Itinerary:
Dennis Vollmar and I planned this trip to Costa Rica to focus on birdwatching and to visit my mom (who just moved to Golfito). We found the Ticos to be exceedingly kind, the roads to be potholed, and the birding excellent. We rented a 4x4 Nissan Pathfinder from Vamos. The high clearance, four-wheel drive, and GPS proved to be very useful. I would highly recommend all of these features for any birders attempting a route similar to ours. At the minimum, get the GPS. We used Garringues’s “The Birds of Costa Rica” and Lawson’s “A Bird-finding Guide to Costa Rica” and both were helpful and usable. These books are not perfect, but nothing is. Insects were present but not really bad if you take the normal precautions. In the lowlands, I wore permethrin clothing and used a DEET based repellant and ended up with about a dozen bites split evenly between mosquitoes, ants, and chiggers. The trip ended up costing about two thousand dollars apiece (including airfare). The beginning of our trip coincided with Easter week which is a major holiday for the Ticos. However, our plans were not disturbed by this event. We found that on the weekend leading up to Easter, shops were closed and traffic was far lighter. Overall the trip was an excellent success with no major holdups and just over 300 species tallied.
4.1.12
On Sunday, I left SBA at 6:30am and after a lengthy layover in PHX, arrived at SJO at 6:15pm. After clearing customs, Dennis picked me up and drove us to Hotel Bougainvillea. Here, I heard my first bird of the trip COMMON PARAQUE. Interestingly, this was also the first bird I detected on the only other trip I have taken to Costa Rica.
Dennis had arrived a day earlier and before picking me up, he had spent the day at Braullio Carillo where he saw a few Caribbean slope birds that we would not see again on the trip such as: BLACK-HEADED NIGHTINGALE THRUSH, CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDOLA, BLACK-FACED GROSBEAK, and BROAD-BILLED MOTMOT. However, he reported that the birding was slow overall during the heat of the day.
4.2.12
The first morning of a birding trip is always exciting. Waking to a brand new dawn’s chorus makes me feel like a kid again. As soon as it became light enough to see (5:30am), Dennis and I starting finding birds in the Hotel Bougainvillea gardens. YELLOW-NAPED PARROT was an unexpected bonus, but the real star of the show was a WHITE-EARED GROUND-SPARROW by the compost pile. Later we would find a photogenic pair along the back wall of the garden. Despite our best efforts, we could not turn up a Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow. This site gives a decent introduction to the more common birds of the central valley but other than being an easy location to view the Ground-Sparrow, it is not that noteworthy. From the parking lot, we noted our only WHITE-TAILED KITE of the trip.
After breakfast, we drove directly to Paradaiso de los Quetzales at km 70 on Highway 2. This road is windy with many large trucks. The local drivers showed a surprising lack of concern when passing around blind curves but incongruously would slow to a crawl before turning off the highway. Regardless, we got to the lodge safely and picked up CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSHFINCH and SLATY FLOWERPIERCER (common) on the way in. The lodge is fairly basic but the meals were good, the accommodations were rustic (individual cabins with million dollar views), and the hummingbird feeders were excellent. FIERY-THROATED HUMMINIGBIRDs dominated the scene while MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRDS and a single GREEN VIOLET-EAR vied for the nectar. VOLCANO HUMMINGBIRDS were muscled to the outside by these much larger birds.
After lunch, Dennis and I walked around the grounds picking up birds wherever we seemed to wander. Highlights around the lodge included: BLACK-CAPPED FLYCATCHER, MOUNTAIN ELAENIA, BLUE-AND-WHITE SWALLOW, BLACK-BILLED NIGHTINGALE THRUSH, SOOTY ROBIN, MOUNTAIN ROBIN, LARGE-FOOTED and YELLOW-THIGHED FINCH. All these birds were quite easy to see. I was happy to close out a family by seeing the outrageous LONG-TAILED SILKY-FLYCATCHER (eating fruit at eye level), and the plump BLACK-AND-YELLOW SILKY-FLYCATCHER. Dennis was lucky to spot a male RESPLENDENT QUETZAL from the lodge. The bird perched for a few breathless minutes on a large gnarled trunk with its tail streamers flapping in the breeze. The Quetzal’s vocalization was a common sound around the lodge and although we saw several flybys and a few distantly perched birds, this was the best look we would have at this spectacular bird (until we went to Savegre).
Walking the Zeledonia trail turned up a pair of nest-building BLACK-CHEEKED WARBLERS, several backlight OCHRACEOUS WRENs, and a mixed flock with several RUDDY TREERUNNERS. I did have a frustratingly brief glimpse of a ZELEDONIA (WRENTHRUSH) but neither Dennis nor I could refind the bird in the thick understory.
