For additional information, please contact:

other participants:David Van den Schoor, Carl Goyvaerts, Dirk Van Den Eynde 

Introduction

David and I just arranged this trip two weeks in advance and we decided to book everything with a local tour operator.

The reason for this was that we could spend all of our time birding and didn’t have to bother to drive, find the right directions etc…

A few days later our friends Carl and Dirk decided to join us, although they are not ‘true’ birders they enjoy more the whole experience of travelling. They are always good company and more important to us they don’t affect the true birding. 

As we had only 13 full birding days, I created the itinerary in this way that we would see a fair amount of Costa Rican specialities and concentrate on a few locations mainly around the centre with visits to both Caribbean and Pacific slopes and the highlands as well.

We only drove 1200 kms and visited Carara Biological Reserve, Cerro de la Muerte including San Gerardo Valley, Tapanti National Park, Rancho Naturalista, Finca La Selva Biological Station and Braulio Carrillo National Park.

It is not my intention to write a true trip report with maps and notes on locations, for this I refer to both excellent trip reports of Jan Vermeulen (1990) and Jon Hornbuckle (2001).

We managed to see 396 species in this rather short time.

Tour operator

I contacted a few tour operators and Costa Rica Gateway was the only one who did great effort to make the arrangements in such a short notice. The travel consultant Sonia Nuňez was very friendly and helpful.

We paid for 4 persons the total amount of US$ 6672 (US$ 1668/person) for their services. This included 14 nights lodging, all meals, guiding at Rancho and a mini van with A/C for 13 full days with a bilingual driver.

In my opinion this was a good deal.

Flight and visa

We flew from Brussels to San José via Newark with Continental for 27720 BEF (687 €) return, taxes included. The flights were punctual and trouble free.

When leaving Costa Rica you are required to pay a departure tax of US$ 17 or the same amount in local coconuts. Be sure to reconfirm you return flight at least 72 hours before departure.  

No visa was required for us.

Money

The Costa Rica unit of currency is colones.
During our visit, the exchange rate was as follows:
1 US$ = 340 colones
In most of the places you can pay either in US$ or colones.

Miscellaneous

All the National Parks charge an entry fee of US$ 6 per person a day.

Another good thing to know is if you want to call home cheaply, you can buy different telephone cards of 3000/6000 colones and US$ 10.
With the cheapest one you can call approximately 15 minutes.

Transport

This was included in our package deal with Costa Rica Gateway.

The mini van we had was a nearly new Toyota with A/C and provided enough space for the four of us. (at least 10 people could sit comfortable)  

In general most of the roads we travelled on were in good condition with sometimes a few nasty potholes. Cars drive on the right.

Accommodation and food

In most towns you will find a variety of restaurants, supermarkets, and food-stalls.  Menus are usually simple but the food is generally good to excellent and fairly inexpensive.

You can safely drink the water in all major towns, as well as licensed tourist hotels/lodges in outlying areas.

Accommodation you can find everywhere in all different price classes. 

For more details about the accommodation, see useful addresses.

Climate

There is little variation in temperatures with May to December cooler than January to April.

In general the wet season is from June towards November and dry season from December to May.

During our stay the weather was good with a few occasional short showers and it was hot and humid at the lowlands and at the higher-altitude areas pleasantly warm during the day and cooling of around 10 degrees at night.

At the Caribbean side we had only 2 days with rain for several hours or more, so that it influenced our birding.

Time zone

GMT minus 6 hours.

Useful addresses

Itinerary

15/12  Departure at Brussels at 10.50 with some delay for a 7 hours and 11 minutes flight to Newark (- 6 hours difference with Belgium) with a brand new Boeing 767-200 which seated well and had enough place for my long legs. We had to wait here in transit for 5 hours and again with a little delay we left here at 18.00 for the connection flight towards San José (- 7 hours difference with Belgium) which took 4 ½ hours.

Landed at 22.10 and after some time consuming at the customs we took a taxi (US$ 15) towards our hotel Bougainvillea where we arrived close to midnight.

The temperature was pleasant with 22°C. 

16/12  After a good but short night’s rest, it was getting light at 05.15. (there is some little difference between east and west) Did some birding in the nice hotel garden.

At 06.30 we had a meeting with John Erb, owner of Costa Rica Gateway and paid the total amount for our customized trip. 

We met our bilingual driver Mauricio Quirós at 07.30 and a few minutes later we were on our way to Carara (straight it takes 2 hours) on the Pacific side.

We did a few short stops along the way with of course the obligatory stop at Orotina. In this small town, the very little park at the town square is a stake-out

for Black-and-white Owls. We also saw here a Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth, amazing!

Arrived at Villa Lapas around 13.00 for a three nights stay.

After lunch we did some birding around the hotel and in late afternoon we visited the bridge over the Grande de Tárcoles River for a late afternoon birding session. It was dark at 17.30.

17/12  Whole day at Carara Biological Reserve (entrance to the park is US$ 6/day/person) with the morning spend at the Vigilancia trail (also known as the riverside trail), this trail is a wide track with excellent birding throughout the day.

In the afternoon we visited Tarcol Lodge which is situated at Tárcoles River mouth. We did some birding around the lodge and nearby mangroves.

18/12  During the morning we did the new trail around the new headquarters which connects with the older double loop trail like a figure 8 at the old ranger station. Birding was pretty slow here.

In the afternoon did again the superb Vigilancia trail.

19/12  Drove (4 ½ hrs) towards Savegre Mountain Lodge (also known as Las Cabinas de Chacon) with a few short stops along the way. This lodge (altitude 2200 m) where we stayed for the next three nights, is situated in the San Gerardo valley on the Pacific slope of Cerro de la Muerte (turn off at km 80).

Arrived here at 14.00 and spend some time around the hummingbird feeders at the bar and the rest of the day birding around the lodge and at the trail at the end of the nearby camping.

20/12  During the morning we birded along the Cerro de la Muerte (which is the famous Pan American Highway) with visits to the paramo (which starts at km 88.5 and reaches the highest point at 3491 m) and the area around km 95-98.

In the afternoon we spend some time again at the trail at the end of the nearby camping as also the first km of the 4 ½ km long Cataract Waterfall trail.

21/12  David and I spend the whole day (from 07.00 till 17.30) at the splendid La Quebrada trail which starts at our lodge.

The other two did some birding from the highest part (2950 m) till the lower part (2200 m) of San Gerardo valley and around the lodge. 

22/12  Early start towards Rancho for a three nights stay. (situated on Caribbean slope foothills at 990 m altitude) A major birding stop from 09.00 till 12.15 was made at Tapanti National Park were we birded mainly on the main track.

Arrived at Rancho Naturalista at 14.15 and birded along the lower trail with resident guide Frédéric Vanhove.  

23/12  A typical day at Rancho starts at first light on the balcony of the main building where banana slices and rice are put out on the bird tables in the garden.

Within minutes the garden is full of birds. It’s amazing that from this balcony more than 200 bird species has been seen. At 07.00 the breakfast bell is rung.

One of the special joys of birding at Rancho is watching the frenetic activity at the hummingbird feeders at the balcony and in the forest.

Whole day with our guide at the trail of Tuis river valley, which is situated about 5 km further than Rancho.

The birding started slowly and then there was some rain for 3 hours, but after the rain was gone we had some very good flocks. We were all wet and muddy but we had some good species under our belt.

Scanned the river for Sunbittern but here we had no luck, despite a through search from David and myself who walked in the river for quit a long time.

24/12 The lower trail was done in the morning and in the afternoon we did the higher trail of Rancho accompanied by our local guide again.

In late afternoon there was the traditional Christmas Eve dinner with the whole Erb family, needles to say we could not escape on this, but luckily the food and beer were great.

