8-23 April 2000
by David Kelly
Costa Rica is a small country which is well known for the abundance of its wildlife and its enlightened attitude to conservation. Neither my wife nor I had ever visited Latin America and we were looking for somewhere other than Africa to visit. We decided on Costa Rica because of the wildlife and because we knew it to be a relatively safe and stable country. This report covers that trip.
The main resources used were An Ecotravellers Guide to Costa Rica by Les Beletzky, A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles & Skutch and Lonely Planet Guide to Costa Rica. I also looked at a lot of trip reports from Blake Maybank "Birding the Americas Trip Reports & Planning" site and some websites from "Where do you want to go birding today?" also useful was Doug von Gausig's website at http://www.naturesongs.com
Flights
We arranged our flight with American Airlines, a British Airways flight took us from Edinburgh to London Gatwick and from there to Dallas-Fort Worth and then on to San Jose. When we arrived in San Jose we found that Lillian's bag was missing (and is still missing). Mine came through okay, as did the bag with our boots in.
Tour
After touring Africa with overland companies we decided to do the same around Costa Rica. We booked a tour with GAP Tours of Toronto through Guerba Expeditions in London. This was mainly on private transport but the initial journey out of San Jose was on the public bus. The accommodation was mainly cabinas or casitas, except Monteverde and Quepos. In many ways I preferred the cabinas to the hotels as they seemed to be more personal and have more character. Our tour guide was a Nicaraguan-Scot named Duncan McGowan who told us we were the first Scots he had ever had on any of his tours.
Food
Beans and rice, rice and beans, beans with rice, rice with beans and beans surprise (rice and beans). Only joking! But there was a kind of a ricey, beansy feel to the diet. On the whole the food was excellent, especially the seafood, and I enjoyed trying different ways of preparing plantain. Beer was okay, I preferred Imperial to other brands and the rest of the crew joked that when they heard the Scots were coming Cervezeria Costa Rica built an extra wing on the brewery. I don't really enjoy spirits but you can get some excellent rum, as well as the local firewater. Coffee was, as one would expect, generally excellent.
And now onto the report.
8 April 2000
We left Edinburgh on the 6.25 flight to Gatwick where we connected to American Airlines to Dallas-Fort-Worth. As the plane taxied at DFW I tried to see birds through the window. All I could see were Grackles, which I assumed to be Common. We had a couple of hours in DFW before going onwards to San Jose. When we arrived in San Jose it was night and we discovered that Lillian's bag had not arrived. Once we reported the loss to American Airlines we caught a taxi from the airport to our hotel, the Hotel Aranjuez, costing $12. When we arrived the rest of the group were waiting with Duncan and we were all introduced over a few rums.
9 April 2000
My first dawn in Costa Rica and I was up as soon as I heard birds. The tiny garden of the hotel started off my trip list with my first lifer, Inca Dove soon followed by Clay-coloured Robin, Blue-grey Tanager, Chestnut-collared Sparrow, Streaked Saltator and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. Two birds familiar from my trips to central Canada were Swainson's Thrush and Chestnut-sided Warbler. Most unexpected was a pair of Blue-crowned Motmots which included the garden in their territory. Then it was off for breakfast where I was introduced to the delights of Gallo Pinto before we caught the express bus to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the Caribbean coast.
It rained the whole bus journey down and the only birds I really saw from the bus were Cattle and Snowy Egret and Black and Turkey Vultures. It was still raining on arrival in Puerto Viejo and there were no taxis to take us to our cabinas so we had to walk through the rain. We then had the rest of the wet Sunday afternoon to wander. I saw a few birds but the rain was keeping birds down. I did see my lifer Tricoloured Heron and a Greater Kiskadee and a White-ringed Flycatcher sharing a fence.
10 April 2000
Again I was up at 5.15am and out birding to see what avian wonders awaited me. It was overcast and rain showers constantly interrupted me before the cloud dispersed and the heat and humidity made birding difficult because my glasses steamed up. In that few hours I collected a few lifers without leaving the grounds of the Cabinas. These included Green-breasted Mango, Variable Seed-eater, White-lined Tanagers, Common Tody-Tyrant, Red-rumped Woodpecker and Short-billed Pigeon. There were lots of other birds I could not identify because the views were too brief and I was completely unfamiliar with Neotropical birds. The most spectacular sight though was the visible diurnal migration of Tree and Barn Swallows mixed in with Eastern Kingbirds heading northwards in their thousands. No lifers in these flocks but what a memorable sight.
Later we had breakfast and walked to the Botanical Gardens, on the way picking up Amazon Kingfisher, Green-backed Heron and more Tricoloured Herons. Black Vultures were everywhere and Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Grey-capped Flycatcher and Masked Tityra were added to my slowly growing trip list. A highlight in the gardens was seeing a male Summer Tanager and a White-faced Nunbird in a patch of primary forest.
