Trip Report to Costa Rica                by Sue Bryan

 

December 2015 – January 2016

 

Sue Bryan and Paul Jeffery

Introduction

This was a birding holiday organised by Birding Ecotours www.birdingecotours.co.za as a customised trip to Costa Rica for the two of us. We had both been to Northern Peru and Bolivia with Eduardo Ormaeche as our guide from Birding Ecotours in 2013 and 2014 which we had enjoyed. Unfortunately Paul had very little holiday allowance left, but we thought we could squeeze a few days in at Christmas during his compulsory work’s shut down. As it was a scouting trip for Eduardo we paid 2 x £1963 for the tour. However Christmas is a very expensive time to travel and we paid a fortune for our flights at £1200 each. We also needed a night in a Madrid hotel adding another £62 to our costs.

Guide Eduardo Ormaeche Assistant Guide and Driver Abelardo Benavides

 

Itinerary

26^th December   Heathrow - Madrid (Spain)

27^th December   Madrid – San Jose (Costa Rica)

28^th December   San Jose - Savegre

29^th December   Savegre

30^th December   Savegre – La Selva

31^st December  La Selva

1^st January La Selva – San Jose

2^nd January San Jose –Miami - Heathrow

Flights

International flights to San Jose via Madrid and returning via Miami, cost (2x £1200) return with www.travelbag.co.uk  flying out with Iberia and returning with American Airlines.

Vehicle

Birding Ecotours asked Serge Arias to organise the ground arrangements and Abelardo Benavides to drive and guide us in a very comfortable people carrier.

Money

We obtained a small amount of Costa Rican Colones at the airport bank. However this was completely unnecessary as American Dollars are accepted in most places and the exchange rate was very poor.

Climate

The weather was hot and sunny for most of the time at lower elevations but cooler at higher elevations. We had a rainstorm on our last day.

Habitat

The beginning of the tour was spent in oak tropical cloud forest. Later at higher altitudes we encountered highland oak habitats. At La Selva the habitat changed to primary and secondary rain-forest.

Daily Log

26^th December

Paul and I left Heathrow on an early evening flight to fly to Madrid. Upon arrival we caught a taxi to an airport hotel (Crowne Plaza) where we spent the night.

27^th December

We caught the airport shuttle bus back to Madrid Airport where we boarded a midday flight to San Jose. We were met by Eduardo and Abelardo and taken to the Hotel Bougainvillea where we spent the night. The only birds I noted in the failing light were Great-tailed Grackle and White-tailed Kite on our route

28^th December

 We were up for dawn and wandered around the very pretty hotel gardens before breakfast. Greyish Saltator was the first bird of the morning quickly followed by a lifer of a Hoffman’s Woodpecker. The national bird of Costa Rica Clay-coloured Thrush was soon next on our list. We looked upwards as a flock of Crimson-faced Parakeet flew over, landing in a distant tree. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker landed nearby as we watched a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird taking nectar from some of the flowers.

 

 

 

Paul in the hotel gardens

 

 

 

 

 

                

 

 

 

                                                                   

 

 

 

 

                                                     Hoffman’s Woodpecker                                                Rufous-naped Wren

We added Rufous-naped Wren, another lifer, House Wren, Melodious Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Social Flycatcher, Blue-grey Tanager, White-winged Dove, White-tipped Dove, and Philadelphia Vireo. It was nice to see some wintering American migrants as well as re-acquainting ourselves with some S. American birds as we had only recently returned from Colombia. 

We spent some time searching for White-eared Ground Sparrow as Eduardo had seen it yesterday before we arrived. It took a bit of time but it popped out of the same area as before. Tennessee Warbler was flitting above us as a Blue-crowned Motmot revealed itself, unfortunately it did not want its photo taken. We went in for breakfast and soon after drove for two hours to Savegre.

 On our route we added Eastern Meadowlark, Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture.

 

 

 

Eastern Meadowlark

 

We stopped a couple of times at restaurants with hummingbird feeders. If you are not used to hummingbird feeders, the birds zipping in and out can be daunting as you try to get features of each one so that you can identify them again. However some are so quick you only get a brief glimpse and photography can be almost impossible unless the bird perches. I really struggled to get a picture of Fiery-throated Hummingbird as it did not perch for more than a second at a time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 

 

 

 

 

                                                Fiery-throated Hummingbird                        Magnificent Hummingbird

Magnificent Hummingbirds were slightly easier as they seemed to enjoy perching. A Purple-throated Mountain Gem landed on a feeder. I managed to get a shot of a female bird. As we watched the hummingbirds other birds were around in the trees and bushes. A Flame-coloured Tanager put in an appearance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

        

 

 

 

                                  Purple-throated Mountain Gem                                                                          Flame-coloured Tanager   

Other lifers included Large-footed Finch, Yellow-thighed Finch, Volcano Hummingbird, Sooty Thrush and Scintillant Hummingbird. A White-collared Swift flew above us as we motored on our way to the lodge at Savegre.