25/12  Early morning from 06.00 till 08.00 brought us again on the lower trail and from 09.00 till 10.00 we searched the river again for Sunbittern, but again no luck.

Transfer towards Selva Verde (3 hours) where we arrived at 13.30.

Afternoon birding on the grounds of the lodge.

26/12  From 06.00 till 07.00 around the lodge of Selva Verde (on Caribbean lowland) and from 08.00 till 17.00 David and I spend the day at La Selva with Erick, our local guide.

Birding inside of the primary forest can be very slow and ‘birdless’ at times but with the fantastic help of Erick the species did slowly build up.

If you ever go to this place take Erick as guide (they said he is the best) and he is really amazing to find the birds and other good things around. He is also equipped with scope and infrared marker to point out some of the skulkers.

For the both of us we had to pay US$ 130 for entrance of the park and our private guide for the whole day.

The other two did some birding around Selva Verde Lodge and surroundings.

27/12  David and I went again to La Selva, this time from 06.00 till 17.25. Again we had a private guide for the both of us.

We didn’t had much luck today because it was already raining from midnight and it did stop around noon and today we had also another guide named Carlos because Erick had another group today, but it did turns out that we know much more than our guide this time.

Luckily birding was getting better after the rain.

The other two did some birding again around La Selva Verde Lodge and surroundings.

28/12  Early morning from 06.00 till 07.30 birding on the grounds of the lodge and transfer towards Braulio Carrillo National Park. (entrance US$ 6/person)

We arrived at the ranger station Quebrada González (altitude 500 m) at 08.30 and till 16.45 we did some birding on following trails: Las Palmas trail beyond the ranger station (exceptionally slow birding), El Ceibo trail connecting Botarrama trail (better birding here) and we made our way back from the Rio Susio bridge via the main road towards the ranger station.

The best birding we had was along the very busy San José-Limón highway where we had 2 very big mixed species flocks.

They were led by Black-faced Grosbeaks and one flock was holding 23 different species. Great birding for our last day.

Afterwards transfer towards our hotel Bougainvillea and said goodbye to our fantastic driver Mauricio.

Later we went into San José downtown to celebrate all the good species we had seen on this trip.

29/12  After a few hours of sleep transfer with a taxi (US$ 13) to the airport. We left at 09.30 for the 4 hours and 11 minutes flight towards Newark. After a few hours in transit we had our connection flight to Brussels. This time it took 6 hours and 12 minutes.

30/12: Finally touched down in Brussels at 07.00 where the landscape was covered in snow and temperature was minus 2 C°.

References

F. Gary Stiles and Alexander F. Skutch  (1995) A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. (although a little outdated, cf many faults in text and some incorrect pictures of birds, this is still a very useful field guide). 

Aaron D. Sekerak (1996) A travel & site guide to Birds of Costa Rica with side trips to Panama & Nicaragua.

Keith Taylor (1990) A Birders Guide to Costa Rica.

Trip report by Jan Vermeulen, Birding in Costa Rica, 2 – 25 December 1990.

(very useful with excellent maps)

Trip report by Jon Hornbuckle, Costa Rica, 23 February – 27 March 2001.

(very useful with good notes on localities)

There are many trip reports on the Internet but mostly of limited use to the serious birder.

Up to date bird news can always been seen in Richard Garrigues’ Gone Birding Newsletter. Go via gonebirding@lycos.com

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Mark Van Beirs for providing some good tapes and information.  

Annotated Bird List

Great Tinamou         Tinamus major fuscipennis
Heard several times at Rancho and finally saw one at La Selva with others heard.

Little Tinamou          Crypturellus soui modestus
Heard at Rancho and La Selva and we taped a pair in very close till 4 meters with excellent views at La Selva.

Slaty-breasted Tinamou   Crypturellus boucardi costaticensis
Heard at Selva Verde and La Selva and a total of three birds seen well at different trails at La Selva.

Least Grebe  Tachybaptus dominicus brachypterus
A single bird in the marshy area along the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Brown Pelican          Pelecanus occidentalis
At least 100 birds at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Neotropical Cormorant    Phalacrocorax brasilianus brasilianus
More than 50 birds at the Tárcoles river mouth at Carara and a single one at Selva Verde.

Anhinga          Anhinga anhinga leucogaster
Always a few at the marshy area along the Vigilancia trail and about 15 birds at the Tárcoles river mouth both at Carara.

Magnificent Frigatebird    Fregata magnificens
Ten birds at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Fasciated Tiger-Heron      Tigrisoma fasciatum salmoni
An adult fishing in the river at Selva Verde.

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron         Tigrisoma mexicanum
An adult sitting in a tree with very close views near the river at Villa Lapaz, Carara.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron    Nyctanassa violacea
An adult bird in the marshy area along the Vigilancia trail and 25 birds at the Tárcoles river mouth at Carara.

Boat-billed Heron    Cochlearius cochlearius panamensis
A total of 13 birds roosting in a tree along the marshy area at the Vigilancia trail, Carara with some splendid views obtained.

Cattle Egret    Bubulcus ibis ibis
A common and widespread species, seen practically everywhere.

Green Heron             Butorides virescens
Both singles at Carara and La Selva.

Little Blue Heron     Egretta caerulea
Small numbers on the Pacific and Caribbean lowlands.

Tricolored Heron     Egretta tricolor ruficollis
Three at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Snowy Egret            Egretta thula brewsteri
Seen at Carara in small numbers.

Great Egret    Ardea alba egretta
Small numbers on the Pacific and Caribbean lowlands.

Great Blue Heron    Ardea  herodias herodias
Ten birds at Carara and another two at Selva Verde.

Wood Stork  Mycteria americana
Only seen at Carara with a maximum of 11 birds.

Turkey Vulture         Cathartes aura
Fairly common throughout.

Black Vulture           Coragyps atratus brasiliensis
Fairly common throughout.

King Vulture             Sarcoramphus papa
Three adult birds at Carara and another adult at La Selva.

White Ibis       Eudocimus albus
Only seen at Carara with maximum of 40 birds.

Roseate Spoonbill             Ajaia ajaja
A single adult at the bridge over the Grande de Tárcoles River, Carara.

Blue-winged Teal     Anas discors
The only observation of 50 birds was on a lake on the journey from San José towards Carara.

Osprey            Pandion haliaetus carolinensis
Four birds were fishing at the Tárcoles river mouth at Carara and another single was seen at La Selva.

Gray-headed Kite     Leptodon cayanensis cayanensis
A single at La Selva.

Hook-billed Kite       Chondrohierax uncinatus uncinatus
A single near the entrance of Tapanti NP.

Swallow-tailed Kite            Elanoides forficatus yetapa
A single observation at Rancho.

White-tailed Kite      Elanus leucurus majusculus
Two on the journey towards Carara and another two also on the journey towards Rancho.

Double-toothed Kite          Harpagus bidentatus fasciatus
A single near Tapanti NP and another adult perched in a tree very close at La Selva.

Sharp-shinned Hawk        Accipiter striatus
Two birds at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Cooper’s Hawk        Accipiter cooperii
A single observation at Carara.

Gray Hawk     Asturina nitida plagiata
Three times an adult at Carara and also another adult along the way from La Selva towards Braulio Carrillo.

Great Black-Hawk  Buteogallus urubitinga ridgwayi
One was seen at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Roadside Hawk       Buteo magnirostris
Two birds on the journey towards Carara.

Broad-winged Hawk         Buteo platypterus platypterus
Seen in very small numbers throughout.

Short-tailed Hawk  Buteo brachyurus fuliginosus
Five observations mostly seen on the journeys.

