Short Costa Rica: Toucans to Quetzals: Feb 27—Mar 07, 2010

Resplendent Quetzal — Photo: David Wolf

Costa Rica is one of the premier birding destinations in the world, and no part of this small and friendly country has more to offer than the Caribbean lowlands and nearby mountains. The sheer abundance of birds in this region is stunning, and they are found amidst a backdrop of spectacular scenery and lush vegetation. This compact tour, weekend through weekend inclusive, offers an action-packed introduction to Neotropical birding, yet has enough specialties to attract the well-traveled birder. In the lowlands such perennial favorites as toucans are actually common and easy to observe, along with parrots, trogons, and tanagers, while top quality birds like Great Tinamou, Crested Guan, and raptors still survive well and are, in fact, quite findable. Hummingbirds are abundant and diverse, and we will visit several wonderful feeding stations for them.

The cool, oak-dominated forests of Cerro de la Muerte are a stronghold for the Resplendent Quetzal, considered by many to be the most beautiful bird in the world, and we will make a special effort to find this spectacular bird here. A high percentage of the other birds present in the mountains are endemic to these highlands, and the pleasant climate makes seeking them a pleasure. Facilities for tourism in Costa Rica are excellent, none of our travel time is lengthy or without birding stops, and there is simply nowhere else in Central America with more to offer in such a compact trip.

The bulk of our time will be spent in the Caribbean lowlands of the Sarapiqui region, the wettest part of the country. Among the areas that we will bird is the spectacular lowland rainforest at the world-famous La Selva Field Station. Here we will thrill to colorful parrots, trogons, jacamars, toucans, and tanagers feeding at the forest edge; prowl the forest interior for tinamous, motmots, antbirds, and manakins; check the open country for raptors, seed-eating birds, and skulkers in the damp grasslands; visit the nearby foothills with their abundance of tanagers; and seek regional specialties like the Lattice-tailed Trogon, Snowy Cotinga, Rufous-winged Woodpecker, and Black-throated and Stripe-breasted wrens. This is the richest region of the country for biodiversity, and over 400 species of birds are known from this area alone. At this time of year, many are in full song as they begin their nesting season. There are almost unlimited birding opportunities, and from our family-owned lodge we will range out to sample the many habitats within easy reach.

We end our week in the cool temperate zone of the mountains at lovely Savegre Lodge, in a beautiful deep valley that plunges off the side of Cerro de la Muerte. With its flower-filled gardens, rushing trout stream, and gorgeous forest, this is surely one of the most peaceful and relaxing places on earth. Here the Resplendent Quetzal is present in good numbers and, with just a little luck, we will see them regularly. All habitats from 7,000 feet up to the subalpine scrub at the top of the mountain can be easily reached, and we should see almost all of the many birds endemic to these highlands, including such distinctive species as Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Prong-billed Barbet, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Flame-throated Warbler, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, and Large-footed Finch, to mention but a few. The lodge has hummingbird feeders and a surprising variety of birds in the surrounding orchards and woodlots, providing a delightful environment for rounding out our week in Costa Rica.

Good accommodations and food; birding on foot on easy to moderate trails; midday breaks most days; swimming pool at La Quinta; warm and humid to pleasantly cool temperatures.

Richard K. Walton’s DVD, The New World Tropics, An Introduction for Naturalists, includes visits to several of the finest lodges and field stations in Belize, Costa Rica, and Trinidad. If you would like to receive a free copy of this excellent, hour-long presentation, please contact the VENT office.