Costa Rica Part 6

Day 11, Sunday 24th

A day of vast temperature extremes. It started off feeling around five degrees when we met up at 05.50 for birding around the grounds. Jackets were definitely required. Stripe-throated Hummingbird was the main target and we checked the flowers by the entrance and it appeared within minutes. We checked out after breakfast and drove back up to the cloud forest.

Sulphur-winged Parakeet

Some of us scrambled up the same steep bamboo-strewn slope as yesterday but this time our luck was in and we were rewarded with point-blank views of two Bare-shanked Screech-Owls. As we quickly descended, most of the rest of the group decided to go up as well as this was our only shot of this owl. We also heard Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl but it soon stopped calling and we could not locate it, it proved to be the only owl of the trip that was heard but not seen.

Bare-shanked Screech-Owl

We dropped down onto the Pacific side of the country along the Pan-American Highway and made a stop by a sewage farm where there were some waterbirds including Least Grebe. By the time we reached San Isidro it had really warmed up. We split up into three groups to search for next target but it was found almost straightaway – a stunning blue and purple Turquoise Cotinga.

Turquoise Cotinga

We drove to a little reserve and signed in with the local guide. It was another case of the target bird showing almost immediately, this time a stunning brick-red Rosy Thrush-Tanager which just perched on a log and remained motionless apart from singing away in good voice.

Rosy Thrush-Tanager

As we walked back to the bus along the edge of a large pineapple field in the sunshine the temperature had soared to at least 35 degrees and the humidity was high as well. We continued driving, seeing a few new birds along the way: Fiery-billed Aracari and Grey-cowled Woodrail along the entrance track to our lodge.

After dinner we drove down the road for half-an-hour and saw two separate Striped Owls sitting on overhead wires.

Striped Owl

Day 12, Monday 25th

After a hot and humid night with a fan but no AC we met up at 5.20 for coffee and biscuits. We had a quick look around the main building, seeing Orange-billed Sparrow then drove down the road and made several stops. Birds seen included a trio of woodpeckers: Golden-naped, Red-crowned and Red-rumped; Spot-crowned Euphonia; Black-billed and Riverside Wrens and Western Woodhaunter.

Baird's Trogon

Soaring high over us were three King Vultures to add to the daily sightings of Black and Turkey Vultures. We carried on to our next lodge and even though it was midday we walked a trail back to the cabins seeing Northern Bentbill and Mrs Red-capped Manakin.

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

King Vulture

Black-striped Woodcreeper

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Smooth-billed Ani

Pale-breasted Spinetail

Fork-tailed Flycatcher

After lunch we had a siesta until 3pm. We walked around the grounds briefly to the sound of rumbling thunder; thankfully the storm never materialised. It was fairly quiet so we drove down the road. It did rain on and off during the afternoon which helped keep the temperature down but the birds active.

Charming Hummingbird

Fiery-billed Aracari

Scrub Greenlet

butterfly sp 1

White-lined Sac-winged Bat

Striped Basilisk

Pacific Tent-making Bats

butterfly sp 2

At a little marsh area we had good views of three White-throated Crakes. Later on we scanned over an area of rough grass and picked up Costa Rican and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swifts. Towards dusk we saw at least four Lesser Nighthawks hawking over the grass. We drove back to the lodge for dinner and an early night.