Swainson’s Hawk  Buteo swainsoni
Only one was seen at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Ornate Hawk-Eagle           Spizaetus ornatus vicarius
An adult soaring in San Gerardo valley close to our lodge and another heard at La Selva.

Crested Caracara    Caracara cheriway
A maximum of four birds around Carara and two times a single near La Selva.

Yellow-headed Caracara             Milvago chimachima cordatus
A single observation at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Laughing Falcon     Herpetotheres cachinnans cachinnans
Heard two different birds near the HQ at Carara.

Barred Forest-Falcon       Micrastur ruficollis interstes
Two times an adult at Carara.

Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon       Micrastur mirandollei
Very nice views were obtained of a immature bird calling at La Selva with also another bird further away calling.

Collared Forest-Falcon    Micrastur semitorquatus
A bird seen in San Gerardo valley near our lodge was more than probably this species.

Bat Falcon     Falco rufigularis petoensis
We saw two times the same adult bird during the journeys towards and from Carara.

Peregrine Falcon    Falco peregrinus
Very nice views of an adult bird perched on the journey towards Carara.

Gray-headed Chachalaca           Ortalis cinereiceps
Early morning there where always around 15 birds on the bird tables feeding on banana’s at our lodge at Rancho Naturalista. Another five birds at Tuis river valley and a party of 12 at La Selva.

Crested Guan           Penelope purpurascens aequatorialis
One seen and another calling his dawn song on Vigilancia trail, Carara and three parties of totalling eight birds at La Selva.

Black Guan    Chamaepetes unicolor
One roosting in a tree with another on the ground at La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo. These birds were very tame and we saw them as close as 4 metres. Another eyeball-to-eyeball sighting at Tapanti NP of a single bird feeding in a low bush and again another single at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Gray-necked Wood-Rail  Aramides cajanea
Two birds were feeding near the bird tables at Selva Verde.

White-throated Crake        Laterallus albigularis cinereiceps
Heard a few at Tuis river valley near Rancho. We had incredible views of a pair bathing in a small pool in the gardens of Rancho Naturalista.

Purple Gallinule       Porphyrula martinica
An adult bird in a marshy area between Selva Verde and La Selva.

Sunbittern      Eurypyga helias major
We succeeded in our search and we all had fabulous views of a single bird walking under the suspension bridge over the Sarapiqui river at Selva Verde for more than 20 minutes.

Northern Jacana     Jacana spinosa spinosa
Up to five at Carara and another two near La Selva.

Black-necked Stilt  Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus
Only seen at Carara with up to 12.

Black-bellied Plover          Pluvalius squatarola
A single one at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Whimbrel        Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus
25 birds at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Note: The race hudsonicus is considered in near future to be a full species, then be known as Hudsonian Curlew – Numenius hudsonicus.

Willet     Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
A single one at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Spotted Sandpiper            Actitis macularia
A fairly common and widespread winter visitor.

Ruddy Turnstone    Arenaria interpres morinella
Eight birds at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Sanderling     Calidris alba
Up to ten birds at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Laughing Gull          Larus atricilla megalopterus
Around a 100 birds at the Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Royal Tern     Sterna maxima maxima
15 birds seen at Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Black Skimmer        Rynchops niger niger
Three birds at Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.

Rock Dove     Columba livia
Fairly common in cities and villages.

Band-tailed Pigeon            Columba fasciata crissalis
Regularly seen in highlands with flocks up to 25 birds at San Gerardo valley.

Red-billed Pigeon  Columba flavirostris minima
More than 100 birds were roosting in the mangroves near Tarcol Lodge at Tárcoles river mouth, Carara.
Another few seen on the journey towards Tapanti NP.

Ruddy Pigeon          Columba subvinacea subvinacea
A few different observations of mostly singles along San Gerardo valley.
Mainly a middle and high-elevation species.

Short-billed Pigeon           Columba nigrirostris
A pair was seen at Tuis river near Rancho, around five birds at La Selva and a few at Braulio Carrillo.

White-winged Dove           Zenaida asiatica australis
Only a few seen on the journey towards Carara.

Ruddy Ground-Dove        Columbina talpacoti rufipennis
A few around Carara and two birds near Selva Verde.

Inca Dove       Columbina inca
Fairly common around Carara.

Blue Ground-Dove  Claravis pretosia    
Only a female was seen on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

White-tipped Dove             Leptotila verreauxi
Up to five at Carara and a single one at Tuis River valley near Rancho.

Gray-headed Dove            Leptotila plumbeiceps plumbeiceps
A nice observation of a single one in San Gerardo valley.

Note: The Central American form of Gray-fronted Dove – Leptotila rufilaxa is considered to be a new species called Gray-headed Dove – Leptotila plumbeiceps.

Gray-chested Dove           Leptotila cassini cerviniventris
Two birds on Vigilancia trail, Carara and a few singles at La Selva.

Chiriqui Quail-Dove           Geotrygon chiriquensis
Splendid views of a pair along La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo and another one was seen for more than five minutes at Tapanti NP.

Olive-backed Quail-Dove            Geotrygon veraguensis
Two seen at Selva Verde and another single obtained nice views at La Selva.

Ruddy Quail-Dove             Geotrygon montana montana
Two times two birds at Carara.

Scarlet Macaw         Ara macao macao
Up to 15 of these magnificent birds at Carara.

Great Green Macaw           Ara ambigua ambigua
Only two seen flying towards their roosting place from the suspension bridge at Selva Verde.

Crimson-fronted Parakeet          Aratinga finschi
Around 50 birds on our first morning in the garden of Bougainvillea hotel near San José. Another 40 seen near Selva Verde.

Sulfur-winged Parakeet  Pyrrhura hoffmanni hoffmanni
Around 50 birds at San Gerardo valley and another 25 at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Orange-chinned Parakeet          Brotogeris jugularis jugularis
Up to ten at Carara and about 20 at La Selva.

Brown-hooded Parrot      Pionopsitta haematotis haematotis
Six birds at Tuis river valley and around ten at Rancho. A few sightings at Selva Verde and La Selva with up to ten birds.

White-crowned Parrot      Pionus senilis
Small numbers at Carara, Tuis river valley near Rancho and at La Selva.

Blue-headed Parrot           Pionus menstruus rubrigularis
Six birds seen near Selva Verde.

Red-lored Parrot     Amazona autumnalis salvini
Only two seen near the entrance at Selva Verde.

Mealy Parrot             Amazona farinose virenticeps
Only seen at Carara in small numbers.

Most of the above parrots and parakeets were seen in bigger numbers at various locations but only positive identifications were noted.

Squirrel Cuckoo      Piaya cayana thermophila
Regular sightings throughout.

Groove-billed Ani  Crotophaga sulcirostris
Fairly common in the lowlands.

Pacific Screech-Owl          Otus cooperi cooperi
One bird roosting in an almond tree at the entrance of Tarcol Lodge, Carara.

Vermiculated Screech-Owl         Otus vermiculatus vermiculatus
Two birds heard at La Selva.

Mottled Owl    Ciccaba virgata ventralis
A pair seen at a day roost, only a meter above the ground beside a trunk of a tree at Rancho.

Black-and-white Owl         Ciccaba nigrolineata
Superb views during the day of an adult in the little park at the town square, Orotina.

Lesser Nighthawk             Chordeiles acutipennis
More than 300 were counted at dusk on the bridge over the Grande de Tárcoles River, Carara.

Pauraque       Nyctidromus albicollis intercedens
Six birds at dusk on the entrance road towards La Selva.

White-collared Swift          Streptoprocne zonaris bouchellii
A flock of 100 flying high above the mountain ridges at Tapanti NP.

