Sunrise Birding, LLC - Birding & Wildlife Tours - COSTA RICA WINTER GETAWAY - QUETZAL & HUMMINGBIRD SPECIAL! February 2012

ITINERARY
Day 1 -Arrival San Jose, Costa Rica
Plan to arrive in the evening in tropical San Jose, Costa Rica and transfer the short distance to a lovely hillside hotel for the night. If you arrive early enough, enjoy a lovely dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2 – San Jose to the Valley of the Quetzal
It is well worth looking around the hotel gardens before breakfast for an introduction to Costa Rica’s varied avifauna. Many of the more common bird species can be seen here including Costa Rica's national bird, the Clay-colored Thrush, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Blue-gray Tanager, Blue-and-White Swallow, Red-billed Pigeon, Summer Tanager, White-winged Dove, Baltimore Oriole, Great-tailed Grackle, and Blue-crowned Motmot. Listen for the call of Ferruginous Pygmy Owl as you make your way toward the restaurant. This feisty little bird has been seen in the trees right above the parking lot! Weather permitting, breakfast will be al fresco on the terrace near the pool.

After breakfast, you will depart San Jose for the Valley of the Quetzal. Traveling along the Pan-American highway, you will rise up into the central Talamanca Mountains. At the highest point, often shrouded in cloud is sprawling paramo habitat, an area of short stunted bushes and trees on the upper mountain slopes which hold some very special species. Volcano Junco can be found here and other high altitude species such as Mountain Thrush, Sooty Robin, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Volcano and Magnificent Hummingbirds, Black-cheeked Warbler, and Timberline Wren are also possible.

Resplendent Quetzal. Photo by Steve Bird.

Further on, a turn off the main road descends into San Gerardo de Dota, the Valley of the Quetzal. As you descent slowly, you'll be heading into prime habitat for the stunning Resplendent Quetzal, a vibrant member of the trogon family and arguably the most beautiful bird in the Americas. This important valley is a strong hold of the Resplendent Quetzal. This specialized fruit-eating member of the trogon family that depends on the wild avocado fruits that grow on the forested slopes of the valley. Keep an eye out! From time to time, we have seen these stunning birds from the road. As you continue down the beautiful wooded valley, the winding road follows tumbling river that holds American Dipper, Torrent Tyrannulet and sometimes Louisiana Waterthrush. This is the Savegre River and it flows right past our lodging for the next three nights.

Day 3: The Valley of the Quetzal
A full day in this wonderful valley will hopefully begin with close views of Resplendent Quetzal at a special observation area. This will require an early start and it is well worth it if the birds are feeding in their traditional trees. There will be no shortage of other birds to look for in the valley including Collared Trogon, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Yellow-winged Vireo, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Yellow-thighed Finch, Black-headed and Tufted Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher and White-collared Swift.

The rest of the day will be spent exploring the valley, looking for the stunning Flame-colored Tanager, Brown-capped Vireo, Spangle-cheeked Tanager, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Yellowish Flycatcher, Collared Redstart, Acorn and Hairy Woodpecker, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Green Violet-ear, White-throated Mountain-Gem, Scintillant Hummingbird, Ruddy Treerunner, Black-faced Solitaire, Emerald Toucanet, Flame-throated Warbler, Stripe-tailed Emerald and more. Throughout the day, there will be more chances to see amazing Resplendent Quetzal - a highlight of any tour to Costa Rica.

Day 4: Paraiso Quetzales
Fiery-throated Hummingbird. Photo by Gina Nichol.

This morning a trip up and out of this stunning valley to a small cafe will bring the chance to get up close and personal with some more stunning birds. At the cafe, you can enjoy a cup of fresh Costa Rican coffee while watching dozens of Fiery-throated Hummingbirds coming into feeders. This stunning little gem breeds only in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, and seeing the congregation of these birds and their antics around the feeders is an amazing spectacle. Joining these flying sparklers and vying for position at the feeders are the larger Magnificent Hummingbirds and Green Violetears. Occasionally the tiny Volcano Hummingbird (another regional endemic) drifts in with its bee-like flight for a quick nectar drink.

If you can tear yourself away from the feeders, there will be a walk on the trails to look for such delightful birds as Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo and the skulking Zeledonia. Resplendent Quetzals Flame-colored Tanager. Photo by Steve Bird.

