2 - 7 March 1999

by Mark Lockwood

This was our fourth trip to Costa Rica.  As with the previous three trips, our travel arrangements were made through Costa Rica Gateways.  As with the other trips, everything was as arranged and we had no problems what so ever.  Costar Rica Gateway offers an excellent service.

We had visited the Caribbean lowlands in 1997 and stayed at El Gavilan Lodge.  During this visit to the region we chose Selva Verde Lodge.  In retrospect, I am amazed at how different the birds were even though the lodges are only about 7 kms apart and both on the Rio Sarapique.  Selva Verde is a much fancier accommodation and, of course, more expensive.  Early March is during the dry season and the weather was warm and sunny.  Being from Texas, this was not much of a concern, but I did talk to people from cooler climates that though it was very hot.  The birding at Selva Verde Lodge and the immediate vicinity was excellent.  We spent quite a bit of time birding a dirt road that leads south from the main highway.  The road is probably about 500 meter east of Selva Verde (toward Puerto Viejo) proper and just past the small school.  The area where the road crosses the Rio Sarapique was fantastic as were the other steam crossing farther down the road.

The Virgen del Socorro is a fantastic place to visit.  The canyon is magnificent, as is the forest.  We visited the Vigen del Socorro twice during this trip.  The first time, on the morning of 5 March, the weather was sunny and rather warm.  This made for great hawk watching conditions, but passerine activity was low.  We returned the next afternoon when it was heavy overcast and the passerine activity was much better.

The Poas Volcano Lodge was a very pleasant surprise.  The lodge itself is very nice and comfortable.  Their web site mentioned a private forest reserved that was good for birding.  Upon our arrival I noticed that the forest was quite small.  However, it was full of birds.  I am still amazed at the diversity of bird life at the lodge.  We birded the lodge on the afternoon of the 5th and the morning and late afternoon of the 6th.  We had a total of 38 species in about 30 acres of forest and about 50 acres of scattered trees in converted pastureland.  The Poas Volcano Lodge is at an elevation of 1900 meters (6200 feet).

We also visited the Volcan Poas National Park on Saturday, 6 March.  We arrived early and birded the forest trail.  The main paved trail to the crater was a river of tourists when we emerged from the forest at about 9:00 a.m.  Diversity of birds is low at that elevation, but there are some nice ones to be seen.  I don't know if a visit during the week would avoid the crowds or not.  Most were tourists and I doubt that the fact that it was Saturday had anything to do with their visit.
 

ITINERARY:

2 March - Traveled from San Jose to Selva Verde Lodge, about 1 hour of birding around the Selva Verde (SV) grounds.  Selva Verde Lodge is located seven km west of Puerto Viejo on the highway to San Migel.

3 March - Birded Selva Verde grounds, including second growth forest north of highway.  Late afternoon spent along a dirt road (DR) that travels south from the main highway and is across from the school east of Selva Verde proper.  The road passes through disturbed habitats as well as crosses the Rio Sarapique and several smaller drainages.  The area between the highway and about one half mile beyond the bridge were especially birdy.

4 March - Morning and late afternoon birding along above mentioned road.  Remainder of day around Selva Verde property.

5 March - Early morning birding around Selva Verde and the dirt road.  Birded the Virgen del Socorro (VS) from 9:00 am to noon, made a brief stop in the small town (?) of Cinchonia to watch the hummingbird feeders and afternoon at the Poas Volcano Lodge (PVL).  The place in Cinchonia was reported at a restaurant in Colonia in my 1997 trip report.

6 March - Morning at the Volcan Poas National Park (Poas) and afternoon at the Virgen del Socorro with some birding around the Poas Volcano Lodge.