To end the day Lillian and I grabbed a couple of Imperials and sat on the beach watching small groups of Barn Swallows heading north. We also saw an Osprey moving purposefully northwards, both species familiar enough from home.
11 April 2000
The whole group got the bus from Puerto Viejo south, along the coast to Manzanilla where we would visit the Refugio de Fauna Silvestre Manzanilla. Our guide here was to be Ricky who not only told us about the wildlife but about the Afro-Caribbean Culture and history in eastern Costa Rica. In this lowland wet rainforest birds were difficult to see but Ricky was a superb guide, pointing out all three Caribbean colour phases of the Eyelash Viper (Grey-brown, Brown and Yellow). Birds seen here included Red-capped Manikin, Crested Owl (probably impossible without Ricky), Olive-throated Parakeet, Pale-vented Pigeon, Masked Tityra, Collared Aracari. Barred Antshrike, Keel-billed and Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Magnificent Frigate-Bird, Common Black Hawk, Scarlet-rumped Tanager and Black-cowled Oriole. Other wildlife seen included Mantled Howler Monkey, Two-toed Sloth, Caiman and Black River Turtle.
Tomorrow we would leave the laid back atmosphere of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and head north to Tortuguero. It's not on most birding itineraries it is a great place to visit as you see a different, less Latin side to Costa Rica and they really love to play Bob Marley records in bars, I love Bob Marley's music.
12 April 2000
Before we left Puerto Viejo I walked along the road we had taken by bus the previous day. This was quite productive with new trip birds including Bright-rumped Attilla, White-vented Euphonia, Yellow Warbler, Southern Rough-winged Swallow and White-breasted Woodwren. When I returned to the Cabinas our minibus was waiting to take us to Moin where we would board the boat to take us to Tortuguero. First we had to stop in Limon to purchase some clothes for Lillian.
The boat trip took most of the day with most birds and wildlife being seen before lunch. Non bird highlights included American Crocodile, Mantled Howler Monkey, Two-toed Sloth and Common Caiman. But the boat trip was very birdy with lots of the expected waterbirds as well as birds which crossed the waterways from one side to the other. I missed a Squirrel Cuckoo and highlights for me included Royal Tern, as I had seen one in Scotland in 1999, Montezuma Oropendula, Blue Dacnis, Laughing Falcon and a Snail Kite. The Kite was perched on a bare branch in a roadside tree and was most unexpected.
We arrived at Tortugeuro in the late afternoon and I saw no new birds that day. We were staying at the Maniti Lodge and had a good evening during which I learnt how to play a strange Canadian version of trumps called "Yewker" (Euchre) and taught my wife how to play poker for toothpicks.
13 April 2000
Up early again to explore the forest around the lodge but I never got past a single tree which was fruiting and was attracting birds out of the forest. Most prominent were Collared Aracaris and Keel-billed Toucans but there were also a single Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Lineated Woodpeckers, Red-lored Parrots, Olive-throated Parrakeeets, Crested Guans and Slaty-tailed Trogons. These last were especially welcome as they were my first ever Trogons. Smaller birds around the lodge included Baltimore, Black-cowled and Streak-backed Orioles; Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ringed Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Eastern and Tropical Kingbirds and Passerini's (thanks Mike), Golden Hooded and Palm Tanagers. One of the Eastern Kingbirds was being vicously attacked by a Tropical Kingbird, I can see why they are called Tyrants now
After breakfast we boarded a boat again to take us to another Puerto Viejo, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui. Again there was lots of wildlife to be seen but highlights were seeing four species of Kingfishers – Belted, Ringed, Green and Green & Rufous and two species of Tiger-Heron – Bare-throated and Rufescent as well as four Wood Storks. We had lunch at Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui before heading to Rara Avis.
We took the tractor up to El Plastico arriving just as the rain started. We had to hike up to Rara Avis through the rain and mud, arriving completely soaked and cold to a welcoming meal of Chicken and Casado (rice and beans). We were staying in the casitas and Lillian and I were disappointed not to find any of the local fauna sharing with us. We had two nights here.
14 April 2000
I was up early to bird the lodge grounds and to enjoy the Cinnamon Becards, more Chestnut-sided Warblers, Mealy Parrots, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Chestnut-headed Oropendulas, Silver-throated Tanagers and other birds. A small flycatcher had me stumped but I pinned it down to Zeledon's Tyrannulet. I also saw my one and only Coati of the trip. After breakfast we went on an introductory walk then I walked a little way down the road to El Plastico but found birds difficult to find, I did see a Green Hermit feeding at some flowers and a Russet Antshrike skulking in some low bushes. I could hear a Lattice-tailed Trogon calling in the forest but I was totally unable to see it.
