Our Twentyfirst Trip to Costa Rica

Nov 15th to 22nd, 2014

Sorry no pictures at this time, I have a software problem with linking the photos.

Day 1 ~~~ Saturday Nov 15, 2014

My day started early I had a 8am flight out Orlando to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) and I had check in by 6am at Jet Blue. This was my start of Coast Rica Herping Adventures Trip 21. How would this trip go? I of course had a plan how I wanted to go but how it would go is was anybody’s guess. Experience has tough me to roll with the ups and downs, and handle it as it comes. Every day in Costa Rica is an adventure and this trip would be no exception. I got my bag checked and headed for security. Something new at the Orlando Airport, we did have to take our shoes off, which was good the bad part was I was randomly selected for a more detail search. They check my little travel bag which contained my passport and little else. They ran a swab over the zippers and put it in there machine and that was it. I headed for my gate and remembered that I left my Sudoku book in my checked bag and I had another 1 and a half hours before boarding. Time for a little breakfast before going to the gate, a bagel and a cup of coffee plus a banana I brought from home. Once at the gate I found I sat on the window ledge with the sun shining in, it felt so good because it was in the low forties outside and not much different in side. We final boarded and 2 hours and forty minute later we touched down in Costa Rica. A half hour later I was walking out of the Airport and getting into a cab. A 5 to 10 minute ride later I was checking into the Hotel Aeropuerto our meeting up place for all the Herpers on this trip. The 3 Herper joining on this trip came into CR from Los Angles they left at 10:45 pm Friday night and arrived in CR at 6.28am. They had asked me if there was anything interest they could do Saturday and not just sit at the hotel. I recommended to them to come to the hotel first and drop off their baggage then call a cab and have the driver to take you to Grecia to The World of Snakes. They did that and had a great time there; they met some other Herpers from Europe visiting Costa Rica. Around 2 pm I had a knock at my door. I open the door and there stood Bob, Rich and Steve. My Herping buddy for the next week I invited them in and we got acquainted. Bob and Rich want to get their cameras and get a few shots of the hotel and any herps that may be around. Steve had talked to me years ago when I was breeding Snakes and Lizards. Steve called me about Bimini Boas who brought from someone I sold a pair of my offspring to years before. He was checking the background of my breeding pair. So Steve started talking herps for about two hours. About 6 o’clock we all head to the restaurant and had a great meal, we talked some more until it was time to hit the sack.

