I've developed a bit of a twitch

The journey to San Gerardo de Dota takes us higher and higher as we climb toward the Cerro de la Muerte, the hill of death and the highest point on the Interamericana at 3,491 metres.   It got it's name when the road was unpaved, now with tarmac the road is not too bad apart from blind bends, steep climbs, steeper drops, maniacal coach drivers who enjoy the thrill of overtaking and mist which comes down from nowhere. 

Need to give this one plenty of room

starting to climb into the clouds

a little higher

here comes the cloud

On the plus side, the views from above the clouds are fabulous

above the cloud

beautiful

looking down

Leaving the worst part till last I get a feel for the old road when we turn off onto a dirt track that drops down steeply for 3 kilometres. I am praying we don't meet anything coming the other way as this is the narrowest yet.

Our chalet has picture windows and the view is stunning

view from our room

and San Gerado is a bird spotters paradise with more than 128 species recorded, many of them found only in these highlands.  Even before we've reached our cabin we're stumbling across the wildlife

Are you looking' at me?

Spotted wood quail

We enrol for the early morning Quetzal tour to see the Resplendent Quetzal.  Up at 4:30 (yes it is a holiday) we have to be ready for 5 am to meet our guide Carlos junior who joins us to drive down the mountain to meet his dad, the master quetzal spotter Carlos senior.  Carlos knows the tree favoured by the bird and guarantees a 99% chance of seeing one.  Unfortunately, when we arrive at the location its clear that the secret's out and the quetzal posse is in evidence.

my lens is bigger than yours!

It does not take long before this amazing bird comes into view and sits for some time in a wild advocardo tree

Female quetzal

Male bored - the tail feathers can reach up to 90 cm

Posing for the paparazzi

Turns out the quetzal loves the wild avocado which it picks on the wing.  These grape sized fruit take some digesting so after eating, the bird lands on the tree and waits for about 20 minutes whilst it processes its breakfast, then poops out the stone and is off

one more then I'm off

After returning to our hotel for a bite of breakfast we set off again with Carlos Junior for a longer bird watching tour and we are not disappointed

A red hawk keeps a beady eye on us

Female Volcano Hummingbird in its nest

Male Volcano 

Long tailed silky-flycatcher

Green violet ear

Flame coloured tanager

no wonder this lizard needs camouflage

Spot the twitcher

Sooty Robin

Large footed finch

Ruddy tree runner

A view down the valley

Distant red tailed hawk

Volcano hummingbird

Wasp nest

Torrent tyrannulet

arty shot

Who are you looking at? 

Scintillating hummingbird 

Flame throated warbler

After an amazing day we 'bag 31 different species - the one that got away - Wilson's warbler an attractive yellow bird with a black crown patch - it turns out to be the only shy Wilson we've come across.  We retire to our lovely chalet -  number 5 and prepare for our next destination