In the afternoon walked one of the trails. I saw lots of birds on the trail but the only one I could identify was a Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant. This tied in with the advice I'd been given by Twan, a staff member at Rara Avis, that I would probably only be able to identify one or two out of every hundred birds I saw in the forest. Lillian was up ahead on the trail with Andy from our trip and they managed to see a Hog-nosed Skunk.
15 April 2000
After a late night I was up early again. Again I walked a little way down the road to El Plastico. Now I found a bird party but unfortunately it was in the canopy. There were a number of birds I just couldn't get good enough views of. One bird I was able to watch was a Wood Warbler with a blue back and a bluish washed slightly streaked breast, my first Cerulean Warbler. This turned out to be the first April record for Rara Avis, they have been recorded in May before. There were birds which reminded me of African bulbuls, one of which I thought was a Sharpbill while another was a Thrush-like Mannikin. I also saw a Rufous Piha, Speckled Tanager, Bananaquits, more Chestnut-sided Warblers and a few Swainson's Thrushes. Even then most of the birds remained unidentifiable.
After lunch we hiked back to El Plastico but on a forest path rather than the road. On the way down we stopped at a forest stream and I was able to get a look at a White Hawk as flew up stream over the trees. From El Plastico the tractor took us back into Horquetas. On the way down I managed to identify my first definite Boat-billed Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tyrant and Grey Hawks. Our minibus was waiting in Horquetas to take us to La Fortuna, where we arrived just before dusk. Against my better judgement Lillian persuaded me to sign on for the white water rafting trip down the Rio Toro, before that we would take a boat trip down the Rio Frio to Cano Negro.
We spent the evening in the hot springs watching the lava on Volcan Arenal
16 April 2000
Today we went on a boat trip from Los Chiles to the entrance to the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Cano Negro. This was an excellent trip, and would probably be even better at another season when the boat could continue into the Refugio. As it was we saw plenty of wildlife include a flock of Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, Squirrel Cuckoo, 5 species of Kingfisher (Ringed, Amazon, Green, Green and Rufous and American Pygmy), Boat-billed Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Gallinule, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Nicaraguan Grackle, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Hog-nosed Bats, Mantled Howler Monkey and White-headed Capuchin. We stopped and disembarked specially to see a Greater Potoo which has to be one of the coolest birds I have ever seen
When we stopped for lunch I was able to get some land based birding done in the parkland habitat. Among the first birds seen were Hoffman's Woodpecker and soon I managed to spot Black-headed Trogon, Black-headed Tody Flycatcher, Steel-vented Hummingbird and Blue-black Grassquit. After lunch we returned to Los Chiles and then on to La Fortuna stopping to admire Roadside Hawks and White-tailed Kites.
17 April 2000
This day was given over to a white water rafting trip down the Rio Toro. The river was a little low and as a result the rafts got stranded on rocks a few times. I ended up being the most frequent swimmer as our raft tipped twice and I managed to bounce out a couple of times on my own. The only birds I remember seeing were Black Phoebes. Unfortunately, Lillian jarred her elbow on our last tipping and had a sore arm for the remainder of the trip.
18 April 2000
Today we left La Fortuna. Our journey began with a short boat trip across Laguna Arenal. As the boat left, Chris spotted an animal in the water and I was able to get the binoculars on it. It was an otter which a few others managed to see before it dived and did not reappear. Lillian was unable to go by horseback as planned and we dropped the others off while we continued with the bags to a 4WD taxi which would take us to Monteverde. A few birds were seen on the boat trip but the only new bird was a pair of Golden Olive Woodpeckers.
The taxi was waiting for us in an area of cattle pasture and I was able to bird while it was being loaded and was able to see a few more open country birds. The taxi took us to the Hotel Villa Verde where we waited for the others to arrive. Later Lillian and I went up to the entrance of the famous Cloud Forest Reserve and enjoyed the close views of the hummingbirds at the gallery. As we sat watching the hummers I saw an Emerald Toucanet in the trees between the gallery and the road. I am afraid to say that my favourite hummer was big, purple and aggressive, the Violet Sabrewing.
19 April 2000
The next morning we went out with a local guide, Koki, into the Reserve. Koki was able to show us birds that we could never have hoped to see in the forest. We heard, but did not see, Three-wattled Bellbird but he was able to show us Orange-bellied Trogon, Black-masked Solitaire, Chestnut-capped Brush Finch, Slate-throated Redstart, Prong-billed Barbet, Black Guan, Mountain Robin and quite a few Resplendant Quetzals. I really wished that I could have spent more time here and seen some more of the special birds.
