Venture to
Costa Rica
April 1 - 13, 2007
Costa Rica - it's always difficult to come up with a list of what was best about another great trip to a very pleasant and bird-filled country. Of course the birds top the bill with a singing (?) Three-wattled Bellbird that filled the scope, multiple pairs of Resplendent Quetzals, a Crested Owl at its roost in a palm tree, a pair of Black-and-white Owls, Orange-collared Manakins glowing in the forest, nesting Boat-billed Herons, a Sunbittern on its nest, masses of hummingbirds everywhere…..the list could go on and on. Actually, the Crested Owl was voted "bird of the trip" and was even "a lifer for the leader", so that can't be bad….
Despite the rainy weather our first day in the high mountains, the hummer feeders at Savagre were alive with activity, from the tiny Volcano and Scintillant Hummers to the giant Magnificent that chased everyone else away, it was a great start to the trip. Plus having the electric green Golden-browed Chlorophonias and Resplendent Quetzals in the scope before lunchtime was not bad either. Hummingbirds were more apparent on this tour and for the first time in ages, we saw 2 male Snowcaps on the roadside verbenas outside Braulio Carillo National Park- what a stunning little bird. Talking of Braulio, yes, it rained again. Actually it poured, even through our umbrellas as we tried to outlast a deluge. Thankfully before the rain came down we had our first antswarm experience and several of us stood our ground as the army ants went up and came back down our trouser legs. It was certainly worth it (well, some thought so) for glimpses of Ocellated, Spotted and Bicolored Antbirds (for some). Tanagers were easy to see in fruiting trees along the trails with Black-and-yellow, Emerald and Silver-throated being the most obvious. Our hike down the gravel road at Virgen del Socorro was also tanager-filled (not muddy as on prior tours) with the highlight being the large, somewhat uncommon Blue-and-yellow Tanager, as well as American Dipper with young and the very enigmatic Torrent Tyrannulet.
La Selva Biological Station is always a highlight of every trip to Costa Rica and once again it was excellent. Despite rain again (an every occurrence) the Snowy Cotingas showed themselves along with the typical selection of Caribbean slope species.
Being early April, the migrants were passing through in large numbers. The most obvious were the birds of prey with several large kettles of Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks being seen. Barn, Cliff and Bank Swallows streamed overhead while both Scarlet and Summer Tanagers fed in the fruiting trees. The most abundant migrant had to be Swainson's Thrush- its call note and song were daily sounds in many different habitats throughout the country. Warblers had already started to move out and the usual blizzards of Tennessee Warblers had been reduced to a steady trickle. However, there were still a few Golden-winged, Wilson's and Kentucky Warblers still around, but a Hermit Warbler at Monteverde was quite a surprise. This warbler is quite a rarity this far south in Central America.
As well as almost 400 species of birds, we had a great selection of mammals, reptiles and amphibians on the tour, including Gray Fox, White-nosed Coati and three species of monkey, two species of poison-dart frogs, plus the normal swarm of butterflies, moths and other insects. Costa Rica really is the perfect all-around nature experience.