7 March - Traveled from the Poas Volcano Lodge to San Jose.
 

TRIP LIST:

Locations Legend:

SV - Selva Verde Lodge property

DR - a dirt road east of SV that leads through agricultural lands (see above)

VS - Virgen del Socorro

PVL - Poas Volcano Lodge

Poas - Volcon Poas National Park
 

SPECIES	WHERE OBSERVED
Little Tinamou	one seen in the secondary forest at SV on the 4th.
Neotropic Cormorant	One seen flying down the Rio Sarapique on the 4th.
Fasciated Tiger-Heron	One adult on the bank of the Rio Sarapique at SV on the 3rd.
Great Blue Heron	One along the river at SV on the 2nd.
Great Egret	One in an open field near Puerto Viejo on the 2nd.
Snowy Egret	One along the Rio Sarapique along the DR on the 4th.
Little Blue Heron	Three on the 3rd and another on the forth along the Rio Sarapique at SV and DR.
Cattle Egret	Common in the lowlands, 30+ seen daily, less common in the vicinity of PVL.
Green Heron	Three on the 3rd and another on the forth along the Rio Sarapique at SV and DR.
Boat-billed Heron	Three at a small pond just beyond and west of the DR river bridge.
Black Vulture	common
Turkey Vulture	abundant
King Vulture	One adult seen soaring over SV on the 4th.
Muscovy Duck	Two seen flying down the Rio Sarapique on the 2nd and 4th.
Swallow-tailed Kite	About eight at VS on the 5th.
Double-toothed Kite	One soaring over SV and another with a group of White-faced Capuchins in the second growth forest at SV on the 3rd. Another at VS on the 5th.
Plumbeous Kite	Two soaring at SV on the 3rd.
Barred Hawk	A pair calling and occasionally diving at VS and one at Cinchonia, all on the 5th.
Semiplumbeous Hawk	One seen briefly, flying at treetop level, at SV on the 3rd.
White Hawk	Two adults at VS on the 5th.
Gray Hawk	One heading east over SV on the 3rd.
Broad-winged Hawk	One at SV and three at VS on the 5th. Two at VS on the 6th.
Short-tailed Hawk	One adult about 2 miles down the DR on the 4th.
Red-tailed Hawk	One at PVL on the 5th and 6th. The bird seen on the 6th had rufous on the belly.
American Kestrel	One about a mile from PVL on the 6th.
Gray-headed Chachalaca	Four at SV on the 4th.
Black Guan	One at Poas on the 6th.
Gray-necked Wood-Rail	Excellent and lengthy views of one at SV on the 4th.
Spotted Sandpiper	Two seen daily along the Rio Sarapique at SV.
Red-billed Pigeon	One at SV on the 5th. (Fly-by unidentified pigeons were seen on several occasions over the previous days).
Band-tailed Pigeon	One near the entrance to Poas on the 6th.
Ruddy Pigeon	Four at PVL on the morning of the 6th.
Short-billed Pigeon	Heard daily at SV, three seen on the 4th and one on the 5th.
Inca Dove	One in Heredia on the 2nd.
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Four to six seen along the DR on the 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Blue Ground-Dove	Two along the DR on the 3rd and 4 on the 4th.
Gray-chested Dove	Singles at SV on the 3rd and 4th.
Crimson-fronted Parakeet	One flock of three along the DR on the 5th.
Olive-throated Parakeet	Common at SV with up to 30 on the 3rd and 4th.
Barred Parakeet	One small flock of eight flew over the PVL on the 5th.
Orange-chinned Parakeet	Five along the DR on the 4th and one on the 5th.
Brown-hooded Parrot	One near the bridge along DR on the 4th and two in the same area on the 5th.
White-crowned Parrot	Five at PVL on the 6th.
Red-lored Parrot	Common at SV and vicinity, about 10 per day on the 3rd through the 5th.
Mealy Parrot	Uncommon at SV and vicinity with two on the 3rd and five on the 4th and 5th.
Squirrel Cuckoo	Common at SV and DR with a high of seven on the 3rd. One at VS on the 5th.
Groove-billed Ani	Common along the DR, up to 15 per day.
Short-tailed Nighthawk	Two at 5:30 am on the 5th at SV seen from the open area in front of the conference room
Common Nighthawk	One seen with the Short-tailed Nighthawk on the morning of the 5th.
Common Pauraque	One heard and seen briefly at SV on the 3rd.
Chestnut-collared Swift	Three swifts thought to be this species were observed feeding over the open pastures along the DR on the 4th.
