BIRDING

COSTA RICA

VHS FILM OR DVD

This film shows a representative selection from 405 species encountered over a two week period between March 23rd and April 6th. Several days were spent in each of four different habitats at high and low elevations on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes.

The initial habitat was around Rancho Naturalista at middle elevation, c. 915m/3000ft, in the Cordillera de Talamanca, Caribbean Slope. The first morning at dawn was magical with filming from the balcony into the garden of the lodge. Birds were attracted by food, including hummingbirds to the many hanging feeders. Grey-headed Chachalacas appeared like chickens and together with Montezuma Oropendolas gorged themselves on bananas. Hoffman's Woodpeckers, Brown Jays and a Baltimore Oriole were around the tables, soon to be joined by two Collared Aracaris. In the nearby rainforest an attractive Orange-billed Sparrow was filmed near to feeders abounding with different hummingbirds. These included the Snowcap, a target species here.

The route to the second site took in Tapanti National Park for a morning. Tapanti is in pristine pre-montane forest at c.1245m/3750ft where there is an annual rainfall of between 250 and 300 inches! A Blue Morpho butterfly filmed here was almost the size of a small dinner plate.

The second habitat was at Trogon Lodge, 2270m/7450ft, which included a visit to Savegre Lodge, 2065m/6775ft, further down the San Gerado valley. These lodges are on the Pacific slope and provide access to the Paramo Cloud Forest, 3325m/11000ft. The grounds of both lodges gave excellent filming opportunities, including species such as Sooty Robin, Rufous-collared Sparrow and the beautiful Long-tailed Silky Flycatcher. There was also a good selection of hummingbirds including Green Violet-Ear, Magnificent, Purple-throated Mountain Gem, Grey-tailed Mountain Gem, Scintillant and Fiery-throated. An obliging Slaty Flowerpiercer showed its crotchet-hook bill whilst sheltering from torrential rain. At Savegre Lodge that most memorable and evocative of calls from a Black-faced Solitaire was traced
unexpectedly to the edge of the valley stream. Perhaps the most wished for of all the Costa Rican species, the Resplendent Quetzel, was filmed near a known nesting hole in the lodge grounds where seats were provided for the ultimate in easy birding.

A quick visit into more superb rainforest at Braulio Carrillo near the Quebrada Gonzales Ranger Station produced one of the most rarely seen forest skulkers, a Black-crowned Antpitta. This was filmed briefly as it called on a pathway before bounding away.

La Selva Biological Station was next at 30m/100ft. Situated in humid Caribbean lowland rainforest this is a 'must do' site although it needs booking 12 months in advance. Early mornings found Crested Guans and Chestnut-mandibled Toucans just outside the cabins. The excellent pathways through the forest provided opportunities for filming other wildlife such as Collared Peccarys, White-nosed Coati and a deadly Fer-de-Lance! Slaty-tailed Trogons posed conveniently and the Pale-billed Woodpeckers' drumming was drowned by a cacophony of cicadas. A plain Clay-coloured Robin sang whilst a Pale-rumped Warbler called and a King Vulture circled overhead.

A Potoo species caused much debate until its eye opened on film clinching identification as a Great Potoo. A Grey-necked Wood Rail completed its pre-roosting bathe at the site where earlier rare film had been taken of a superb Chestnut- bellied (Agami Heron, a very difficult species and perhaps the most beautiful of the heron family.

Along the road at Selva Verde Lodge red Poison-arrow Frogs were filmed on the river's edge near both adult and juvenile Fasciated Tiger-Herons.

En route again a stop was made on the western edge of Braulio Carrillo at the La Chichona restaurant. Spectacular views of the waterfall appeared from the mist surrounding true cloud forest whilst further torrents of rain didn't deter the feeding hummingbirds. These included Brown Violet -Ear, Black-bellied and the amazing Violet Sabrewings. Feeding tables produced squabbling Blue-grey Tanagers and Prong-billed Barbets.

Next destinations were the Carara Biological Reserve, a rare habitat of transitional dry and humid lowland Pacific rainforest , between 15m and 375m, 50ft/1250ft and Tarcol Lodge at the mouth of the River Tarcoles as it flows into the Pacific. This is surrounded by mud flats, sand bars and mangroves. At Carara a Great Tinamou gradually melted away into the forest with a Violaceous Trogon again conveniently static nearby. An Army Ant swarm was encountered and the attendant birds filmed were Chestnut-backed Antbird, Spectacled Antpitta and Black-hooded Antshrike. An attractive White-whiskered Puffbird also performed well. Manakins are a more difficult family to film but brief shots were made of Long-Tailed, Orange Collared and Red Capped. A more conspicuous species, sadly in severe decline, was a pair of Scarlet Macaws and when a Collared Falcon swooped into nearby bushes right next to the camera it was a real bonus! Around Tarcol Lodge Inca Doves and an obliging White-throated Magpie Jay were filmed, with a Black-necked Stilt near the boat jetty. A boat trip up the river between the mangroves shows a superb Great White Egret revealing it's lime green lores in full breeding plumage, plus Roseate Spoonbill, the strange Boat-billed Heron and a Pygmy Kingfisher.

Leaving the Pacific a stop was made at the town of Orotina. Local lads were proud to point out the known roosting site for Black-and White Owls which were being blown around madly in the town square trees. They also located a Two-toed Sloth looking just like an old piece of carpet.

The final few days were spent at Monte Verde and Santa Elena, 1750m/5800ft, in cloud forest on the Continental Divide. A White-faced Capuchin monkey showed well although a Blue-crowned Motmot was rather more reticent. The spectacular Keel-billed Toucan proved every bit as charismatic as imagined. Guiding led to a Three-wattled Bellbird, sadly one of the most threatened of the Costa Rican species. The much visited and filmed hummingbird gallery at the entrance to the Monte Verde reserve provided a wonderful finale, with the common Bananaquit being literally outshone by Magenta-throated Woodstars, Green-crowned Brilliants and a dazzling male Purple-throated Mountain Gem.

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