Sunbittern (at the nest) - Rio Tuis, Turrialba, Costa Rica. January 9th, 2020.
Extraordinary. I was busy watching this bird on the Rio Tuis with half of my group when it suddenly rose up into the
branches overhanging the river, walked along a branch and settled straight on to this nest - Wow!.
Jan 8th - 10th; Cartargo/Ujarras/Turrialba/Rancho Naturalista. It wasn't easy to say goodbye to the Savegre Valley along with all the creature comforts of the lodge and spa which had been home for two nights. It was the sort of place that seemed to have few ornithological limits with each and every outing likely to produce something new. Even so, our itinerary demanded that we be elsewhere and the day of our departure just happened to coincide with passage of a major cold front that brought a huge drop in temperature and plenty of rain. On the other hand, January 8th would end up being the only day of the tour where the weather slightly disrupted our plans though the rain did eventually impact on our search for Cabanis's Ground-sparrow in the agricultural fields around Ujarras. The ground-sparrow was one of just a handful of endemics that had the potential to be seen on our particular tour loop and missing it wasn't particular easy to accept - but that's birding! From there we pressed on through the rain to Turrialba to spend two nights at the fabulous, well established Rancho Naturalista. Even better, I had the chance to catch up with Harry Bernard whom I hadn't seen for ten years and is now a full time guide at the lodge. All from the Naturalist Journeys Costa Rica Birding & Nature Tour 2020.
White-necked Jacobin (male) Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
Mountain Elaenia - Le Esperanza, Costa Rica. Janury 8th, 2020.
Montezuma Oropendola - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
Tayra - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
A giant, omnivorous member of the weasel family.
Sunbittern - Rio Tuis, Turrialba, Costa Rica. January 9th, 2020.
Cabanis's Wren - Restaurante El Cas, Ujarrass, Costa Rica, January 8th, 2020.
Bright-rumped Attila - Ujarrass, Costa Rica, January 8th, 2020.
Agriculture in Ujarrass - haunt of the endemic Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow, though we missed out on our afternoon visit. January 8th, 2020.
Lunch is served. Restaurante El Cas, Ujarras, Costa Rica. January 8th, 2020.
Common Tody-flycatcher - Restaurante El Cas, Ujarras, Costa Rica. January 8th, 2020.
View from the balcony at Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
Birding from the balcony at Rancho Naturalista. January 9th, 2020. Top Costa Rican guide, Johan Fernandez, sits extreme left.
Birding along the approach road to Rancho Naturalista. January 9th, 2020.
Gartered Trogon (female) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
Along the approach road to Rancho Naturalista. January 9th, 2020.
Location of Rancho Naturalista and Turrialba relative to San Jose.
Roadside Hawk and Black Vulture - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
White-collared Swifts - Tayutic, Costa Rica. January 9th, 2020.
Wooded Valley at Tayutic, Costa Rica. January 9th, 2020. The sky above the trees was full of White-collared Swifts.
Golden-winged Warbler (male) - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
Not the best photo but I was quite surprised to find this species on three straight days on the tour, all of them males.
Gray-capped Flycatcher - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
Quite easy to overlook amid the much more common Social Flycatchers.
Paltry Tyrannulet - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 9th, 2020.
The forest around Rancho Naturalista boasts an extensive network of trails.
White-breasted Wood-Wren - Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica, January 10th, 2020.
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