In the afternoon we went on the skywalk but apart from a couple of more Quetzals and a Swallow-tailed Kite we all thought this was too busy. In the late afternoon we returned to the Hummingbird Gallery and on the way up a Brown Jay flew across the road.
21 April 2000
We left Monteverde this morning and started our journey down the Pacific slope towards Quepos. The infamous Monteverde road lived up to its reputation and we were all feeling a little queasy before long. We cheered when we reached the tarmac. On the way down we all noticed the vegetation change from the green highlands to a dry scrubland, slightly reminiscent of some regions of Africa. We soon passed through this and reached the more verdant Pacific coast.
We stopped at the Rio Tarcoles bridge where I birded while the others photographed the crocodiles. Nothing new was seen here but I did reacquaint myself with Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and Common Black Hawk. We arrived in Quepos with a couple of hours before sunset and I went out to see what I could see on the estuary. Highlights were White Ibises, Brown Boobies and Brown Pelicans offshore, Orange-chinned Parakeets in the palms and a Bat Falcon which attacked the Spotted and Western Sandpipers on the estuary.
22 April 2000
Today was given over to a beach day in the Manuel Antonio National Park but it being Easter we had to wait in line. I enjoyed my first taste of snorkelling in the tropics, even if the mask did not fit properly. Before leaving Andy, Kimberley and I went a walk seeing Agouti, Squirrel Monkeys, Two and Three-toed Sloths, Red-crowned Woodpecker and land crabs.
We spent the last hour of daylight at a hotel waiting for Squirrel Monkeys to come into bananas. As we waited we watched the antics of the Golden-naped Woodpeckers, Palm, Blue-Grey and Scarlet-rumped Tanagers in the trees. The stream below us had a patient Green and Rufous Kingfisher while above us were migrating Broad-winged Hawks in ones and twos.
23 April 2000
Our last full day in this wonderful country and we had arranged a local guide, Leo, to take four of us into Manuel Antonio National Park. It was an excellent morning and we saw Crab-eating Racoon as well as my last trip lifers in Fiery-billed Aracari, Barred and Black Hooded Antshrike and Double Toothed Kite.
We got back to Quepos to check out of the hotel and return to San Jose for a final group meal. The next day Lillian and I began our journey home from San Jose to Miami to London Heathrow on to Edinburgh.
Species List
Lifers are in capitals.
| # COMMON NAME | SCIENTIFIC NAME | COMMENTS |
| 1. LITTLE TINAMOU | Crypturellus souei | heard Monteverde |
| 2. ANHINGA | Anhinga anhinga | Common on Moin-Tortuguero, Tortuguero-Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui and on Rio Frio. |
| 3. OLIVACEOUS CORMORANT | Phalacrocorax olivaceus | Common on any water. |
| 4. BROWN BOOBY | Sula leucogaster | Small numbers offshore at Quepos and Manuel Antonio |
| 5. BROWN PELICAN | Pelecanus occidentalis | 5 seen Quepos |
| 6. MAGNIFICENT FRIGATE-BIRD | Fregata magnificens | a few seen on Caribbean coast but numerous on Pacific coast. |
| 7. RUFESCENT TIGER-HERON | Tigrisoma lineatum | three seen on Tortuguero-Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqu trip and two on Rio Frio. |
| 8. BARE-THROATED TIGER-HERON | Tigrisoma mexicanum | one seen on Tortuguero-Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui |
| 9. Green Heron | Butorides virescens | common on wetlands |
| 10. Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | one seen Rio Frio. |
| 11. BOAT-BILLED HERON | Cochlearius cochlearius | colony of around 20 on Rio Frio plus single seen Manuel Antonio. |
| 12. Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | Common and widespead. |
| 13. TRICOLORED HERON | Egretta tricolor | Seen on Caribbean coast and on Tortuguero-Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui trip. |
| 14. SNOWY EGRET | Egretta thula | common waterside bird |
| 15. LITTLE BLUE HERON | Egretta caerulea | one seen on Moin-Tortoguero trip; two on Rio Frio. |
