CLASSIC COSTA RICA TOUR REPORT 2024

5 - 28 March 2024

by Leonardo Garrigues

Once again, we managed to surpass our former record of species for this tour, with the impressive amount of 630 species recorded, but even more impressive was that we managed to see 618 species. Also, we added seven species to our cumulative Costa Rican list which included Red Knot, Northern Potoo, Lance-tailed Manakin, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Dickcissel, Slate-colored Seedeater and Yellow-winged Tanager.
Regarding highlights of the tour, we got to see the highly wanted Bare-necked Umbrellabird, with very good views of a very cooperative female. The bird of the trip this time was the mythical (maybe not anymore, or at least in Costa Rica) Maroon-chested Ground Dove, at Irazu Volcano area. Another impressive achievement was to see all the manakin species of Costa Rica (first time for myself that I manage to do this on a tour!) which included species like Lance-tailed, Long-tailed, White-crowned, White-collared, Orange-collared, Velvety, Red-capped, and White-ruffed Manakins. Other group of birds that we managed to see all the species of the country were the trogons, including great views of tricky ones Lattice-tailed and Elegant Trogons, near-endemic Baird’s Trogon and one of the most wanted species of the tour: the Resplendent Quetzal, which we managed to see on several occasions during the tour. Some of the main rarities seen on this tour included the Highland and Thicket Tinamou, Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge, Spot-bellied Bobwhite, Marbled and Black-eared Wood Quails, White-tipped Sicklebill, Bronzy Hermit, Veraguan Mango, White-crested Coquette, White-tailed Emerald, Mangrove Cuckoo, Purplish-backed and Chiriqui Quail-Doves, Mangrove Rail, Ocellated and Yellow-breasted Crake, Wandering Tattler, Agami Heron, Pinnated and Least Bittern, Mississippi Kite, Savanna and White-tailed Hawk, Costa Rican and Central American Pygmy Owls, Middle American and Choco Screech Owls, Tody Motmot, Keel-billed Motmot, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Little Long-tailed Woodcreeper, Ocellated and Bare-crowned Antbird, Black-headed Antthrush, Scaled Antpitta, White-fronted, Yellow-bellied and Rufous-browed Tyrannulets, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Yellow-winged Flatbill, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Tawny-chested Flycatcher, Ochraceous Pewee, Tropical Royal Flycatcher, Azure-hooded Jay, Band-backed and Song Wren, Northern and Southern Nightingale-Wrens, Ashy-throated Chlorospingus, Grasshopper Sparrow, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Slate-colored Grosbeak, White-throated Shrike Tanager, Peg-billed Finch and Blue-and-gold Tanager, just to mention some examples. Regarding of the specialties of the tour we got to see most of them, only very few were missing this time. Some of the most iconic ones like the Three-wattled Bellbird gave us good views, as well as the enigmatic Rosy-thrush Tanager, with a couple that was building a nest. Another major specialty is Wrenthrush, also a species of its own family and endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and Western Panama. We got good views of the five (technically four) endemic species of Costa Rica that included Gray-tailed Mountaingem, Coppery-headed Emerald, Mangrove Hummingbird, Cabanis’s Ground Sparrow and the Black-cheeked Ant Tanager (not any longer a Costa Rican endemic as has been seen in Panama near the border with Costa Rica). Many other goodies were observed, including Black Guan, Great Curassow, Black-breasted and Spotted Wood Quails, Dusky Nightjar, Black-crested Coquette, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, White-bellied and Purple-throated Mountaingem, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Garden Emerald, Snowcap, Lesser Ground Cuckoo, Grey-headed Dove, Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, Uniform Crake, Crested, Spectacled, Mottled and Black-and-white Owls, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Prong-billed Barbet, Blue-throated Toucanet, Fiery-billed Aracari, Golden-naped Woodpecker, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Great Green Macaw, Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner, Streak-crowned Antvireo, Dull-mantled and Zeledon’s Antbird, Scaled, Thicket and Streak-chested Antpittas, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Turquoise, Snowy, and Yellow-billed Cotingas, Green-shrike Vireo, Black-and-yellow Phainoptila, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Riverside, Ochraceous and Timberline Wrens, all the species of Nightingale-Thrushes (Black-billed, Ruddy-capped, Orange-billed, Slaty-backed and Black-headed), Spot-crowned and Tawny-capped Euphonias, Costa Rican Brushfinch, Sooty-faced Finch, Volcano Junco, Black-cowled Oriole, Nicaraguan Grackle, Flame-throated, Black-cheeked and Black-eared Warblers, Black-thighed Grosbeak, Nicaraguan Seed Finch, Black-and-yellow, Speckled, Spangled-cheeked, Emerald and Plain-colored Tanagers, just to mention some of them. Regarding mammals we managed to record 19 species, including Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Tayra, Central American Tapir, Honduran White Bat, Thomson’s Shaggy Bat, Panamanian White-faced Capuchin, Central American Squirrel Monkey, Mantled Howler, Central American Spider Monkey, Central American Agouti, Mexican Hairy Porcupine, Central American Dwarf Squirrel and Deppe’s Squirrel.