We also walked a bit of the Gigantes Trail. The birding was good where the path was wide but became quite slow as it narrowed. Near a large ravine, we had 2 more distant RESPLENDANT QUETZALS and along the path, we had many backlit birds including ELEGANT EUPHONIA and YELLOW-WINGED VIREO. Luckily we were able to locate and follow our first FLAME-THROATED WARBLER as it foraged through dead leaves at eye level.
After dinner, we unsuccessfully trolled for owls. The guides were quite insistent that the Dusky Nightjar was easy to find around the lodge. We ended up following its call to the path leading to our room. Here we had great views of the bird calling from a low perch.
The room was cold at night, but ample blankets and a small space heater made it quite comfortable.
4.3.12
This morning, we went on our included bird walk. Although we prepped the guide with a list of birds that we wanted to see (Quetzal was NOT on the list), it quickly became apparent that we were on a “one size fits all” Quetzal tour. Luckily, we got a guide all to ourselves. Although he eventually found us a distant female RESPLENDANT QUETZAL, highlights were a BLACK-THIGHED GROSBEAK that we taped in, and a TIMBERLINE WREN on nest.
After breakfast, we again tried for Zeledonia without luck. A brilliant BARRED BECARD was adequate compensation for me but overall the trail was quiet.
Driving to San Gerardo de Dota, we made stops at La Georgina Restaurante on Hwy 2 and found that it does not have fruit feeders any more. As we descended into the gorgeous valley carved by the Savegre River, we made a few stops for the first of many SWALLOW-TAILED KITES, YELLOW-BELLIED SISKIN, and WHITE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEMS.
Savegre is a top of the line eco-lodge at the end of the road into this valley. When booking the room here, I felt that it might be a little extravagant for my tastes. But upon staying there, I would not hesitate to return. The food, service, rooms, and birding were all some of the very best I have experienced. Many of our best birds of the trip were found on the hotel grounds. These included: A nesting pair of TUFTED FLYCATCHERS and a lone AMERICAN DIPPER along the river, a bonding pair of EMERALD TOUCANETs, several SCINTILLANT HUMMINGBIRDs at the bottle brush, SULPHUR-WINGED PARAKEETs in flight, and FLAME-COLORED TANAGERs at the fruit feeder. Our room commanded an excellent view of a fruiting tree, which attracted BLACK GUAN, RESPLENDENT QUETZAL, and GOLDEN-BELLIED FLYCATCHER!
In the afternoon, we checked out the site labeled “Los Ranchos” in the birdfinding guide. This spot is easy to find, it is just the next bridge down from Savegre. However, the name at the site is completely different than the one that the book gives it. There are a few cabins, here and although birding was somewhat dampened by showers, Dennis was able to locate a stunning DARK PEWEE and a male ELEGANT EUPHONIA. I managed poor looks at a BROWN-CAPPED VIREO in a mixed flock high above us. Near the Savegre Bridge, we found our only STRIPE-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD of the trip.
Our scheduled owl trip was cancelled due to rain.
4.4.12
This morning, Dennis and I birded Los Robles Trail above Savegre. I would highly recommend driving to this site and getting there early. This trail held excellent birds and in my opinion was the single best site that we birded in Costa Rica. (The Rio Java Trail at Las Cruces would be a close second). We started the morning with a male ORANGE-BELLIED TROGON right off the trail. Next up: SPOTTED WOOD-QUAIL were numerous and vocal and we managed to see about a dozen of these difficult birds, including a displaying male dancing circles around a female with his topknot raised. COSTA RICAN PYGMY-OWL was both seen and heard near a nest site. Less then a mile up the trail, we ran into a massive mixed flock that included 2-3 SILVERY-THROATED JAYS, 2 BUFFY TUFTEDCHEEKs, a LINEATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER, and several FLAME-THROATED WARBLERS. We were able to spend a good deal of time with these birds and because of the steep trail; we managed very good looks at all these species. On the way back down, a pair of GOLDEN-BELLIED and TUFTED FLYCATCHERS were working a more open area. We also stumbled upon a group of graduate students who had set up a camera trap along the trail. They told us that Coyotes, Mountain Lion, and Jaguar utilized the trail and that they were attracted a rag soaked with Obsession by Calvin Klein! I did not see any of these mammals on our hike, maybe I need to start wearing cologne.
After leaving Savegre, we drove to the Communication Towers at the very top of Cerro de Muerte. Here we easily saw the near endemic VOLCANO JUNCO! Although we chased around several Slaty Flowerpiercers, we could not turn any into Peg-billed Finches.
The drive to Golfito followed narrow winding roads jammed with large trucks and reckless drivers. We were both glad to finally pull into my Mom’s driveway at Golfito and relax over dinner.
4.5.12
This morning, Dennis and I checked out the road up to the Microwave Towers above Golfito. We focused on the area about halfway to the top by a large mirador and were able to find a bunch of birds fairly quickly. Although the birding was pretty good, the heat and humidity quickly had us heading back to town for water and lunch. Highlights include my first ever MANGROVE CUCKOOs, a seen COLLARED FOREST-FALCON, VIOLET-CROWNED WOOD-NYMPH, BLUE-THROATED GOLDENTAIL, FIERY-BILLED ARACARI, CHESTNUT-MANDIBLED TOUCAN, CHESTNUT-BACKED ANTBIRD, SCALE-CRESTED TODY-FLYCATCHER (low elevation?), and BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA.