Vaux’s Swift             Chaetura vauxi richmondi
Up to 40 birds at San Gerardo valley, more than 30 at Tuis river valley and small numbers at Rancho.

Band-rumped Swift           Chaetura spinicauda fumosa
15 at Carara. Occurs only along the Pacific side.

Gray-rumped Swift            Chaetura cinereiventris phaeopygos
Around 20 at La Selva. Occurs only along the Caribbean side.

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift       Panyptila cayennensis cayennensis
A few seen at Rancho and another single at La Selva.

White-tipped Sicklebill      Eytoxeres aquila salvini
Splendid scope views of a nice bird perched in scrub at La Selva.

Western Long-tailed Hermit       Phaethornis longirostris cephalus
Up to two or three different birds at La Selva.

Green Hermit            Phaethornis guy coruscus
Two at Carara and seen on three days in Rancho with a maximum of two.

Stripe-throated Hermit      Phaethornis striigularis saturatus
At least ten around the feeders and gardens of Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo.

Note: This is a recent split from Little Hermit – Phaethornis longuemareus.
Green-fronted Lancebill  Doryfera ludoviciae veraguensis
Very nice views on a co-operative bird along the trail at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Scaly-breasted Hummingbird  Phaeochroa cuvierii maculicauda
Up to five at Carara.

Violet Sabrewing     Campylopterus hemileucurus mellitus
A nice male at the feeders in the forest at Rancho.

White-necked Jacobin      Florisuga mellivora mellivora
A male was seen at Carara and fairly common with up to 15 at San Gerardo valley and along Sierra de la Muerte.

Green Violet-ear      Colibri thalassinus cabanidis
A common bird in the highlands near San Gerardo valley and along Sierra de la Muerte.

Green-breasted Mango    Anthracothorax prevostii gracilirostris
Regular sightings at Carara and Rancho.

Violet-headed Hummingbird      Klais guimeti merritti
We saw two females of this very small hummingbird, which could have been this species at Braulio Carrillo.

Green Thorntail       Discosura conversii
Regularly seen at the feeders at Rancho with a maximum of three birds a day.

Violet-crowned Woodnymph     Thalurania colombica venusta
Very common at Rancho and a single sighting at Braulio Carrillo.

Steely-vented Hummingbird      Saucerottia saucerrottei hoffmanni
Up to eight birds at Carara.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird      Amazilia tzacatl tzacatl
This common species was seen on almost days throughout the country.

Black-bellied Hummingbird       Eupherusa nigriventris
Around five birds at Tapanti NP.

Snowcap        Microchera albocoronata parvirostris
The only place in Costa Rica where this species is guaranteed year-round is at Rancho Naturalista. We saw at least three gorgeous males and two different females.

White-bellied Mountain-gem      Lampornis hemileucus
A few at Tapanti NP and a pair at the trail at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Purple-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis calolaema
Only one male was seen by David at Tapanti NP.

White-throated Mountain-gem   Lampornis castaneoventris
Up to eight in San Gerardo valley.

Green-crowned Brilliant  Heliodoxa jacula henryi
A male was seen at the feeders at Rancho.

Magnificent Hummingbird          Eugenes fulgens spectabilis
Up to ten at San Gerardo valley.

Purple-crowned Fairy       Heliothryx barroti
Two different sightings of a single at Carara.

Scintillant Hummingbird             Selasphorus scintilla
Fairly common in the highlands.

Volcano Hummingbird     Selasphorus flammula torridus
Fairly common in the highlands around San Gerardo.

Resplendent Quetzal        Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis
Seen every day along San Gerardo valley. We saw probably around ten different birds, most of them were splendid males.

Slaty-tailed Trogon            Trogon massena hoffmanni
Three birds at Carara and two males and three females at La Selva.

Baird’s Trogon        Trogon bairdii
Two males at Carara.

Collared Trogon      Trogon collaris puella
Three males at Tapanti NP and another single male at Braulio Carrillo.

Black-throated Trogon     Trogon rufus tenellus
One male at Rancho and another male at La Selva.

Violaceous Trogon            Trogon violaceus concinnus
A pair at Carara and two different males at La Selva.

Ringed Kingfisher             Ceryle torquata torquata
Two at Carara and a male at Selva Verde.

Belted Kingfisher     Ceryle alcyon
Only a female at Carara.

Amazon Kingfisher           Chloroceryle amazona mexicana
Small numbers in suitable habitat.

Green Kingfisher     Chloroceryle americana isthmica
Regularly seen at Carara and a single one at Tuis river near Rancho.

Broad-billed Motmot         Electron platyrhynchum minor
Up to three at La Selva and another two at Braulio Carrillo.

Rufous Motmot        Baryphthengus martii
A single on different days at Rancho and a single at La Selva.

Blue-crowned Motmot      Momotus momota lessonii 
A single one early in the morning in the gardens of Villa Lapas, Carara and another one at Rancho.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar     Galbula ruficauda melanogenia
A single male at the end of Vigilancia trail, Carara and a pair at La Selva.

White-whiskered Puffbird           Malacoptila panamensis fuliginosa
A pair, quietly perched in the understory was seen at La Selva.

Red-headed Barbet           Eubucco bourcierii salvini
A male in a fig tree at Tapanti NP.

Prong-billed Barbet           Semnornis frantzii
Five birds eating figs in a large fig tree at Tapanti NP and three birds along the Tuis river valley near Rancho and another one heard at Braulio Carrillo.

Collared Aracari      Pteroglossus torquatus torquatus
Fairly common at Rancho, La Selva and Braulio Carrillo.

Fiery-billed Aracari            Pteroglossus frantzii
Up to three at Villa Lapas, Carara.

Keel-billed Toucan            Ramphastos sulfuratus brevicarinatus
Only one was seen at Carara which in fact is very rare here and fairly common at Rancho, La Selva and Braulio Carrillo.

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan     Ramphastos swainsonii
Fairly common around Carara and a few around La Selva.

Olivaceous Piculet             Picumnus olivaceus flavotinctus
A pair was seen on the dusty road towards Tarcol Lodge, Carara.

Acorn Woodpecker           Melanerpes formicivorus striatipectus
Common bird of the highlands.

Black-cheeked Woodpecker     Melanerpes pucherani
Different sightings at Rancho and La Selva.

Hoffmann’s Woodpecker            Melanerpes hoffmannii
Fairly common at Carara and up to four around Rancho.

Red-crowned Woodpecker        Melanerpes rubricapillus rubricapillus
A male and two females at Carara.

Hairy Woodpecker             Picoides villosus sanctorum
Two birds seen on two different days in the highlands at San Gerardo valley and Sierra de la Muerte.

Golden-olive Woodpecker          Piculus rubiginosus yucatanensis
A male at Tuis river at Rancho.

Rufous-winged Woodpecker    Piculus simplex
Three different males at La Selva.

Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker          Celeus castaneus
Only one bird was heard at La Selva.

Lineated woodpecker       Dryocopus lineatus
A male at Rancho and two birds near Selva Verde.

Pale-billed Woodpecker  Campephilus guatemalensis guatemalensis
All our sightings were males; at least 2 at Carara, heard at Rancho and two or three at La Selva.

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper    Dendrocincla anabatina anabatina
Three birds on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Ruddy Woodcreeper        Dendrocincla homochroa acedesta
A single observation at Carara.

Long-tailed Woodcreeper           Deconychura longicauda typica
A single one on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Olivaceous Woodcreeper           Sittasomus griseicapillus sylvioides
One was seen at Rancho.

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper       Glyphorhynchus spirurus sublestus
Three different birds at Rancho and up to five at La Selva.

Northern Barred Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae nigrirostris
Up to five on the Vigilancia trail, Carara and a single one at La Selva.