 

 

 

 

 

Savegre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  Paul at Savegre Lodge

 We had lunch upon arrival, checked in and went birding! A Mountain Elaenia greeted us and a Stripe-tailed Hummingbird zipped around. A Yellow-faced Grassquit was in some shrubbery before we spotted a Spangled-cheeked Tanager up above the cabins. Sulphur-winged Parakeets flew over as we watched Paltry Tyrannulet, American Mountain Thrush, Olive-striped Flycatcher and a distant fly-over Osprey.

 

 

                        Spangled-cheeked Tanager

 

                                                Mountain Elaenia                                                                     Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush

We added White-throated Mountain Gem, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Black-faced Solitaire and Emerald Toucanet before we walked through the lodge and out down the track. A Yellowish Flycatcher sat in one of the trees before a Black-billed Nightingale Thrush ran around the track before us. A Common Chlorospingus lurked in bushes at the side of us as a Great Egret sat high up in one of the trees. A Grey-breasted Wood-wren called from deep inside one of the bushes before it deigned to show itself. We added Collared Redstart, Rufous-collared Sparrow and Summer Tanager before the day finally drew to a close and we showered and went for our evening meal.

29^th December

We were up before dawn and taken up the track where we were almost first on site positioned by the tree that the Resplendent Quetzal was expected to sit once the sun had come up. In the next half hour we were joined by nearly a hundred other people. Not quite what we expected!

 

                                                        Resplendent Quetzal (male)                                                Resplendent Quetzal (female)

 

                                       Golden-browed Chlorophonia                                                 Tourists at the Resplendent Quetzal site

Whilst we waited we watched a Black Guan in a nearby tree before it took off and landed with others on the hillside. A Golden-browed Chlorophonia was a nice distraction. A shout went up and I scurried up the hill as a group had spotted the male Resplendent Quetzal. I took a quick look before running back down to my original position to at least get some distant photos. I should have brought my scope to try digi-scoping it! After putting up the ISO to maximum at least I obtained some record shots. The bird flew off and a female landed in the same tree. Another guide kindly let me use his scope to phone-scope it. Eventually the female flew off and we were overjoyed at seeing our main target bird.

We returned back to the lodge for breakfast where I took a few photos of a Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher.

 

 

Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher

                                      

 Abelardo and Eduardo suggested that we continue on up the track after breakfast where we added Black-cheeked Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-bellied Siskin, Yellow-winged Vireo, Ruddy Treerunner, Tufted Flycatcher and Barred Becard.

We stopped for me to have a cup of tea at a cafe and to explore a small stream. I also took some photos of birds that I had seen earlier in the trip such as Flame-throated Warbler.

We returned for lunch and walked the track down from the lodge, venturing a bit further than yesterday. A White-throated Mountain Gem proved challenging as we added White-naped Brush-Finch, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Torrent Tyrannulet and Black-bellied Hummingbird.

We walked down to the river where we had a difference of opinion over a waterthrush. A Collared Redstart posed in the gloomy undergrowth making photography very difficult. We saw another waterthrush as we walked back up. Most of us recorded it as a Louisiana Waterthrush!

 

 

 

 

                                                      Savegre                                                                                               Flame-throated Warbler

 

                                                                                                                                 Savegre

 

                                                   White-throated Mountain Gem                                                                Collared Redstart

A Dark Peewee added itself to the list before we called it a day.

 

Abelardo Eduardo and Paul cogitating!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 30^th December

We had a pre-breakfast walk in the dark forest area beside the lodge, which produced the expected Spotted Wood-Quail. This was our third attempt at trying to see them! We also added Boat-billed Flycatcher and Spot-crowned Woodcreeper before leaving to drive to the paramo at 3400m high.

 

                                                                                                              Los Quetzalas National Park

We entered Los Quetzalas National Park where Abelardo soon called out Timberline Wren. It skulked in the bush and certainly wasn’t keen on leaving its hiding place.

 

                                                  Timberline Wren                                            Volcano Hummingbird

The next bird took some time as we searched the scrub for Volcano Junco. We had all but given up when as a last-ditch attempt I walked into the scrub on my way back to the vehicle. There at my feet was a Volcano Junco. I knew if I called, it would fly but I had very little option. One shout and the others came scurrying just as it disappeared flying across into some taller scrub and disappearing. Luckily for me it popped out and showed for all to see.

We drove for several hours back to San Jose and onto Braulio Carrillo National Park stopping at El Tapir Hummingbird Garden. Here we delighted in all the hummingbirds feeding on flowers rather than on feeders. However this makes photography a bit trickier! We added Purple-crowned Fairy, Green Thorntail, Black-crested Coquette, White-necked Jacobin, as well as some other small birds. Cinnamon Becard, White-vented Euphonia, Tawny-capped Euphonia, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Golden-hooded Tanager, Passerini’s Tanager and Variable Seedeater were all seen.