Our tour started at the outskirts of San Jose, where we did a pre-breakfast birding on the gardens of our hotel. Our session was quite productive, where we managed to see our first owl of the tour, a Mottled Owl roosting. Other species seen during the morning included the White-eared Ground Sparrow, Lesson’s Motmot, Red-billed Pigeon, Chestnut-capped Warbler, Brown Jay, Finches Parakeet, Rufous-backed Wren and brief views of a Sharp-shined Hawk (that was the only sight of the tour). Once we left our hotel we did a brief stop at the higher parts of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, where we managed to see few species like White-collared Swift, Prong-billed Barbet, Blue-throated Toucanet, Olive-streaked and Golden-bellied Flycatcher, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Common Chlorospingus, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Black-eared Warbler and Spangled-cheeked Tanager. Our next stop was the trails of Braulio Carrillo National Park, where we saw our first Lattice-tailed Trogon of the tour, as well we saw Green-crowned Brilliant, Crowned Woodnymph, Spotted Woodcreeper, Russet Antshrike, Slaty Antwren, Streak-crowned Antvireo, Stripe-breasted Wren, White-breasted Wood Wren, Wood Thrush and Black-faced Grosbeak. The last section of the afternoon was spent at the facilities of the Rain Forest Aerial Tram, where we got really close views (maybe too close) of the Baird’s Tapir, and our first Black-and-white Owl. The birds that we saw during an afternoon and the following morning at the Aerial Tram included a great selection of Caribbean foothill specialties, with great views of a female Bare-necked Umbrellabird (one of the most wanted species for this tour), as well we managed to see Crested Guan, White-necked Jacobin, Stripe-throated Hermit, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Grey-headed Kite, Black Hawk-Eagle, Double-toothed Kite, White Hawk, Central American Pygmy Owl, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Broad-billed Motmot, Collared Aracari, Brown-hooded Parrot, Mealy Amazon, Wedge-billed and Spotted Woodcreepers, Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner, Checker-throated Stipplethroat, White-flanked Antwren, Black-crowned Antshrike, Ocellated, Bicolored and Spotted Antbird, White-ringed Flycatcher, Rufous Mourner, Rufous Piha, White-ruffed and Red-capped Manakins, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Trilling and Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Olive-backed Euphonia, Chestnut-headed and Montezuma Oropendolas, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Golden-winged Warbler, Carmiol’s Tanager, Green and Shining Honeycreeper, Tawny-crested Tanager and White-throated Shrike Tanager. After an entertained session on the Aerial Tram, we did some birding on the way to La Selva where we looked for Fasciated Tiger Heron on the streams of the area. Other birds of interest where the Keel-billed and Yellow-throated Toucans, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Laughing Falcon, Great Green Macaw, Black Phoebe, Black-crowned Tityra, Bay Wren, Giant Cowbird, Chestnut-sided and Buff-rumped Warbler, Dusky-faced Tanager and the common but colourful Scarlet-rumped (Passerini’s) Tanager. Our session ended really well with views of the Middle American (Vermiculated) Screech Owl.

During our staying at La Selva we managed to see good views of the Snowy Cotinga (our most wanted target), first a female, and them a nice adult male. A great diversity of birds and animals at La Selva included the Great Tinamou, Crested Guan, Short-tailed Nighthawk, Great Potoo, Scaly-breasted and Blue-chested Hummingbird, Squirrel Cuckoo, Short-billed Pigeon, Sungrebe, Green Ibis, King Vulture, Crested Owl, Gartered and Northern Black-throated Trogons, Rufous Motmot, White-whiskered Puffbird, Rufous-winged, Chestnut-colored and Pale-billed Woodpeckers, White-crowned Parrot, Red-lored Amazon, Olive-throated Parakeet, Scarlet and Great Green Macaw, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Plain Xenops, Fasciated Antshrike, Dusky Antbird, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Eye-ringed, Yellow-olive and Yellow-winged Flatbills, Long-tailed Tyrant, Bright-rumped Attila, White-ruffed and White-collared (with a male doing a display) Manakins, Cinnamon Becard, American Cliff Swallow, White-browed Gnatcatcher, Yellow-crowned and Olive-backed Euphonias, Black-cowled Oriole, Shiny Cowbird, Louisiana Waterthrush (unusual for the place), Bay-breasted Warbler, Red-throated Ant-Tanager and Golden-hooded and Plain-colored Tanager. We also saw some mammals at the reserve that included the Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth, Tayra, Mantled Howler Monkey, Variegated Squirrel and the Thomson’s Shaggy Bat (that was a lifer for me).