Cocoa Woodcreeper         Xiphorhunchus susurrans
Two birds on the lower trail at Rancho.

Spotted Woodcreeper      Xiphorhynchus erythropygius punctigula
One at Tuis river valley, two at Rancho and a single one at Braulio Carrillo.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper    Lepidocolaptes souleyetii compressus
At least three at Carara and two times a single at La Selva.

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper     Lepidocolaptes affinis neglectus
Fairly common in the highlands, especially along San Gerardo valley with 15 birds.

Brown-billed Scythebill    Campylorhamphus pusillus borealis
Two times a single of this long beaked creature at Rancho.

Slaty Spinetail          Synallaxis brachyura
A female at Tapanti NP.

Red-faced Spinetail           Cranioleuca eythrops
A single bird only seen by David at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Ruddy Treerunner             Margarornis rubiginosus rubiginosus
Common in the highlands with more than 20 birds along San Gerardo valley and Sierra de la Muerte.

Buffy Tuftedcheek Psedocolaptes lawrencii lawrencii
A single bird only seen by myself on La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

Lineated Foliage-gleaner            Syndactyla subularis lineata
Two birds seen at Tapanti NP.

Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner  Automolus ochrolaemus
Four birds at Carara (A. o. exsertus) and two times two birds at Rancho (A. o. hypophaeus) and another two at La Selva (A. o. hypophaeus).

Plain Xenops            Xenops minitus ridgwayi
Quite a few sightings throughout, except for the mountains.

Streaked Xenops    Xenops rutilans septentrionalis
A single sighting at Tapanti NP.

Fasciated Antshrike          Cymbilaimus lineatus fasciatus
Only heard on two different days at La Selva.

Great Antshrike       Taraba major melanocrissus
A superb male singing and seen nicely at La Selva.

Barred Antshrike     Thamnophilus doliatus
A male and female at Carara (T. d. pacificus) and another male at Rancho (T. d. intermedius).

Black-hooded Antshrike             Thamnophilus bridgesi
Fairly common at Carara with a maximum of ten birds seen.

Russet Antshrike    Thamnistes anabatinus saturatus
Up to three at Rancho and around ten in different flocks at Braulio Carrillo.

Plain Antvireo          Dysithamnus mentalis septentrionalis
Three different birds at Rancho.

Slaty Antwren          Myrmotherula schisticolor schisticolor
A male at Rancho and two birds at La Selva.

Dot-winged Antwren         Microrhopias quixensis virgata
Fairly common at Carara with a maximum of ten birds.

Dusky Antbird          Cercomacra tyrannina crepera
Up to five birds at Carara and another two at La Selva.

Chestnut-backed Antbird           Myrmeciza exsul exsul
Fairly common at Carara with up to ten birds and another single at Selva Verde.

Dull-mantled Antbird         Myrmeciza laemosticta laemosticta
Very good views of a single at Rancho and again a single at Braulio Carrillo.

Immaculate Antbird           Myrmeciza immaculate zeledoni
Two times seen at Rancho with maximum of two birds.

Bicolored Antbird  Gymnopithys leucaspis olivascens
Two very tame birds near an ant swarm at Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Black-faced Antthrush     Formicarius analis umbrosus
At least six heard and seen two birds very well at La Selva.

Black-headed Antthrush             Formicarius nigricapillus nigricapillus
While I was trying to tape a Streak-chested Antpitta in, suddenly out of now where there was a pair very close which gave good views at the Botarrama trail, Braulio Carrillo.

Streak-chested Antpitta  Hylopezus perspicillatus intermedius
It took some time to tape this species in but at the end we all had superb views of this little antpitta at the Botarrama trail, Braulio Carrillo.

Thicket Antpitta (Fulvous-bellied Antpitta)     Hylopezus dives dives
Always heard the same bird near the HQ of Rancho Naturalista.

Silvery-fronted Tapaculo            Scytalopus argentifrons argentifrons
A single heard along the trail at the end of the camping, close to Savegre Mountain Lodge and another pair seen on La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

Cinnamon Becard             Pachyramphus cinnamomeus fulvidior
A few birds at Rancho and two times two birds at La Selva.

White-winged Becard       Pachyramphus polychopterus similis
An immature male at the entrance road towards La Selva.

Rose-throated Becard      Pachyramphus aglaiae hypophaeus
Seen a few times at Carara with three males and a female as maximum.

Masked Tityra          Tityra semifasciata costaricensis
Fairly common at Rancho and La Selva.

Black-crowned Tityra       Tityra inquisitor fraserii
Up to five were seen at Carara.

Snowy Cotinga        Carpodectes nitidus
Splendid views of a male and a female near the suspension bridge at La Selva.

Purple-throated Fruitcrow          Querula purpurata
A male and five females in a mixed flock at La Selva.

Red-capped Manakin        Pipra mentalis
A pair at the Vigilancia trail, Carara (P. m. ignifera) and two males and four females at La Selva (P. m. mentalis).

White-crowned Manakin             Pipra pipra anthracina
A few at Rancho around five at La Selva.

Long-tailed Manakin         Chiroxiphia linearis fastuosa
A nice pair along the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

White-ruffed Manakin        Corapipo altera altera
Male and a female at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

White-collared Manakin    Manacus candei
A few at Rancho and many heard at La Selva with about five seen in total here.

Grey-headed  Piprites       Piprites griseiceps
Only one was seen by David in the secundary forest at Selva Verde.

Black Phoebe          Sayornis nigricans amnicola
A few birds in the valley of San Gerardo and a single at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Long-tailed Tyrant             Colonia colonus leuconotus
A distant bird at La Selva.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher            Tyrannus forficatus
Fairly common at Carara.

Tropical Kingbird     Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa
A common bird seen every day of the trip with lower numbers in the highlands.

White-ringed Flycatcher  Conopias albovittata distincta
Up to five at La Selva.

Boat-billed Flycatcher      Megarhynchus pitangua mexicanus
Seen in small numbers throughout.

Bright-rumped Attila          Attila spadiceus citreopygus
Two times a single bird at Selva Verde and La Selva.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher         Myiodynastes luteiventris
A single sighting at Carara.

Streaked Flycatcher          Myiodynastes maculatus
Only once seen at Carara.

Golden-bellied Flycatcher          Myiodynastes hemichrysus
A single one at Savegre Mountain Lodge which is pretty high for this species and another two birds at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Gray-capped Flycatcher             Myiozetetes granadensis granadensis
A single one at Tuis river valley near Rancho and around five at La Selva.

Social Flycatcher    Myiozetetes similes columbianus
A fairly common and widespread species.

Great Kiskadee        Pitangus sulphuratus guatimalensis
A common and widespread species, not seen at higher altitudes.

Rufous Mourner       Rhytipterna holerythra holeruthra
Up to three at Carara and a single one at La Selva.

Great Crested flycatcher             Myiarchus crinitus
Two times a single at Carara.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher          Myiarchus tuberculifer nigricapillus
A few at Carara, Rancho and La Selva.

Tropical Pewee        Contopus cinereus brachytarsus
Two times a single at La Selva.

Dark Pewee  Contopus lugubris
A few at the higher altitudes in the valley of San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Ochraceous Pewee           Contopus ochraceus
A single one which obtained good views in the valley of San Gerardo.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher            Empidonax flaviventris
Two at Carara, a single near Rancho and several at La Selva.

Alder/Willow Flycatcher  Empidonax alnorum/traillii
One bird at Rancho could not positive be identified and should either one of this two species here.

Yellowish Flycatcher         Empidonax flavescens flavescens
More than five in the valley of San Gerardo.

