Sunrise Birding, LLC - Birding & Wildlife Tours - The Best of Central Costa Rica! March 5-15, 2012

ITINERARY
Day 1 -Arrival San Jose
Arrival in San Jose and transfer the short distance to our hotel.

Day 2 – San Jose to the Caribbean Lowlands
A look around the grounds of our hotel will introduce us to a few of the common bird species such as Clay-colored Thrush, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird and Plain Wren. We can also look for special birds such as Blue-crowned Motmot, Lineated Woodpecker and Cinnamon Hummingbird.

Fasciated Tiger-heron. Photo by Gina Nichol.

After breakfast start our journey passing through areas of endless forest and to our first stop, a small abandoned butterfly garden. Here we hope to see the delightful Snowcap plus several other species such as Violet-headed Hummingbird, Crowned Woodnymph, or maybe Green Thorntail or Black-crested Coquette. If we are lucky we may come across Bat Falcon, a flock of colorful tanagers or a group of Collared Aracaris. Nearby a small stream which passes through a mossy forest may hold the elusive Sunbittern, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Buff-rumped Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, White-whiskered Puffbird, Purple-crowned Fairy and Green Kingfisher. After a traditional lunch at a nearby restaurant, we will continue on visiting another river where we could add Amazon Kingfisher, Keel-billed Toucan, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Lineated Woodpecker, Common Tody-Flycatcher and hopefully Fasciated Tiger-Heron. Further on, we will stop beside an area of wet meadows where our targets will be the localized Nicaraguan Seed-Finch, a black bird with a huge pink beak, plus Green Ibis, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Purple Gallinule, Northern Jacana, White-throated Crake, and maybe Laughing Falcon or Common Yellowthroat. Eventually we will arrive at our lovely country residence where we may just have time to check the feeders. Two nights La Quinta.

Day 3 - La Selva OTS
Rufous Motmot. Photo by Steve Bird.

After an early breakfast we will spend the full day at the nearby La Selva OTS. At the confluence of two major rivers in the Caribbean lowlands of northern Costa Rica, La Selva comprises 1,600 hectares (3,900 acres) of tropical wet forest and surrounding lands. Purchased in 1968 by the Organization for Tropical Studies, this prime tract of forest is an important education and research facility and has become one of the most important sites in the world for tropical rainforest research. For the birder it is a haven for a wide range of sought-after species.

Before entering the reserve we will spend time birding the approach road, an area always alive with birds and often a surprise or two. Loose flocks may include Barred, Fasciated and Great Antshrikes, Broad-billed Motmot, Rufous-winged, Cinnamon and Chestnut-colored Woodpeckers, Pied Puffbird, Passerini’s Tanager, Plain Wren, White-ringed Flycatcher, Olive-backed Euphonia, Black-cowled and with luck Yellow-tailed Oriole, Black-thighed and Black-faced Grosbeaks, and occasionally on a tiny stream we have seen Agami Heron. Within the reserve we will spend both morning and afternoon birding the tropical rainforest. Many species will be sought throughout the day and some of our targets will include Snowy Cotinga, Great Curassow, Rufous Motmot, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Western Slaty Antshrike, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Red-capped Manakin, White-collared Manakin, Great Tinamou, Stripe-breasted Wren, Dusky-faced Tanager, White-whiskered Puffbird, Bright-rumped Attila, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, and Rufous Mourner. If we are in luck there may be a Vermiculated Screech-Owl or Crested Owl on its day roost, and we could see Great Green Macaws flying noisily overhead. Also overhead we'll look for Gray-rumped, Lesser Swallow-tailed and even the rare Spot-fronted Swift and raptors could include Short-tailed Hawk, Gray-headed Kite, Semi plumbeous Hawk and possibly King Vulture. Night La Quinta.

Day 4 - Sarapiqui – Braulio Carrillo - Pacific coast
Crimson-collared Tanager. Photo by Steve Bird.

Crimson-collared Tanager. Photo by Steve Bird.

Before and after breakfast we will spend some time looking around the gardens and checking the feeders after fresh bananas are put out. By the small ponds we could see Gray-necked Wood-Rail or Green Heron while other species may include Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, Crimson-collared, Blue-gray, Golden-hooded, Palm and Passerini’s Tanagers, Green Honeycreeper, Bay Wren, and Buff-throated and Black-headed Saltators. We will then depart for Braulio Carrillo National Park, a verdant rainforest dripping with epiphytes, mosses and bromeliad-covered trees. We will take a short circular trail through the forest in the hope of connecting with a mixed flock or two. This is one of those areas that can be hit or miss and is generally quiet. If however we find the flocks then this can be a fantastic place to be with streams of birds passing by more quickly than we can call them out. We would hope to see some of the more unusual residents such as White-throated Shrike-Tanager, Lattice-tailed Trogon, Brown-billed Scythebill, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Long-billed Gnatwren, Blue-and-Gold, Carmiol’s and Black-and-yellow Tanagers. Later on, we head for the Pacific coast and our accommodation for the next 3 nights.