Day 2 ~~~ Sunday Nov 16, 2014

I was up and out a little after 6am the restaurant was open and grabbed a cup coffee and when to the buffet and filled my plate. The other guys were just a few minutes behind me. Our car was delivered on time at 8:00 am. It took a while for the car inspection and paperwork. But we were on our way by 9. We had a 3 to 4 hour drive ahead of us mostly thought the mountains. We had been driving about an hour when a driver behind me started blowing his horn and singling me to stop. I watch him in the mirror and he seemed concerned so I stop on the road he pulled up behind me and came to my window. Speaking fast in Spanish, I have a little Spanish but not enough for fast and excited. He when to hand signals and I got the meaning. It seemed our back right tire was wiggling, as driver I never felt it nor had the others in the car. He seemed to think we were in danger. Then he wanted one of our guys to ride with him to see the problem. Now I’m trying to figure out if this is a poorly planned kidnapping plat. I’m trying to think of our next move when Rich said he would take a short ride with him to see the problem. I drove ahead and they followed just a short ways then I stopped. Rich got back into the car and said there was a problem. We thanked the guy for the warning and he went on his way. We drove on at a little slower pace, soon we came to a roadside restaurant that had a zip line off into the jungle. It was a perfect place to stop. We took out our luggage and I told everyone keep an eye on the luggage while we worked. We got the jack under the car and were jacking it up when two guys and a girl came up and ask if we need help. We said we could handle it but the next thing you know they had a jack much better then ours. Soon this other guys show up with a bigger and better jack start working. Next the group had the bent wheel off and the spear wheel on the car. We thanks and brought them a beer then we took a group picture with our helpers and we were on our ways. The guys were surprised by the help we got without even asking. I’ve seen this happen many times in my trips to CR, I started in 1973. The Ticos are extremely friendly fun loving happy people. A little later I ask Bob if he would drive the rest of the way. He took over the driving. Soon we were in La Fortuna only 20 minutes more and we would be at the Arenal Lodge for the next six night. Once we turned into the gate the guard came out and recognized me from last trip and lifted the gate. Bob now had the experience of driving up a 3 kilometer cobblestone road with a few hairpin turns to make sure your paying attention. Once we made it to the top we checked in and had lunch. I was unable to get the rooms I usually get but they set us up with two 2 bedroom casita, which work out nice for us. Soon Miguel the hotel guide show up and I introduced Miguel to our Herpers. Miguel had to take a couple horseback riding which would take 2 hours after that he would take us on the jungle trail. The first snake we found was a Speckled Racer dead on the ground. Judging with the marks on his neck my thoughts were that he may have been caught by a bird and dropped when another bird wanted the share the meal, but who knows? We later walked the trail with Miguel and found no snakes but a few lizards and frogs were found. After dinner we walked the same trail at night and found a common Snail-eater, a Banded Coffee Snake, Blunthead Tree Snake and a Rainforest Hognose Pit-viper. After our walk Steve and I drove Miguel to his home in La Fortune. I the way I saw a snake in the road. Steve and Miguel went back to check him out. I figured it would be a cateye snake. I was shocked when they brought the snake into the car. It was a Ungaliophis panamensis ~~~ Bromeliad Boa.

This was only the second one found on 21 trips, this was a great find. We end the first day in the field with 6 snakes, this was respectable.

Day 3 ~~~ Monday Nov 17, 2014

Monday morning we walked down to the restaurant and found a table by the window so we could watch the birds while we ate and talked. I was waiting the waiter to come and take out orders. I ask and she said it was a buffet today. This is the first it happened while I was stay there they had a buffet. I started with a big plate of fruits; next was a plate of eggs with rice and beans. A while after breakfast we decided the walk down the hill directly behind the Lodge. There is a road or path going quite a ways down the mountain. We worked our way down checking the trees and small scrubs along the way. We saw a few Anoles and a couple of frogs but no snakes. We finally made it to the turn a around spot which is a big Rancho. We had a light rain most of the way down but it started raining hard as we got to the Rancho. The Rancho has a deck build off the back extending out over the hill. Rich I believe walk on the deck which wasn’t built yesterday. One leg broke through the wood next thing he’s was now sitting on the deck with one leg swing in the air below. He managed to get himself up and only suffered a few scrapes. I kept myself looking busy looking up at the inside roof of the Rancho which had 100’s of places for snakes to hide. Finally I saw a snake shed. I could get close enough to see any marking or the size it was a bit broken up and had been there a while. Ten minutes later I saw another shed which was fresher but still far away to try to ID. The rain slowed down and we started back up the hill, again with no luck. We all when back to our rooms and sat around until lunch time. After lunch we saw Miguel waving to us to come. He kind of met us half way and said he saw a snake in some bricks. We knew where the bricks were in the yard of the place we were staying in. We had looked there yesterday but had no luck. We poked around a little and saw a nice size Costa Rican Coral Snake.

We managed to get him out for some picture and then we put him back in the bricks. We saw him again the next morning but sometime later in the day he moved on. . Later in the afternoon Bob and Rich walked around in the garden area in back of our Casitas. They found 2 Banded Coffee Snakes and 1 Red Coffee Snake. That we had a plan for the evening, we were going to hunt a line of trees. Last November we hunted these trees and found 5 Eyelash Vipers in these trees. I came back in May and hunted them and got skunk. So, tonight we are going to give it a try. We ate early around 5 or 5:30 just getting dark. By the time we reached the tree it was good and dark hopefully the snake had come out of their hiding place to a place we could see them. About 10 to 15 minutes we found our first Eyelash Viper.