Once we left the area of Sarapiqui, we went to the upper areas of the canyon of Sarapiqui river, covering elevations from 900m to 1100m. Here we got to see very good quality species like the Blue-and-gold Tanager who gave us excellent views, as well as the Tawny-throated Leaftosser. We also improved our views of La Selva of the Rufous-winged Woodpecker, and we managed excellent views of Black-headed Nightingale Thrush, a bird that could be tricky to see well most of the time. The American Dipper was another highlight of the morning, and few other species like Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant, Tropical Parula, Black-and-white and Blackburnian Warblers, Black-and-yellow and Bay-headed Tanager and Thick-billed Seed Finch. A visit to the Cinchona feeders was very productive as well, with views of the first Costa Rican endemic of the tour, the Coppery-headed Emerald, coming to visit the hummingbird feeders. Other birds that we managed to see at the place included the Green Hermit, Violet Sabrewing, Green-crowned Brilliant and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Red-headed and Prong-billed Barbet, Blue-throated Toucanet, Melodious Blackbird, Tennessee Warbler, Summer Tanager, Green and Red-legged Honeycreepers, Buff-throated Saltator, Crimson-collared Tanager, Silver-throated and Yellow-winged Tanagers. On the way to Fortuna, we visited a location where the Yellow-eared Toucanet was showing up, in a very unusual site, very close to houses and next to the main road. There were a few cecropia trees with fruits where some Toucanets had been showing up so we give the try for this rarity. When we arrived at the site it was really hot, and some people who were at the site for about an hour didn’t manage to see the birds. At least we knew that we were at the right place. We waited almost another hour at the place, and our patience rewarded us with excellent views of a male Yellow-eared Toucanet. After seen the Toucanet we did some birding on the way to our hotel in the last part of the afternoon. We didn’t see as much as we were trying to see the Keel-billed Motmot, but we just got 7 different individuals of Broad-billed Motmot in our quest. Other birds seen were the Purple-crowned Fairy, Bare-crowned Antbird and Song Wren. Then, we went to our hotel at Arenal Volcano area.

Our full day in the Arenal Volcano area started with a fruit feeder session where we got to see several Montezuma Oropendolas, as well the highly wanted Great Curassow. Crested Guans, and some tanagers were part of the menu, and a brief look of the Black-crested Coquette female visiting the verbena flowers. The rest of the morning was spent at forest trails and the grounds and gardens of our hotel where we managed to see things like Grey-headed Chachalaca, Violet-headed and Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Barred Hawk, Gartered Trogon, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Brown-hooded Parrot, Plain Xenops, Dull-mantled Antbird, Thicket Antpitta, White-throated Spadebill, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Sulphur-rumped Myiobius, Striped-breasted Wren, Tawny-faced Gnatwren, Black-faced Solitaire, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Black-striped Sparrow, Golden-crowned Warbler, Tooth-billed Tanager, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Slate-colored Grosbeak and Bay-headed, Rufous-winged and Emerald Tanagers. A short break after our lunch, for then visit the Bogarin trails, where we had a very productive session. Not as many birds but we got all our targets that included excellent views of Uniform Crake, Russet-naped Wood Rail, and great views of 3 individuals of White-throated Crake. The Keel-billed Motmot gave us extra work this time and in order to find it wed had to leave the trail to finally find an individual of the Keel-billed Motmot. Other birds seen during the afternoon session included the Broad-winged Hawk, a roosting Black-and-white Owl, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Barred and Great Antshrike, Tropical Mockingbird, Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush.