Day 5 - Carara National Park
Streak-chested Antpitta. Photo by Steve Bird.

Streak-chested Antpitta. Photo by Steve Bird.

This morning we will visit Carara National Park in the northernmost region of Pacific rainforest remaining in Costa Rica. Set at the edge of the transition zone into the tropical dry forests of the northwest, the parks 11,600 acres hold a wide range of species and includes the most important area for breeding Scarlet Macaws in the country. Our morning will be spent on a short trail which can produce Northern Royal Flycatcher, Green Shrike-Vireo, Baird’s, Gartered, and Black-throated Trogons, Tawny-winged and Cocoa Woodcreepers, Blue-black Grosbeak, White-whiskered Puffbird, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Orange-collared Manakin, Chestnut-backed and Dusky Antbirds, Dot-winged Antwren, Black-hooded Antshrike, Blue-throated Goldentail, Band-tailed Barbthroat, Costa Rican Swift, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Rufous-and-white, Rufous-breasted, Riverside and Black-bellied Wrens, Gray-headed and White-shouldered Tanagers, Long-billed Gnatwren, Tawny-crowned and Lesser Greenlets, White-winged Becard, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher and Northern Bentbill. After lunch back at the lodge, we will re-visit Carara but this time taking a different trail where we hope to connect with a different variety of species including several understory specialties such as Streak-chested Antpitta, Black-faced Antthrush, Ruddy Quail-Dove and Great Tinamou. We will also check a small stream where Red-capped and Blue-crowned Manakins come to bathe and are sometimes accompanied by Thrush-like Schiffornis.

Day 6 - Carara area and Tarcole River boat trip
Boat-billed Heron. Photo by Steve Bird.

This morning we will visit an area that offers outstanding views over Carara National park right down to the Pacific coastline. Here, we can search for a few select species that maybe hard to connect with elsewhere. Western Tanagers, Painted Bunting, Ruby-throated and Charming Hummingbirds, plus Philadelphia Vireo and possibly Fiery-billed Aracari can all be in our sights. An overlook will give us superb chances to see the magnificent King Vulture as well as other raptors such as White Hawk, Short-tailed Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk and Swallow-tailed Kite. After lunch back at the lodge we will have a little time to look around the grounds where Scarlet Macaws can be easy to see and sometimes troops of White-faced Capuchin Monkeys vie for photos. We will then head out for our fabulous afternoon boat trip on the River Tarcoles. Setting off under the guidance of our expert boatman we will first search the estuary and river edges where we can expect to see roosting Boat-billed Herons, plus Bare-faced Tiger-Heron, Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned and sometimes Black-crowned Night-Herons, Green Heron, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, occasionally Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, Anhinga, Neotropic Cormorant, Spotted Sandpiper, Black-necked Stilt, Purple Gallinule, Northern Jacana, many shorebirds and if we are lucky both Double-striped Thick-knee and Collared Plover. Out toward the mouth of the estuary we should see Laughing Gulls and a variety of terns, plus Brown Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebirds and the ever present Ospreys. We then move into the narrower mangrove creeks where we will look for Mangrove Black Hawk, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Prothonotary Warbler and, with a lot of luck, Mangrove Vireo and Mangrove Hummingbird. As we return to the main channel, the sun will be setting and we should see Cattle and Snowy Egrets going to roost and noisy Scarlet Macaws and Yellow-naped Parrots flying overhead. Our finale to this superb trip will be countless Lesser Nighthawks hawking for insects low over the water as darkness falls.

Day 7 - Caribbean Coast to Talari
This morning we will have an early breakfast and then head to an area of mangrove and scrub where we hope to get views of the endemic Mangrove Hummingbird and Mangrove Vireo plus an assortment of other species that could include Panama and Northern Scrub Flycatchers, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Olivaceous Piculet, Masked Tityra, Scrub Greenlet and Northern Waterthrush. Then we will continue on with a few strategic stops along the coast that may find us Wandering Tattler and Brown Booby and all the time we will keep an eye out for any raptors not yet on our list. Once we have reached our lodge, we will have a little time to bird the grounds where we can look for Streaked Saltator, Snowy-bellied Hummingbird, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Blue-crowned Motmot, Scaled Pigeons and with real luck the gorgeous Turquoise Cotinga. At night we can try for Pacific Screech-Owl in the gardens. Night Talari Lodge.

