The following is a chapter from the 3rd edition of Site Guides: Costa Rica by Dennis W

The following is a chapter from the 3^rd edition of Site Guides: Costa Rica by Dennis W. Rogers (August 2006). The= book includes information on Monteverde= , Santa Rosa, Palo Verde, Colorado, Carara, Manuel Anto= nio, Golfito, San Vito, Cerro de la Muerte, Tapanti,= Volcan Irazu, Volcan Poas, Virgen del Socorro, Braulio Carrillo, Cahuita, and La Selva, each with directions and basic species lists. Gen= eral travel information, suggested itineraries, and a set of directions for cros= sing San Jose (see earlier report at http://www.birdtours.co.uk/) are also provided.

For more information and to order ple= ase visit:

www.cinclustours.com. =

Carara National= Park

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Carara is an essential destination which takes care o= f the Pacific coast avifauna with some Guanacaste species as well. The “riv= er trail” is the best mile of birding in Costa Rica.

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Access= is straightforward as the park borders the main highway from Orotina to Quepos. Parking is a problem. The start of t= he river trail is about a km southeast of the Tárc= oles river bridge, with a steep drop off the pavement. If there are no tour bus = drivers present, leave absolutely nothing in the car. Sometimes there is a police presence at the bridge and you can park there, but not usually 24 hours.

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Techni= cally the park isn’t open until 7 am, but birding begins about 6 in the win= ter. So go there first and pay later at the headquarters a kilometer towards Quepos ($7). It’s possible you will be hassled = for going in early/without tickets, but no one not wearing an olive park service uniform has authority over visitors. There are some trails around the new p= ark headquarters, but the forest is secondary and not good.

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The wa= lk along the river trail, a road actually, can be excellent especially when vocaliza= tion is high. Scarlet Macaws are usually inside the reserve, if not then in early morning and late afternoon they fly over the bridge commuting to the mangroves in the distance. The main birding is up as far as the oxbow lake on the left, though the habitat continues well beyond. Depending on disturbance, Boat-billed Herons will be roosting in the trees at the viewpoint over the lake.

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Other sites near Carara:

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T= árcoles Bridge

The substantial biomass of crocodiles under the main highway bridge is an attraction for every passing tour bus. In addition to the crocs, Collared Plover can be seen from the bridge on the = dry gravel bars. Careful scrutiny is needed. Watch for thieves also.

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Guacalillo

About = 5 km from the Tárcoles bridge towards Orotina a road goes towards the = Guacalillo beach. A few km in, a creek crossing has some riverine= forest with magnificent trees. There is a Long-tailed = Manakin lek near the bridge. The road continues to the beach = and south eventually to the mouth of the Tárcoles, but viewing conditions are poor.

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Tivives mangroves

Tivives is a small beach town where the highway from = Orotina to Caldera hits the coast. Follow the signs a= nd bear left along the beach. There is a small checkpoint on the way out but j= ust wave your binoculars at them and there should be no problem. Access is rela= tively easy here, with Mangrove Vireo and some other mangrove specialties= .

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Orotina

The mo= st famous Black and White Owls in the world reside in the central = park in Orotina, about 30 minutes northwest of the b= ridge. They are readily seen roosting, making for a good mid-day stop. Go into town from the highway and look for the tall trees to locate the park.

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Birds of Carara

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Great Tinamou=

Little Tinamou

Anhinga=

Boat-billed Heron

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron

Purple Gallinule

Northern Jacana

Gray Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk

Crested Caracara

Yellow-headed Caracara

Laughing Falcon

Bat Falcon

Crested Guan

White-throated Crake

Collared Plover

Short-billed Pigeon

Inca Dove

Blue Ground-Dove

White-tipped Dove

Gray-chested Dove

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Scarlet Macaw

Crimson-fronted Parakeet

Orange-chinned Parakeet

White-crowned Parrot

Red-lored Parrot

Mealy Parrot

Yellow-naped Parrot<= /span>

Squirrel Cuckoo

Striped Cuckoo

Smooth-billed Ani

Striped Owl

Spectacled Owl

Crested Owl

Lesser Nighthawk

Costa Rican Swift

Bronzy Hermit

Band-tailed Barbthroat

Long-tailed Hermit

Little Hermit

Charming Hummingbird

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird

White-necked Jacobin

Violet-crowned Woodnymph

Blue-throated Goldentail

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Purple-crowned Fairy

Black-headed Trogon

Baird’s Trogon

Black-throated Trogon

Violaceous Trogon

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Green Kingfisher

Pygmy Kingfisher

White-whiskered Puffbird

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Fiery-billed Aracari=

Golden-naped Woodpec= ker

Lineated Woodpecker

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner

Plain Xenops<= !--[if supportFields]><= /span> XE "Xenops:Plain"

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

Barred Woodcreeper

Buff-throated Woodcreeper

Streak-headed Woodcreeper

Great Antshrike

Barred Antshrike

Black-hooded Antshrike

Dot-winged Antwren

Dusky Antbird=

Chestnut-backed Antbird

Black-faced Antthrush

Spectacled Antpitta<= /span>

S. Beardless Tyrannulet

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Northern = Bentbill

Common Tody-Flycatch= er

Slate-crowned Tody-F= lycatcher

Eye-ringed Flatbill<= /span>

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

Greenish Elaenia

Golden-crowned Spadebill

Royal Flycatcher

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Bright-rumped Attila=

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher

White-winged Becard<= /span>

Rose-throated Becard=

Yellow-billed Cotinga

Three-wattled Bellbi= rd

Orange-collared Manakin

Long-tailed Manakin<= /span>

Blue-crowned Manakin=

Red-capped Manakin

Mangrove Swallow

Black-bellied Wren

Riverside Wren

Rufous-breasted Wren

Plain Wren

Rufous & White Wren

House Wren

Long-billed Gnatwren=

Tropical Gnatcatcher

Yellow-throated Vireo

Yellow-green Vireo

Lesser Greenlet

Green Shrike-vireo

Tennessee Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Bananaquit<= /span> XE "Bananaquit"

Golden-hooded Tanager

Scarlet-thighed Dacnis

Blue Dacnis<= /span> XE "Dacnis: Blue "

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Yellow-crowned Euphonia

Thick-billed Euphonia

Red-crowned Ant-Tanager

Gray-headed Tanager

White-shouldered Tanager

Summer Tanager

Buff-throated Saltator

Blue-black Grosbeak

Orange-billed Sparrow

Black-striped Sparrow

Blue-black Grassquit=

Variable Seedeater