black cheeked warbler, white knaped bush finch, rufous collared sparrow, melodious blackbird, yellow bellied siskin and several tanagers of various hues!