Itinerary
April 1: Arrival in San Jose
April 2: Finca Mirador de los Quetzales, Cerro de la
Muerte and Savegre
April 3 : AM: Drove to Selva Verde with stops at Braulio
Carillo NP PM: Trails around Selva Verde
April 4: Trails around Selva Verde
April 5 : AM: Virgen del Socorro, Hummingbird Café, La Paz
Waterfall PM: Fields around Selva Verde
April 6: Quebrada Gonzalez trail at Braulio Carillo
National Park and La Selva Road
April 7: La Selva Biological Station
April 8: Selva Verde and Drive to Monteverde with stop
at Lake Arenal PM: Trails around Monteverde hotel
April 9: Monteverde Biological Preserve, Hummingbird
Gallery and trails around hotel
April 10: Santa Elena Reserve and trails around hotel
April 11: Drive to Villa Lapas with stops at Caldera and Orotina PM:
Rio Tarcoles Estuary, mangroves and bridge
April 12: Carara Biological Reserve, Santiago's "secret place" and
trails at Villa Lapas
April 13: AM: Villa Lapas Trails and drive to San Josewith stops at
Presa la Garita
| Bird List | ||
| Great Tinamou | Collared Trogon | Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush |
| Highland Tinamou | Orange-bellied Trogon | Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush |
| Little Tinamou | Black-throated Trogon | Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush |
| Least Grebe | Violaceous Trogon | Swainson's Thrush |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Ringed Kingfisher | Wood Thrush |
| Anhinga | Amazon Kingfisher | Sooty Robin |
| Brown Pelican | Green Kingfisher | Mountain Robin |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Broad-billed Motmot | Clay-colored Robin |
| Muscovy Duck | Turquoise-browed Motmot | Rufous-naped Wren |
| Blue-winged Teal | Rufous Motmot | Band-backed Wren |
| Tricolored Heron | Blue-crowned Motmot | Black-throated Wren |
| Little Blue Heron | Rufous-tailed Jacamar | Black-bellied Wren |
| Snowy Egret | White-whiskered Puffbird | Rufous-breasted Wren |
| Great Blue Heron | Prong-billed Barbet | Riverside Wren |
| Great Egret | Blue-throated Toucanet | Bay Wren |
| Cattle Egret | Collared Aracari | Stripe-breasted Wren |
| Green Heron | Fiery-billed Aracari | Rufous-and-white Wren |
| Boat-billed Heron | Keel-billed Toucan | Plain Wren |
| Bare-throated Tiger-Heron | Chestnut-mandibled Toucan | House Wren |
| Fasciated Tiger-Heron | Acorn Woodpecker | Ochraceous Wren |
| White Ibis | Black-cheeked Woodpecker | White-breasted Wood-Wren |
| Green Ibis | Hoffmann's Woodpecker | Gray-breasted Wood-Wren |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Long-billed Gnatwren |
| Wood Stork | Golden-olive Woodpecker | Tropical Gnatcatcher |
| Black Vulture | Cinnamon Woodpecker | Mangrove Swallow |
| Turkey Vulture | Chestnut-colored Woodpecker | Gray-breasted Martin |
| Osprey | Lineated Woodpecker | Blue-&-white Swallow |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Pale-billed Woodpecker | Northern Rough-winged Swallow |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Olivaceous Woodcreeper | Southern Rough-winged Swallow |
| Mangrove Black-Hawk | Wedge-billed Woodcreeper | Bank Swallow |
| Double-toothed Kite | Northern Barred-Woodcreeper | Barn Swallow |
| Solitary Eagle | Cocoa Woodcreeper | Cliff Swallow |
| Gray Hawk | Spotted Woodcreeper | House Sparrow |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Streak-headed Woodcreeper | Golden-winged Warbler |
| Short-tailed Hawk | Spot-crowned Woodcreeper | Tennessee Warbler |
| Swainson’s Hawk | Red-faced Spinetail | Tropical Parula |
| Crested Caracara | Spotted Barbtail | Flame-throated Warbler |
| Yellow-headed Caracara | Ruddy Treerunner | Yellow Warbler |
| Laughing Falcon | Lineated Foliage-Gleaner | Chestnut-sided Warbler |
| Bat Falcon | Streak-breasted Treerunner | Magnolia Warbler |
| Gray-headed Chachalaca | Buff-throated Foliage-Gleaner | Hermit Warbler |
| Crested Guan | Gray-throated Leaftosser | Black-throated Green Warbler |
