Pierella's family-run garden in Horquetas de Sarapiquí also has a mountain property about an hour away up a very rough dirt road. This was the family ranch before they bought the butterfly station property down in the valley. The area is a favourite location for Turkey and King Vultures, so Pierella have built a very well-equipped viewing station available for private bookings.

Vultures, of course, are scavengers, and to provide a concentrated viewing experience, the guides placed raw meat (in this case, pigs' heads) on two tree stumps adjacent to the viewing platform. It wasn't long before the first Turkey Vultures arrived and enthusiastically tucked in.

They were followed by a Crested Caracara and then some magnificent King Vultures. From the platform, I could follow the birds as they approached, settled, competed around the food and took flight again. Their size and the spread of their wings made a striking change from the small birds photographed earlier in Sarapiquí, and the forest canopy provided an arresting backdrop.

Vultures are not popular birds with many people, but in flight I think their magnificent wingspan, highly expressive faces and beautiful colouration make them some of the most impressive of all raptors.

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