Summer Costa Rica Jul 07—20, 2010
Posted by David Ascanio
David Ascanio
David Ascanio, a Venezuelan birder and naturalist, has spent the last 26 years guiding birding tours throughout his native country, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, the Amazo...Related Trips
Narrow and small in size, Costa Rica is big in birdlife. This incredible country is blessed with four mountain ranges and two faces, one towards the Pacific Ocean and another towards the Caribbean Sea.
Our tour started with a drive to Carara where patches of forest and wetlands remain, even near urban areas. This is due to Costa Rican legislation which recognizes the importance of biodiversity as no other Latin American country. For example, lumbering and mining are well-restricted to certain areas; therefore, the main economic activity is nature tourism.
 |
Green Thorntail— Photo: David Ascanio |
Our first day found us on an early morning drive to Carara where viable populations of Scarlet Macaws remain. Here we enjoyed Long-tailed Manakin, Streak-chested Antpitta, and Bicolored Antbird. Following Carara, we drove to Fonda Vela with visits to the Finca Ecológica, the Monteverde Reserve, and The Hummingbird Café, the last being a site where 8 species of hummingbirds abound. From this incredible and bird-rich side of Costa Rica we moved towards the Caribbean side.
At Volcán Arenal we were awakened at night by the loud rumbling of volcanic activity, while during the daytime we were delighted with coquettes, oropendolas, tanagers, and a superb walk across a trail with more than 15 suspended bridges!
The excitement continued with two full days at the famous La Selva Biological Station, a place that no visiting birder should miss. Feeding flocks, army ants, tinamous, and curassows are part of this "birder's paradise." Here, wildlife abounds and is not afraid of humans.
Our last location visited was Volcán Poás, where we saw Zeledonia, Flame-throated Warbler, a second Collared Redstart, and Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher.
I want to express my gratitude to our driver and local guide, Santiago Morales. Also, I appreciate the assistance of the staff in La Selva and Fonda Vela, as well as the time the local artist, Cope, spent with us. Everyone we met in this country was always nice and happy to assist.