Black-capped Flycatcher            Empidonax atriceps
Typical highland species with around eight birds at San Gerardo valley and Sierra de la Muerte.

Tufted Flycatcher  Mitrephanes phaeocercus aurantiiventris
Several sightings of this high-altitude flycatcher near San Gerardo.

Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher  Terenotriccus erythrurus fulvigularis
A single bird on the Las Palmas trail, Braulio Carrillo.

Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher       Myiobius sulphureipygius aureatus
Two times a single at Carara, one in Tapanti NP and another one at La Selva.

White-throated Spadebill            Platyrinchus mystaceus neglectus
One was seen near the hummingbird feeders in the forest at Rancho.

Stub-tailed Spadebill         Platyrinchus cancrominus dilutus
A single sighting on the Loop trail, Carara.

Yellow-olive Flycatcher    Tolmomyias sulphurescens cinereiceps
A few at Carara and a single one at La Selva.

Yellow-margined Flycatcher      Tolmomyias assimilis flavotectus
One in a big mixed flock on the main road at Braulio Carrillo.

Eye-ringed Flatbill  Rhynchocyclus brevirostris brevirostris
A few seen daily at Carara.

Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum nigriceps
After some searching we had decent looks on two birds at La Selva.

Common Tody-Flycatcher         Todirostrum cinereum wetmorei
A few at Carara, two at Rancho and one at La Selva.

Northern Bentbill    Oncostoma cinereigulare
Only one seen at Carara.

Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher Poecilotriccus sylvia schistaceiceps
A single at Carara.

Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant     Lophotriccus pileatus luteiventris
One heard and two seen well at Tuis river valley and always heard a few at Rancho.

Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant     Myiornis atricapillus
Two birds heard at La Selva. It’s difficult to get some decent views of this canopy flycatcher, we saw one briefly but not well enough to put it on the life list.

Rufous-browed Tyrannulet        Phylloscartes superciliaris superciliaris
David had some good views but I didn’t of a single bird travelling in a mixed flock at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Torrent Tyrannulet            Serpophaga cinerea grisea
Every day the same bird at the river near the entrance of Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo and two birds along the Tuis river near Rancho.

Yellow-bellied Eleania       Elaenia flavogaster subpagana
Two birds near Tuis river near Rancho.

Mountain Eleania    Elaenia frantzii frantzii
Three birds around Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo.

Paltry Tyrannulet    Zimmerius vilissimus parvus
A few at Carara, two in the valley of San Gerardo, a single at Tuis river valley near Rancho and another one at La Selva.

Slaty-capped Flycatcher             Leptopogon superciliaris hellmayri
A single bird along the way towards San Gerardo and another one at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Olive-striped Flycatcher  Mionectes olivaceus olivaceus
Two birds along the journey towards San Gerardo, a single at Tapanti NP and another at Rancho.

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher             Mionectes oleaginous assimilis
One bird on the lower trail at Rancho and two birds at La Selva.

Barn Swallow           Hirundo rustica erythrogaster
Only a few seen at Carara.

Southern Rough-winged Swallow       Stelgidopteryx ruficollis uropygialis
Seen on several occasions in very small numbers at Rancho and La Selva.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow       Stelgidopteryx serripennis fulvipennis
Only a few at Carara.

Blue-and-white Swallow             Notiochelidon cyanoleuca cyanoleuca
A few at Carara, more numerous in San Gerardo valley and around 15 at Rancho.

Mangrove Swallow            Tachycinetta albilinea
Up to five around the bridge over the Grande de Tárcoles River, Carara.

Brown Jay     Cyanocorax morio cyanogenys
Five at Carara, always around 15 in early morning at the bird tables at Rancho and another three at La Selva.

American Dipper     Cinclus mexicanus ardesiacus
Always the same bird in the river near the entrance of Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo.

Rufous-naped Wren          Campylorhynchus rufinucha
Fairly common at Carara.

Plain Wren     Thryothorus modestus zeledoni
One bird along the entrance road towards La Selva.

Rufous-and-white Wren    Thryothorus rufalbus castanonotus
One seen nicely on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Stripe-breasted Wren        Thryothorus thoracicus
Seen frequently along the Caribbean slope at Rancho and La Selva.

Bay Wren       Thryothorus nigricapillus costaricensis
Also a Caribbean slope bird with around five seen daily at La Selva.

Riverside Wren        Thryothorus semibadius
Up to eight were seen on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Black-throated Wren         Thryothorus atrogularis atrogularis
Three birds at La Selva.

Black-bellied Wren            Thryothorus fasciatoventris melanogaster
Three birds on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

House Wren             Troglodytes aedon
A single sighting at Rancho.

Ochraceous Wren  Troglodytes ochraceus ochraceus
This highland wren was seen along La Quebrada trail with three birds, San Gerardo and another two at Tapanti NP.

Timberline Wren      Thryorchilus browni basultoi
Another highland wren of the higher elevations and three were seen around the paramo along Sierra de la Muerte.

White-breasted Wood-Wren       Henicorhina leucosticta costaricensis
More heard than seen but good sightings of different birds at Rancho and La Selva.

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren        Henicorhina leucophrys collina
This wood-wren replaces the above one at higher elevations. Up to five were seen in the valley of San Gerardo.

Gray Catbird             Dumetella carolinensis
Two noisy birds were seen along the entrance road towards La Selva.

Clay-colored Robin           Turdus grayi casius
A common and widespread species with up to 15 seen daily, lower numbers in the highlands.

Pale-vented Thrush           Turdus obsoletus obsoletus
Five birds at La Selva.

Mountain Robin       Turdus plebejus plebejus
Up to 30 daily in the highlands near San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Sooty Robin Turdus nigrescens
Up to 20 daily in the highlands near San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Black-faced Solitaire         Myadestes melanops
A very nice bird of mountain forests with a very loud and beautiful song was seen with up to five birds in the valley of San Gerardo and another single at Tapanti NP.

Wood Thrush           Hylocichla mustelina
One at Carara and a single and two birds at La Selva.

Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush       Catharus mexicanus fumosus
One at Rancho and two birds on the Botarrama trail, Braulio Carrillo.

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush     Catharus frantzii frantzii
Four birds on La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush           Catharus gracilirostris gracilirostris
Seen daily with up to four birds in the valley of San Gerardo.

Tropical Gnatcatcher        Polioptola plumbea superciliaris
A male at Carara and two times a single at Rancho.

Long-billed Gnatwren       Ramphococaenus melanurus rufiventris
Two birds at Carara.

Tawny-faced Gnatwren    Microbates cinereiventris semitorquatus
A single one on the Botarrama trail, Braulio Carrillo.

Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher      Ptilogonys caudatus
Up to five birds were seen at the higher part of San Gerardo valley.

Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher      Phainoptila melanoxantha
More a skulker than the previous one with a male and a female on different days along Sierra de la Muerte.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike   Cyclarhis gujanensis subflavescens
A single one was spotted at the beginning of La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

Green Shrike-Vireo            Vireolanius pulchellus verticalis
This forest canopy dweller was seen at La Selva. With the help of a tape we had finally good looks of a single bird through the scope.

Yellow-winged Vireo         Vireo carmioli
This highland vireo was seen daily with up to five in the valley of San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Yellow-throated  Vireo      Vireo flavifrons
Up to five daily at Carara, a single at Rancho, La Selva and Braulio Carrillo.

Philadelphia Vireo             Vireo philadelphicus
Around five at Carara and a few at Tapanti NP and Rancho.

Lesser Greenlet       Hylophilus decurtatus decurtatus
A few at Carara, one at Tapanti NP, a few at Rancho, a single at la Selva and five at Braulio Carrillo.

Bananaquit    Coereba flaveola mexicana
Up to five in the area around Rancho and two birds at Braulio Carrillo.