We had worked the line of trees with only five tree left but in those trees we did find another Eyelash Viper. After the tree we were in some grass about two feet tall when Rich spotted a Fer de Lance.

But in this type of grass it was hard to keep track of him. Everyone was pulling their snake hook thought the grass finally someone put their hook on or near him and he moved and headed for a small shrub with grass grow up over it. We now had him surrounded it took a while but we got him. Rich had some grabbers which came in very handy with this guy. We all took some pictures and let him by on his way. We were now going to a place in the Primary Forest that had a trail thought it. It was to move cattle thought it. The last time I was here six very big bulls came face to face with our group. It was a very tense situation Miguel started yelling at them in Spanish and finally one of them ran by us and then another, and another until the last one he was the boss and he want us to ran. We started to make a wide path around him. And when the last of out group got by him I began to breathe again. I was hoping there would be no bulls tonight. We started going up the trail and before we spotted a Blunthead Tree Snake, next was a Sibon (snail-eater) then another Blunthead and another Sibon and another Sibon. But in between the snake we found Red/Gold toad sitting under a limb about 7 inches in dynamiter, the first thing that came to my mind was the Extinct Golden Toad of Costa Rica.

We came to the end of the forest and were in grass country again. We were plowing our way though Miguel was in the lead he had his machete and was clearing the tuff areas. Bob yelled Fed de Lance! Bob was a few paces behind Miguel. Miguel either stepped on or over the snake and the snake appeared on top of the grass right in front of Bob. Rich managed to get his grabber on this guy pretty easy, more pictures and a release. This snake was about 2.5+ feet long and stocky but still had a white tail; this surprised me and still does. This snake is well past the baby stage. I have seen quite a few FDL this size but never with a white tails. Well that little deal was real exciting and I’m glad it turned out as it did. We continued walking in the grass a little more carefully. Soon we came to the cobblestone road leading up to the lodge. On the way back up the hill I believe that it was Steve that spotted our first Golden Eyelash Viper,

the camera came out again this guy was a beauty. A while later we found a Sibon in a tree. It turned out to be a very good day for snakes 14 today, a nice improvement over yesterday 6 snakes. What will tomorrow bring??

Day 4 ~~~ Tuesday Nov 18, 2014

Well, yesterday I was wondering what will tomorrow bring? Today I know Rain and more Rain. Around 10:30am we saw some sun and we quickly put our boots on and headed into the field. The place I wanted to try was Amazonas de Arenal this was a project to build Condo and Homes on the property but the 2008 financial downfall stop this project in it tracks. They managed a Gate House and a paved road and a few fountains. Last trip we hunted here and got 2 Eyelash Viper at night. Well this is a wet day and we are going to give it a try. We turn some debris over along with a few rocks. Nothing! We were now going down a small hill when I heard Snake! And then I heard Fer De Lance! I when on the run when I got there they had the snake pinned. We wanted to move the snake to a nearby clear spot so we give him a little toss with the hook and he landed right where we needed him too. I pinned him on the tail so the others could get their pictures. There was something about this snake that didn’t sit well with me. So I looked him over very carefully, once I look him in the eye I knew it was a false Fer de Lance.