| 16. Great Egret | Casmerodius albus | a common waterside bird |
| 17. Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Less common than Great Egret but still numerous beside freshwater |
| 18. WHITE IBIS | Eudocnimus albus | flocks seen over Quepos and offshore from Manuel Antonio |
| 19. WOOD STORK | Mycteria americana | 4 seen Rio San Juan. |
| 20. Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | Abundant and widespread |
| 21. LESSER YELLOW-HEADED VULTURE | Cathartes burrovianus | A few seen in Rio Frio area. |
| 22. BLACK VULTURE | Coragyps atratus | Abundant and widespread. |
| 23. KING VULTURE | Sarcoramphus papa | One seen on road from Monteverde to the Interamericana |
| 24. AMERICAN SWALLOW-TAILED KITE | Elanoides forficatus | One seen over the Sky Walk at Monteverde. |
| 25. WHITE-TAILED KITE | Elanus leucurus | Common roadside bird |
| 26. SNAIL KITE | Rostrhamus sociabilis | a single seen on Moin-Tortuguero boat trip |
| 27. DOUBLE-TOOTHED KITE | Harpagus bidentatus | pair seen Manuel Antonio |
| 28. GRAY HAWK | Buteo nitidus | One seen in pasture near Rara Avis |
| 29. ROADSIDE HAWK | Buteo magnirostris | common roadside bird |
| 30. Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | singles seen on two occasions at Manuel Antonio |
| 31. COMMON BLACK HAWK | Buetogallus anthracinus | Pair seen over Manzanilla, one seen Tarcoles and one seen Manuel Antonio. |
| 32. WHITE HAWK | Leucopternis albicollis | one seen Rara Avis |
| 33. Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | one seen Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and another on Moin-Tortuguero boat trip. |
| 34. CRESTED CARACARA | Polyborus plancus | one seen Rio Frio |
| 35. LAUGHING FALCON | Herpotheres cachinnans | one perched in bush Moin-Tortuguero boat trip |
| 36. BAT FALCON | Falco rufigularis | one seen attacking Spotted Sandpipers at Quepos |
| 37. CRESTED GUAN | Penelope purprascens | pair in fig tree at Tortuguero |
| 38. BLACK GUAN | Chamaepetes unicolor | Three seen at Monteverde |
| 39. GRAY-NECKED WOOD RAIL | Aramides cajanea | one seen Rio Frio |
| 40. PURPLE GALLINULE | Porphyrula martinica | one seen Rio Frio |
| 41. NORTHERN JACANA | Jacana spinosa | common waterside bird |
| 42. Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | two seen Manuel Antonio |
| 43. Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | a small flock seen on estuary at Quepos |
| 44. Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | commonest shorebird |
| 45. Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | seen Moin-Tortuguero and Quepos |
| 46. Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | seen Moin-Tortuguero near rivermouths |
| 47. Feral Pigeon | Columba livia | San Jose |
| 48. SHORT-BILLED PIGEON | Columba nigrirostris | the commonest pigeon |
| 49. PALE VENTED PIGEON | Columba cayennensis | Manzanilla |
| 50. OLIVE-BACKED QUAIL DOVE | Geotrygon veraguenensis | Rara Avis |
| 51. RUDDY GROUND DOVE | Columbina talpacoti | first noted Horquetos |
| 52. COMMON GROUND DOVE | Columbina passerina | seen on Monteverde Interamericana road |
| 53. INCA DOVE | Columbina inca | seen San Jose only |
| 54. WHITE-WINGED DOVE | Zenaida asiatica | A few seen on Monteverde Interamericana road |
| 55. GREY-CHESTED DOVE | Leptoptila cassinii | Manuel Antonio |
| 56. GRAY-FRONTED DOVE | Leptoptila rufaxilla | Rio Frio |
| 57. ORANGE-CHINNED PARRAKEET | Brotogeris jugularis | Rio Frio, Quepos and Manuel Antonio |
| 58. CRIMSON-FRONTED PARRAKEET | Aratinga finschii | Rio Frio, |
| 59. OLIVE-THROATED PARRAKEET | Aratinga nana | Manzanilla and Tortuguero |
| 60. BROWN-HOODED PARROT | Pionopsitta haematotis | Monteverde |
| 61. WHITE-CROWNED PARROT | Pionus senilis | Monteverde |
| 62. RED-LORED PARROT | Amazona autumnalis | Seen flying over Rio Toro when in calmer water. |
| 63. MEALY PARROT | Amazona farinosa | Rara Avis |
| 64. SQUIRREL CUCKOO | Piaya cayana | Rio Frio |
| 65. GROOVE-BILLED ANIS | Crotophaga sulcirostris | Rio Frio and Manuel Antonio |