Black-and-white Warbler            Mniotilta varia
Seen regularly at different locations.

Prothonotary Warbler       Protonotaria citrea
Up to two males on different days at Carara.

Worm-eating Warbler        Helmitheros vermivorus
A single one on the Vigilancia trail, Carara.

Golden-winged Warbler    Vermivora chrysoptera
A single at Tapanti NP, a few birds around Rancho and another single at La Selva.

Blue-winged Warbler        Vermivora pinus
A male at Tuis river valley and another one at Rancho.

Tennessee Warbler           Vermivora peregrina
Seen in good numbers at Carara and in lower numbers in the mountains and around Rancho and La Selva.

Flame-throated Warbler  Parula gutturalis
This high-elevation warbler was seen in good numbers at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte with a maximum of 30 birds a day.

Tropical Parula        Parula pitiayumi speciosa
Two females at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Yellow Warbler          Dendroica petechia
Only seen in good numbers at Carara.

Black-throated Green Warbler  Dendroica virens
Only seen on the higher elevations with up to 20 daily at San Gerardo and a few at Tapanti NP.

Blackburnian Warbler       Dendroica fusca
Five at Tapanti NP and a few at Rancho.

Chestnut-sided Warbler  Dendroica pensylvanica
Low numbers on the Pacific slope, not seen in the mountains and fairly common on the Caribbean slope.

Northern Waterthrush      Seiurus noveboracensis
Common with up to 25 daily at Carara.

Louisiana Waterthrush     Seiurus motacilla
Two single sightings at La Selva.

Kentucky Warbler  Oporornis formosus
This rather skulky warbler is found always close or near the ground.
Up to three males were seen at Carara and two times a single at Rancho.

Mourning Warbler  Oporornis philadelphia
Two observations of a single male at Carara and La Selva.

Olive-crowned Yellowthroat       Geothlypis semiflava bairdi
Two males in low scrub at La Selva.

Wilson’s Warbler     Wilsonia pusilla
Pretty common on higher elevations with up to 20 daily at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte and only a few daily at Rancho.

American Redstart             Setophaga ruticilla
A male at Carara, two males at Rancho and two males and a female at La Selva.

Slate-throated Redstart    Myioborus miniatus
Two birds at Tapanti NP and up to six around Rancho.

Collared Redstart    Myioborus torquatus
This resident warbler of high mountains was seen in good numbers at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte with up to 30 a day.

Three-striped Warbler       Basileuterus tristriatus chitrensis
Two single sightings at San Gerardo and Rancho.

Golden-crowned Warbler           Basileuterus culicivorus godmani
Only seen at Rancho with two and three birds on different days.

Black-cheeked Warbler    Basileuterus melanogenys melanogenys
Seen around 15 birds along La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

Rufous-capped Warbler  Basileuterus rufifrons
Good sightings of two times a single one at Rancho.

Buff-rumped Warbler        Basileuterus fulvicauda leucopygia
A single at Tuis river valley, near Rancho an up to two at La Selva with another single at Braulio Carrillo.

Wrenthrush (Zeledonia)   Zeledonia coronata
David and I saw three different birds very well and heard another two along the little stream along La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

It did took some time to had good looks.

Chestnut-headed Oropendola Psarocolius wagleri ridgwayi
More than 20 daily at Rancho and low numbers at Selva Verde and La Selva.

Montezuma Oropendola             Psarocolius montezuma
Fairly common at Rancho and around La Selva.

Scarlet-rumped Cacique             Cacicus uropygialis microrhynchus
Six birds at Rancho, ten at La Selva and a few at Braulio Carrillo.

Yellow-billed Cacique       Amblycercus holosericeus holosericeus
Only a few at La Selva.

Bronzed Cowbird    Molothrus aeneus aeneus
Our only sighting was of a single on the journey towards Carara.

Great-tailed Grackle           Quiscalus mexicanus peruvianus
Fairly common at most places.

Orchard Oriole         Icterus spurious spurius
A male was seen at Carara.

Black-cowled Oriole          Icterus prosthemelas praecox
A male at Carara and 2 males at La Selva.

Yellow-tailed Oriole            Icterus mesomelas salvinii
Only one seen by Carl and Dirk along the entrance road towards La Selva.

Baltimore Oriole      Icterus galbula
A common and widespread species, seen almost daily.

Eastern Meadowlark         Sturnella magna
Up to three birds in the pastures near the bridge over the Grande de Tárcoles River, Carara.

Golden-browed Chlorophonia  Chlorophonia callophrys
This magnificent bird was seen extremely well with one male and two females feeding on berries at the entrance of La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo.

Tawny-capped Euphonia           Euphonia anneae anneae
Up to five birds at Tuis river valley and Rancho and another two at Braulio Carrillo.

Yellow-crowned Euphonia         Euphonia luteicapilla
Two males at Vigilancia trail, Carara and another male at Selva Verde.

Yellow-throated Euphonia          Euphonia hirundinacea gnatho
Around ten birds at Vigilancia trail, Carara and two more at Braulio Carrillo.

Olive-backed Euphonia    Euphonia gouldi praetermissa
Fairly common at Selva Verde and lower numbers at La Selva and Braulio Carrillo.

Emerald Tanager    Tangara florida florida
Four birds at Tuis river valley near Rancho and another two at Braulio Carrillo.

Speckled Tanager             Tangara guttata eusticta
Four birds at Tuis river Valley, two at Rancho and a few at Braulio Carrillo.

Silver-throated Tanager    Tangara icterocephala frantzii
Two birds on the lower part of Sierra de la Muerte, five at La Quebrada trail, San Gerardo. Up to 15 at Tuis river valley and Rancho and a few at La Selva.

Golden-hooded Tanager            Tangara larvata
Seen daily with around ten at Carara (T. l. franciscae) and Rancho (T. l. centralis) and up to five at La Selva (T. l. centralis).

Plain-coloured Tanager  Tangara inornata rava
Seen on two days at La Selva with a maximum of five.

Bay-headed Tanager        Tangara gyrola bangsi
Fairly common except in the highlands.

Splangle-cheeked Tanager        Tanagra dowii
One bird on the lower parts of Sierra de la Muerte and another single gave good views at Tuis river valley, near Rancho.

Green Honeycreeper        Chlorophanes spiza arguta
Two different males at Rancho, a male at La Selva, a female at Selva Verde and once again a male at Braulio Carrillo.

Red-legged Honeycreeper         Cyanerpes cyaneus carneipes
Seen daily with a maximum of three at Carara.

Shining Honeycreeper     Cyanerpes lucidus isthmicus
Only one male in the gardens of Villa Lapas, Carara.

Blue Dacnis  Dacnis cayana ultramarina
Two times a male at Carara, two males at Tuis river valley, near Rancho and another single male at La Selva.

Blue-and-gold Tanager    Bangsia arcaei caeruleigularis
One was seen well in a big mixed species flock at Braulio Carrillo.

Blue-gray Tanager             Thraupis episcopus cana
Fairly common and seen daily.

Palm Tanager           Thraupis palmarum atripennis
Only seen along the Caribbean slope with a few at Rancho and up to eight at La Selva.

Passerini’s Tanager          Ramphocelus passerinii
Two birds at Tapanti NP, more than ten at Tuis river valley and Rancho and fairly common around Selva Verde and La Selva.

Crimson-collared Tanager         Ramphocelus sanguinolentus apricus
One bird was seen by Carl and Dirk at the lower parts of Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Summer Tanager    Piranga rubra rubra
Seen regularly in small numbers throughout.

Hepatic Tanager      Piranga flava testacea
A male was seen in the valley of San Gerardo.