The first one I had ever seen. Without a close look I would make that mistake again. We continued hunting the area and we saw a hornet’s nest about as big around as a basketball and gave it a wide berth. The rain was holding off for the moment but looked like it could go at any minute. We got to lunch before the downpour started up again and we were stuck at the restaurant. Poor us!! We all sat in the restaurant and drank coffee while the rain poured down in buckets full we sat maybe two hours or more. I hated wasting herping time but we had no choice. It lightened up on the rain to a sprinkle and we went to our room to get ready for tonight’s hunt. One of the hotel employees Juan had told Miguel that there were several big Boas in his neighborhood also lots of Fer de Lances. He offered to take us on a hunt for them this night. I was very dubious about I been dragged off to many snake filled place in Costa Rica and have yet to find a winner. But you never know. We drove close to an hour away following Juan and Miguel in Juan’s car. I liked the looks of the road for the ride back in the dark. We stop at a restaurant that Juan recommended, we all seem pleased with the meal. We got back in the cars and 5 minutes we are at our destination. It was a typical neighborhood house on both sides of the street, so we walk into the yard and met our host, they were very gracious and glad we came to rid them of their snakes. Then Juan led us into the back yard and opened and we were in pasture land. But we were walking through mud until we got to some high ground. It didn’t smell too great around here. We came to a fence Miguel stood on the bottom strand and lifted the middle strand. I tried it but I had a backpack on and I wouldn’t fit. So off with the backpack and it was no problem. Finally we made it to the Rain Forest and had to try to step on a bush or rock or anything to keep from sinking into the mud. It was tough going. I slipped and my left boot went in the mud about 8 or 9 inches. I tried hold the boot top and lifting my foot out of the mud. It did not work someone behind grabbed the boot low and pulled me free. I have very thankful for the help. I pulled my hamstring which slowed me down for the night and bothered me for the rest of the trip. We bushwhacked our way up and down hills. But we were not able to look for snakes most of the time because you had to keep yourself up-right. I caught up with Miguel and told him we needed to go to Plan B. Plan A was in the toilet as far as I was concerned. We probably climbed over, crawled under, rolled under barbwire fences no less than 20 times that night. I didn’t like walk thought the cattle and pig slop on the way back but I was glad once we were out of there. And to make matters worse we only had one snake for the day. Maybe we would get lucky on our way back. The nice looking road on the way out had nothing for us on the way back. We stop in La Fortuna to drop Miguel at his house. When we headed for the Arenal Lodge about 2 km from our turn in at the gate; I could see a large snake coming onto the road I knew it have to be a Boa or Fer de Lance. As we got closer I saw it was a Fer de Lance.

We stop the car on the road and put on the hazer lights. We got out of the car for some photos. He did move and we were very slow on our approach. About 4 feet of him was on the road I knew he had to go at least 5 feet. Very healthy and strong looking a beautiful looking snake, he made a slow turn heading back in to the jungle. At that point I saw the rest of him. Now, I’m thinking 5.5 to 6 foot. See this big Fer de Lance juiced me up, on the drive up the hill to the Lodge I told the guys I was going hunt some more tonight and ask it anyone want to join me, Steve volunteered. We spent another hour and got a Eyelash Viper and a Red Coffee Snake and a Cat-eye Snake. Giving us 4 only snakes for the day. Considering the long rain and the time on the farm it was too bad a day.