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              Green Thorntail                                                      Black-crested Coquette

We continued on our way stopping to admire a three-toed Sloth and arrived at La Selva Verde Lodge. We are certainly spoilt in our travels at staying in wonderful places in the world surrounded by the most fantastic wildlife. The feeders at the dining room had a constant supply of birds arriving. A Montezuma Oriole was tucking in alongside a Black-cheeked Woodpecker. A Red-legged Honeycreeper joined them alongside a Palm Tanager.

 

 

 

Three-toed Sloth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   Montezuma Oriole                                                      Black-cheeked Woodpecker

 

Red-legged Honeycreeper

 

After lunch we were in for a treat. We met up with Serge Arias who had acted as ground agent and had put our tour together. He had arranged for us to have a boat trip along the River Sarapiqui. I love boat rides and so he got top marks for effort from me!

 

Down at the quayside we boarded the boat and set off downstream. A Spotted Sandpiper was feeding on the mud.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                        Sarapiqi River

We were soon fascinated with other wildlife as a Caiman and a Green Iguana posed to have their photographs taken.

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              Green Iguana                                                                                                                   Caiman                                                                  

Mangrove Swallows were perching on debris in the river and a Green Kingfisher was fishing near the bank. A Great Blue Heron flew down river as Northern Rough-winged Swallows flew high above our heads. A Bay Wren Yellow Warbler were spotted in the trees as a Crested Caracara flew overhead. A Buff-rumped Warbler picked its way alongside the river edge as we continued on downstream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Paul Sue Eduardo                                                                                                         Anhinga

 

Black-mandibled Toucan

As we turned the boat around we spotted a Bare-throated Tiger Heron on the bank and a Green Ibis sat high up on a dead branch. All too soon our river trip was at an end and we birded around the quayside adding a group of Grey-headed Chacalaca, Ruddy Ground Dove, Blue-black Grassquit, Amazon Kingfisher and White-collared Seed-eater.

 

We boarded the vehicle and stopped at a small pond where we added Northern Jacana, Mealy Parrot, Purple Gallinule and a flock of White-crowned Parrot.

 

 

 

31^st December

We were up early and driven to the entrance track of La Selva Biological Station. There were birds everywhere and we were soon kept busy watching and writing in our notebooks. Luckily there was still not enough light for photography. We added Grey-capped Flycatcher, Plain-coloured Tanager, Black-cowled Oriole, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird and Stripe-breasted Wren before being driven a bit further down the track.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      Serge Abelardo Paul and Eduardo                                                    Laughing Falcon      

We got out and admired a Laughing Falcon sitting in a distant tree which I digi-scoped. We watched Masked Tityra, Buff-throated Saltator, White-rumped Flycatcher, Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker, Broad-billed Motmot, and Grey-rumped Swift and were delighted when two Great Green Macaw flew through. It was a shame that they did not perch. After this a Long-tailed Tyrant perched as a Streak-headed Woodcreeper sidled up a trunk of a tree as I admired a Gartered Trogon.

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Gartered Trogon                                                         La Selva Biological Station

Abelardo walked back to fetch the vehicle and drove us the rest of the way to the Biological Station that was busy feeding field-trip students, all setting off for their day’s experience. We sat down to unpack our breakfast but were soon interrupted with two m species of manakin on view. From the kitchen window we watched White-ruffed Manakin and soon we had an amazing display of two male White-collared Manakin emitting their clicking mating calls.

 

 

 

              

 

 

 

 

 

 

                          White-collared Manakin                                                                   Crested Guan

A Long-billed Hermit was also in the same bush which provided a bit of a distraction for a while as Southern Rough-winged Swallow flew overhead. We ate our breakfast and I was soon taking photographs as the light was now much better. A Crested Guan was hopping around a nearby bush in which there was a Dusky-faced Tanager. Orange-chinned Parakeet flew over as we watched Olive-backed Euphonia and Red-eyed Vireo.

With breakfast done we started off down the track and warned to stay on the path because of snakes. A Pale-billed Woodpecker was quite clearly in distress as it sat motionless on a nearby branch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Pale-billed Woodpecker (with damaged eye)                        

 

Slaty-tailed Trogon

 

 

A little later a Slaty-tailed Trogon sat above us and posed for its photo as we added Blue-black Grosbeak to our list. A Grey-headed Dove caused a bit of a problem for a while as it picked around the forest floor. Birds came thick and fast as we added Fasciated Antshrike, Rufous Mourner, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Black-and-white Warbler Lesser Greenlet, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, Rufous-winged Woodpecker and Cocoa Woodpecker.

