Costa Rica Bird Scouting Trip
PN Braulio Carrillo-Cerro de
la Muerte area-
Durika sabanas and
forests-Esquinas Lodge
November 12th to 19th 2005
Leaders: Eduardo Amengual and
Robert Dean
The aim of this tour was to try to find some
hard-to-get costa rican birds, both
visiting well known areas and other much less visited ones. We began with a
morning visit to Braulio Carrillo NP-Quebrada Gonzalez area, next few days
explored the Providencia road-Cerro de la Muerte and Savegre valley, later
birded the Durika sabanas and forests, and visited the Esquinas area. Back in the Central Valley, we also birded
the Irazu volcano slopes and again Q.Gonzalez, one morning each.
The weather was variable, fairly good in
the highlands and the caribbean slope, regular to very bad in the SW sabanas
and mid mountain, very bad in the Esquinas lowlands.
Birding was very good most of the
non-raining time. We had some excellent
birds in the highlands and also in the Durika area, a hard to get but very
promising area for further birding. We
managed to find seven species I had never seen before in Costa Rica, three of
them being fully new species to me. We were also lucky to get excellent views
of some species, which are hard to get good views of. In short, great ten days
birding in this fascinating country!
Nov
12th. Early morning visit to Quebrada
Gonzalez and later to some marshes close to La Selva. Back to San Jose at noon.
Nov
13th. All day birding the Cerro de la
Muerte and Savegre Valley. Night at
Dantica bungalows-Savegre Valley.
Nov
14th. Early morning g birding the
Dantica trails. Later drive to the
Buenos Aires sabanas. Night in Buenos Aires.
Nov
15th. Early morning birding the sabanas
and forests close to Durika entrance (excellent ant swarm), and then drove to
Esquinas Rainforest Lodge in the Golfo Dulce lowlands. Night Esquinas.
Nov
16th. Early depart from Esquinas (awful
weather) to Durika Reserve. Left our
car at the entrance to the reserve for a hike uphill to Durika. Night at the
reserve cabins.
Nov
17th. Early morning birding the
reserve. When rain began (11am) get in our car again and made the long drive to
Paraiso, close to Cartago, for the night.
Nov
18th. Early morning visit to Irazu
volcano slopes. Later visit to Las
Concavas pools and Cachi dam area.
Night San Jose.
Nov
19th. Early morning birding Quebrada
Gonzalez and el Tapir gardens. Back to San Jose for late flight back home.
LIST
OF SPECIES DETECTED
Best
birds IMO in boldface
H:
only heard
* :
new bird for my CR list
**:
new bird for my world list
1-
Great Tinamou: 1 Quebrada Gonzalez; also heard Esquinas
2-
Little Tinamou: H Durika entrance
3-
Least Grebe: 1 Concavas Laguna, near Cartago
4-
Magnificent Frigatebird: 1 near Esquinas
5-
Great Blue Heron: a few at the "Bittern marsh" close to La Selva
6-
Great Egret: present in all wet areas visited.
7-
Little Blue Heron: common Esquinas, 1 at Concavas
8-
Snowy Egret: present in all wet areas visited.
9-
Cattle Egret: widespread in open areas.
10-
Green Heron: common in wet lowlands
11-
White Ibis: common in Esquinas wetlands
12-
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck: a few seen Esquinas and also Las Concavas
13-
Blue-winged Teal: a few "Bittern Marsh" and also Las Concavas
14-
Black Vulture: widespread
15-
Turkey Vulture: widespread
16-
King Vulture:
1 adult perched Golfo Dulce lowlands
17-
Osprey: 1 Golfo Dulce lowlands
18-
White-tailed Kite: individuals seen Valle Central and Pacific slope and
lowlands
19-
Double-toothed Kite: 1 Golfo Dulce, 1 Quebrada Gonzalez
20-
Great Black-Hawk: 1 ad perched at sabana Durika
21-
Roadside Hawk: common at Durika sabanas and highlands
22-
Broad-winged Hawk: widespread in lowlands and foothills.
23-
Red-tailed Hawk: 1 Irazu volcano.