Day 5 ~~~ Wednesday Nov 19, 2014

Our first herp on the day was Ameiva festiva aka Central American Ameiva. There was a concert top of a picnic table lain on the ground and a couple of the guys wanted to look under it. No problem for me as long as I didn’t have to pick that sucker up. And much to my surprise there was the Ameiva but not for long, he ran and the chase was on and again to my surprise I believe Steve caught him. So we took a few photos. A little while later we found a Red Coffee Snake and then a Cay-eye Snake. Time for Lunch! Nothing else in the afternoon; it rained off and on. We had an early dinner then got our night gear on and when to the back of the Lodge. Steve found a Red Eyed Tree Frog and he wanted to get a good photo of his find. The frog decided he was a better photographer then Steve and jumped on his camera and tried to figure out how he could take a selfy. That didn’t quite work out very well, but it was fun watching Steve put the frog on the leaf and the frog jump right on his camera again. A short time later someone found our first Sibon of the night; he was crawling in the grass looking for a nice juicy snail to eat. Next we came across a small Cat-eye Snake he was climbing up the basis of a palm leave; he had nice sharp colors a real pretty youngster. We start working our way down the road and we came to the place where is a road going some rooms down a level; Steve and I were going to the lower level. Bob and Rich continue on the straight road. I figured this would put them 10 to 15 minutes ahead of us giving snake to be there for us that were not visible to them. Perfect!! We made our turn and Steve found a small Eyelash Viper. Then we covered the grounds and I checked out the back of the building it looked good but no luck there. We came up the hill and started down the main road following Bob and Rich. We went away before finding a Blunthead Tree Snake. And I followed that up with a Sibon. Pretty soon we saw highlights heading our way it was Bob and Rich they were ready to call it a night. We decided to join them. It was not long before someone yelled snake. It turned out to be another Rain Forest Hognose Pitviper, our second of the trip. Think it was spotted by Steve. On the rest of the way back we found a Blunthead Tree Snake and 3 more Sibons. Just before getting to the lodge I spotted and Canopy Anole

sleeping on the fence. We found 10 snakes for the day…

Day 6 ~~~ Thursday Nov 20, 2014

Today is another rainy days so we got our dirty close to the laundry and kind of took it easy, the late night were catching up with us. Another lodge employee who likes herps told Miguel, he had seen two large Jumping Vipers on the road just on the other side of the dam in the rain 2 nights ago. He asked Miguel if our group would like to go and hunt them tonight. Miguel asked me I ask a lot of questions about the place. He said he had been told the trail was good and easy to walk. I said since it so close let’s give it a try. We were supposed to meet Jose at the far end of the causeway at 8: tonight. He showed up on time, we left the car and Jose motorcycle there and walk up the highway. Jose walked into the jungle by himself. I ask Miguel what is going on. He said this was where he saw the Jumping Viper go into the jungle, he when to find it and he would meet us down at the trail entrance. We kept walking until we found a place where a car or truck went off the road. At that point I noticed a road kill and went to investigate it. It turned out to be a one of the seven species of Caecilians found in Costa Rica. Dermophis costaricense the Costa Rican Caecilian was the one we found. These burrowing amphibians rarely surface but sometime can be found after a hard rain. They feed mainly of earthworms. I have seen them before but always as road kills. I’m looking forward to finding a live sometime in the near future. In a little while we saw a headlight coming out of the jungle, it was Jose. So up the road we went, Steve spotted a small Eyelash Viper on a limb.

This one had a grey color pattern; his one was a new one for, very pretty. We started taking pictures when a truck pulled up it was the Park Rangers. They wanted to know what was going on. Miguel told them we were herpers from the States and we wanted to find snakes and take pictures. They said as long as we do not remove them they had no problem with that. They said Buena Suerte and drove off. A little way down the road Jose walked off the road in to the trail. We would have walk right by it. Once we were on the trail I had to agree it was a good and pretty easy to walk except for few spots. We had been walk the hold time in a light rain but now it turned into a deluge and quickly the path turned into a river. Even with the rain coming down so hard we pushed on hunting the best we could. Soon I heard someone call snake Jose had found his Jumping Viper;

we all had to have a picture. So here is what we did, since Miguel that an umbrella and was close to the snake we passed our cameras one at a time to him and he took our photos. We pushed on to the end of the trail did a u turn and headed back the water was running so fast we could keep up with running. I was in the lead and it was hard to stay on your feet and maintain any balance. See saw a Tamandua cross the trail ahead of me I yelled out Anteater and ran after him see it a could get him to go up a tree but he stayed on the ground and was out of sight in a short time. We made our way to the highway and as we were walking back to the car the rain let up. Once back at the lodge we walked down the road bit and found a Cat-eye Snake, a Sibon and one more Eyelash Viper. This Viper was coiled on a limb about head high 3 feet off the road. Everyone moved in closer for photos he was in perfect position for easy shots. As we disturbed the ground below the Eyelash Viper something moved very fast I put my light on it and yelled Many Banded Coral Snake.