| Black Guan | Plain Xenops | Blackburnian Warbler |
| Gray-breasted Crake | Barred Antshrike | Ovenbird |
| Gray-necked Wood-Rail | Black-hooded Antshrike | Northern Waterthrush |
| Purple Gallinule | Russet Antshrike | Louisiana Waterthrush |
| Sunbittern | Slaty Antwren | Kentucky Warbler |
| Northern Jacana | Dot-winged Antwren | Mourning Warbler |
| Whimbrel | Dusky Antbird | Olive-crowned Yellowthroat |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Chestnut-backed Antbird | Gray-crowned Yellowthroat |
| Willet | Immaculate Antbird | Wilson's Warbler |
| Sanderling | Bicolored Antbird | Canada Warbler |
| Least Sandpiper | Spotted Antbird | Slate-throated Whitestart |
| Black-bellied Plover | Ocellated Antbird | Collared Whitestart |
| Semipalmated Plover | Black-faced Antthrush | Golden-crowned Warbler |
| Laughing Gull | Spectacled Antpitta | Rufous-capped Warbler |
| Royal Tern | Fulvous-bellied Antpitta | Black-cheeked Warbler |
| Sandwich Tern | Silvery-fronted Tapaculo | Three-striped Warbler |
| Rock Pigeon | Snowy Cotinga | Buff-rumped Warbler |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Three-wattled Bellbird | Rufous-collared Sparrow |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Long-tailed Manakin | Stripe-headed Sparrow |
| Red-billed Pigeon | White-collared Manakin | White-eared Ground-Sparrow |
| Short-billed Pigeon | Orange-collared Manakin | Orange-billed Sparrow |
| White-winged Dove | Olive-striped Flycatcher | Black-striped Sparrow |
| Inca Dove | Ochre-bellied Flycatcher | White-naped Brush-Finch |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher | Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch |
| Blue Ground-Dove | Common Tody-Flycatcher | Large-footed Finch |
| White-tipped Dove | Paltry (Mistletoe)Tyrannulet | Yellow-thighed Finch |
| Gray-chested Dove | Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet | Bananaquit |
| Buff-fronted Quail-Dove | Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Common Bush-Tanager |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Mountain Elaenia | Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager |
| Scarlet Macaw | Torrent Tyrannulet | Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager |
| Crimson-fronted Parakeet | Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant | Black-&-yellow Tanager |
| Olive-throated Parakeet | Northern Bentbill | Olive Tanager |
| Orange-chinned Parakeet | Eye-ringed Flatbill | Gray-headed Tanager |
| White-crowned Parrot | Yellow-olive Flycatcher | White-shouldered Tanager |
| White-fronted Parrot | Yellow-margined Flycatcher | Tawny-crested Tanager |
| Red-lored Parrot | Northern Royal Flycatcher | Red-throated Ant-Tanager |
| Mealy Parrot | Tufted Flycatcher | Summer Tanager |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Olive-sided Flycatcher | Scarlet Tanager |
| Groove-billed Ani | Ochraceous Pewee | Crimson-collared Tanager |
| Striped Cuckoo | Eastern Wood-Pewee | Passerini's Tanager |
| Mottled Owl | Tropical Pewee | Cherrie’s Tanager |
| Black-and-White Owl | Acadian Flycatcher | Blue-gray Tanager |
| Crested Owl | Yellowish Flycatcher | Palm Tanager |
| Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl | Black-capped Flycatcher | Blue-and-gold Tanager |
| Common Pauraque | Black Phoebe | Yellow-crowned Euphonia |
| White-collared Swift | Long-tailed Tyrant | Yellow-throated Euphonia |
| Gray-rumped Swift | Bright-rumped Attila | Olive-backed Euphonia |
| Costa Rican Swift | Rufous Mourner | White-vented Euphonia |
| Chimney Swift | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tawny-capped Euphonia |
| Vaux’s Swift | Great Crested Flycatcher | Golden-browed Chlorophonia |
| Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Emerald Tanager |
| Green Hermit | Tropical Kingbird | Silver-throated Tanager |
| Western Long-tailed Hermit | Eastern Kingbird | Speckled Tanager |
| Stripe-throated Hermit | Boat-billed Flycatcher | Bay-headed Tanager |