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               Paul Sue Eduardo                                          Rufous-winged Woodpecker

We continued along the track crossing over a bridge where one of the other guides had spotted a Silky Anteater. This was causing great excitement as they are a very rare sighting. It was all curled up asleep as many people gathered to take photos. A little later we spotted a Great Curassow building a nest.

 

 

 

                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           Silky Anteater                                                               Great Curassow

All of a sudden Abelardo called time as he wanted to head back. This was such a shame as the birding was good. We spotted a Squirrel Cuckoo and in a small clearing Abelardo got very excited at two King Vultures soaring overhead. We added Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Chestnut-headed Oropendula, Black-crowned Antshrike, Black-throated Trogon, Rufous Motmot and Wedge-billed Woodcreeper on our way back. I was perplexed why we were leaving when the birding was so good. However we had other places to visit and we had a way to travel for our lunch spot and another reserve. We admired a few stray Collared Peccary by the camp as we made our way back towards the bridge.

 

Collared Peccary

 

 

We boarded our vehicle and drove for an hour and a half to Pangola. Here we had a good lunch and boarded an old school bus which promptly broke down as we arrived near the entrance to a board walk. We walked along the boardwalk and saw nothing! I don’t think any of us could quite believe it. The habitat was amazing but it was bird-less. We searched and searched. It was such a shame after leaving the excellent biological station where the birding had been so good and deserved more time. However we are experienced enough to know that on wildlife trips nothing is ever guaranteed. You win some and lose some!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Pineapple crops in Pangola                                                    Eastern Wood Peewee

On our journey to and from Pangola we added a few trip ticks but sadly no lifers, in the shape of Groove-billed Ani, Broad-winged Hawk, Tawny-crested Tanager, Olive-throated Parakeet, Grey Hawk, Collared Aricari and Keel-billed Toucan. It was interesting to see all the pineapple crops being grown in this area.

 

Back at La Selva we learnt about a Snowy Cotinga roosting and so we went to see it as well as adding White-breasted Wood-Wren to our list. After our evening meal in the dark we prowled the grounds of the lodge where we delighted in seeing a Red-eyed Tree-frog and a Kinkajou

 

 

 

Red-eyed Tree Frog

 

 

1^st January

We were up early and after looking at the Snowy Cotinga as our first bird of the year before setting off, we got in our vehicle and along with Serge drove to an area outside the lodge within the reserve. Unfortunately for us at Virgen del Socorro it decided to pour with rain. The downpour made it very unpleasant for all concerned and we decided to take an early breakfast at a local cafe where there were some feeders.

 

 

 

Paul catching up with his notes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        Buff-throated Saltator                                                     Silver-throated Tanager

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Passerini’s Tanager                                                 Coppery-headed Emerald          

We were quite lucky as although it was raining quite hard the cafe had a good selection of fruit on a bird table and several hummingbird feeders out, which meant that we had lots of birds to look at and photograph. Our first endemic and life tick was Coppery-headed Emerald soon followed by another lifer of Prong-billed Barbet. It was a shame that my photo of this was out of focus. We added Slate-throated Redstart, Black-headed Saltator, Green-crowned Brilliant, Green Hermit, Violet Sabrewing and White-bellied Mountain-gem as well as photographing several species we had seen before. We unpacked our breakfasts and tucked in!

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emerald Toucanet

 

Bananaquit

Once we had finished breakfast the rain had eased and we drove back to where we had started on the track. We walked down and I was pleased with a sighting of Golden-winged Warbler. An Olivaceous Woodcreeper and  Black Phoebe added themselves to our trip list before a Blackburnian Warbler was spotted this is always a nice American Warbler to see. Further on down the track we had a small flock of Crimson Collared Tanagers and Abelardo was delighted with a Black-thighed Grosbeak as it was a lifer for him, as it was for us. A small group of Mantled Howler monkeys provided a distraction for a while.

 

 

 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                Mantled Howler Monkey                                                                            Black-thighed Grosbeak

We continued on down the track adding Bay-headed Tanager, Slate-colored Grosbeak and Northern Parula until Abelardo volunteered to walk back up the track to fetch the vehicle. Eduardo, Serge, Paul and I waited on the bridge over the river and watched a Green Honeycreeper and a Green Heron. I amused myself tring to take pictures of White-collared Swifts flying overhead.

Once back at the lodge, we had lunch and loaded up the vehicle. I managed a photo of a Common Basilisk Lizard before saying our thanks and goodbyes to Serge. Abelardo drove us back towards San Jose but we stopped once again at Braulio Carrillo hummingbird garden.

 

 

Common Basilisk Lizard

 

 We had enough time to spend several hours here in the hope of seeing Snowcap but it was not to be. However it was not a complete waste of time as we added 3 lifers. These were, Black and Yellow Tanager, Violet-headed Hummingbird and Short-billed Pigeon.