After an excellent burger at Banana Bay, we drove to Las Cruces OTS near San Vito. I highly recommend this location. We found the accommodations comfortable and the food (which is served family style) to be delicious. I had my best night of sleep here. From our balcony, we heard MOTTLED OWL and VERMICULATED SCREECH-OWL but a night walk only turned up an OPOSSUM.
4.6.12
The birding around the grounds of Las Cruces and Wilson Botanical gardens is excellent due to the open nature of the grounds. We quickly located a fruiting tree near the dining room and watched as a parade of birds moved through including two humongous CRESTED GUANs and a pair of STREAKED SALTATORS. CRIMSON-FRONTED PARAKEET, BROWN-HOODED PARROT, BLUE-HEADED PARROT, and WHITE-CROWNED PARROT were all seen from the breakfast table. After breakfast, we checked Tree Fern Hill where we located a female ROSE-BREASTED BECARD, a female VIOLACEOUS TROGON, a RED-FACED SPINETAIL, SPOT-CROWNED EUPHONIA, GRAY-CHESTED DOVE, COMMON BUSH-TANAGER, a brilliant male SCARLET-THIGHED DACNIS, and a BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILA. The new Canopy Tower was quite impressive but we could only find a few GRAY HAWKS. Next we checked the Rio Java Trail until lunch. This trail provided us with excellent birding. We had great luck and were able to get on many mixed flocks in both primary and secondary forest. We tallied a very impressive list of birds including: GREAT TINAMOU (seen well), LITTLE TINAMOU, one SCALY-BREASTED HUMMINGBIRD, several CHARMING HUMMINGBIRD, 5 BUFF-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANERs, one SCALY-THROATED FOLIAGE-GLEANER, a heard BLACK-FACED ANTTHRUSH, WHITE-THROATED SPADEBILL, SLATE-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER, a male WHITE-WINGED BECARD, a brief male and female WHITE-RUFFED MANNAKIN, ORANGE-BILLED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH, BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER, SLATE-THROATED REDSTART, female GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, and TROPICAL PARULA. COSTA RICAN SWIFT was often seen overhead. Tanagers were particularly well represented with numerous RED-CROWNED ANT-TANAGER, WHITE-SHOULDER TANAGER, GRAY-HEADED TANAGER, SCARLET TANAGER, SPECKLED TANAGER, GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER, BAY-HEADED TANAGER, SILVER-THROATED TANAGER, and GREEN HONEYCREEPER. We hiked all the way to Melissa’s Meadow which was really quite tall, hot, and birdless. Needless to say, this site was a great addition to the itinerary.
We left as it started raining and got to the San Joaquin Marsh in a downpour. As a result, we missed the yellowthroat but added COMMON and PURPLE GALLINULE to the list.
In the afternoon, we drove back to Golfito and stopped at a grassy area along the road to Playa Cacao for WHITE-THROATED CRAKE. On the way back to Golfito, some partiers on ATVs came tearing around a curve and ran us off the road. If we did not have four-wheel drive, we definitely would have been stuck in the muddy ditch.
4.7.12
This morning we left my Mom and Golfito behind to drive to Bosque del Rio Tigre on the Osa Peninsula. The drive only took about 4 hours with several birding stops. We did stop at the Rincon Bridge but could not turn up any cotingas. However, we did see BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON, MANGROVE BLACK-HAWK, and three soaring CRANE HAWKS.
As we turned off 245 to near Gallardo, we stumbled upon a huge mixed flock of seedeaters. From the car, it was apparent that the flock was mostly made up of YELLOW-BELLIED SEEDEATERs. After working the flock for a while, we were able to locate male RUDDY-BREASTED and SLATE-COLORED SEEDEATERS. We were very lucky to see these nomadic birds. We also had the much more expected THICK-BILLED, VARIABLE and WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATERs and BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT in this area.
Driving into Bosque del Rio Tigre (BdRT) is quite an adventure. A high clearance 4x4 drive is needed to drive across the Rio Tigre to the lodge. The lodge is gorgeous. It is made of polished hard wood and is open to the jungle giving it the feeling of a large tree house. Mosquito netting makes sleeping here comfortable. The owners (Liz and Abraham) are present and very attentive to the needs of their guests. Upon arrival, we immediately started seeing great birds from the patio including a perched BAND-TAILED BARBTHROAT and the endemic BLACK-CHEEKED ANT-TANAGER.