| 66. RESPLENDANT QUETZAL | Pharomachrus mocinno | about ten seen Monteverde |
| 67. SLATY-TAILED TROGON | Trogon massena | Pair seen Tortuguero |
| 68. LATTICE TAILED TROGON | Trogon clathratus | heard calling Rara Avis |
| 69. ORANGE-BELLIED TROGON | Trogon aurantiliventris | pair with juvenile seen Monteverde |
| 70. BLACK-HEADED TROGON | Trogon melanocephalus | pair seen Rio Frio |
| 71. VIOLET SABREWING | Campylopterus nehileucurus | Monteverde |
| 72. BLUE-THROATED GOLDENTAIL | Hylocharis elicae | Tortuguero |
| 73. LONG-TAILED HERMIT | Phaethornis superciliosus | Manzanilla |
| 74. GREEN HERMIT | Phaethornis guy | Monteverde |
| 75. GREEN-BREASTED MANGO | Anthracothorax prevostii | female Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 76. COPPERY-HEADED EMERALD | Elvira cupreiceps | Monteverde |
| 77. PURPLE-THROATED MOUNTAIN GEM | Lamprornis calolaema | Monteverde |
| 78. GREEN VIOLET-EAR | Colibri thalassinus | Monteverde |
| 79. MAGENTA THROATED WOODSTAR | Calliphlox bryantae | Monteverde |
| 80. STEELY VENTED HUMMINGBIRD | Amazilia saucerottei | Rio Frio |
| 81. RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD | Amazilia tzacatl | San Jose and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 82. STRIPE-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD | Eupherusia eximia | Monteverde |
| 83. SCINTILLANT HUMMINGBIRD | Selasphorus scintilla | Monteverde |
| 84. GREEN-CROWNED BRILLIANT | Heliodoxa jacula | Monteverde |
| 85. CROWNED WOODNYMPH | Thalurania colombica | Rara Avis |
| 86. GRAY-RUMPED SWIFT | Chaetura cinereiventris | Caribbean coast |
| 87. CRESTED OWL | Lophostrix cristata | pair seen Manzanilla |
| 88. GREATER POTOO | Nyctibus grandis | one seen Rio Frio |
| 89. GREEN KINGFISHER | Chloroceryle americana | Tortuguero- PV de Sarapiqui, Rio Frio |
| 90. AMAZON KINGFISHER | Chloroceryle amazona | seen Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, Tortuguero and on Rio Frio |
| 91. GREEN & RUFOUS KINGFISHER | Chloroceryle inda | Rio Frio and Manuel Antonio |
| 92. PYGMY KINGFISHER | Chloroceryle aenea | Rio Frio |
| 93. Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | Rio San Juan |
| 94. RINGED KINGFISHER | Ceryle torquata | Rio San Juan, Rio Frio and Laguna Arenal |
| 95. BLUE-CROWNED MOTMOT | Baryphthengus martii | San Jose and Monteverde |
| 96. RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR | Galbula ruficauda | Tortuguero |
| 97. WHITE-FRONTED NUNBIRD | Monasa morphoeus | PV de Talamanca |
| 98. EMERALD TOUCANET | Aulacorhynchus prasinus | Monteverde |
| 99. FIERY-BILLED ARACARI | Pteroglossus frantzii | pair seen at nest Manuel Antonio |
| 100. COLLARED ARACARI | Pteroglossus torquatusi | Manzanilla and Tortuguero |
| 101. KEEL-BILLED TOUCAN | Ramphastos sulfuratus | Manzanilla and Tortuguero |
| 102. CHESTNUT MANDIBLED TOUCAN | Ramphastos swainsonii | Manzanilla and Rara Avis |
| 103. PRONG-BILLED BARBET | Semnornis frantzii | Single Monteverde |
| 104. RED-RUMPED WOODPECKER | Venilornis kirkii | PV de Talamanca |
| 105. HOFFMANN'S WOODPECKER | Melanerpes hoffmanni | Rio Frio |
| 106. RUFOUS-WINGED WOODPECKER | Piculus simplex | PV de Talamanca |
| 107. GOLDEN OLIVE WOODPECKER | Piculus rubiginosus | Laguna Arenal |
| 108. BLACK-CHEEKED WOODPECKER | Melanerpes pucherani | PV de Talamanca and Manzanilla |
| 109. RED-CROWNED WOODPECKER | Melanerpes rubricapillus | Manuel Antonio |
| 110. GOLDEN-NAPED WOODPECKER | Melanerpes chrysauchen | Manuel Antonio |
| 111. LINEATED WOODPECKER | Dryocopus lineatus | pair Tortuguero |
| 112. SOUTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW | Stelgidopteryx ruficollis | uncommon but widespread |
| 113. Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | small numbers seen migrating with other swallows |
| 114. BLUE & WHITE SWALLOW | Notiochelidon cyanoleuca | Common |
| 115. Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | large flocks migrating along Caribbean coast |
| 116. Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | large flocks migrating along Caribbean coast |