 

 

Violet-headed Hummingbird

 

 

 

 

 

We left it as late as we could but our target species did not turn up and we headed back to San Jose. Our ‘quickie’ birding trip with Eduardo was at an end. We had a last evening meal with Eduardo at the hotel where we thanked him for all his efforts once again.

 

2^nd January

Abelardo picked us up at 5am and took us to the airport where we flew to Miami, USA where we got delayed by two hours sitting on the plane because of cabin problems and no ground crew to see us off. We eventually arrived back at Heathrow and motored home. We had enjoyed our trip and look forward to the next one!

Species List

Birds

1.             Anhinga           Anhinga anhinga          12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

2.             Little Blue Heron         Egretta caerulea           12/31/2015      Pangola           

3.             Great Blue Heron         Ardea herodias herodias [cinerea]      12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

4.             Great White Egret        Egretta alba      12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

5.             Cattle Egret      Bubulcus ibis   12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

6.             Green Heron    Butorides virescens [striatus]   01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

7.             Bare-throated Tiger-heron        Tigrisoma mexicanum 12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

8.             Green Ibis        Mesembrinibis cayennensis     12/30/2015     La Selva Verde           

9.             American Black Vulture          Coragyps atratus          12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

10.         Turkey Vulture            Cathartes aura  12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

11.         King Vulture    Sarcoramphus papa     12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

12.         White-tailed Kite          Elanus leucurus [caeruleus]     12/27/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

13.         Grey Hawk      Asturina plagiata [nitida]          12/31/2015      Pangola           

14.         Broad-winged Hawk    Buteo platypterus         12/31/2015      Pangola          

15.         Red-tailed Hawk          Buteo jamaicensis        12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

16.         Osprey Pandion haliaetus         12/27/2015     Savegre Nature Reserve          

17.         Northern Crested Caracara       Caracara cheriway       12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

18.         Laughing Falcon          Herpetotheres cachinnans        12/31/2015      La Selva Verde           

19.         American Kestrel         Falco sparverius           12/30/2015      Los Quetzalas N P      

20.         Bat Falcon       Falco rufigularis           01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

21.         Grey-headed Chachalaca         Ortalis cinereiceps [garrula]     12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

22.         Crested Guan   Penelope purpurascens            12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station  

23.         Black Guan      Chamaepetes unicolor 12/29/2015     Savegre Nature Reserve          

24.         Great Curassow           Crax rubra       12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station  

25.         Spotted Wood-quail     Odontophorus guttatus 12/30/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

26.         Grey-necked Wood-rail           Aramides cajanea       01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

27.         American Purple Gallinule       Porphyrio martinicus   12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

28.         Northern Jacana           Jacana spinosa 12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

29.         Spotted Sandpiper        Tringa macularia [hypoleucos]            12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

30.         Feral Pigeon     Columba livia 'feral'    12/30/2015      Puerto Viejo    

31.         Band-tailed Pigeon       Columba fasciata         12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

32.         Red-billed Pigeon        Columba flavirostris    12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

33.         Short-billed Pigeon      Columba nigrirostris   01/01/2016      Braulio Carrillo N P    

34.         White-winged Dove     Zenaida asiatica           12/28/2015 San Jose (Costa Rica)      

35.         Ruddy Ground-dove    Columbina talpacoti    12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

36.         White-tipped Dove      Leptotila verreauxi       12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

37.         Grey-headed Dove      Leptotila plumbeiceps [rufaxilla] 12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station  

38.         Great Green Macaw     Ara ambigua [militaris]            12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station       

39.         Crimson-fronted Parakeet        Aratinga finschi          12/28/2015 San Jose (Costa Rica)      

40.         Aztec Parakeet Aratinga nana astec      12/31/2015      Pangola           

41.         Sulphur-winged Parakeet         Pyrrhura hoffmanni     12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

42.         Orange-chinned Parakeet         Brotogeris jugularis      12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

43.         White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis   12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

44.         Mealy Parrot    Amazona farinosa       12/30/2015 Sarapiqui River    

45.         Squirrel Cuckoo           Piaya cayana    12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

46.         Groove-billed Ani        Crotophaga sulcirostris            12/31/2015      Pangola           

47.         White-collared Swift    Streptoprocne zonaris 12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

48.         Grey-rumped Swift      Chaetura cinereiventris cinereiventris 12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station       

49.         Dusky-backed Swift    Chaetura vauxi richmondi      12/30/2015      Los Quetzalas N P      

50.         Green Hermit   Phaethornis guy           01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

51.         Long-billed (Western Long-tailed) Hermit Phaethornis longirostris 12/31/2015 La Selva Biol F Station         

52.         Scaly-breasted Hummingbird   Phaeochroa cuvierii     12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

53.         Violet Sabrewing         Campylopterus hemileucurus 01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

54.         White-necked Jacobin Florisuga mellivora     12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

55.         Green Violet-ear          Colibri thalassinus       12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

56.         Violet-headed Hummingbird   Klais guimeti   01/01/2016      Braulio Carrillo N P   

57.         Black-crested Coquette            Lophornis helenae       12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P   

