Day 23 The Estero at Camaronal

Signpost at Playa Camaronal

Wendy and Tom, checking out the surf

This morning, while Tom and Wendy surfed the world renowned break at Playa Camaronal, I went exploring in the Rio Oro. Exploring an estero by foot at daybreak is a wonderful thing. Everything is waking up and golden. Little blue herons and sandpipers patrolled the shallows and the fish slapped the water leaping for a breakfast bug. Little crabs popped into their burrows as I approached.

I followed a narrow fishing trail that wound through the trees following the curving river. Just as I was about to turn back, I saw a bit of pink on the river ahead: a roseate spoonbill, one of my favorite birds in Costa Rica! They are very shy so I snuck up on it as best I could while getting mired in the mud of the river bank. I got a few pictures from far off before it spotted me and flew off.

As I turned around to head back, I saw movement on the opposite shore which I recognized as an otter. Later access to a field guide identified it as a neotropical river otter which is endangered in Costa Rica and rarely seen. A lucky and appreciated sighting!
I returned to the beach and spotted two pairs of footprints in the sand which were the only ones there besides mine. Tom and Wendy had come to find me, turned back and surfed a second set. I rejoined them for a refreshing swim in the waves before heading back home for breakfast. It was only 8:00am.

Tom, post surf