Western Tanager    Piranga ludoviciana
One male at Carara.

Flame-colored Tanager    Piranga bidentata citrea
Seen daily a male and two females in the orchards at the entrance of Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo.

Olive Tanager           Chlorothraupis carmioli carmioli
Two birds at Tuis river near Rancho and around ten birds at Braulio Carrillo.

Red-throated Ant-Tanager         Habia fuscicauda fuscicauda
Easily detected by their loud calls and we saw at least five or six birds at Rancho and a few at La Selva.

White-throated Shrike-Tanager Lanio leucothorax leucothorax
Two very nice males seen well at Braulio Carrillo.

White-lined Tanager          Tachyphonus rufus
Up to two males and one female at Rancho and another five at Braulio Carrillo.

White-shouldered Tanager        Tachyphonus luctuosus
Up to six at Carara (T. l. nitidissimus) and about ten at Braulio Carrillo (T. l. axillaries).

Tawny-crested Tanager    Tachyphonus delattrii
Three nice males at Braulio Carrillo.

Gray-headed Tanager       Eucometis penicillata
Seen only in Carara with 15 birds.

Dusky-faced Tanager       Mitrospingus cassinii costaricensis
Seen daily around five birds at La Selva.

Black-and-yellow Tanager         Chrysothlypis chrysomelaena chrysomelaena
Five males at Tuis river valley near Rancho and around ten including different females at Braulio Carrillo.

Common Bush-Tanager             Chlorospingus ophthalmicus regionalis
Seen daily in the highlands with up to ten at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte and more than 30 at Tapanti NP and only a few at Rancho.

Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager    Chlorospingus pileatus pileatus
Pretty common in the highlands with up to 50 at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager    Chlorospingus canigularis olivaceiceps
Only one seen by myself in a mixed flock at Tuis river valley near Rancho.

Black-headed Saltator      Saltator atriceps atriceps
Up to four daily at Tuis river valley and Rancho.

Buff-throated Saltator       Saltator maximus
Seen in small numbers throughout except on the highest elevations.

Grayish Saltator      Saltator coerulescens
A single one seen on our first morning in the garden of Bougainvillea hotel was our only sighting of this trip.

Black-faced Grosbeak      Caryothraustes poliogaster scapularis
A single one at Tuis river valley near Rancho, about seven at La Selva and another 15 at Braulio Carrillo.

Black-thighed Grosbeak             Pheucticus tibialis
A very nice observation of a single at the beginning of the trail at the end of the camping near Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak           Pheucticus ludovicianus
Always a few hanging around the orchards at Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo and singles seen at Tapanti NP, Tuis river valley and Rancho.

Blue-black Grosbeak        Cyanocompsa cyanoides toddi
A male responded well to tape at the Vigilancia trail, Carara and a female was seen at Braulio Carrillo.

Yellow-faced Grassquit    Tiaris olivacea pusilla
Fairly common in the valley of San Gerardo and about five at Rancho.

White-collared Seedeater           Sporophila torqueola morelleti
Only one male was seen by David at Tuis river near Rancho.

Variable Seedeater            Sporophila corvine hoffmanni
We saw both races of this seedeater; around six at Carara (Pacific race) and on three days around Rancho (Caribbean race) with a maximum of 10 birds.

Blue-black Grassquit        Volatinia jacarina splendens
More than five at Carara and seen daily more than 20 at Selva Verde and La Selva.

Peg-billed Finch      Acanthidops bairdii
A very nice male of this nomadic species at the higher parts of Tapanti NP.

Slaty Flowerpiercer           Diglossa plumbea plumbea
Faitly common in the high mountains of San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Large-footed Finch            Pezopetes capitalis
This skulker was seen well with a maximum of ten a day at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte.

Yellow-thighed Finch        Pselliophorus tibialis
Seen daily in the mountains at San Gerardo and Sierra de la Muerte, with a maximum of ten a day.

Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarremon brunneinucha elsae
Only one was seen by David at the trail near the camping close to Savegre Mountain Lodge, San Gerardo.

Orange-billed Sparrow     Arremon aurantiirostris aurantiirostris
Seen very regularly in small numbers throughout, except in the mountains. At Rancho (A. a. rufidorsalis) one bird flew against a window but did luckily recovered well.

Black-striped Sparrow     Arremonops conirostris richmondi
Two times the same bird in the garden of Rancho Naturalista.

Volcano Junco        Junco vulcani
This high elevation junco was seen with ten birds around the paramo at Sierra de la Muerte.

Rufous-collared Sparrow           Zonotrichia capensis costaricensis
Quite common at Carara and at San Gerardo valley.

Yellow-bellied Siskin         Carduelis xanthogastra xanthogastra
A female was seen by Carl and Dirk at the highest part of San Gerardo valley.

House Sparrow       Passer domesticus
We only saw this species twice along journeys. Never more than a few.

Mammals

Northern Tamandua          Tamandua mexicana
One gave very close views at Las Palmas trail, Braulio Carrillo.

Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth        Bradypes variegatos
One seen at full speed in a secropia tree at Selva Verde.

Hoffmann’s Two-toed Sloth        Choloepus hoffmanni
One resting in a tree in the little park at the town square, Orotina.

Mantled Howler Monkey   Alouatta palliata
Seen at Carara, La Selva and Braulio Carrillo.

White-faced Capuchin Monkey Cebus capuchinus
Seen at the Vigilancia trail, Carara and a few at Tapanti NP.

Variegated Squirrel            Sciurus variegatoides
A few at the Vigilancia trail, Carara and scattered sightings throughout.

Red-bellied Squirrel
One at the bird tables at Rancho Naturalista.

Central American Agouti Dasyprocta punctata
A single at Vigilancia trail, Carara and up to four at La Selva.

Southern River Otter          Lutra longicaudis
Two running out of the forest and went for a swim in the river bordering Villa Lapaz, Carara.

White-nosed Coati   Nasua narica
Seen several times on the Vigilancia trail with up to ten and another five around the HQ at Carara and a single one at La Selva.

Collared Peccary     Tayassu tajacu
Seen different times with up to 12 along the Vigilancia trail, Carara and two times at La Selva with each time around six animals.

Red Brocket Deer    Mazama americana
A single one at the muddy edge of Tárcoles River, Carara.

Grison   Galictis vittata
One seen in the secundary forest at Selva Verde.

Reptiles and others included

American Crocodile           Crocodyles acutes
At least 20 under the the bridge over the Grande de Tárcoles River, Carara. This place holds the most important crocodile population of Costa Rica and allows also the best sightings.

A few more seen at different places as Selva Verde and La Selva.

Green Iguana            Iguana iguana

We saw these huge iguana’s sometimes high in trees or just on the forest floor at different locations.

Striped Basilisk        Basiliscus vittatus
Seen several times at Carara.

Tent-making Bat
At least three of this nicely marked bats were roosting under palm leaves in the garden of Villa Lapas, Carara.

Eyelash Viper           Bothriechis schegelii
This rather small but poisonous viper was seen extremely well at Rancho Naturalista.

Snake species
A 40 cm thin brown snake at Rancho could not be identified.

Orange-bellied leaf litter Snake             Rhadinaea
A 40 cm long and very thin, not poisonous snake was seen at La Selva.

Evening Keeled Black Snake
This was a rather big snake, as thick as an arm, not poisonous and well over 2 meters long. This was seen on a trail at La Selva.

Red Poison Arrow Frog
One of this little and very poisonous jewels was seen in a bromelia at La Selva.

Leaf litter frog species
Another little brown frog at La Selva. This genus holds 14 species.

Glass frog species
Another small frog at La Selva. These frogs owe their common name to the transparant skin on their belly.