58.         Green Thorntail           Popelairia conversii    12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

59.         Blue-crowned Woodnymph Thalurania colombica [furcata] 01/01/2016 Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)        

60.         Fiery-throated Hummingbird   Panterpe insignis         12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

61.         Rufous-tailed Hummingbird    Amazilia tzacatl           12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

62.         Stripe-tailed Hummingbird       Eupherusa eximia       12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

63.         Black-bellied Hummingbird     Eupherusa nigriventris 12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

64.         Coppery-headed Emerald        Elvira cupreiceps        01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

65.         White-bellied Mountain-gem   Lampornis hemileucus            01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

66.         Grey-tailed Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris cinereicauda 12/27/2015        Savegre Nature Reserve         

67.         Purple-throated Mountain-gem            Lampornis calolaema   12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

68.         Green-crowned Brilliant            Heliodoxa jacula        01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

69.         Magnificent Hummingbird       Eugenes fulgens           12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

70.         Purple-crowned Fairy  Heliothryx barroti [aurita]        12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

71.         Volcano Hummingbird            Selasphorus flammula 12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

72.         Scintillant Hummingbird          Selasphorus scintilla    12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

73.         Resplendent Quetzal    Pharomachrus mocinno           12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

74.         Slaty-tailed Trogon      Trogon massena           12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

75.         Black-throated Trogon Trogon rufus    12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

76.         Gartered Trogon          Trogon caligatus          12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

77.         Ringed Kingfisher        Ceryle torquata            12/30/2015     Sarapiqui River           

78.         Amazon Kingfisher     Chloroceryle amazona 12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

79.         Green Kingfisher         Chloroceryle americana           12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

80.         Broad-billed Motmot   Electron platyrhynchum          12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

81.         Rufous Motmot           Baryphthengus martii [ruficapillus]    12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

82.         Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus coeruliceps  12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

83.         Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda ruficauda   12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

84.         Prong-billed Barbet      Semnornis frantzii       01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

85.         Emerald Toucanet        Aulacorhynchus prasinus        12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

86.         Collared Aracari          Pteroglossus torquatus 12/31/2015     Pangola           

87.         Keel-billed Toucan      Ramphastos sulfuratus 12/31/2015      Pangola           

88.         Black-mandibled Toucan         Ramphastos ambiguus 12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

89.         Acorn Woodpecker     Melanerpes formicivorus         12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

90.         Black-cheeked Woodpecker    Melanerpes pucherani  12/30/2015      La Selva Verde           

91.         Hoffmanns' Woodpecker Melanerpes hoffmannii       12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

92.         Yellow-bellied Sapsucker        Sphyrapicus varius     12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

93.         Hairy Woodpecker      Picoides villosus         12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

94.         Rufous-winged Woodpecker   Piculus simplex           12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station  

95.         Chestnut-coloured Woodpecker          Celeus castaneus          12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

96.         Pale-billed Woodpecker           Campephilus guatemalensis     12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

97.         Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus      01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

98.         Wedge-billed Woodcreeper     Glyphorynchus spirurus         12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station       

99.         Cocoa Woodcreeper    Xiphorhynchus susurrans        12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station       

100.     Streak-headed Woodcreeper    Lepidocolaptes souleyetii 12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station 

101.     Spot-crowned Woodcreeper    Lepidocolaptes affinis 12/30/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

102.     Ruddy Treerunner       Margarornis rubiginosus          12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

103.     Fasciated Antshrike     Cymbilaimus lineatus  12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

104.     Western Slaty (Black-crowned) Antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha 12/31/2015 La Selva Biol F Station       

105.     Snowy Cotinga            Carpodectes nitidus     12/31/2015      La Selva Verde          

106.     White-ruffed Manakin Corapipo altera [leucorrhoa]   12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

107.     White-collared Manakin          Manacus candei [manacus]      12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

108.     Olive-striped Flycatcher           Mionectes olivaceus   12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

109.     Ochre-bellied Flycatcher          Mionectes oleagineus   12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station  

110.     Common Tody-flycatcher       Todirostrum cinereum            12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

111.     Paltry Tyrannulet         Zimmerius vilissimus   12/27/2015 Savegre Nature Reserve   

112.     Mountain Elaenia         Elaenia frantzii            12/27/2015        Savegre Nature Reserve          

113.     Torrent Tyrannulet       Serpophaga cinerea     12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

114.     Tufted Flycatcher        Mitrephanes phaeocercus        12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

115.     Dark Pewee     Contopus lugubris        12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

116.     Eastern Wood-pewee   Contopus virens           12/31/2015      Pangola          

117.     Yellowish Flycatcher   Empidonax flavescens [difficilis]        12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

