Costa Rica - Part IV

 

Band-backed Wrens - Helliconia Island, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

With winter dragging on and even deepening at times here in Massachusetts, again it feels like an appropriate time to reflect on the fabulous Costa Rica trip that I had with Naturalist Journeys in January 2020. 

Amazon Kingfisher - Sarapiqui River, from Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. January 10th, 2020.

Jan 10th - 12th; Turriabla, Guayabo NP, Sarapiqui. After a productive final morning at Rancho Naturalista we pressed on toward the humid, Caribbean lowlands via Guayabo National Monument where we treated to a fascinating tour with a National Park guide and Johan acting as translator. We packed a lot into that one day, skirting around the lower slopes of the Turrialba Volcano and eventually squeezing in a river cruise along the Rio Sarapiqui from Puerto Viejo. The final two nights of the tour were spent at the fabulous Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge. As well as fantastic on-site birding within the grounds of the lodge, the last full day was spent at several locations within the greater Sarapiqui area including La Selva Biological Station and Helliconia  Island. The final morning brought an understandable element of sadness for those leaving Costa Rica while others in the group looked forward to the Pacific Coast extension. In between, Johan rustled up yet more magic with a short but ridiculously busy birding session (with refreshment) at the Cinchona Colibri Cafe, conveniently situated on the way to the International Airport. It was exactly the sort of send off that would leave any birder/naturalist with a longing to return to this fantastic country. 

Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Blue-throated) - Cinchona Colibri Cafe, Costa Rica. January 12th, 2020.

Buff-fronted Quail-dove - Cinchona Colibri Cafe, Costa Rica. January 12th, 2020.

Prong-billed Barbet - Cinchona Colibri Cafe, Costa Rica. January 12th, 2020.

Red-headed Barbet (male) - Cinchona Colibri Cafe, Costa Rica. January 12th, 2020.

Crimson-collared Tanager (male) - Cinchona Colibri Cafe, Costa Rica. January 12th, 2020.

Grayish Saltator - Cinchona Colibri Cafe, Costa Rica. January 12th, 2020.

Double-toothed Kite - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

The last two days of the tour were centered around the humid lowlands close to La Selva Biological Station.

 Snowy Cotinga - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Long-billed Hermit - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Black and King Vultures - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Our lovely, fun group at La Selva. January 11th, 2020. 

Rufous-tailed Jacamar - Helliconia Island, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Long-tailed Tyrant - Helliconia Island, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth - Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 10th, 2020.

Speckled Caiman - Sarapiqui River, Costa Rica. January 10th, 2020.

Gray Hawk - over the Sarapiqui River, Costa Rica. January 10th, 2020.

Green Honeycreeper - Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Great Green Macaws - Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 11th, 2020.

Guayabo National Monument. January 10th, 2020.

A cozy home for two nights at the fabulous Sarapiqui Rainforest Lodge. January 10th, 2020.

Costa Rica 2020 - Part I

Green Ibis - Frogs Heaven, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Delightful views of a species that I'd only seen once before, and rather poorly at that, in the Darien, Panama. 

January has become synonymous with jetting off to warm places in search of exotic birds whether it be in the deserts and rugged coasts of the American southwest or more recently, Central America. For the time being at least, International travel seems like a not-so-distant memory and I've been finding it impossible to steer my mind away Costa Rica, primarily because at this time last year I was fully engaged in a superb introduction to the fabled country courtesy of Naturalist Journeys.  The trip incorporated two days with a private guide ahead of my scheduled 'Costa Rica Birding and Nature' tour and I soon became immersed in a 11 day exploration of Costa Rica's much-hyped beauty and biodiversity. With that in mind, this is a somewhat reflective series of blog entries, and a reminder of the days when International travel was open and straight forward.  

Green Honeycreeper - Dope Copey, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Jan 2nd - 5th, 2020: Arrivals (with Delta) in San Jose in early afternoon on the 2nd. Smooth passage through customs/immigration. My guide for the next three days, Aberlardo Benavides Murillo, was waiting at International arrivals ready to go. Then roughly a two hour transfer to Selva Verde Lodge along the Sarapiqui River. Warmth, humidity, greeted by Black Mantled Howlers and Red-eyed Treefrogs! January 3rd included a full day with Abelardo exploring the humid lowlands centered around La Selva Biological Station. A pretty remarkable day with over 100 bird species recorded and some fascinating mammals, despite heavy, thundery showers in late afternoon. Jan 4th included more casual birding around Selva Verde Lodge before heading to higher elevation at Cordillera Volcanic Reserve and the spectacular Cinchona Cafe in the Central Highlands. Most of the 5th was spent birding the grounds (10 acres!) of the marvelous Hotel Bougainvillia in Santa Domingo where, after meeting up with group members and our main guide for the tour Johan Fernandez, the 'Costa Rica Birding and Nature tour, January 2020' began in earnest in late afternoon. 

Black-faced Grosbeak - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Orange-chinned Parakeet - Dope Copey, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Collared Aracari - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Snowy Cotinga -La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Vermiculated Screech-Owl - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Vermiculated Screech-Owl - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Two birds roosting close together, one grayish and one more rufous in plumage tones. 

Chesnut-colored Woodpecker - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Northern Barred Woodcreeper - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Crested Guan - La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 3rd, 2020.

Bare-throated Tiger-heron - La Selva Lodge, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.

Abelardo  surveys the Sarapiqui River - La Selva Lodge, Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.

My guide for three days - top birder and super nice guy!

White Hawks - Cinchona Valley, Cordillera Volcanic Reserve, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020. 

Common Chlorospingus - Cinchona Valley, Cordillera Volcanic Reserve, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020. 

White-bellied Mountain-Gem - Colibri Cafe at Cinchona, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.

Coppery-headed Emerald - Colibri Cafe at Cinchona, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.

Red-headed Barbet (female) - Colibri Cafe at Cinchona, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.

Silver-throated Tanager - Colibri Cafe at Cinchona, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.

Another fine reason to visit the Colibri Cafe at Cinchona! January 4th, 2020.

Cinchona Valley, Cordillera Volcanic Reserve, Costa Rica. January 4th, 2020.