Before lunch, Dennis and I took the BOAT-BILLED HERON trail and were able to find the trail’s namesake at a day roost. The only other bird of note we could turn up in the heat of the day was an OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
After lunch Abraham guided us for a few hours. We started at a small wetland near the soda across the river from the lodge. Here I located a brilliant male TURQUOISE COTINGA in a Cecropia. The next stop was Quebrada Pizote where Abraham showed us two spectacular WHITE-TIPPED SICKLEBILLS as the settled in to their night roosts. BUFF-RUMPED WARBLER and SULPHUR-RUMPED FLYCATCHER were quite easy to see in the narrow creek. Next, we birded from the bridge over the Quebrada near Dos Brazos. There was a lot of activity here including a close female RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER. All the meals at BdRT were excellent. Both Dennis and I heard an owl during the night but neither could ID it positively.
4.8.12
This morning, Ulysses guided us along the trails leading up to a prominent look out on top of the hill behind BdRT. Although the day started slow in the dark primary forest, we did have a RUDDY QUAIL-DOVE walking in front of us on the trail. A mixed flock turned up a RUDDY-TAILED FLYCATCHER. As the smaller trail ended at the larger Cart Trail, we enjoyed a cooperative RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR, and 2 lethargic ORANGE-COLLARED MANAKINs on a lek site. Several COLLARED FOREST-FALCONs were calling from a large tree and we managed a few looks at the 2 juveniles. At the top of the hill, Ulysses pulled out some great birds including a distant displaying YELLOW-BILLED COTINGA! (rare away from mangroves). Here, we also had brief looks at WHITE-CRESTED COQUETTE. Walking back to the lodge, we managed to get scope looks at a bazaar SCALY-THROATED LEAFTOSSER. Back at the lodge, we eventually had spectacular scope views of a male BAIRD’s TROGON and quick looks at a BRONZY HERMIT.
This afternoon, we decided to try a trail upriver for Fasciated Tiger-Heron and Violet-headed Hummingbird. Although we missed both birds, we did enjoy a BLACK-TAILED FLYCATCHER on a nest and a difficult NORTHERN BENTBILL and a GREEN SHRIKE-VIREO. As we walked back to the lodge, the skies opened up and let loose a torrential downpour. We were both soaked in minutes and alarmed as the river rose and changed from clear to muddy brown. Back at the lodge, we decided to take the car across the river in case the river continued to rise as we did not want to get stuck on the wrong side of the river. Crossing the knee deep river in the car and slipping along the path in the pouring rain was thrilling. Once we had the car parked, we decided to re-check the small wetland. Dennis quickly found a pair of WHITE-THROATED CRAKES and motioned me over. I watched them and was absolutely transfixed as they proceeded to preen each other just feet from me. I vaguely registered that Dennis was jumping around on the road tearing off his boots and yelling “ANTS!” However, I soon understood his pain as my legs erupted in a blaze of pain and I was soon performing the same dance. The Ticos at the local soda definitely got a kick out of watching us attempt to pull all the biting ants off. Eventually we rushed to the river and were successful and washing them off of us.
After dinner, Abraham showed us a very interesting RED-EYED POISON-DART FROG.
4.9.12
Ulysses again guided us this morning. However, instead of going into the forest, we elected for looking for some secondary growth species. He proved to be essential in locating most of the species that we saw this morning. Ulysses quickly got us on a COCOA WOODCREEPER near the river crossing. At the small wetlands, he seemed to know exactly where the AMERICAN PYGMY-KINGFISHER was and I enjoyed point black views as it fished. We saw 4 species of kingfisher this morning. As we followed the road to Gallardo, we made several stops along the way adding 3 OLIVACEOUS PICULETs, a female GREAT ANTSHRIKE, SLATY SPINETAIL, LONG-BILLED HERMIT, and another MANGROVE CUCKOO to the list. We eventually located a STRIPED CUCKOO perched up and calling. It was great to watch it raise and lower its crest looking like a miniature roadrunner. Migration was evident with a large flock of EASTERN KINGBIRDS and BARN SWALLOWS. On the way back to the lodge, a very low KING VULTURE circled above the road and a more distant MANGROVE BLACK-HAWK flew above the river.
We reluctantly got on the road and made our way to the San Jose airport. Above Jaco, we noted a large pond with ROSEATE SPOONBILL, WOOD STORK, and BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCKS. Our last stop of the trip was the Orotina main town square. As we rolled up to the spot, I saw the square was crowded and I became quite discouraged. Regardless, we decided to ask around and quickly got directions to the famous day roosting BLACK-AND-WHITE OWLS near the bandstand. These were amazing birds in an unlikely setting and they were a fitting end to our trip.
We stayed in a mediocre Hotel (La Riviera) that had shuttle service to the airport and watched an American movie on the only TV we saw during our entire trip.
4.10.12
This morning I left SJO around 7:30am (don’t forget about the exit fee) and was back in Santa Barbara by 4pm.
Overall, a great trip.