24-
Black-Hawk Eagle: 1 ad perched, calling all the time Durika entrance
25-
Ornate Hawk-Eagle: 1 ad perched, calling a lot Q.Gonzalez
26-
Crested Caracara: 1 Golfo Dulce lowlands.
27-
Yellow-headed Caracara: common Golfo Dulce lowlands
28-
Laughing Falcon: H entrance to Durika Reserve.
29-
Barred Forest-Falcon: H a lot early morning Durika Reserve
30-
Merlin: 1 Irazu volcano slopes
31-
Bat Falcon: 1 Q.Gonzalez, 1 Durika sabana, 1 Golfo Dulce lowlands
32-
Black Guan: 2 tame birds crossing the Savegre Road, close to the Savegre Hotel.
33-
Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge**: heard early morning Dantica trails (Savegre
area). 3 well-seen 400m before
the entrance to Irazu NP.
34-
Marbled Wood-Quail: H Durika Reserve
35-
Spotted Wood-Quail: H Providencia Road (Cerro Muerte area), H Dantica trails, H
Durika Reserve.
36-
Purple Gallinule: 1 Golfo Dulce lowlands
37-
Common Moorhen: 1 Las Concavas
38-
American Coot: 1 "Bittern Marsh", a few Las Concavas
39-
Northern Jacana: common in all wet lowlands.
40-
Solitary Sandpiper: 1 "Bittern Marsh"
41-
Spotted Sandpiper: 1 Esquinas
42-
Band-tailed Pigeon: common in Highlands.
43-
Pale-vented Pigeon: common Esquinas
44-
Red-billed Pigeon: common Cachi dam.
45-
Short-billed Pigeon: 1 Esquinas
45-
Ruddy Pigeon: 1 Savegre
46-
White-winged Dove: common San Jose area
47-
Plain-breasted Ground-Dove: fairly common individuals at Durika sabanas roadsides.
48-
Ruddy Ground-Dove: widespread Buenos Aires area and Cachí dam.
49-
Inca Dove: a few Cachi dam.
50-
White-tipped Dove: 1 Durika sabana, common coffee plantations around Cachi dam.
51-
Gray-chested Dove: a few Esquinas
52-
Crimson-fronted Parakeet: very common Cartago area
53-
Orange-chinned Parakeet: common Esquinas
54-
Brown-hooded Parrot: common Esquinas
55-
Blue-headed Parrot: 2 Esquinas
56-
White-crowned Parrot: small groups Durika area and Cachí dam
57-
White-fronted Parrot: a few close to the Airport
58-
Red-lored Parrot: 2 Durika reserve
59-
Squirrel Cuckoo: found in Durika area and Esquinas
60-
Smooth-billed Ani: common at the entrance to Durika reserve, with antswarm
61-
Groove-billed Ani: common caribbean lowlands
62-
Mottled Owl: H Durika Reserve
63-
Dusky Nightjar:
1 seen, calling a lot, at Dantica
64-
White-chinned Swift: good close views of 1 bird at Durika Reserve. New bird for Robert.
65-
White-collared Swift: widespread Durika area
66-
Costa Rican Swift: common in small groups Golfo Dulce lowlands
67-
Vaux´s Swift: a few seen at Savegre area
68-
Band-tailed Barbthroat: 1 Esquinas gardens
69-
Green Hermit: a few Q. Gonzalez
70-
Stripe-throated (Little) Hermit: 1 Q. Gonzalez, 1 Durika Reserve entrance
71-
Green Violet-ear: common highlands
72-
Violet-headed Hummingbird: common Tapir gardens, 1 Durika entrance
73-
Black-crested Coquette: 1 female Tapir gardens
74-
White-crested Coquette**: at least 1 male 1 female feeding at a blooming tree close to the
entrance to Durika Reserve, in an isolated patch of forest among sabanas.
75-
Green Thorntail: 1 male 1 female el Tapir gardens.
76-
Fiery-throated Hummingbird: fairly
common in Highlands
77-
White-tailed Emerald: 1 male 1 female Durika Reserve.