Day 8 - Talari - Paramo - Valley of the Quetzal
This morning further searching of the lodge grounds and nearby areas could find us Pearl Kite, Swallow-tailed Kite, Pale-breasted Spinetail, Bran-colored Flycatcher and Speckled Tanager. We will depart the lodge and stop at a small cafe where we could connect with Cherrie’s Tanager, Red-headed Barbet, Violet Sabrewing or even the localized White-tailed Emerald. We then Volcano Junco. Photo by Steve Bird.

continue up to the highlands of Cerro de Muerte. At the highest point, which can be shrouded in cloud, we will search the paramo, an area of short stunted bushes and trees for some very special species only occurring here. We will target the Volcano Junco and hope to get a few more high altitude species such as Mountain Thrush, Sooty Robin, Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush, Slaty Flowerpiercer, Volcano and Magnificent Hummingbirds, Black-cheeked Warbler, and possibly Timberline Wren. Another spot we have recently discovered gives us a good chance to see the elusive Zeledonia as well as Large-footed Finch. We then make our way toward our lodge set in a beautiful wooded valley beside a tumbling stream that holds, American Dipper, Torrent Tyrannulet and sometimes Louisiana Waterthrush. Two nights San Gerardo de Dota.

Day 9 - Valley of the Quetzals
Resplendent Quetzal. Photo by Steve Bird.

Resplendent Quetzal. Photo by Steve Bird.

We have the full day to explore this wonderful area and we hope to start off with close views of Resplendent Quetzal, arguable one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Many other birds can be found around the lodge and a little further down the valley. We will take a 4x4 ride to a highland trail where we can search for difficult species such as Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl, Silvery-throated Jay, Buff-fronted Quail-Dove, Spotted Wood-Quail, Buffy Tuftedcheek, Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Collared Trogon, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Yellow-winged Vireo, Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, Yellow-thighed Finch, Black-headed and Tufted Flycatchers, Barred Becard, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher and White-collared Swifts. After lunch the rest of the day will see us 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 Parakeets, Green Violet-ear, White-throated Mountain-Gem, Scintillant Hummingbird, Ruddy Treerunner, Black-faced Solitaire, Emerald Toucanet, Flame-throated Warbler, Stripe-tailed Emerald and more besides. We again have more chances for the amazing Resplendent Quetzal - a highlight of any tour to Costa Rica. In the evening we will try for both Dusky Nightjar and Bare-shanked Screech-Owl.

Day 10 - San Gerardo to Tapanti National Park
This morning we head up and out of this stunning valley. Our next stop will be another small cafe where we can enjoy a cup of fresh Costa Rican coffee while watching dozens of Fiery-throated Hummingbirds coming into feeders just a few inches away. Joining these flying gems will be several other species that we should have already have seen yesterday. We will then take a walk onto the trails where we hope to find such delightful birds as Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher, Ochraceous Pewee, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo and another chance for the skulking Zeledonia. We should also see Resplendent Quetzals here! After lunch we will set off down the mountain toward our next destination near the Tapanti National Park.

Day 11 - Tapanti - San Jose Airport
Our last morning will be spent in Tapanti National Park. Here we will search flowering trees for Black-bellied Hummingbird and small waterfalls for Green-fronted Lancebill. A short figure of eight trail will give us chances to see Black Guan, Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Barbtail, and with an awful lot of luck the skulky Scaled Antpitta. Migrant warblers, vireos and plenty of tanagers will see a fitting end to this fabulous tour. We will head back for lunch near the airport in time for afternoon departures.

Costa Rican Pygmy-owl. Photo by Steve Bird.

CENTRAL COSTA RICA!
March 5-15, 2012 Registration Form>>

TOUR PRICE: $2595.00 per person based on double occupancy from San Jose Costa Rica.

Deposit: $500.00 per person

Single Supplement: $495.00 (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 11 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 November 5, 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 November 5, 2011. No refunds will be made after November 5, 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

Photos (top to bottom):
Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Fasciated Tiger-heron by Gina Nichol; Rufous Motmot, Crimson-collared Tanager,
Streak-chested Antpitta, Boat-billed Heron, Scarlet Macaw, Volcano Junco, Resplendent Quetzal,
Costa Rican Pygmy-owl by Steve Bird

Tour operated by Zoothera Global Birding.