White-collared Swift	Up to 30 feeding over the open pastures along the DR on the 4th. Approx. 50 at VS and about 30 more at Cinchonia on the 5th. Three were at PVL on the 5th.
Vaux's Swift	About ten near Poas on the 6th.
Gray-rumped Swift	Common at SV and vicinity on the 3rd through the 5th.
Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift	One at the intersection of the highway and the DR on the 5th.
Long-tailed Hermit	Two at SV on the 3rd and one at PVL on the 6th.
Violet Saberwing	One female at Cinchonia on the 5th.
Green Thorntail	Two males and one female at Cinchonia on the 5th.
Violet-crowned Woodnymph	A females was observed at the bridge on DR on the 3rd and 4th. Single males were at VS on the 5th and 6th.
Fiery-throated Hummingbird	At least six at Poas on the 6th.
Blue-chested Hummingbird	One female gathering nesting material in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Common at SV and two at Cinchonia on the 5th.
Coppery-headed Emerald	Three at Cinchonia on the 5th.
White-bellied Mountain-Gem	One at Cinchonia on the 5th.
Purple-throated Mountain-Gem	At least four at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Green-crowned Brilliant	Three at Cinchonia on the 5th and one at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Purple-crowned Fairy	One at the intersection of the highway at DR on the 4th and one at VS on the 6th.
Volcano Hummingbird	One at Poas and at PVL on the 6th. Several small hummer fly-bys at Poas were likely this species.
Scintillant Hummingbird	One female was at PVL on the 6th.
Violaceous Trogon	One male was observed near the bridge on DR on the 4th and 5th.
Black-throated Trogon	Two were at SV on the 3rd.
Slaty-tailed Trogon	Five at SV on the 3rd and three on the 4th. A pair was observed excavating a termitarie on the 3rd and 4th.
Rufous Motmot	One heard on the 3rd and 5th and seen in the same area on the 6th near the bridge on DR.
Ringed Kingfisher	Two along the Rio Sarapique at SV on the 3rd.
Amazon Kingfisher	Two on the 3rd and one on the 5th along the Rio Sarapique at SV.
Rufous-tailed Jacamar	A pair along the DR between the highway and the bridge on the 3rd and 4th.
Red-headed Barbet	Two males at VS on the 6th.
Prong-billed Barbet	One at PVL on the 5th.
Emerald Toucanet	One at the VS on the 6th.
Collared Aracari	Fairly common at SV and vicinity, at least 5 per day on the 3rd - 5th.
Keel-billed Toucan	Abundant at SV and vicinity, at least 25 per day on the 3rd - 5th.
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan	Common at SV and vicinity, at least 10 per day on the 3rd - 5th.
Black-cheeked Woodpecker	Commonly heard around SV and vicinity; seven seen on the 3rd, four on the 4th and two on the 5th.
Smoky-brown Woodpecker	One at the VS on the 6th.
Lineated Woodpecker	One at SV on the 3rd.
Pale-billed Woodpecker	A male at SV on the 4th.
Red-faced Spinetail	Two at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Spotted Barbtail	One at the VS on the 5th.
Ruddy Treerunner	At least two at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner	Two at the VS on the 5th and 6th.
Streak-breasted Treehunter	One at PVL on the 5th.
Olivaceous Woodcreeper	One at the VS on the 6th and at least six on the 6th.
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper	Two at SV on the 3rd.
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper	Singles at SV on the 3rd and 4th.
Streak-headed Woodcreeper	Three along the DR on the 3rd, two on the 4th and two on the 5th.
Chestnut-backed Antbird	Singles seen at SV on the 3rd and 4th.
Paltry Tyrannulet	One in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia	Singles along the DR on the 4th and 5th.
Mountain Elaenia	One at PVL on the 5th and 6th, and at least six at Poas on the 6th.
Torrent Tyrannulet	One at La Paz Falls on the 6th.
Slaty-capped Flycatcher	Two at the VS on the 6th.