During our last morning at Arenal it rained just before the meeting time, luckily once we started our birding session we didn’t get any more rain. The morning was a bit windy and very dark, and the birding activity was rather poor, most of the birds were heard only, and not much was seen, just a White-throated Thrush was the only bird of interest that we managed to see. After breakfast we decided to do roadside birding with our bus, in order to be close to the vehicle in case that rained again. Not many birds were seen but we got to see the Bare-crowned Antbird for the ones who missed on our first afternoon in the area. The birding conditions weren’t the best so we decided to continue our journey to Medio Queso wetland, where the weather conditions were much better, and we managed to see several individuals of the Nicaraguan Seed-Finch before we started our boat ride. Javier and Chambita were waiting for the boat ride, and we had a very successful afternoon, definitely this boat ride was one of the main highlights of our tour. During the Medio Queso boat ride we managed to see Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Muscovy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Pale-vented Pigeon, Common and Purple Gallinule, a single Yellow-breasted Crake, Limpkin, a single individual of a Jabiru who flew over us, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorants, Roseate Spoonbill, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Boat-billed Heron, 6 different individuals of Pinnated Bitterns, 2 individuals of Least Bitterns, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, White-tailed Hawk (a rare bird for the country), Amazon, Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Slaty Spinetail, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Willow Flycatcher, at least 6 individuals of Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Sand Martin, Mangrove, Barn and American Cliff Swallows, Canebrake Wren, Grey-crowned and Olive-crowned Yellowthroats, Morelet’s Seedeater and big groups of Dickcissels that was another write in for the tour. As well we got excellent views of our most wanted target, the very restricted Nicaraguan Grackle that we got excellent views of several males and females. On the way to our accommodations, we looked for owls, but we just managed to see the Black-and-white Owl (the third sight of the tour), and just me and our driver Luis got to see the Striped Owl. After we settle in our accommodations, cold beers and a nice dinner were waiting for us for celebrate our successful afternoon.

The following morning, we did another boat ride, but this time at the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge. The highlight of this morning was to see the rare Agami Heron, where a juvenile bird was very cooperative for our group. Another highlight was to see a pair of Yellow-tailed Orioles which is a rare and localized species in Costa Rica due to caged bird trade. Some other birds seen during the morning included Grey-rumped and Lesser Swallow-tailed Swifts, Mangrove Cuckoo, Blue Ground Dove, Grey-headed Dove, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Wood Stork, Osprey, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Pied Puffbird, Lineated Woodpecker, Olive-throated Parakeet, Greenish Elaenia, Snowy Cotinga, Philadelphia Vireo, Spot-breasted Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, Prothonotary Warbler and Grey-headed Tanager. Also, during the morning, we got good activity of raptors migration where we managed to see two individuals of Mississippi Kite, and big numbers of Broad-winged and Swainson’s Hawks, as well thousands of Turkey Vultures as well. After our session at Caño Negro we continued to Bijagua, where a short stop produced great views of a male Black-crested Coquette and a Blue-throated Sapphire. The weather at Bijagua wasn’t as good so we visited the dry forest areas of Hacienda Tenorio. Our dry forest session was very productive where we managed to see a group of Spot-bellied Bobwhites, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Common Ground Dove, Double-striped Thick-knee, Black-headed and Elegant Trogon, Orange-fronted Parakeet, White-throated Magpie-Jay and White-lored Gnatcatcher, for then continued to our accommodations.

Our morning session at Bijagua was windy, but at least wasn’t raining, so we managed to see good birds like the most wanted Tody Motmot, who gave us some complications, but finally everyone got to see it. A pair of Crested Owls roosting was very appreciated, and excellent views of Northern Nightingale Wren in the open was some of the highlights of our morning. We got an encounter with a pair of Black-eared Wood Quail, but the skittish behaviour only just a few persons of the group managed to get brief views. Other birds seen at Bijagua included the Long-billed Hermit, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Northern Black-throated Trogon, Spotted Antbird, Northern Schiffornis, Pale-vented Thrush (brief views) and Yellow-throated Euphonia. Some boreal migrants of interest were the Kentucky Warbler and Scarlet Tanager. Some mammals of interest where the Panamanian White-faced Capuchin and the Deppe’s Squirrel. The afternoon session was on the area of Cañas, were we visited a wide variety of habitats, including agricultural areas, pastures, areas of fishponds with lagoons, as well some patches of forest too. Our session produced a good variety of hummingbirds that included Plain-capped Starthroat, Blue-vented and Cinnamon Hummingbird and Blue-throated Sapphire. Other birds during the afternoon session included Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Anhinga, Osprey, Snail Kite, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, White-fronted Amazon, Yellow-naped Amazon, Nutting’s and Brown-crested Flycatchers, Banded Wren, Stripe-headed and Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlark, Streak-backed Oriole and Chestnut-capped Warbler.