| 117. MANGROVE SWALLOW | Tachycineta albilinea | Common over water |
| 118. GRAY-BREASTED MARTIN | Progne chlaybea | Common in La Fortuna and Los Chiles. |
| 119. SHARPBILL | Oxyruncus cristatus | Rara Avis |
| 120. RUFOUS PIHA | Lipaugus unirufus | Rara Avis |
| 121. RUFOUS-CHEEKED SPINETAIL | Cranioleuca erythrops | Rara Avis |
| 122. STRIPED FOLIAGE GLEANER | Hyloctistes subulatus | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 123. SLATY ANTSHRIKE | Thamnophilus punctatus | Manzanilla |
| 124. BLACK-HOODED ANTSHRIKE | Thamnophilus bridgesii | Maunel Antonio |
| 125. BARRED ANTSHRIKE | Thamnophilus doliatus | Manuel Antonio |
| 126. RUSSETT ANTSHRIKE | Thamnistes anabatinus | Rara Avis |
| 127. THRUSH-LIKE MANNIKIN | Schiffornis turdinus | Rara Avis |
| 128. RED-CAPPED MANNIKIN | Pipra mentalis | Manzanilla |
| 129. WHITE-COLLARED MANNIKIN | Manacus candei | Rara Avis |
| 130. MASKED TITYRA | Tityra semifasciata | PV de Talamanca, Manzanilla and Monteverde |
| 131. CINNAMON BECARD | Pachramphus cinnamomeus | Rara Avis |
| 132. LONG-TAILED TYRANT | Colonia colonus | Rara Avis |
| 133. BLACK PHOEBE | Sayornis nigricans | Rio Toro |
| 134. TROPICAL PEWEE | Contopus cinereus | PV de Talamanca, Tortuguero |
| 135. GREATER KISKADEE | Pitangus sulphuratus | Common and widespread |
| 136. BOAT-BILLED FLYCATCHER | Megarhynchus pitangua | only note Horquetas, overlooked elsewhere? |
| 137. GRAY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER | Myiozetes granadensis - | Common and widespread |
| 138. SOCIAL FLYCATCHER | Myiozetes similis - | Common and widespread |
| 139. RUFOUS MOURNER | Rhytipterna holerythra | heard Rara Avis |
| 140. Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | very common migrant on Caribbean |
| 141. TROPICAL KINGBIRD | Tyrannus melancholicus | Common and widespread |
| 142. WHITE RINGED FLYCATCHER | Coryphotriccus albovitattus | a few seen on boat trips in Caribbean lowlands. |
| 143. YELLOW-BELLIED ELAENIA | Elaenia flavogaster | Common and widespread. |
| 144. Alder Flycatcher | Empidonax alnorum | only one Empid id'ed was a calling Alder Flicker at PV de Talamanca |
| 145. EYE-RINGED FLATBILL | Rhynchocyclus brevirostris | Rara Avis |
| 146. BRIGHT-RUMPED ATTILLA | Attila spadiceus | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 147. COMMON TODY-TYRANT | Todirostrum cinereum | One seen Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 148. BLACK-HEADED TODY-TYRANT | Todirostrum nigriceps | one seen at lunch stop on Rio Frio |
| 149. SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY TYRANT | Lophotriccus pileatus | one Rara Avis |
| 150. ZELEDON'S TYRANNULET | Phyllomyias zeledoni | one Rara Avis |
| 151. PLAIN WREN | Thryothorus modestus | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 152. RIVERSIDE WREN | Thryothorus semibadius | Manuel Antonio |
| 153. BLACK-BELLIED WREN | Throthrus fascaitioventris | Manuel Antonio |
| 154. House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | San Jose, Rara Avis, Monteverde |
| 155. OCHRACEOUS WREN | Troglodytes ochraceus | Monteverde |
| 156. WHITE-BREASTED WOODWREN | Herocohina leucosticta | Rara Avis |
| 157. BLACK-FACED SOLITAIRE | Myadestes melanops | Monteverde |
| 158. SLATY-BACKED NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH | Cathaurus fuscater | Monteverde |
| 159. Swainson's Thrush | Cathaurus ustulatus | San Jose and Monteverde |
| 160. CLAY-COLOURED ROBIN | Turdus grayi | Common and widespread |
| 161. MOUNTAIN ROBIN | Turdus plebejus | Common at Monteverde |
| 162. TROPICAL GNATCATCHER | Polioptila plumbea | female seen in giant bamboo in Manuel Antonio |
| 163. BROWN JAY | Cyanocorax morio | Monteverde |
| 164. House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | San Jose, La Fortuna and Quepos |
| 165. YELLOW-GREEN VIREO | Vireo flavoviridis | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 166. GREEN SHRIKE VIREO | Vireolanius pulchellus | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 167. Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | San Jose, Rara Avis and Monteverde |
