Costa Rica Birding Holiday - February 21 to March 5, 2007

February 24

Hotel Pochote Grande

Our hotel, Hotel Pochote Grande, had German owners, and some of the clientele were German. We had a beautiful room overlooking a pool and with view of the Pacific Ocean near Jaco Beach.

We awoke early, despite the late arrival, eager to join our leader, Dave Milsom, in a little birding around the grounds. We didn’t see anyone, except the armed guard – rather unsettling. We checked the trees in around the parking lot, and found the usual suspects - Kiskadees and Robins. Near 6:30 am, we met some of the others returning from the beach and nearby estuary with glowing reports of the shorebirds. So, together with Dave and Amy Darker, we sprinted over there for a few minutes before breakfast. The action was pretty well over, but we did see a Willet and a Snowy Egret.

Willet	Snowy Egret

We had an ordered breakfast with the rest of the group. The fresh juice was delicious and the coffee urn was bottomless.

We were ready to leave for Carara on the bus, but Alvaro spotted two Vermiculated Screech Owls in a tree right beside it. Everyone craned to see them, as they were well camouflaged. Needless to say we were a little late leaving. Birders time, Dave said.

Vermiculated Screech Owl	Inca Dove

Carara Reserve

It was only a half hour drive to Carara National Park. Victor, our local guide, was waiting with his scope. While most used the facilities, we listened to Victor’s plan for the morning. We were distracted by a particularly large iguana.

Victor knew of a Scarlet Macaw nesting site only 10 minutes away. So we walked there, enjoying the jungle trail. Sure enough, high in the treetops was a male Scarlet Macaw – magnificent. These birds are endangered and are worth a fortune in the illegal pet trade.
Vicor then showed us the female, with her head poking out of the hole. Thank goodness for digital cameras – we would have used a fortune in film!

Scarlet Macaw	Scarlet Macaw

Scarlet Macaw	Scarlet Macaw

Scarlet Macaw	Black-hooded Antshrike

Then Victor accompanied us on a very short bus ride, still in the park, to a nearby trail. He was able to guide us to some very good birds – a Violaceous Trogan, a Black-hooded Antshrike, an Orange-collared Manakin, and a Streaked Flycatcher.

Orange-collared Manakin	Orange-collared Manakin

Streaked Flycatcher	Violaceous Trogon

Then he took us to a pond where there were all kinds of things- American Crocodiles, Boat-billed Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Northern Jacanas, Black-necked Stilts, Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Tri-colored Herons and Iguanas.

Roseate Spoonbill	Great Egret

Boat-billed Heron	Boat-billed Heron

Tricolored Heron

Orotina

Then it was back to the nature centre for a picnic lunch, that Alvaro went and bought while we had been birding. After lunch, we drove back nearly an hour towards San José to visit a city park in Orotina. Victor told us that Black-and-white Owls could be found in the park. We searched high and low, and found some other neat stuff, including a Three-toed Sloth and a Rufous-tailed Jacamar. One by one we gave up on the owls, when Alvaro spotted them. He is amazing at finding these things.

Three-toed Sloth	Black-and-white Owl

Yellow Warbler	Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Then it was back to Carara for another hike in the afternoon heat. Things were pretty quiet, but Dave did manage to find a few trees where there were multiple species feeding. Tennessee and Chestnut-sided Warblers were common.

Back to the hotel for a swim in the pool. Dave recommended swimming in the pool rather than the ocean because of sewer outlets entering ocean. The locals were on the beach and in the water. They drive their cars right onto the beach. We wandered the beach until sunset around 6 pm, and then went back for a barbeque, cooked by the resort owners. Dave invited Victor to join us for supper, and he came with his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Lindsey, delighting us all. They are Costa Rican, but like American names.