78-
Violet-crowned Woodnymph: fairly common Q.Gonzalez and Tapir gardens.
79-
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird: widespread in middle and lower elevations.
80-
Cinnamon Hummingbird: 1 at the airport area.
81-
Blue-chested Hummingbird: common Tapir gardens
82-
Steely-vented Hummingbird: 1 airport area
83-
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird: 1 male Durika Reserve entrance.
84-
Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer: a few Q.Gonzalez and Tapir gardens.
85-
Gray-tailed Mountain-Gem: common Cerro Muerte-Savegre area.
86-
Magnificent Hummingbird: a few seen in the Highlands.
87-
Purple-crowned Fairy: 1 Q.Gonzalez
88-
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 1 female Durika sabanas.
89-
Scintillant Hummingbird: common Savegre and Providencia road.
90-
Volcano Hummingbird: common Cerro Muerte and Irazu volcano.
91-
Northern Violaceous Trogon: 1 female Durika Reserve.
92-
Collared Trogon: common Durika Reserve.
93-
Lattice-tailed Trogon: great views of a female at Q.Gonzalez
94-
Resplendent Quetzal: 1 Providencias road.
95-
Ringed Kingfisher: 1 Esquinas.
96-
Amazon Kingfisher: a few in both lowlands.
97-
Blue-crowned Motmot: a few Durika and Cachi areas.
98-
Rufous Motmot: 1 Q.Gonzalez
99-
Broad-billed Motmot: 1 Quebrada Gonzalez.
100-
White-whiskered Puffbird: 1 Q. Gonzalez
101-
Red-headed Barbet: 1 male Durika Reserve entrance.
102-
Emerald Toucanet: 1 Savegre, 1 Durika Reserve.
103-
Collared Araçari: 1 Q.Gonzalez
104-
Fiery-billed Araçari: H Durika Reserve
105-
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan: common Q.Gonzalez and Esquinas.
106-
Olivaceous Piculet: great views of 2 at the entrance to Durika Reserve.
107-
Acorn Woodpecker: very common all Highlands
108-
Golden-naped Woodpecker: 1 Esquinas gardens.
109-
Black-cheeked Woodpecker: common Q.Gonzalez and Tapir gardens.
110-
Red-crowned Woodpecker: common Golfo Dulce lowlands.
111-
Hoffman´s Woodpecker: common Cachí Dam area.
112-
Hairy Woodpecker: fairly common Cerro Muerte and Irazu slopes.
113-
Smoky-brown Woodpecker: 2 Q.Gonzalez
114-
Cinnamon Woodpecker: 4 Q.Gonzalez
115-
Lineated Woodpecker: H Durika
116-
Pale-breasted Spinetail: 2 Durika sabanas.
117-
Ruddy Treerunner: very common Highlands
118-
Buffy Tuftedcheek: at least 2 Providencia road.
119-
Striped Woodhaunter: excellent views of a tame bird, Q.Gonzalez.
120-
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner: 1 Q.Gonzalez, 1 Durika entrance with army ants
121-
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper: fairly common Q.Gonzalez and Esquinas.
122-
Cocoa Woodcreeper: a few with army ants, Durika entrance.
123-
Spotted Woodcreeper: fairly common Q.Gonzalez and Durika Reserve.
124-
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper: common in Highlands.
125-
Brown-billed Scythebill: 1 Durika entrance.
126-
Barred Antshrike: 1 male Durika entrance.
127-
Black-hooded Antshrike: common Durika entrance.
128-
Russet Antshrike: 1 Q.Gonzalez, 1 Durika entrance.
129-
Plain Antvireo: 1 Durika Reserve.
130-
Streak-crowned Antvireo: common Q.Gonzalez
131-
Slaty Antwren: fairly common Durika entrance.
132-
Dusky Antbird: a few in isolated patches of forest, Durika sabanas.
133-
Bare-crowned Antbird: at least 1 male 1 female with an antswarm, Durika entrance. 1st encounter with the pacific ssp. erratilis.
134-
Chestnut-backed Antbird: fairly common Q.Gonzalez and Durika entrance.
135-
Bicolored Antbird: a few with antswarm, Durika entrance.