Our following day we visited some salt panes during the morning at hide tide moments, it resulted quite productive for our list padding, where we add several species of shorebirds such as Grey, Semipalmated and Wilson’s Plovers, Marbled Godwit, Short-billed Dowitcher, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Stilt, Least, Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers and we saw some individuals of Red Knots which another was write in for the tour. We also saw Black Skimmer, Gull-billed, Cabot’s and Royal Terns. Regarding Gulls, Laughing Gull was the only one that we saw. A visit to mangroves in the area allowed us to see a pair of Mangrove Rails, as well some other mangrove specialties like Panama Flycatcher, Northern Scrub Flycatcher, Mangrove Vireo and Mangrove Warbler. The drive to Monteverde produced some goodies as the Gray-headed Chachalaca, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Greenish Elaenia, Long-tailed Manakin, Yellow-green Vireo, White-throated Magpie Jay, Rufous-and-white and Cabanis’s Wren, Orange-billed Nightingale Thrush, Olive Sparrow, MacGillivray’s Warbler (a write in for the tour), Spot-breasted Oriole, and Yellow-faced Grassquit. Once at Monteverde, the first bird that we looked for was the Three-wattled Bellbird. On our first try that we did for it, we were lucky to see good views of a young male as well one adult male. With the Bellbird in the pocket, we had flexibility to try for other birds, and to visit different reserves during our two nights that we stayed in the area. We visited the Santuario Ecologico Monteverde, a transition forest of dry to cloud forest where we managed to see excellent views of the highly wanted Chiriqui Quail Dove. A surprise that we saw at Santuario Ecologico was to see a Thicket Tinamou, a bird that I wasn’t expecting to see, but once in a while tends to go as high as this reserve, thanks to the connectivity with dry forest of lower elevations. This connectivity also allows species of higher elevations to show up in the area such as the Black Guan that we saw. Other birds seen at this reserve were the Vaux’s Swift, Blue-vented Hummingbird, Keel-billed Toucan, Lesson’s Motmot, Hoffman’s Woodpecker, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Long-tailed Manakin, Brown Jay, Ovenbird, White-eared Ground Sparrow and Wilson’s Warbler.

Our visit to the Monteverde Reserve was in a misty day, even so we managed to see very good quality of species where the main highlight was to see the Highland Tinamou which everyone managed to see. We also had an exciting encounter with a group of Black-breasted Wood Quails that gave us excellent views. Other birds of our visit included the Lesser Violetear, Green-crowned Brilliant, Purple-throated Mountaingem, Magenta-throated Woodstar, Violet Sabrewing, Striped-tailed Hummingbird, great views of Buff-fronted Quail Dove, our first views of Resplendent Quetzal of the tour, with excellent views of a nice adult male, Collared Trogon (the orange-bellied form), Blue-throated Toucanet, Spotted Woodcreeper, Lineated Foliage-gleaner, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Spotted Barbtail, Ruddy Treerunner, Red-faced Spinetail, Slaty Antwren, Plain Antvireo, Olive-streaked Flycatcher, Ochraceous Wren, Gray-breasted Wood Wren, Black-faced Solitaire, Slaty-backed Nightingale Thrush, White-throated Thrush, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Common Chlorospingus, Black-eared Warbler, Slate-throated and Collared Whitestarts and Bananaquit. Another major highlight of our visit was to see a group of Azure-hooded Jays almost at the end of our hike, a great way to end our visit to the reserve. Another reserve that we visited in the area was the Santa Elena Reserve who complemented the birds that we saw at Monteverde Reserve, where we saw birds like Black Guan, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Northern Tufted Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch and Sooty-faced Finch. Once we left Monteverde area we went back to the heat of the dry lowlands, were we spent some time in dry forest patches and mangrove areas. At the mangrove areas we tried for Rufous-necked Wood Rail that we just managed to hear only. On the dry forest areas, we got to see the highly wanted Lesser Ground Cuckoo, that gave us nice views. Just before to arrive to our accommodations we saw a Pacific Screech Owl at his roosting site, and a Common Potoo. Our next birding locality was the Carara National Park area, who offers a transition forest of the humid Pacific Forest, with the dry Pacific Forest. The area also adds more diversity thanks to the Tarcoles mangroves and river. The forest birds that we saw in the area included Marbled Wood Quail, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Long-billed Hermit, Grey-chested Dove, Baird’s Trogon, Black-throated Trogon, White-whiskered Puffbird, Fiery-billed Aracari, Golden-naped and Pale-billed Woodpecker, Mealy Amazon, Scarlet Macaw, Little Long-tailed and Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner, Dot-winged and Slaty Antwren, Black-hooded Antshrike, Dusky and Chestnut-backed Antbird, Black-faced Antthrush, Streak-chested Antpitta, Northern Bentbill, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Stub-tailed and Golden-crowned Spadebill, Velvety and Red-capped Manakins, Tropical Royal Flycatcher, Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, White-winged and Rose-throated Becard, Rufous-breasted and Riverside Wren, Southern Nightingale-Wren, Trilling Gnatwren, Spot-crowned Euphonia, Orange-billed Sparrow, Buff-rumped Warbler, Blue-black Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, and Grey-headed and White-shouldered Tanagers. We also birded the area of Tarcoles, with a combination of mangroves, river edges, and the Tarcoles beach. Some species that we saw included the Muscovy Duck, Lesser Nighthawk, Magnificent Frigatebird, American White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, Brown Pelican, Plumbeous Kite, Common Black Hawk, Spectacled Owl, Panama Flycatcher, Mangrove Vireo, Streak-backed and Orchard Oriole, American Redstart and Mangrove Warbler.