I follow him a couple of steps and put my hook on him. I’ve looking for this guy all my snake hunting life in Costa Rica. I had a vested interest in making sure we bagged him. After we bagged him I realized how close I moved to get the hook on him. I had thought above the proximity of the Eyelash before I went for the Coral. I thought I was 4 to 6 feet away, in reality I was within 2 feet of the Eyelash. People who die from Eyelash bits are the ones that get bit in the head. This happen to coffee pickers occasionally because coffee tree do not tall. So extra care is needed when Eyelash are found in trees at head height……… 6 Snakes for this wet day.

Day 7 ~~~ Friday Nov 21, 2014

This was your last day in the field and we had to make it count. Our numbers for total snakes were in the mid 40’s. The May trip total out at 66 snakes; I didn’t thing with only 4 Herpers we would be able to catch them, but I wanted to get us as close as we possibly could. We spent an hour or so doing some photos of the snakes we got last night. We were lucky to have some sunshine for our photos by afternoon it will cloudy and rainy. Later we walked in the field where we caught the False Fer de Lance and had no luck there; this time we climbed the hill with fountains that were part of the Amazonas de Arenal failed project. The fountains would cascade from one to the other down the hill into a small lake. I’m sure it would have been beautiful but now in its run down condition it looked beautiful for snakes. But sorry to say no luck in this either. We went up a road to the Chalet at the top of the hill, what a view! Most of the units were not occupied there were a few places in each unit that looked like good possibility, but no luck there either. Someone turned up a Red Coffee Snake

but that was all for our day time efforts. We would have to wait for dark. We had an early dinner and six o’clock we were geared up and ready to go. We started in a field that hold cattle or horses but had no four legged animals at the present time. We worked the edges looking in the trees along the fence line and any trees that may be in the middle of the field. We spotted a small Eyelash high in a tree. Because size and possession in the tree we were having a hard time with photos. Miguel took out his machete cut a small tree striped off the limbs. He put the little tree right up a touched the snake and crawl right on to the small tree. He brought him to a small bush at our level and we all got some nice shots of the first snake of the night. While we were getting our picture someone noticed another snake a few yards away. I did recognize this guy but knew it was not venomous. So I grabbed him for a closer look, he was close to shedding and his eye were blue. I would have to check him out in a reference book to get an ID. Ten minutes  later someone spotted a Sibon,