Yellow Tyrannulet	A pair seen in the same location along the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant	One in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th.
Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher	One in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th.
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Three along the DR on the 4th and two on the 5th. One at the VS on the 6th.
Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher	Singles along the DR on the 4th and 5th and at the VS on the 5th and 6th.
Eye-ringed Flatbill	One in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th.
Tufted Flycatcher	One at the VS on the 5th and 6th.
Tropical Pewee	A pair with a nest along the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	One at SV on the 3rd.
Yellowish Flycatcher	One at PVL on the 6th.
Black Phoebe	One at the bridge on the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Bright-rumped Attila	Singles at SV and at the bridge on the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Rufous Morner	One in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	One at the VS on the 6th.
Great Kiskadee	Common at SV and elsewhere, even two at PVL on the 6th.
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Two along the DR on the 4th.
Social Flycatcher	Abundant at SV and vicinity.
Gray-capped Flycatcher	Common at SV and vicinity.
White-ringed Flycatcher	One at SV on the 3rd.
Streaked Flycatcher	One at the VS on the 6th.
Piratic Flycatcher	Two at SV and along the DR on the 3rd, 4th and 5th.
Tropical Kingbird	Common at all locations except Poas.
Cinnamon Becard	Fairly common at SV and DR, with at least three per day.
White-winged Becard	Three at SV on the 4th.
Masked Tityra	Fairly common at SV and DR, with at least three per day.
Black-crowned Tityra	One near the bridge along the DR on the 5th.
White-collared Manakin	One male in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th, other manakins heard.
Yellow-throated Vireo	Singles at SV on the 3rd and 5th.
Yellow-winged Vireo	Two at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Lesser Greenlet	One in the second growth forest at SV on the 4th and four at VS on the 6th.
Gray-breasted Martin	Three at Cinchonia on the 5th.
Mangrove Swallow	One at Cinchonia on the 5th, which seems like an odd location for this species.
Blue-and-white Swallow	Common at PVL, up to 10 on the 5th and 6th.
Southern Rough-winged Swallow	Two or three per day at SV and vicinity.
Brown Jay	Ten at SV on the 3rd and four on the 4th, one at PVL on the 5th.
Band-backed Wren	Two at a drainage crossing of the DR on the 3rd.
Bay Wren	One at SV on the 3rd, three at VS on the 5th and one on the 6th.
House Wren	Common along the DR and a pair at PVL.
Ochraceous Wren	One at PVL on the 5th.
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Two or three per day at SV.
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Four at PVL on the 5th and 6th, two at Poas on the 6th , and three at VS on the 6th.
Tropical Gnatcatcher	Three or four per day at SV and vicinity.
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush	Five at Poas on the 6th.
Sooty Robin	One at Poas on the 6th.
Mountain Robin	Five+ at PVL on the 5th and 6th, at least 10 at Poas on the 6th.
Clay-colored Robin	Common in open habitats at SV and vicinity.
Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher	Four at Poas on the 6th.
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher	Six at PVL on the 6th.
Golden-winged Warbler	One at the VS on the 5th and at least three on the 6th.
Tennessee Warbler	Singles at SV on the 3rd and 4th and one at Cinchonia on the 5th.
Tropical Parula	One at the VS on the 5th and at least five on the 6th.
Yellow Warbler	Two on the 3rd and four on the 4th at SV and vicinity.
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Common at SV and vicinity and VS; at least 10 per day.
Townsend's Warbler	Two seen well at Poas on the 6th.
Black-throated Green Warbler	One at PVL on the 6th.