118.     Black Phoebe   Sayornis nigricans        01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

119.     Long-tailed Tyrant       Colonia colonus           12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station       

120.     Rufous Mourner          Rhytipterna holerythra 12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

121.     Tropical Kingbird        Tyrannus melancholicus          12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

122.     Boat-billed Flycatcher  Megarynchus pitangua            12/30/2015     Savegre Nature Reserve          

123.     White-ringed Flycatcher           Conopias albovittata   12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

124.     Social Flycatcher         Myiozetetes similis      12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

125.     Grey-capped Flycatcher           Myiozetetes granadensis          12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station

126.     Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata       12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station

127.     Great Kiskadee            Pitangus sulphuratus    12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

128.     Barred Becard  Pachyramphus versicolor        12/29/2015 Savegre Nature Reserve   

129.     Cinnamon Becard        Pachyramphus cinnamomeus [castaneus] 12/30/2015 Braulio Carrillo N P    

130.     Mangrove Swallow      Tachycineta albilinea   12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

131.     Grey-breasted Martin   Progne chalybea [subis]           01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

132.     Blue-and-white Swallow          Notiochelidon cyanoleuca       12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

133.     Northern Rough-winged Swallow        Stelgidopteryx serripennis        12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

134.     Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis 12/31/2015           La Selva Biological F Station  

135.     Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher    Ptilogonys caudatus     12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

136.     Rufous-naped Wren    Campylorhynchus rufinucha   12/28/2015     San Jose (Costa Rica) 

137.     Bay Wren        Thryothorus nigricapillus         12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

138.     Stripe-breasted Wren   Thryothorus thoracicus            12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station  

139.     House Wren     Troglodytes aedon      12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

140.     Timberline Wren          Thryorchilus browni    12/30/2015      Los Quetzalas N P      

141.     White-breasted Wood-wren     Henicorhina leucosticta           12/31/2015      La Selva Verde           

142.     Grey-breasted Wood-wren       Henicorhina leucophrys           12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

143.     Black-faced Solitaire   Myadestes melanops [ralloides]           12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

144.     Black-billed Nightingale-thrush           Catharus gracilirostris  12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

145.     Ruddy-capped Nightingale-thrush       Catharus frantzii         12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

146.     Sooty Thrush   Turdus nigrescens        12/27/2015 Savegre Nature Reserve   

147.     Mountain Thrush         Turdus plebejus [ignobilis]      12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

148.     Clay-coloured Thrush  Turdus grayi    12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

149.     House Sparrow            Passer domesticus        01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

150.     Yellow-winged Vireo   Vireo carmioli  12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

151.     Philadelphia Vireo       Vireo philadelphicus    12/28/2015      an Jose (Costa Rica)  

152.     Red-eyed Vireo           Vireo olivaceus           12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

153.     Lesser Greenlet            Hylophilus decurtatus  12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

154.     Yellow-bellied Siskin   Carduelis xanthogastra 12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

155.     Golden-winged Warbler           Vermivora chrysoptera            01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

156.     Tennessee Warbler      Vermivora peregrina    12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

157.     Northern Parula           Parula americana         01/01/2016 Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)      

158.     Flame-throated Warbler           Parula gutturalis           12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

159.     Yellow Warbler            Dendroica petechia petechia  12/30/2015 Sarapiqui River    

160.     Chestnut-sided Warbler           Dendroica pensylvanica         12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

161.     Townsend's Warbler    Dendroica townsendi  12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

162.     Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca          01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

163.     Black-and-white Warbler         Mniotilta varia 12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

164.     Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla        12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

165.     Wilson's Warbler         Wilsonia pusilla          12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

166.     Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus     01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

167.     Collared Redstart         Myioborus torquatus   12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

168.     Black-cheeked Warbler           Basileuterus melanogenys        12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

169.     Buff-rumped Warbler  Basileuterus fulvicauda [rivularis]       12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River          

170.     Bananaquit      Coereba flaveola        12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P   

171.     Common Bush-tanager            Chlorospingus ophthalmicus    12/27/2015     Savegre Nature Reserve          

172.     Sooty-capped Bush-tanager     Chlorospingus pileatus 12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

173.     Black-and-yellow Tanager       Chrysothlypis chrysomelas      01/01/2016      Braulio Carrillo N P   

174.     Dusky-faced Tanager  Mitrospingus cassinii   12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

175.     Tawny-crested Tanager            Tachyphonus delatrii   12/31/2015      Pangola          

176.     Red-throated Ant-tanager         Habia fuscicauda         12/31/2015 La Selva Biological F Station       

177.     Flame-coloured Tanager          Piranga bidentata         12/27/2015      avegre Nature Reserve           

178.     Summer Tanager          Piranga rubra  12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

179.     Crimson-collared Tanager Ramphocelus sanguinolentus         01/01/2016     Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