next was a Cat-eye Snake with a meal in his belly. We moved into an area that had paths in a garden area. There we found a lizard about 2+ feet long hanging on the side of a palm tree. It was a Corytophanes cristatus ~~~ Helmented Lizard, we come across them now and then but was the first one of this trip. We kept hunting the area and were move out of it when Miguel spotted a Yellow Eyelash low in a plant about 7 feet tall. Out came the cameras again for our photo journey of all the snakes we encountered on this trip. This was your last day in the field and we had to make it count. Our numbers for total snakes were in the mid 40’s. The May trip total out at 66 snakes; I didn’t thing with only 4 Herpers we would be able to catch them, but I wanted to get us as close as we possibly could. We spent an hour or so doing  photos of the Snake we got last night. We were lucky to have some sunshine for our photos by afternoon it will cloudy and rainy. Later we walked in the field where we caught the False Fer de Lance and had no luck there; this time we climbed the hill with fountains that were part of the Amazonas de Arenal failed project. The fountains would cascade from one to the other down the hill into a small lake. I’m sure it would have been beautiful but now in its run down condition it looked beautiful for snakes. But sorry to say no luck in this either. We went up a road to the Chalet at the top of the hill, what a view! Most of the units were not occupied there were a few places in each unit that looked like good possibility, but no luck there either. Someone turned up a Red Coffee Snake but that was all for our day time efforts. We would have to wait for dark. We had an early dinner and six o’clock we were geared up and ready to go. We started in a field that hold cattle or horses but had no four legged animals at the present time. We worked the edges looking in the trees along the fence line and any trees that may be in the middle of the field. We spotted a small Eyelash high in a tree. Because size and possession in the tree we were having a hard time with photos. Miguel took out his machete cut a small tree striped off the limbs. He put the little tree right up a touched the snake and crawl right on to the small tree. He brought him to a small bush at our level and we all got some nice shots of the first snake of the night. While we were getting our picture someone noticed another snake a few yards away. I did recognize this guy but knew it was not venomous. So I grabbed him for a closer look, he was close to shedding and his eye were blue. I would have to check him out in a reference book to get an ID. Ten minutes 10 later someone spotted a Sibon, next was a Cateye Snake with a meal in his belly. We moved into an area that had paths in a garden area. There we found a lizard about 2+ feet long hanging on the side of a palm tree. It was a Corytophanes cristatus ~~~ Helmented Lizard, we come across them now and then but was the first one of this trip. We kept hunting the area and were move out of it when Miguel spotted a Yellow Eyelash low in a plant about 7 feet tall. Out came the cameras again for our photo journey of all the snakes we encountered on this trip. From there we moved on a chain link fence there was a Sibon climbing up the fence. Miguel saw a snake in an area we just walk by, it turn out to be a Baby Jumping Pitviper. Down a ways on the same fence was another Sibon. We came to a gate which lead us to a Citrus Grove we had never hunted this grove before, it looked good to me. We covered it in less than an hour and found 3 more Eyelash Vipers. When we finished the grove I said to Miguel the first we hunted tonight and found 4 snakes. Well we didn’t even touch the part up front near the road. Let go back and give that area a try. So, off we went and we got a unique colored Eyelash Viper. It was mostly green with the red patches. The belly was white with red checks but the rest including the head was green with spots. We did pick up another Sibon before leaving the area. We went back to our rooms and were talking about this fantastic night. We still had to drive Miguel back to LA Fortuna and it was always possible to find something on the road. Bob and I planned to take Miguel home, I ask Rich and Steve start hunting down the road and after Bob and I drop Miguel off we would pick them up on our way up the hill. This would give us another hour of hunting. They took off down the road. I wanted to change into more comfortable shoes. I put my hands in my pockets making sure I had my wallet and car keys. The wallet was here it belonged but not the Keys. I started checking all over the room I tried thinking the last place I had them. I remember Bob giving the car keys to me after dropping Miguel off. I went out to the front room and told Bob and Miguel. I told Miguel he could stay the night we had plenty of beds. But he wanted to get home somehow. How could I lose the keys? Miguel what outside so he could call his wife and let her know the problem. He called someone to pick him up and drive him home. Bob and I went back into my bedroom and checked everything and turn it inside out. I was concerned about are ride back tomorrow. I would the car rental company today early and have them bring a key. Rich and Steve must have figured out there was a problem because we should have passed them going out a long time ago. Once Bob and I check and recheck everywhere. I told him I was going to take a shower. Two minutes later I walk out to the living room with the KEY in my hand. I told Bob what this morning Miguel asked me to open the car because me had left something in there. When I un-locked the car I was wearing a tee shirt and a pair of running shortes, I put the keys on the belt line of the shorts. They had been there all day. I could have lost them anywhere. I took my shower and didn’t wait up for Rich and Steve. We found 21 snakes this day a new record for CRHA. Not including the day we 25 Sea Snake one day and some others that night.

