The quest for the resplendent quetzal resumed today at 6 am. And this time we were lucky … or at least we were lucky to spot the bird though it was quite difficult to photograph it. Quetzals like to perch in fairly heavily forested areas that are dark. Perhaps they are shy and enjoy providing only little peeks for us which only, of course, increases our determination to snap that great photo. Which I, also of course, was unable to do.

Notice the long feathers in this photo of the resplendent quetzal.  His actual tail feathers are quite short.  The long ones start on his back above his tail feathers but act like tail feathers providing balance and so forth.

After breakfast we breasted the Mountain of Death, the third highest peak in Costa Rica. This mountain earned its name when a narrow path led up and over to the San Gerardo de Dota valley below. While lore has it that quite a number of foreign travellers died of hypothermia at its height, Tomás tells us that two hikers who were unprepared for the elements got lost and perished.

As we climbed to 11,000 feet the vegetation changed from the lush forest of the valley to scrub. The peak was shrouded with clouds this morning so we were unable to take in the view of the Pacific Ocean which is visible on clear days. It was also very cold and windy as evidenced by the photograph taken of me by my friend Dianne as I abandoned hope for the fog to clear.

This afternoon’s workshop was on moving water photography. Alejandro led us to a bridge over the Sevegre River where we practiced with our tripods taking photos with long exposures. I wished I had a neutral density filter, but made do with a low ISO which requires more light and my polarizing filter which also darkens photos.  The point of the long exposure is to achieve that silky, milky look that running water takes on.

Tomás confessed that the previous day he had seen a quetzal – and even produced a cell phone photo to prove it – in the forest past the bridge. Several of us followed him along a winding path and over makeshift bridges (see my tour mate Vera and Alejandro on the civil engineering feat at right) in search of this elusive bird. Alas, again we did not see it. We did, however, see about the cutest bird I have ever seen – the collared redstart.

I mean, look at that little face!

We also saw the towering oaks native to this valley, and fern fronds about to unfold. Ferns glowed in the sun.

The walk, while quetzal-free, was peaceful and beautiful. The little health monitor on my cell phone told me I walked almost 14,000 steps today. It felt like a fitting end to our stay in Sevegre.