| 168. CERULEAN WARBLER | Dendroica cerulea | one seen Rara Avis |
| 169. Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca and La Fortuna; Mangrove race erithachorides common in Quepos along seafront and river |
| 170. SLATE-THROATED REDSTART | Myioborus miniatus | Monteverde |
| 171. GRAYISH SALTATOR | Saltator coerulescens | San Jose |
| 172. STREAKED SALTATOR | Saltator albicollis | San Jose |
| 173. BUFF-THROATED SALTATOR | Saltator maximus | Horquetos |
| 174. RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW | Zonotrichia capensis | Common in hotel garden in San Jose and at Monteverde |
| 175. BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW | Arremonops conirostris | Rara Avis |
| 176. VARIABLE SEEDEATER | Sporophila aurita | Common and widespread |
| 177. BLUE SEEDEATER | Amaurospiza concolor | Monteverde |
| 178. CHESTNUT-CAPPED GROUND-FINCH | Atlapetes brunneinucha | Monteverde |
| 179. BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT | Volatinia jacarina | Rio Frio |
| 180. YELLOW-FACED GRASSQUIT | Tiaris olivacea | Common at Monteverde |
| 181. BANANAQUIT | Coreoba flaveola | Common and widespread |
| 182. RED-LEGGED HONEYCREEPER | Cyanerpes cyaneus | Puerti Viejo de Talamanca |
| 183. SHINING HONEYCREEPER | Cyanerpes lucidus | Tortuguero |
| 184. GREEN HONEYCREEPER | Chlorophanes spiza | PV de Talamance |
| 185. BLUE DACNIS | Dacnis cayana | Tortuguero |
| 186. SCARLET THIGHED DACNIS | Dacnis venusta | Rara Avis |
| 187. YELLOW-CROWNED EUPHONIA | Euphonia luteicapilla | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 188. TAWNY-CROWNED EUPHONIA | Euphonia anneae | Rara Avis |
| 189. WHITE-VENTED EUPHONIA | Euphonia minuta | Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 190. SCARLET-RUMPED TANAGER | Ramphocelus spp | Quepos and Manuel Antonio |
| 191. PASSERINI'S TANAGER | Ramphocelus passerinii | Common on Caribbean side of the countr |
| 192. WHITE-LINED TANAGER | Tachyphonus rufus | Seen Rara Avis and Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 193. WHITE-SHOULDERED TANAGER | Tachyphonus luctuosus | Manuel Antonio |
| 194. BLUE-GRAY TANAGER | Thraupis episcopus | Common and widespread |
| 195. PALM TANAGER | Thraupis palmarum | Seen Rara Avis, Quepos and Manuel Antonio |
| 196. GOLDEN-HOODED TANAGER | Tangara larvata | Tortuguero |
| 197. SPECKLED TANAGER | Tangara guttata | Rara Avis |
| 198. SILVER-THROATED TANAGER | Tangara icterocephala | Seen at Rara Avis and Monteverde |
| 199. SUMMER TANAGER | Pirangra rubra | male seen in Botanic Garden at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca |
| 200. OLIVE TANAGER | Chlorothraupis carmioli | Rio Frio |
| 201. COMMON BUSH-TANAGER | Chlorospingus opthalmicus | Hummingbird Gallery, Monteverde |
| 202. EASTERN MEADOWLARK | Sturnella magna | In pastures at Monteverde |
| 203. YELLOW-TAILED ORIOLE | Icterus mesomelas | Tortuguero |
| 204. BLACK-COWLED ORIOLE | Icterus dominicensis | Manzanilla |
| 205. STREAK-BACKED ORIOLE | Icterus pustulatus | Tortuguero and Rio Frio |
| 206. Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | Seen at Tortuguero and along Rio Frio |
| 207. ORCHARD ORIOLE | Icterus spurius | seen in riverside trees along Rio Frio |
| 208. Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoenicus | Common roadside bird in Rio Frio region |
| 209. GIANT COWBIRD | Scaphydura oryzivora | Seen as road side bird en route from La Fortuna to Los Chiles |
| 210. BRONZED COWBIRD | Molothrus auneus | Seen in pastures at end of the boat trip acroos Lago Arenal |
| 211. NICARAGUAN GRACKLE | Quiscalus nicaraguensis | Seen in pastures along Rio Frio |
| 212. GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE | Quiscalus mexicanus | the most ubiquitous bird seen |
| 213. SCARLET-RUMPED CACIQUE | Cacicus uropygialis | PV de Talamanca |
| 214. CHESTNUT-HEADED OROPENDULA | Psarocolius wagleri | colony beside the lounge at Rara Avis |
| 215. MONTEZUMA OROPENDULA | Psarocolius montezuma | commonly seen on boat trips |
David Kelly
Prestonpans
East Lothian
Scotland
dj_kelly@btinternet.com