Our next day we had a long drive to the southern Pacific region of the country at the Osa Peninsula. But different stops along the way produced some additions to our list such as the Wandering Tattler, White-tipped Sicklebill, Ocellated Piculet and Western Woodhaunter. One of the main targets of the Osa Peninsula area was the Yellow-billed Cotinga, where we spent some time looking for it at the famous Rincon River Bridge. We saw several individuals of Yellow-billed Cotingas including males and females. Other good birds included Costa Rican Swift, Charming Hummingbird, Grey-cowled Wood Rail, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Grey-lined Hawk, American Barn Owl, Fiery-billed Aracari, Red-crowned and Red-rumped Woodpeckers, Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet, Piratic Flycatcher, Scrub Greenlet, Yellow-billed and Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Blue Dacnis and the nomadic Slate-colored Seedeater who was another write in for the tour. The forest birding at the Osa Peninsula was very productive as well, where we got to see the former Costa Rican endemic, the Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. Other birds of interest included the Little Tinamou (that was seen by every member of our group), Violet-headed Hummingbird, Charming Hummingbird, Blue-throated Sapphire, Short-billed Pigeon, King Vulture, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, White-necked Puffbird, good views of a pair of Little Long-tailed Woodcreeper, Tawny-winged, Cocoa, Black-striped and Streak-headed Woodcreepers, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, Bright-rumped Attila, Rufous Piha, Velvety and Orange-collared Manakin, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-bellied and Riverside Wren, Thick-billed Euphonia, Scarlet Tanager and Shining Honeycreeper. Before we left the Osa Peninsula we visited another section of mangroves to look for the Costa Rican endemic Mangrove Hummingbird who gave us excellent views. Our afternoon session we spent at Ciudad Neilly area, an area where we had chances to see certain species that has their northern limit of distribution in these areas of Costa Rica. One of the main targets was the Veraguan Mango, that we managed to get good views of one female. Other birds that we saw were the Bronzy Hermit, Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, Smooth-billed Ani, Savanna Hawk, Blue-headed Parrot, Brown-throated Parakeet, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Yellow Tyrannulet, Rusty-margined, Streaked Flycatcher and Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Isthmian Wren and Red-breasted Meadowlark.

The following day we birded Las Cruces Biological Station (Wilson’s Botanical Gardens), and the surrounding areas. This day we had the local help of Jason who joined us during the day and helped us to located most of our targets and even more. During the first part of the morning, we got several new birds for the tour as the Scaled Pigeon, Lesser Elaenia, Bran-colored Flycatcher, the secretive Costa Rican Brushfinch and the Speckled Tanager. Later on, we spent time at the gardens, where we managed to see a nice male of White-crested Coquette, as well the Garden Emerald and Snowy-bellied Hummingbird. On the surrounding areas we add other birds like the White-tailed Emerald, Crested Oropendolas, and Streaked Saltator. During the afternoon we visited the area of La Union of Sabalito, where we got to see the shy Lance-tailed Manakin, a bird that just occur in this corner of the country and has never been seen before on this tour. We also tried for the Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet but this one didn’t show up. Same case with the Chiriqui Yellowthroat that we tried during the early morning and late afternoon, and don’t even answer at all.

We left our accommodations before dawn the following day to visit the region of Buenos Aires and the Salitre Savanas, were we had the local expertise of Leandro who help us to get our last targets of the south Pacific slope. The main start of the day was the Rosy-thrush Tanager, which on this occasion we saw a couple building a nest. Some other birds of interest included the Bare-crowned Antbird who gave us much better views than the area of Arenal, the Green-Shrike Vireo who gave us excellent eye level views, or the Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher. We also saw other birds like White-crowned Parrot, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antwren, Great Antshrike, Northern Bentbill, Orange-collared Manakin and Blue-black Grosbeak. A brief stop at the Salitre Savanas gave us views of the secretive Ocellated Crake, where most of the group got to see it. We continued to San Isidro area where we had another important target to see, the localized and restricted range Turquoise Cotinga. This time wasn’t easy, and we had to be patient, but finally we got excellent views of two adult males. After seen the Cotinga we continued our journey to the Talamanca Highlands, where we stopped at the highest areas to look for the paramo specialties. Here we got to see the Volcano Junco, Timberline Wren, Sooty Thrush and Black-billed Nightingale Thrush. We add other species before arriving to our accommodations like the highly wanted Wrenthrush, Black-and-yellow Phainoptila, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, Large-footed and Yellow-thighed Finch. At dusk we got our first Dusky Nightjar for then enjoy our dinner.

