Birdwatching in Costa Rica

This morning we check out of our hotel and depart for a visit the Tapantí National Park and the rather ominously named Cerro de la Muerte – the Mountain of Death. In fact this park teems with life and is a paradise for birdwatchers in particular, with hundreds of different species, around half of which are unique to this area.

Species that we can hope to see include Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow, Lesser Elaenia; Golden-hooded, Crimson-collared, Silver-throated and White-lined Tanagers; Tropical Parula, Dark Pewee, Golden-bellied Flycatcher, Collared Trogon, nightingale-thrushes, Common Chlorospingus, Red-headed and Prong-billed Barbets; Tufted Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Ruddy Pigeon, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Spotted Woodcreeper and Red-faced Spinetai. Two of the more difficult hummingbird species in Costa Rica, Black-bellied Hummingbird and White-bellied Mountain-gem are more regular in Tapantí than other sites.

We then continue to our hotel.

This morning we travel to Los Quetzales National Park, which as the name suggests offers us the best chance of spotting the iconic Resplendent Quetzal. 242 different species have been recorded here, including the Collared Trogon, Middle American Leaftosser, Buffy Tufted-cheek, Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner, Streak-breasted treehunter, White-throated spadebill and Slaty-capped Flycatcher

We check out of the hotel and head for Turrialba, stopping en route for some birdwatching as the opportunities arise – one of the joys of birdwatching in Costa Rica is that you don’t need to stray far from the roadside to spot new species.

In the afternoon, we arrive at Rancho Naturalista, the premier birdwatching lodge in Costa Rica and our base for the next two nights. Multiple species of hummingbirds, as well as many other birds, can be seen without leaving your own spacious balcony, with a great view of the smoking Turrialba volcano in the distance.

We spend the day birdwatching in the garden and forest surrounding the Rancho Naturalista. The lodge garden has fruit feeders which attract a variety of bird species including Lesson’s Motmots, Montezuma, and Chestnut-headed Oropendolas, Grey-headed Chachalacas, Baltimore Orioles, several kinds of euphonias and tanagers. Other species we can hope to see include the rare Tawny-chested Flycatcher, the enigmatic Lovely Cotinga, the secretive Thicket Antpitta and the uncommon White-crowned Manakin.

Back at the Lodge we have another opportunity to observe many kinds of hummingbirds, which are attracted to the pools and feeders. These include the Snowcap and Purple-crowned Fairy; the White-necked Jacobin, Violet Sabrewing and the Green-crowned Brilliant.

This morning we leave the hotel and depart for Sarapiqui, once again stopping from time to time to do some birdwatching from the roadside. We will stay for the next three nights at La Quinta Lodge, which like the Rancho Naturalista has its own diverse range of birdlife, some which can be seen from your own balcony

Today we visit La Selva Biological Research Station, which was founded in 1968, since when it has served as a key training and research site for numerous professional scientists. 470 species of birds have been recorded here and we can expect to see a great variety along with numerous other wildlife as we follow the network of trails through the dense old-growth forest that surrounds the station.

Today we explore the Braulio Carrillo National Park, a huge expanse of virgin rainforest and cloudforest that is also easily accessible. It is home to more than 500 species of birds including Resplendent Quetzals, Bare-Necked Umbrella Bird, Snowcap, Brown-Billed Scythe Bill, Black-Crowned Antpitta, Golden-Browed Chlorophonia, Flame-Throated Warblers, Long-Tailed Silky-Flycatchers, Yellow-Eared Toucanet and Latticed-Tailed Trogon. On the lower Caribbean slopes, tanagers and hummingbirds are particularly easy to spot.

This morning we check out of the hotel and head for the Pacific coast, where we can expect hotter weather than on the Caribbean side. Our base for the final three nights is the Hotel Punta Leona in the district of Tárcoles, sandwiched between exuberant tropical forest on one hand and gorgeous beaches of white sand and emerald-green sea on the other.

Some 330 species of birds have been recorded in the private reserve and this evening we will enjoy a night walk, when we will see, or more likely hear, nocturnal birds such as nightjars, owls and pauraque. Of course, there are a great many other creatures that come out at night such as frogs, snakes, scorpions and insects, so this walk is not for the faint hearted and entirely optional!

Today we visit the Carara National Park, which contains the northernmost Pacific coastal rain forest remaining intact in Costa Rica and is the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest.

The so-called Crocodile Bridge over the Tárcoles River is a good place to spot the numerous Scarlet Macaws that nest and feed throughout the reserve – not the mention the crocodiles themselves, some of which can be 20 foot long.

Other species we can expect to see in this transitional habitat include Collared Aracari, Fiery-billed Aracari, American Egret, Great Tinamou, Turkey vulture, Long-billed Gnatwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Black-hooded Antshrike, Keel-billed Toucans, Anhinga, Jacanas, Pied-billed Grebes, Mexican Tiger-bitterns and Boat-billed Herons.

Early morning is always a great time to spot birds and other wildlife and today we will set our alarms and enjoy an early morning boat trip on the Tárcoles River. Among the birds seen here are American Pygmy-Kingfisher, Double-striped Thick-knee, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Common Black Hawk and the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird. Other wildlife abounds, notably the crocodiles which can be viewed from close quarters but in perfect safety (as long as you don’t try and feed them!). Look out too for lizards, iguanas, and the ever-present monkeys in the trees.

The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the facilities of the hotel, soak up some sun on the beach or take a dip in the Pacific Ocean.

This morning we check out of the hotel and travel to San José’s Juan Santamaria airport for our return flight to London. 

We arrive in London.