| Violet Sabrewing | White-ringed Flycatcher | Rufous-winged Tanager |
| White-necked Jacobin | Streaked Flycatcher | Golden-hooded Tanager |
| Brown Violet-Ear | Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher | Spangle-cheeked Tanager |
| Green Violet-ear | Social Flycatcher | Scarlet-thighed Dacnis |
| Green-breasted Mango | Gray-capped Flycatcher | Blue Dacnis |
| Violet-headed Hummingbird | Great Kiskadee | Green Honeycreeper |
| Black-crested Coquette | Piratic Flycatcher | Shining Honeycreeper |
| Green Thorntail | Barred Becard | Red-legged Honeycreeper |
| Violet-crowned Woodnymph | Cinnamon Becard | Peg-billed Finch |
| Fiery-throated Hummingbird | White-winged Becard | Variable Seedeater |
| Blue-chested Hummingbird | Rose-throated Becard | White-collared Seedeater |
| Steely-vented Hummingbird | Masked Tityra | Thick-billed Seed-Finch |
| Cinnamon Hummingbird | Black-crowned Tityra | Yellow-faced Grassquit |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Azure-hooded Jay | Slaty Flowerpiercer |
| Stripe-tailed Hummingbird | Silvery-throated Jay | Black-thighed Grosbeak |
| Coppery-headed Emerald | Brown Jay | Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
| Snowcap | White-throated Magpie-Jay | Black-faced Grosbeak |
| Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer | Green Shrike-Vireo | Black-headed Saltator |
| White-bellied Mountain-Gem | Yellow-winged Vireo | Buff-throated Saltator |
| Gray-tailed Mountain-Gem | Mangrove Vireo | Grayish Saltator |
| Purple-throated Mountain-gem | Yellow-throated Vireo | Blue-black Grosbeak |
| Green-crowned Brilliant | Philadelphia Vireo | Chestnut-headed Oropendola |
| Magnificent Hummingbird | Red-eyed Vireo | Montezuma Oropendola |
| Purple-crowned Fairy | Yellow-green Vireo | Scarlet-rumped Cacique |
| Magenta-throated Woodstar | Tawny-crowned Greenlet | Baltimore Oriole |
| Volcano Hummingbird | Lesser Greenlet | Black-cowled Oriole |
| Scintillant Hummingbird | Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher | Red-winged Blackbird |
| Resplendent Quetzal | Black-&-yellow Silky-Flycatcher | Eastern Meadowlark |
| Slaty-tailed Trogon | American Dipper | Melodious Blackbird |
| Lattice-tailed Trogon | Black-faced Solitaire | Great-tailed Grackle |
| Baird’s Trogon | Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush | Bronzed Cowbird |
| Black-headed Trogon | Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush | |
| Mammals | ||
| Gray Fox | White-faced Capuchin | Central American Agouti |
| Collared Peccary | Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth | Rabbit sp |
| White-nosed Coati | Red-tailed Squirrel | Tent-making Bat |
| Mantled Howler Monkey | Variegated Squirrel | Sac-winged Bat sp |
| Central American Spider Monkey | Pygmy Forest Squirrel | Nectar-feeding Bats |
|
Reptiles, Amphibians and other Critters |
||
| American Crocodile | Side-striped Palm Pit-Viper | Clearwing Butterfly |
| Snake sp | Black River Turtle | Orange-kneed Tarantula |
| Green Iguana | Leaf Litter Toad | Tarantula Hawk (Wasp) |
| Black Iguana (Ctenosaur) | Blue Jeans Dart Frog | Bullet Ant |
| Brown Basilisk | Black and Green Dart Frog | Leaf Cutter Ants |
| Green Basilisk | Boulanger Snout Tree-Frog | Army Ants |
| House Gecko | Red-eyed Leaf Frog | Armored Millipede |
| Agama sp | Gladiator Frog | Black and red Grasshopper sp |
| Slender Anole | Brilliant Rainforest Frog | Scorpion sp |
| Pug-nosed Anole | Cane Toad | Golden Orb Spider |
| Garter snake sp | Owl Butterfly | Stick Insect |
| False Coral Snake | Blue Morpho | |
Black-throated Trogon
Everyone and the dog watching quetzals!
Golden-browed Chlorophonia
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Dendrobates auratus (Poison Dart Frog)
Sunbittern (3 at one time!)
Sunbittern close-up
Frogwatchers
Bright-rumped Attila on nest
Foggy Mountain View
Umbrellas in the Rain
Snowy Cotinga
Crested Owl
Black-faced Solitaire
Red-kneed Tarantula
Pair of Quetzals