1 Great Tinamou Seen and heard along Rio Java Trail at Wilson Botanical Gardens
2 Little Tinamou Heard at most lowland and mid elevation sites. Seen at BdRT
3 Black-bellied Whistling Duck At a roadside pond W of Orotina
4 Gray-headed Chachalaca Multiples in second growth near BdRT
5 Black Guan (e) Singles at Paradaiso and Savegre.
6 Crested Guan 2 in a fruiting tree at Las Cruces.
7 Spotted Wood-Quail* 10 seen along Los Robles trail from Savegre. More heard.
8 Magnificent Frigatebird Abundant at Golfito and along Pacific coast.
9 Wood Stork 1 in farm field E of Golfito more in a roadside pond near Orotina.
10 Bare-throated Tiger-Heron 1 from the Rincon Bridge
11 Little Blue Heron 1 from the Rincon Bridge
12 Great Egret U throughout
13 Cattle Egret C throughout
14 Green Heron U throughout
15 Boat-billed Heron 1 at BdRT
16 Roseate Spoonbill Several near Rincon bridge and at roadside ponds
17 White Ibis U throughout
18 Black Vulture A throughout
19 Turkey Vulture C throughout
20 King Vulture 1 circling low near BdRT
21 Double-toothed Kite 1 distant perched bird Cart Path from BdRT
22 Swallow-tailed Kite C throughout except at Paradaiso.
23 White-tailed Kite 1 kiting above San Jose from Hotel Bouganvillea
24 Crane Hawk 3 circling high in coastal plain near Rincon bridge.
25 Gray Hawk C throughout lowlands and mid elevations
26 Roadside Hawk C throughout lowlands
27 Mangrove Black-Hawk* Singles from Rincon bridge and near BdRT
28 Red-tailed Hawk 2 resident birds circling near Savegre
29 Crested Caracara U along Pacific coast
30 Yellow-headed Caracara C along Pacific coast
31 Collared Forest-Falcon* 1 adult seen near Golfito. 2 juv seen and heard at BdRT
32 Gray-necked Wood-Rail C to A near BdRT
33 White-throated Crake Many heard throughout pacific lowlands in marshy habitat. 2 seen well at Dos Brazos.
34 Purple Gallinule U near Dos Brazos and Gallardo, 1 at San Juaquin Marsh
35 Common Gallinule several at San Juaquin Marsh
36 Northern Jacana Many in a field east of Golfito.
37 Spotted Sandpiper U along coast and rivers
38 Ruddy Turnstone 3 along coast at Golfito
39 Laughing Gull A along coast near Golfito
40 Rock Pigeon Several seen along roadways
41 Pale-vented Pigeon A in pacific lowlands
42 Red-billed Pigeon Several seen at Hotel Bouganvillea
43 Band-tailed Pigeon A in highlands
44 Short-billed Pigeon C in pacific lowlands and U in middle elevations
45 Ruddy Pigeon C in highlands
46 White-winged Dove C in San Jose valley
47 Inca Dove 2 seen at Hotel Bouganvillea
48 Ruddy Ground-Dove A in Pacific lowlands
49 Blue Ground-Dove 4 at the kitchen eating rice at BdRT
50 White-tipped Dove U throughout
51 Gray-chested Dove singles seen at Las Cruces and BdRT
52 Ruddy Quail-Dove* 1 along the forest trails behind BdRT
53 Sulphur-winged Parakeet* (e) Small flock around the orchard near Savegre on 2 days
54 Crimson-fronted Parakeet (e) Small flocks around Las Cruces.
55 Orange-chinned Parakeet A throughout Pacific Lowlands and middle elevations
56 Brown-hooded Parrot A dozen at Las Cruces.
57 Blue-headed Parrot 4 At Las Cruces.
58 White-crowned Parrot 1 at Las Cruces with red orbital ring.
59 Red-lored Parrot Flyby at BdRT
60 Mealy Parrot Several Small flocks near Golfito
61 Yellow-naped Parrot* 2 at Hotel Bouganvillea.
62 Scarlet Macaw A at BdRT. Flyover of 12 near Jaco.
63 Mangrove Cuckoo* 2 near Golfito. Another near Gallardo.
64 Striped Cuckoo* 2 heard and 1 seen near Gallardo.
65 Squirrel Cuckoo 2 seen behind BdRT
66 Smooth-billed Ani C in open areas.
67 Black-and-white Owl* 2 roosting in Orotina main square.
68 Mottled Owl 1 Heard at Las Cruces.
69 Vermiculated Screech-Owl* 1 Heard at Las Cruces.
70 Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl* (e) 1 Seen at nest hole along Los Robles Trail at Savegre.
71 Common Paraque 4 heard from Hotel Bouganvillea
72 Dusky Nightjar* (e) 3 heard and 1 seen at night at Paradaiso
73 nighthawk sp DV only At dusk at San Jose airport.