Our full day at the Talamanca Highlands we visited elevations from 2800 meters all the way down to 2000 meters at the lower areas of the Savegre Valley where we saw some different species. The list of the birds that we saw during our day included Black Guan, Spotted Wood Quail, Lesser Violetear, Talamanca, Fiery-throated, Stripe-tailed, Volcano [torridus] and Scintillant Hummingbird, the Costa Rican endemic Grey-tailed Mountaingem, Band-tailed Pigeon, Red-tailed Hawk, Costa Rican Pygmy Owl, Resplendent Quetzal, Acorn and Hairy Woodpecker, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, White-fronted and Torrent Tyrannulet, Dark Pewee, Yellowish and Black-capped Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Mountain Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Flame-throated, Black-throated Green and Black-cheeked Warbler, Collared Whitestart, Flame-colored Tanager, Black-thighed Grosbeak, the rare and erratic Peg-billed Finch, Slaty Flowerpiercer and Spangled-cheeked Tanager. We did an owling session where we got to see better views of Dusky Nightjar, as well we got great views of Bare-shanked Screech Owl.

Our last morning at the Talamanca Highlands we focused to see some of our last specialties that we missed our previous day. We managed to hear the Silver-throated Jay on the previous afternoon, so we went to the same site to see if we had success, but these jays are getting very difficult to see and very few persons have been lucky to see it on this season. What we did manage to see was the Ochraceous Pewee, a major highland specialty which is quite rare and localized. Once we finished in the Talamanca Highlands, we continued to Cartago where we looked for the Grass Wren at the Guarco Valley. With a bit of persistence, we managed to see it, flushing the bird in the grass. After that we continued to Ujarrás, where we got excellent views of the last Costa Rican endemic that we need it for our tour, the Cabanis’s Ground Sparrow. After seen the Ground Sparrow we continued to Hotel Quelitales where we had a delightful afternoon. At Quelitales we got to see different birds, just at the feeder station area. Some of the new birds for our tour were the White-bellied Mountaingem, Green-fronted Lancebill, Green Thorntail, the White-naped Brushfinch, and at the last minutes of day light the Scaled Antpitta appear to eat worms.

The following morning, we hiked part of the trails of Quelitales as well the grounds of the hotel, where we saw some birds like the Green Hermit, Lesser Violetear, Violet Sabrewing, Smoky-brown Woodpecker, Russet Antshrike, Zeledon’s Antbird, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Sooty-faced Finch, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, White-eared Ground Sparrow, Chestnut-headed and Montezuma Oropendola, Black-headed Saltator and Speckled, Bay-headed and Silver-throated Tanager. After our delicious breakfast we visited the mountains of Orosi, where we managed to see a good repertory of birds that included Purple-throated Mountaingem, Barred and Grey Hawk, Red-headed Barbet, Streaked Xenops, Red-faced Spinetail, good views of Zeledon’s Antbird, Mistletoe Tyrannulet, Black Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pewee, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Brown-capped Vireo, Ochraceous Wren, Pale-vented Thrush, Lesser Goldfinch, Elegant Euphonia, Tropical Parula, White-winged Tanager and Scarlet-thighed Dacnis. On the last section of the afternoon, we visited the Angostura Lake, were we had an entertained session with Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Muscovy Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Purple Gallinule, Limpkin, Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, White-tailed and Snail Kite, Red-winged Blackbird and Grey-crowned Yellowthroat. After that we continued to Rancho Naturalista to arrive just in time for the early dinner.