Blackburnian Warbler	One at the VS on the 5th and two on the 6th.
Black-and-white Warbler	One at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Northern Waterthrush	One along the DR on the 3rd.
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat	Two or three along the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Wilson's Warbler	Five at PVL on the 5th and 6th. Four at Poas and three at the VS on the 6th.
Slate-throated Redstart	Three at VS on the 5th and four on the 6th.
Collared Redstart	Two at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Buff-rumped Warbler	One at SV on the 3rd and one at VS on the 5th and 6th.
Bananaquit	One at VS on the 5th and at least 10 on the 6th.
Silver-throated Tanager	Four at VS on the 5th and at least 10 on the 6th.
Speckled Tanager	One at the VS on the 6th.
Bay-headed Tanager	About five at the VS on the 6th.
Golden-hooded Tanager	Three to five per day at VS and vicinity.
Spangle-cheeked Tanager	Two at PVL on the 5th.
Blue Dacnis	A male and female, at different locations, on the 3rd at SV.
Green Honeycreeper	A male on the 3rd and a pair on the 5th at SV.
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Three along the DR on the 4th.
Golden-browed Chlorophonia	Two at PVL on the 6th.
Yellow-crowned Euphonia	Two or three per day along the DR.
Olive-backed Euphonia	At least six per day at SV and vicinity.
Tawny-capped Euphonia	Two on the 5th and three on the 6th at the VS.
Blue-gray Tanager	Common (10+/day) at SV and vicinity.
Palm Tanager	Abundant (25+/day) at SV and vicinity.
Olive Tanager	Six at the VS on the 5th.
Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Common, two or three pairs per day at SV.
Summer Tanager	Singles at SV on the 3rd and 4th and one at VS on the 6th.
Crimson-collared Tanager	One at the VS on the 6th.
Passerini's Tanager	Fairly common at SV (5/day).
Common Bush-Tanager	Ten on the 5th and two on the 6th at VS and at least one pair at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager	Al least one pair at PVL on the 5th and 6th and about 12 at Poas on the 6th.
Black-and-yellow Tanager	Four, including one adult male, at the VS on the 6th.
Buff-throated Saltator	Three to five per day at SV and vicinity on the 3rd - 5th.
Black-faced Grosbeak	One on the 3rd and six on the 4th at SV.
Yellow-thighed Finch	At least two at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Large-footed Finch	One at Poas on the 6th.
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	One at PVL on the 6th.
Orange-billed Sparrow	Two on the 2nd and singles on the 3rd and 4th at SV.
Black-striped Sparrow	Singles along the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Blue-black Grassquit	Common along the DR (10+/day).
Variable Seedeater	Common along the DR and at SV with 10+/day. One at VS on the 6th.
Thick-billed Seed-Finch	A pair at SV on the 3rd and a male along the highway near SV on the 4th.
Peg-billed Finch	One singing conspicuously at Poas on the 6th.
Slaty Flowerpiercer	Three or four at PVL on the 5th and 6th.
Rufous-collared Sparrow	Common at elevations above the VS, particularly so around PVL.
Eastern Meadowlark	One at the airport in Alajuela on the 7th.
Great-tailed Grackle	Common at all locations except Poas.
Bronzed Cowbird	30+ per day seen flying east in the late evenings over SV.
Giant Cowbird	Two on the 3rd and one on the 5th at SV.
Black-cowled Oriole	Two or three on the 3rd and 4th and one very bright male on the 5th at SV.
Orchard Oriole	Three on the 4th along the DR.
Baltimore Oriole	Common along the DR (15+/day)
Scarlet-rumped Cacique	Four on the 3rd and two on the 4th at SV.
Montezuma Oropendola	Up to 100 at SV and vicinity on the 3rd - 5th, about 10 at VS on the 6th.
House Sparrow	Two near SV on the 4th.

210 species

Heard only
 

Great Tinamou	One at SV on the 3rd and two on the 4th.
Gray-breasted Crake	Singles at three locations along the DR on the 3rd and 4th.
Nightingale Wren	One at VS on the 5th.

Mark Lockwood
Austin, Texas 78745
mwlockwood@juno.com