74 White-collared Swift C throughout
75 Costa Rican Swift Medium sized flocks at Las Cruces and BdRT
76 Green Hermit Several along Rio Java Trail
77 Stripe-throated Hermit U throughout Middle elevations and lowlands
78 Long-billed (Western Long-tailed) Hermit U throughout Middle elevations and lowlands
79 Bronzy Hermit* Singles at Gallardo, Dos Brazos and BdRT
80 Band-tailed Barbthroat* 1 from BdRT porch
81 White-tipped Sicklebill* 2 at night roost in Quebrada Pizote
82 Fiery-throated Hummingbird* (e) A at Paradaiso feeders
83 Magnificent Hummingbird C at Paradaiso and Savegre feeders
84 Scaly-breasted Hummingbird* 1 at Las Cruces and 2 near BdRT
85 Charming Hummingbird (e) C in Pacific Lowlands.
86 White-necked Jacobin 1 at BdRT
87 Violet-crowned Woodnymph Singles at Golfito and BdRT.
88 Blue-throated Goldentail U near Golfito and near BdRT
89 Rufous-tailed Hummingbird C in middle elevations and lowlands.
90 Green Violet-ear 2 at Paradaiso feeders, A at Savegre feeders.
91 Stripe-tailed Hummingbird 2 near Savegre
92 Long-billed Starthroat* Singles at Dos Brazos and Gallardo
93 White-throated Mountain-Gem* (e) C at Savegre feeders
94 White-crested Coquette (e) 1 above BdRT
95 Scintillant Hummingbird* (e) U at Savegre
96 Volcano Hummingbird* (e) C at Paradaiso and Savegre grounds
97 Violaceous Trogon Singles at Las Cruces and Gallardo
98 Baird's Trogon* (e) Male and later a female at and near BdRT
99 Orange-bellied Trogon* (e) Single female along Los Robles trail above Savegre
100 Resplendent Quetzal 6 at Paradaiso and 1 at Savegre
101 Slaty-tailed Trogon Pair above Golfito and BdRT.
102 Blue-crowned Motmot U throughout Middle elevations and lowlands
103 Broad-billed Motmot (DV) Braullio Carillo
104 Ringed Kingfisher Singles at Rio Tigre and Golfito
105 Green Kingfisher C around BdRT
106 American Pygmy Kingfisher* One in small marshy area at Dos Brazos
107 Amazon Kingfisher Singles at Rio Tigre and Golfito
108 Rufous-tailed Jacamar One above BdRT
109 Emerald (Blue-throated) Toucanet* A photogenic pair on Savegre grounds.
110 Chestnut-mandibled Toucan C in lowlands and at middle elevations
111 Fiery-billed Aracari (e) 1 above Golfito
112 Acorn Woodpecker U in highlands
113 Golden-naped Woodpecker (e) U above Golfito
114 Hoffman's Woodpecker (e) Several around Hotel Bouganvillea
115 Red-crowned Woodpecker C in lowlands
116 Hairy Woodpecker C in highlands
117 Red-rumped Woodpecker 1 at Quebrada Pizote bridge
118 Olivaceous Piculet 1 at Quebrada Pizote bridge and 2 more near Gallardo
119 Pale-billed Woodpecker* 4 above Golfito and another above BdRT
120 Lineated Woodpecker 1 near Gallardo
121 Slaty Spinetail NG only. Quick bird near Gallardo
122 Red-faced Spinetail* 1 at tree fern hill in Wilson Botanical Gardens.
123 Ruddy Treerunner (e) C in mixed flocks in highlands
124 Buffy Tuftedcheek* 4 in mixed flocks along Los Robles trail above Savegre
125 Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner* U in mixed flocks in middle elevations and lowlands
126 Lineated Foliage-gleaner 1 in a mixed flock along Los Robles trail.
127 Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner* 1 along Rio Java trail.