Our following day we did a very productive daytrip to El Copal Reserve. Despite been a very sunny and hot day we managed to get good species during our visit. The highlights were the Snowcap who gave us excellent views on the flowers around the buildings. An encounter with a pair of Purplish-backed Quail-Doves was another highlight of our morning too. Other species that we saw at El Copal Included the Great Black Hawk, Plain Antvireo, Fasciated Antshrike, Spotted Antbird, Black-headed Antthrush, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, White-throated Spadebill, Tawny-chested Flycatcher, Rufous Mourner, White-ruffed Manakin, Bay Wren, Song Wren, White-vented and Tawny-capped Euphonia, Ashy-throated Chlorospingus and Carmiol’s, Black-and-yellow, Speckled, Bay-headed and Emerald Tanager. During the afternoon we went to see an active nest of Sunbittern at Platanillo, a village located after Rancho Naturalista. We got to see very good views of the adult, as well the 2 chicks on the nest. After seen the Sunbittern we invest our time searching for White-throated Flycatcher, but we didn’t manage to find or heard a single one. We got other birds like White-lined Tanager, and another pair of Cabanis’s Ground Sparrow instead. Our group was tired so we decided to go back to Rancho for a beer and have some rest.

Our last morning at Rancho Naturalista wasn’t much left to see, but always are birds that could be new. Before breakfast we looked for Tawny-chested Flycatcher, for the ones who missed at El Copal, and this time we managed that everyone gets to see this Costa Rica and Nicaragua endemic. After our delicious breakfast we went to the Rancho upper trails. The main target was the White-crowned Manakin, our last Manakin that we needed to complete all the Manakins of Costa Rica. Once we got in the area of the lek territory we had to invest some time to managed that everyone gets to see it, but at the end everyone got good views of a young male and an adult male. Other birds that we saw during our morning at Rancho included Grey-headed Chachalaca, White-necked Jacobin, Purple-crowned Fairy, Green-breasted Mango, Ruddy Quail Dove, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Fawn-throated Foliage-gleaner, Checker-throated Stipplethroat, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Olive-backed Euphonia and Golden-winged Warbler. We also got another sight of Crested Owl during our hike. We left Rancho after lunch to continue our journey to our final destination, the Irazu Volcano. But on the way we did a brief stop at Turrialba to look for the Band-backed Wren, a species that have become quite hard to see on last years for the selective parasitism of Shiny Cowbirds on their nest. With a bit of persistence, we managed to find a pair of this colourful wren. The last section of the afternoon we went to the upper slopes of the Irazu Volcano. First, we tried for the Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge, but we just managed to hear it. We got better views of Hairy Woodpecker, and we saw 3 male Quetzals chasing a female. Just before dusk we went to a territory of Unspotted Saw Whet Owl, to try our luck this time. Initially we played the song and we didn’t get any answer. Once I gave up and started to walk back, one Saw Whet Owl started to call. Sadly, it just did that and didn’t show up. It was very skittish as I saw it with the thermal camera, but never came close and instead flew to the upper sections of the oak trees. Meanwhile I scan for the Saw Whet Owl with the thermal camera, I found a Mexican Hairy Porcupine, that was our consolation price for our Saw Whet Owl attempt.

The last day of the tour we went to an area of potatoes fields to look for one of the most enigmatic birds of the highlands of the tropics of America, the Maroon-chested Ground Dove. First time that we saw this bird for a Costa Rica Birdquest tour was on last year tour, and our goal was to see if we can manage to find it again. We hiked all the way up to find suitable habitat, and once we found the right place, we found one male who flew in front of us, so we knew we were at the right place. Few minutes after we located a pair walking in the fields, and we were able to put it in the scope and have great views of them. The other highlight of the morning was to see a pair of Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge. Just when everyone though that we were not going to see it, as we tried all day without success, one pair came silently and luckily everyone got to see them. Other birds that we saw during our day at Irazu included the White-collared Swift, Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Volcano Hummingbird (nominate ssp flammula), Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Black-capped Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Tropical Mockingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Large-footed Finch, Eastern Meadowlark, Flame-colored Tanager and the near endemic Slaty Flowerpiercer. Our last twitch before we ended the tour was a group of 5 Killdeers at one of the metropolitan Parks of San Jose.

Many thanks to all the members of the group, as well to our local guides and staff of the lodges who helped us to run this tour in the best way, and above all to our driver, Luis, who moved us around safely all over the country.

BIRDS & ANIMALS OF THE TOUR

1st    Maroon-chested Ground Dove

2nd  Resplendent Quetzal

3rd   Yellow-eared Toucanet

4th   Rosy Thrush-Tanager

5th   Turquoise Cotinga

6th   Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher

7th   Three-wattled Bellbird

8th   Highland Tinamou

9th    Wrenthrush

10th   Central American Tapir

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g., it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

The species names and taxonomy used in the bird list follows Gill, F., Donsker, D., & Rasmussen, P.(Eds). 2024. IOC World Bird List (v14.1).

Where the subspecies seen is/are known, these are often given in parentheses at the end of the species comment.