In my earlier posts from our time spent at La Carolina Lodge I mentioned that our hosts grew or raised most of the food we ate. Thus, their extensive acreage included a working farm which bordered the rainforest up in the highlands. Most mornings I would hike and bird the fields. Perhaps this post should have been titled “The Attack of the Southern Lapwings”!

On a late afternoon hike before supper I spotted a family of four Crested Caracaras. The “Mexican Eagles” (another name for the Caracaras) were posing nicely for me, but in my excitement to get in position to take some photographs I failed to pay attention to the loud bird song very near me. Major mistake! Within moments I was under attack, being dived bombed within inches of my head by a pair of Southern Lapwings. These somewhat large shorebirds are noted for occasionally nesting in farm fields (Wikipedia Link). Anyhow, in my attempt to get a good angle on the Caracaras I obviously got to close to the Lapwings nest, which I until their attack did not even realize was near. Live, Learn and Run! (yes … I made a very quick exit).

• My book on Costa Rica Birding will be significantly updated in May to include information from this current trip. Anyone may download a “full version PDF copy“ without charge of my current version. When available, version 2 PDF’s will also be available at no cost.

Crested Caracaras (bird with tannish brown head is a youngster)

Southern Lapwings (after attacking me)