128 Ruddy Foliage-gleaner 1 in a mixed flock along Rio Java trail.
129 Scaly-throated Leaftosser* 1 along trail above BdRT
130 Plain Xenops U throughout lowlands and middle elevations
131 Northern Barred Woodcreeper 1 above BdRT
132 Long-tailed Woodcreeper* 1 above Golfito and another above BdRT
133 Wedge-billed Woodcreeper 2 Above Golfito
134 Streak-headed Woodcreeper ?
135 Spot-crowned Woodcreeper C in upper elevation
136 Cocoa Woodcreeper 1 at BdRT
137 Great Antshrike* 1 female in second growth near BdRT
138 Black-hooded Antshrike (e) C in lowlands. 1 along Rio Java trail.
139 Chestnut-backed Antbird 1 above Golfito. C at BdRT
140 Dot-winged Antwren U in lowlands
141 Black-faced Antthrush 1 at Rio Java Trial and another at BdRT. Heard only
142 White-throated Spadebill* 1 along Rio Java Trail
143 Paltry Tyrannulet U near BdRT
144 Yellow-bellied Elaenia 1 on road to Playa Cacao another near BdRT
145 Mountain Elaenia* C in upper elevations
146 Piratic Flycatcher C in lower and middle elevations
147 Yellow-olive Flycatcher 3 seen at BdRT
148 Slaty-capped Flycatcher NG only. 1 in a mixed flock along Rio Java trail was hopefully not Sepia-capped
149 Common Tody-Flycatcher C around BdRT
150 Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher* 1 on Rio Java Trail
151 Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant 1 above Golfito and another along Rio Java Trail
152 Northern Bentbill* 1 Calling and briefly seen along Rio Tigre above BdRT
153 Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher 1 on BdRT trails
154 Ochre-bellied Flycatcher C around BdRT
155 Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher 1 above Golfito, C around BdRT
156 Black-tailed Flycatcher* 2 seen along Rio Tigre above BdRT
157 Bright-rumped Attila* Singles at Golfito, Las Cruces, and BdRT
158 Rufous Mourner/Piha A silent bird seen from BdRT patio
159 Eye-ringed Flatbill 2 on BdRT trails
160 Dark Pewee* (e) 1 at Los Ranchos in San Gerardo de Dota
161 wood-pewee sp All silent birds. C in lowlands
162 Alder/Willow Flycatcher 1 above Golfito.
163 Least Flycatcher 1 calling at Las Cruces
164 Yellowish Flycatcher C along Los Robles Trail
165 Black-capped Flycatcher (e) C at Paradaiso and around Savegre
166 Tufted Flycatcher A pair on nest above Savegre River, 3 more along Los Robles Tr
167 Black Phoebe 1 at Los Ranchos in San Gerardo de Dota
168 Great-crested Flycatcher U throughout
169 Dusky-capped Flycatcher U throughout
170 Great Kiskadee C in lowlands
171 Golden-bellied Flycatcher* (e) 3 seen at Savegre and Los Robles Tr
172 Social Flycatcher C in lowlands
173 Gray-capped Flycatcher C in lowlands
174 Streaked Flycatcher 1 above Golfito and a few around Las Cruces
175 Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Much more common than Streaked
176 Tropical Kingbird C in open areas in lowlands
177 Eastern Kingbird A migrating flock of 30+ near Gallardo
178 Rose-throated Becard 1 female at Las Cruces
179 Barred Becaerd* 1 male along Zeledonia tr at Paradaiso
180 White-winged Becard* 1 male along Rio Java Tr and another at BdRT trails
181 Masked Tityra C in lowlands
182 Black-crowned Tityra 1 at BdRT
183 Yellow-billed Cotinga* (e) 1 displaying distantly from top of Cart path at BdRT
184 Turquoise Cotinga* (e) 1 male at Dos Brazos
185 Orange-collared Manakin* (e) around 8 birds seen around BdRT, males females with some wing snaps.
186 White-ruffed Manakin A quick pair in a mixed flock along Rio Java Tr
187 Red-capped Manakin Single males at Las Cruces and BdRT
188 Yellow-throated Vireo One bird from the balcony on our Las Cruces room
189 Philadelphia Vireo C throughout lowlands
190 Brown-capped Vireo* NG only. Only one, rather high bird in a mixed flock down from Savegre
191 Yellow-green Vireo One bird at Hote Bouganvillea gardens
192 Red-eyed Vireo C in lowlands
193 Yellow-winged Vireo* (e) C in highlands
194 Lesser Greenlet C in lowlands
195 Green Shrike-Vireo 1 at "yard" upstream from BdRT
196 Brown Jay 1 distant bird seen from Hotel Bouganvillea
197 Silvery-throated Jay* (e) 2-3 seen in large mixed flock on Los Robles. Seen well and for a long time.
198 Blue-and-white Swallow A in highlands
199 Mangrove Swallow A near water in lowlands
200 Gray-breasted Martin C in lowlands and midle elevations
201 Southern Rough-winged Swallow U in lowlands
202 Barn Swallow One small group near Gallardo
203 Tropical Gnatcatcher U from Rincon br to BdRT
204 Rufous-naped Wren 2 at Hotel Bouganvillea gardens
205 Rufous-breasted Wren 2 at Las Cruces
206 Riverside Wren (e) A in lowlands. LOUD!
207 Plain Wren 2 near Gallardo
208 Black-bellied Wren C in second growth tangles
209 Ochraceous Wren* (e) 3 at Paradaiso and another at Los Robles Tr in primary forest.
210 House Wren U in low/midlands
211 Timberline Wren* (e) 1 at a nest on Paradaiso trails.
212 White-breasted Wood-Wren Las Cruces
213 Gray-breasted Wood-Wren DV only 2 along Los Robles Trail
214 Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush DV only Braullio Carillo
215 Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush (e) A in highlands
216 Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush 1 at Las Cruces
217 Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush* U in highlands
218 Swainson's Thrush A in lowlands
219 Black-faced Solitaire (e) U in highlands
220 Sooty Robin (e)* C in highlands
221 White-throated Robin U at Las Cruces
222 Clay-colored Robin A in middle elevations
223 Mountain Robin* A in highlands
224 American Dipper 2 along Rio Savegre
225 Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher* (e) C in highlands
226 Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher* (e) 5 birds. Only around Paradaiso.