136-
Spotted Antbird: 1 female Q.Gonzalez
137-
Black-faced Antthrush: H Durika entrance.
138-
Streak-chested Antpitta: H Q.Gonzalez
139-
Silvery-fronted Tapaculo: H Providencia road.
140-
Speckled Mourner*: 1 el Tapir
141-
Rufous Piha: 1 Q.Gonzalez
142-
White-ruffed Manakin: 1 female Q.Gonzalez, 1 female Durika Reserve.
143-
Blue-crowned Manakin: a group of males and females, Durika Reserve.
144-
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet: 1 Durika sabanas.
145-
Yellow-bellied Elaenia: common Buenos Aires area and Cachi area.
146-
Lesser Elaenia: a few Durika sabanas.
147-
Mountain Elaenia: a few seen Savegre valley and Durika Reserve.
148-
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher: a few Q.Gonzalez
149-
Olive-striped Flycatcher: 1 downhill Providencia road
150-
Slaty-capped Flycatcher: 1 Durika entrance and 1 Durika Reserve.
151-
Paltry Tyrannulet: common and widespread, present in most areas visited.
152-
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant: a few Q.Gonzalez and Durika
153-
Common Tody-Flycatcher: H Durika enrance and Esquinas.
154-
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher: 1 Q.Gonzalez
155-
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher: 2 Q.Gonzalez and 1 Durika entrance.
156-
Tufted Flycatcher: common Providencia and Savegre roads, 1 Q.Gonzalez
157-
Western Wood-Pewee: widespread in highlands and sabanas.
158-
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: a few Durika entrance and Reserve
159-
Willow Flycatcher: 1 Durika sabanas
160-
Yellowish Flycatcher: common Providencia road and Savegre.
161-
Black-capped Flycatcher: very common Highlands.
162-
Bright-rumped Attila: 1 Q.Gonzalez
163-
Rufous Mourner: 1 Q.Gonzalez
164-
Dusky-capped Flycatcher: 1 Durika entrance.
165-
Great Kiskadee: widespread and common
166-
Boat-billed Flycatcher: 1 Durika entrance.
167-
Social Flycatcher: widespread and common
168-
Gray-capped Flycatcher: fairly common Esquinas.
169-
Tropical Kingbird: widespread and common
170-
Fork-tailed Flycatcher: 2 at pineapple plantations, Buenos Aires.
171-
Barred Becard:
2 gorgeous males provided great views, Providencia road.
172-
Masked Tityra: a few Tapir Gardens
173-
Gray-breasted Martin: fairly common Buenos Aires area.
174-
Mangrove Swallow: a few with thousands of Barn Swallows, Esquinas.
175-
Blue-and-white Swallow: common in Highlands and Cartago area.
176-
Southern Rough-winged Swallow. A few
with thousands of Barn Swallows, Esquinas.
177-
Bank Swallow: at least 1 Durika entrance.
178-
Barn Swallow, common and widespread, abundant Esquinas.
179-
Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher: a few Providencia road, 1 male Irazu
volcano.
180-
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher: common Providencia and Savegre roads.
181-
Banded-backed Wren: fairly common Q.Gonzalez
182-
Rufous-naped Wren: 2 close to the airport.
183-
Black-bellied Wren: H Durika entrance.
184-
Rufous-breasted Wren: fairly common Durika entrance.
185-
Riverside Wren: a few Esquinas
186-
Bay Wren: 2 at Q.Gonzalez
187-
Stripe-breasted Wren: common Q.Gonzalez
188-
Plain Wren: fairly common Durika area and Cachí area.
189-
Southern House Wren: common and widespread
190-
Ochraceous Wren: fairly common Cerro Muerte-Savegre-Irazu areas
191-
Timberline Wren: common higher Providencia road.
192-
White-breasted Wood-Wren: very common Q.Gonzalez.
193-
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren: common in Highlands
194-
Nightingale Wren: 1 Q.Gonzalez
195-
Scaly-breasted (Whistling) Wren: 1 well-seen, heard a lot at Durika
entrance.