180.     Scarlet-rumped Tanager           Ramphocelus passerinii           12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

181.     Blue-grey Tanager       Thraupis episcopus [sayaca]    12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

182.     Palm Tanager   Thraupis palmarum      12/30/2015      La Selva Verde           

183.     Olive-backed Euphonia           Euphonia gouldi          12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

184.     White-vented Euphonia           Euphonia minuta         12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P    

185.     Tawny-capped Euphonia         Euphonia anneae         12/30/2015 Braulio Carrillo N P         

186.     Golden-browed Chlorophonia Chlorophonia callophrys  12/29/2015 Savegre Nature Reserve          

187.     Plain-coloured Tanager            Tangara inornata          12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

188.     Silver-throated Tanager            Tangara icterocephala  12/28/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

189.     Bay-headed Tanager    Tangara gyrola            01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva)

190.     Golden-hooded Tanager          Tangara larvata [nigrocincta]  12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P   

191.     Spangle-cheeked Tanager        Tangara dowii 12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve          

192.     Green Honeycreeper    Chlorophanes spiza    01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

193.     Red-legged Honeycreeper        Cyanerpes cyaneus      12/30/2015      La Selva Verde          

194.     Rufous-collared Sparrow         Zonotrichia capensis    12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

195.     Volcano Junco Junco vulcani  12/30/2015      Los Quetzalas N P      

196.     White-eared Ground-sparrow  Melozone leucotis        12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

197.     Orange-billed Sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris            12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

198.     White-naped Brush-finch        Atlapetes albinucha    12/29/2015      avegre Nature Reserve           

199.     Chestnut-capped Brush-finch  Atlapetes brunneinucha  12/27/2015   Savegre Nature Reserve          

200.     Large-footed Finch      Pezopetes capitalis      12/27/2015 avegre Nature Reserve     

201.     Yellow-thighed Finch  Pselliophorus tibialis    12/27/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

202.     Blue-black Grassquit   Volatinia jacarina         12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

203.     Variable Seedeater       Sporophila corvina     12/30/2015      Braulio Carrillo N P   

204.     White-collared Seedeater         Sporophila torqueola morelleti 12/30/2015      Sarapiqui River           

205.     Yellow-faced Grassquit           Tiaris olivacea            12/27/2015      S avegre Nature Reserve         

206.     Slaty Flower-piercer     Diglossa plumbea [baritula]     12/27/2015 Savegre Nature Reserve   

207.     Black-thighed Grosbeak          Pheucticus tibialis  01/01/2016           Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

208.     Rose-breasted Grosbeak          Pheucticus ludovicianus          12/29/2015      Savegre Nature Reserve         

209.     Slate-coloured Grosbeak          Pitylus grossus 01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

210.     Black-headed Saltator  Saltator atriceps           01/01/2016      Virgen del Socorro (La Selva) 

211.     Buff-throated Saltator  Saltator maximus         12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

212.     Greyish Saltator           Saltator coerulescens   12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

213.     Blue-black Grosbeak   Cyanocompsa cyanoides         12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station 

214.     Chestnut-headed Oropendola Psarocolius wagleri      12/31/2015      La Selva Biological F Station  

215.     Montezuma Oropendola          Gymnostinops montezuma     12/30/2015      La Selva Verde           

216.     Scarlet-rumped Cacique           Cacicus uropygialis     12/31/2015     La Selva Biological F Station  

217.     Baltimore Oriole          Icterus galbula 12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

218.     Black-cowled Oriole    Icterus dominicensis prosthemelas 12/31/2015            La Selva Biological F Station  

219.     Eastern Meadowlark    Sturnella magna          12/28/ San Jose (Costa Rica)  

220.     Melodious Blackbird     Dives dives    12/28/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica)

221.     Great-tailed Grackle     Quiscalus mexicanus   12/27/2015      San Jose (Costa Rica) 

Mammals

1.      Red-tailed Squirrel Sciurus granatensis 28/12/15 San Jose

2.      Variegated Squirrel Sciurus variegatoides  28/12/15 San Jose

3.      Collared Peccary Pecari tajacu 30/12/15 La Selva

4.      Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth Bradypus variegatus 30/12/15 La Selva

5.      Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth Choloepus hoffmanni 31/12/15 La Selva Biological Field Station

6.      Silky Anteater Cyclopes didactylus 31/12/15 La Selva Biological Field Station

7.      Tent-making Bat Uroderma bilobatum  Pangola 31/12/15

8.      Mantled Howler Monkey Alouatta palliata Cinchona 01/01/16