Travel Day ~~~ Saturday, Nov 22, 2014

Every trip has this day and I always have mix emotion about it and ask myself how can a week go by so fast? But we started out as usual with a big breakfast. This is where I found out are our extra late hunters found 4 snakes. A Coral Snake, Cat-eye Snake, Eyelash Viper and a unidentified snake. Later found to be a Barred Forest Race which is another first time find for CRHA. After breakfast we all pasted out tip for the staff that made our stay a very pleasant. We took good care of Miguel I’m sure our Herpers won’t forget him soon. We had a nice easy drive back to San Jose I dropped the guys off at the Hotel Aeropuerto. I drop my bags off there too no since dragging them around. Bob drove with me and we made time getting back to Vamos Rent a Car. I spent a few minute with my friend Tiziana, she asked about my wife Anne and our dog Heidi. I ask about her family and all was well. We got back to the Hotel and headed for the restaurant and placed our orders. We talked until we were to tired to go on. The guys had an early flight and I had to be at the airport by 8am. I got up early with the guys and we said our goodbyes. We were all very proud that we had a total of 66 snakes on this trip. We tied the Trip 20 total of 66 Snake. I did not think we could do it; But life is full of surprises.

Now back to our lives!!!

Species List

The following is a list of Snakes our Herpers encountered on our trip to Costa Rica;

Nov. 15 to 22, 2014

Species	Common Name	Live	DOR
Oxyrhopus petola	Calico Snake	1	0
Bothriechis schlegelli	Eyelash Viper	12	0
Atropoides mexicanus	Jumping Pitviper	2	0
Bothrops asper	Fer de Lance	3	0
Porthidium nasutum	Rain Forest Hognose Pitviper	2	0
Micrurs mosquitensis	Costa Rican Coral Snake	1	0
Leptodeira septentrionalis	Northern Cateye Snake	4	0
Ninia sebae	Red Coffee Snake	4	0
Ninia maculata	Banded Coffee Snake	3	0
Pseustes poecilonotus	Bird Snake	1	0
Leptophis ahaetulla	Giant Parrot Snake	0	1
Sibon nebulatus	Cloudy Snail-eater	20	0
Ungaliophis panamensis	Bromeliad Boa	1	0
Imantodes cenahoa	Blunthead Tree Snake	5	1
Drymobius margaritiferus	Speckled Racer	0	1
Xenon rabdocephalus*	False Fer de Lance	1	0
Pliocercus euryzonus	Halloween Snake	1	0
Geophis hoffmanni*	Hoffman’s Earth Snake	0	1*
Dendfophidion percarinatum*	Barred Forest Racer	1	0
TOTAL ~~~ 66		62	4

An asterisk *  indicates a new species for CRHA

 

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My Herping Adventure in Costa Rica

Nov. 15th to 22nd 2014

RICH’S STORY Trip 21 was my first visit to Costa Rica. My buddies and I had been talking about going for at least three years and we finally pulled the trigger. The trip was an incredible experience that I will never forget. It definitely exceeded my expectations. The purpose of the trip was herping and I am so glad that we hired Jim to be our guide. Besides booking our airfare and packing our bags Jim handled that rest of the details from A to Z which was a huge relief. Arenal Lodge turned out to be an ideal accommodation for the excursion. We found the majority of our critters within a couple mile radius of our rooms. We also had the privilege of herping with the lodge’s tour guide, Miguel. Miguel shares Jim’s passion for reptiles and the two of them compliment one another perfectly. The first day together Jim told us that every day in CR is an adventure and he was right. What I really liked about Jim was his masterful ability to balance structure and flexibility. He had a plan for each day but wasn’t too rigid to veer off when an opportunity presented itself. I highly recommend Costa Rica Herpin’ Adventures to anyone considering herping in CR. I’m looking forward to doing it again! Rich Rang

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My Herping Adventure in Costa Rica

Nov. 15th to 22nd  2014

BOB’S STORY hey Jim, sorry for the slow response, our trip with you was a great adventure that will keep me coming back again, the reptile life we discovered was awesome day after day it just never stopped, you have definitely done your home work to make these trips a fun and adventurous The friends that we made along the way will last forever i can’t wait to go again hopefully in 2016 hope you are doing well look forward to our next meeting your friend Bob Harpster

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