196-
Black-faced Solitaire: 1 Savegre, 1 Durika.
197-
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush: fairly common Durika entrance.
198-
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush: common in Highlands.
199-
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush: fairly common Q.Gonzalez
200-
Swainson´s Thrush: fairly common Durika area and Q.Gonzalez.
201-
Wood Thrush: 1 Q.Gonzalez
202-
Sooty Robin: very common in Highlands
203-
Mountain Robin: common in Highlands
204-
Pale-vented Thrush: 1 Q.Gonzalez, abundant at el Tapir.
205-
Clay-colored Robin: common and widespread
206-
Tawny-faced Gnatwren: common Q.Gonzalez
207-
Long-billed Gnatwren: 1 Durika entrance
208-
Tropical Gnatcatcher: a few Durika entrance
209-
Brown Jay: H Cachí area.
210-
Silvery-throated Jay**: 1 near the entrance to Volcan Irazu NP.
211-
House Sparrow. Common Cartago and
Buenos Aires.
212-
Yellow-throated Vireo: 2 Durika areas, 1 Cachi
213-
Yellow-winged Vireo: common Cerro Muerte and Irazu areas
214-
Brown-capped Vireo: 2 Savegre, 1 Durika Reserve.
215-
Philadelphia Vireo: 1 Durika Reserve
216-
Red-eyed Vireo: a few Durika entrance
217-
Tawny-crowned Greenlet: 1 Q.Gonzalez
218-
Lesser Greenlet: fairly common Q.Gonzalez and Durika area
219-
Green Shrike-Vireo: 1 seen, more heard at Q.Gonzalez
220-
Rufous-browed Peppershrike: H at lower Providencia road.
221-
Yellow-bellied Siskin*: a small flock at Dantica area. I had never seen this
bird in CRica before, even though it is a supposedly "easy" target.
222-
Lesser Goldfinch: fairly common Durika sabanas and Reserve. Also two seen Irazu slopes.
223-
Golden-winged Warbler: 1 Q.Gonzalez, 1 Durika sabanas, 1 Durika reserve.
224-
Tennessee Warbler: widespread and common but in highest areas.
225-
Flame-throated Warbler: common Cerro Muerte and Irazu volcano.
226-
Tropical Parula: fairly common Durika area. Common Cachi Dam, eye-level in
coffee plantations!
227-
Yellow Warbler: seen at the airport, sabanas and Golfo Dulce lowlands.
228-
Chestnut-sided Warbler: common Q.Gonzalez, fairly common Durika and Cachi
areas.
229-
Black-throated Green Warbler: common Highlands and Durika Reserve.
230-
Townsend´s Warbler: 1 Providencia road, 1 Dantica area.
231-
Blackburnian Warbler: common Durika reserve
232-
Black-and-white Warbler: widespread and fairly common in most visited areas.
233-
American Redstart: 1 at Cachi coffee plantations
234-
Northern Waterthrush: 1 Esquinas
235-
Louisiana Waterthrush: 1 Savegre
236-
Kentucky Warbler: 1 male Durika entrance
237-
Wilson´s Warbler: very common in Highlands, common Durika and Cachi.
238-
Collared redstart: very common in Highlands.
239-
Golden-crowned Warbler: 1 Durika Reserve
240-
Rufous-capped Warbler: a few Durika entrance.
241-
Black-cheeked Warbler: common in Highlands
242-
Buff-rumped Warbler: common Q.Gonzalez and Durika area.
243-
Zeledonia:
1 gave great views at the Irazu slopes, heard a lot in all highlands
244-
Bananaquit: common Q.Gonzalez, Durika area and Cachi.
245-
Common Bush-Tanager: 1 lower Providencia road, 2 Q.Gonzalez
246-
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager: very common in all highlands.
247-
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager: 1 Q.Gonzalez
248-
Black-and-yellow Tanager: 1 male Q.Gonzalez, 1 male 1 female el Tapir gardens.
249-
Rosy Thrush-Tanager*: fairly common at Durika entrance, heard many times. 1 male 1 female actually
seen after many unsuccesful approaches, very sulky and shy birds!