227 Tennessee Warbler C in highlands
228 Golden-winged Warbler 1 along Rio Java Tr
229 Tropical Parula 2 along Rio Java in second growth
230 Flame-throated Warbler* (e) C in highlands.
231 Yellow Warbler U in lowlands
232 Chestnut-sided Warbler A throughout
233 Black-throated Green Warbler C in highlands
234 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 above Golfito
235 Northern Waterthrush U in middle and low elevations
236 Louisiana Waterthrush One bathing from Rincon Br
237 Wilson's Warbler A in highlands
238 Mourning Warbler 2 in lowlands
239 Buff-rumped Warbler 1 in a mixed flock along Rio Java, 3 along Quebrada Pizote.
240 Collared Redstart (e) C in highlands
241 Slate-throated Redstart 1 at Las Cruces
242 Rufous-capped Warbler C in middle elevations
243 Black-cheeked Warbler* (e) C in highlands
244 Wrenthrush (Zeledonia)* (e) NG only 1 brief glimpse along Zeledonia Tr
245 Bananaquit C in middle and low elevations
246 Red-crowned Ant-Tanager 3 along Rio Java Tr
247 Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager* (E) U at BdRT
248 Common Bush-Tanager C at Las Cruces
249 Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager (e) A in highlands
250 White-shouldered Tanager Singles near Golfito and BdRT
251 Gray-headed Tanager 1 along Rio Java and 2 near BdRT
252 Summer Tanager U in lowlands
253 Flame-colored Tanager C in highlands. Easy at Savegre.
254 Scarlet Tanager C in middle elevations and lowlands
255 Cherrie's Tanager (e) A in lowlands
256 Speckled Tanager 2 in a mixed flock along Rio Java Tr
257 Golden-hooded Tanager C at low and mid elevations
258 Bay-headed Tanager C at middle elevations
259 Silver-throated Tanager C at middle elevations
260 Blue-gray Tanager C at mid/low elevations
261 Palm Tanager U in lowlands
262 Blue Dacnis 2 strange looking birds at Las Cruces
263 Scarlet-thighed Dacnis Cracking looks at a male at Las Cruces
264 Green Honeycreeper U in lowlands
265 Red-legged Honeycreeper U in lowlands
266 Thick-billed Seed-Finch C in lowlands
267 Variable Seedeater A in lowlands
268 White-collared Seedeater 5 in mixed flock
269 Yellow-bellied Seedeater* 10 in mixed flock
270 Slate-colored Seedeater* 1 in mixed flock
271 Ruddy-breasted Seedeater* 1 in mixed flock and another near Gallardo
272 Yellow-faced Grassquit U at Savegre and Las Cruces
273 Blue-black Grassquit C in lowlands
274 Slaty Flowerpiercer* (e) C in highlands
275 Large-footed Finch* (E) C in highlands
276 Yellow-thighed Finch (e) C in highlands
277 Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch 2 on drive into Paradaiso
278 White-eared Ground-Sparrow* 3 at Hotel Bouganvillea Gardens
279 Orange-billed Sparrow U in primary forest of lowlands
280 Black-striped Sparrow C in lowlands
281 Rufous-collared Sparrow A in middle elevations and highlands
282 Volcano Junco* (e) 2 at top of Cerro de Muerte near communication towers.
283 Streaked Saltator* 2 at Las Cruces
284 Grayish Saltator 3 at Hotel Bouganvillea
285 Buff-throated Saltator U throughout Middle elevations and lowlands
286 Black-faced Grosbeak DV only Braullio Carillo
287 Black-thighed Grosbeak* 1 flew in to tape on Paradaiso trails.
288 Rose-breasted Grosbeak female and male at Savegre grounds
289 Blue-black Grosbeak 1 male on BdRT trails
290 Red-breasted Blackbird U in grassy lowlands cattle fields
291 Eastern Meadowlark NG only 1 E of Golfito
292 Melodious Blackbird 1 at Hotel Bouganvillea
293 Great-tailed Grackle A in lowlands
294 Bronzed Cowbird UC
295 Baltimore Oriole UC
296 Scarlet-rumped Cacique 1 above Golfito
297 Chestnut-headed Oropendola DV only Braullio Carillo
298 Yellow-bellied Siskin* U around San Gerardo de Dota
299 Elegant Euphonia* Poor looks at pairs at Paradaiso and Savegre
300 Thick-billed Euphonia U in lowlands
301 White-vented Euphonia* 1 above Golfito and 2 above BdRT
302 Spot-crowned Euphonia* (e) 1 above Golfito and 2 at Las Cruces