Flame-colored Tanager. Photo by Steve Bird.

also live here so continue to keep a vigilant watch!

Heading back to the Valley of the Quetzals after lunch, a stop at a Mirian’s is planned. Miriam is a long time friend and her small cafe is a favorite spot to enjoy a cup of coffee and check the birds in the back garden. If the fuchsia shrubs are blooming, it is likely that Volcano Hummingbirds will be taking advantage of it allowing great views. Also here, keep watch for Sooty-capped Bush Tanager, Flame-colored Tanager, Sooty Robin, and Large-footed and Yellow-thighed Finches foraging on the ground.

Days 5 & 6: Rancho Naturalista
Emerald Tanager. Photo by Steve Bird.

After breakfast, you will ascent up out of the valley heading to Rancho Naturalista, a very special lodge set in the pre-montane rain forest of the Caribbean slope at 3,000 feet. With unobstructed views of both Irazu and Turrialba Volcanoes, this "birder's paradise" has one of the richest concentrations of birds, butterflies and plants in Costa Rica, with more than 400 species of birds found on the 125-acre ranch, and more than 200 species seen from the lodge balcony. The lodge is known for very comfortable rooms, excellent meals, family style atmosphere, and knowledgeable resident bird guides.

The next two days will be spent birding the trails and grounds here and look for Great Tinamou, Barred Forest Falcon, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, Yellow-eared Toucanet, White-ruffed Manakin, Purple-crowned Fairy, Scarlet-rumped Cacique, and such beauties as Emerald, Golden-headed, Bay-headed and Black-and-Yellow Tanager. Ant swarms are possible in the forest and, if present, are often attended to by Spotted Antbird, Immaculate Antbird, and other ant followers. Specialty birds of Rancho Naturalista include Sunbittern, Green Thorntail, Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, the mythical Lanceolated Monklet, Rufous Motmot, Brown-billed Scythebill, Checker-throated Antwren, and White-crowned Manakin which displays on a lek on Rancho’s upper trail.

One of the many avian prizes here is the lovely Snowcap. Rancho Naturalista is arguably the best place in the world to see this little local jewel. Here it is one of the most common hummingbirds at the forest feeders and also feeds along the vervain in front of the lodge. Your stay here is sure to be relaxing and exciting at the same time with fantastic birding all around.

Day 7: Return to San Jose for departures
Today, early birders may enjoy a last look around the lodge before we make our way back to San Jose for departures.

Scintillant Hummingbird. Photo by Steve Bird.

COSTA RICA
Quetzal & Hummingbird Special!
January 27 - February 2, 2012 Registration Form>>

TOUR PRICE: $1975.00 per person based on double occupancy from San Jose, Costa Rica.

Deposit: $500.00 per person

Single Supplement: $295.00 (subject to availability)

Included in cost: Cost is based on double occupancy and includes, group airport transfers, private transportation during the tour, all accommodations, meals from Day 2 until the morning of Day 7 during the tour, professional guide services, local guides, local park and reserve entrance fees.

Not included: International flight, airport departure tax, insurance, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature such as: laundry, telephone, beverages, gratuities for porterage, guides, or personal services.

RESERVATIONS: To reserve your place on this tour, complete the Registration & Release Form and mail it with your deposit of $500.00 per person to Sunrise Birding, LLC. Instructions are on the form. Reservations are held with a deposit on a first-come, first-served basis. >Download & print the Registration Form.

Final payment is due by October 4, 2011 and must be paid by check.

Cancellations and Refunds: Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $300.00 per person will be made only if Sunrise Birding, LLC is notified in writing of intent to cancel on or before October 4, 2011 . No refunds will be made after October 4, 2011 . All cancellations must be made in writing. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features.

Insurance: The purchase of trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. Sunrise Birding, LLC can not accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour.

Questions? Contact Gina Nichol at gina@sunrisebirding .com
Phone: 203.453.6724

All photos © Gina Nichol and Steve Bird.
Itinerary photos: Blue-crowned Motmot (Gina Nichol), Resplendent Quetzal (Steve Bird),
Fiery-throated Hummingbird (Gina Nichol), Flame-colored Tanager (Steve Bird),
Emerald Tanager (Steve Bird), Scintillant Hummingbird (Steve Bird).