250-
Dusky-faced Tanager: fairly common in flocks, Q.Gonzalez.
251-
Olive Tanager: common in flocks, Q.Gonzalez
252-
Gray-headed Tanager: many at an antswarm, Durika entrance.
253-
White-shouldered Tanager: 1 Q.Gonzalez
254-
Tawny-crested Tanager: very common Q.Gonzalez
255-
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager: small group with antswarm, Durika entrance.
256-
Scarlet Tanager: 1 winter male, Durika sabana.
257-
Summer Tanager: fairly common and widespread
258-
Flame-colored Tanager: fairly common Providencia road, Dantica area, and Durika
Reserve.
259-
White-winged Tanager: fairly common Durika Reserve.
260-
Passerini´s Tanager: common Cachi area and el Tapir gardens.
261-
Cherrie´s Tanager: common Durika area, very common Esquinas.
262-
Blue-gray Tanager: common and widespread
263-
Palm Tanager: a few Esquinas and Cachi area.
264-
Blue-and-gold Tanager: a few Q.Gonzalez
265-
Yellow-crowned Euphonia: 1 male Durika sabanas
266-
Spot-crowned Euphonia: fairly common, Durika area.
267-
Elegant (Blue-hooded) Euphonia: 1 gorgeous male, Durika entrance.
268-
Olive-backed Euphonia: 1 Q.Gonzalez
269-
Tawny-capped Euphonia: fairly common Q. Gonzalez
270-
Golden-browed Chlorophonia: a few Providencia road, also heard Durika Reserve.
271-
Emerald Tanager: a few Q.Gonzalez
272-
Silver-throated Tanager: common Q.Gonzalez, Savegre, Durika Reserve
273-
Speckled Tanager: a few Durika areas, also Q.Gonbzalez
274-
Bay-headed Tanager: a few Durika Reserve
275-
Golden-hooded Tanager: common Durika area and el Tapir gardens.
276-
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis: 1 male, 1 female Tapir gardens
277-
Green Honeycreeper: fairly common Durika area and Q.Gonzalez
278-
Blue-black Grassquit: very common Buenos Aires-Durika sabanas area.
279-
Variable Seedeater: fairly common Q.Gonzalez and Buenos Aires sabanas
280-
White-collared Seedeater: small group close to las Concavas
281-
Yellow-bellied Seedeater: very common in grassy areas around Buenos Aires.
282-
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater: fairly common in sabana grassland.
283-
Thick-billed Seed-Finch: common Esquinas
284-
Yellow-faced Grassquit: common Savegre, Buenos Aires sabanas and Durika
Reserve.
285-
Slaty Flowerpiercer: common in highlands
286-
Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch*: fairly common in Durika sabana grasslands.
287-
Yellow-thighed Finch: common in highlands
288-
Large-footed Finch: common in highlands
289-
Orange-billed Sparrow: common Q.Gonzalez and Esquinas.
290-
Black-striped Sparrow: fairly common Durika entrance and Esquinas.
291-
Rufous-collared Sparrow: common and widespread in highlands and Central Valley.
292-
Grayish Saltator: fairly common Cachi area and Las Concavas area.
293-
Buff-throated Saltator: fairly common Durika area and Cachi.
294-
Black-headed Saltator: common Cachi area.
295-
Slate-colored Grosbeak: great views of 1 at Quebrada Gonzalez.
296-
Black-faced Grosbeak: very common Q.Gonzalez.
297-
Black-thighed Grosbeak: 1 Durika entrance, 1 Durika Reserve.
298-
Blue-black Grosbeak: 1 female Durika entrance.
299-
Eastern Meadowlark: 1 Cartago, 1 Durika sabanas, common around Las Concavas
300-
Great-tailed Grackle: widespread and abundant.
301-
Bronzed Cowbird: fairly common and widespread.
302-
Baltimore Oriole: common and widespread
303-
Orchard Oriole: 1 male 1 female in grasslands around Buenos Aires.
304-
Scarlet-rumped Cacique: a few Q.Gonzalez
305-
Montezuma Oropendola: 1 Cachi Dam.