Birdwatching the Southern Part of Costa Rica

Early this morning, we’ll bird the HB’s grounds, have breakfast, and then head out for a day on the Caribbean side! We will visit Braulio Carillo National Park and La Selva Lodge. Potential birds we may see include Great Green Macaw, Gray-Cowled Wood Rail, Rufous Motmot, Black-Crested Coquette, and Collared Aracari. We will also visit Pierella Ecogarden–we can expect to see tent-making bats, Emerald Basilisk, and many butterflies in their butterfly garden. Two and three-toed sloths can be possible, Crimson-Collared Tanager, White-Collared Manakin and Olive-Backed Euphonia among others. (B,L,D, overnight Hotel Bougainvillea).

Early AM we make our in-country flight to Puerto Jimenez. Once we arrive, we will be greeted by Karen Leavelle, founder and Director of Osa Birds. We will go directly to our lodge and once settled in, we’ll enjoy a delicious Costa Rican lunch and Karen will provide us with a presentation on the accomplishments of Osa Birds. Afterwards, we’ll visit Rancho Quemado where Karen can show us first-hand their program in community biological monitoring and the native plants initiative. We may see Striped Cuckoo, Fiery-Billed Aracari, Black-Cheeked Ant-Tanager, and Painted Bunting. Later, we’ll explore the Lodge’s property or Nito may have another surprise in mind! Overnight at Danta Corcovado Lodge (BLD). See www.dantalodge. com

For this leg of the trip (Day 4/5), we only take what we’ll need and overnight in the Park. Our main luggage will stay with Giovanni (our amazing driver) in Puerto Jimenez

This morning we depart PMJ via a lovely boat ride through the Golfo Dulce and mangroves as we make our way to the Pacific Ocean and the Corcovado National Park Ranger Station at La Sirena. There are 13 distinct vegetation types which explains the amazing flora and fauna found within the Park. For a few hours we will hike inside the park looking for tapirs, monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. Amenities in the Park are quite nice…showers, toilets, and sleeping areas with mosquito netting. We will spend one night in the Park which will provide us with many opportunities to see wildlife such as White-Collared Peccaries, Baird’s Tapir, White-faced Cappuchin, Squirrel, Howler, and Spider monkeys. Overnight at La Sirena, Corcovado National Park. (B,L,D)

Getting up early, we’ll explore the Park throughout the day. With a little luck, we’ll find tapirs walking on the beach or bathing in the stream, as well as monkeys, myriad of birdlife, and various reptiles. Corcovado National Park provides excellent viewing of animals as they are at ease around visitors at La Sirena. Protocols in the Park will be followed—which includes no smoking and staying on the trails. Please note that absolutely no food can be brought into the Park as Coatis and other critters will raid the sleeping areas! Lockers are available. After lunch, we’ll take another fabulous boat ride back to Puerto Jimenez. Overnight Danta Corcovado Lodge. (B,L,D)

Christmas Bird Count day! Nito will be deciding what areas we will participate in. We may start the Count at the Lodge and also complete Rincón.. The forests in Rincón are part of the largest remaining mangrove complex on the Pacific coast of Central America and are critically important from a conservation perspective. They provide important habitat for myriad species including Prothonotary Warbler, the endangered Mangrove Hummingbird and the endangered Yellow-billed Cotinga, a secretive, endemic species whose last remaining stronghold may be the Osa’s mangroves and associated upland forest. Species we hope to encounter include Ringed Kingfisher, Roseate Spoonbill, trogon species, euphonias, and of course, the stunning Yellow-Billed Cotinga. Overnight Danta Corcovado Lodge. (B,L,D)

This morning we have two options.Danta Lodge offers kayaking. If the water is calm enough, for those wishing to kayak that is an option at afternoon will have a presentation of an organic farm that is dedicated to regenerating the forest for the birds and in turn they consume and sell organic products and Danta Lodge is adjacent to Corcovado National Park and provides private trails and fantastic bird and nature watching. Habitat consists of primary and secondary forest, as well as reforested areas. Over 200 species of birds have been documented at Danta Lodge and we can expect to see Black-Cheeked Ant-Tanager, Scarlet Macaws, and Black-Mandibled Toucans. After lunch, we will explore other areas on the Osa. Overnight at Danta Corcovado Lodge (BLD)

Today will be a slightly more restful chocolaty kind of day as we tour the local and very famously delicious Finca Kobo Chocolate Farm. Here you will see a large handful of honeycreepers and migratory songbirds and enjoy some amazing and never ending chocolate fondue. Late afternoon we can explore the amazingly birdy areas surrounding Dos Brazos and the Rio Tigre area (one of the largest watersheds on the Osa Peninsula). Possibilities include—Little Tinamou, Uniform Crake, Whitetipped Sickle bill (very cool hummer!), Striped Woodhaunter (a vexing tropical ovenbird), Scaly-throated Leaftosser, trogons galore, some of those pesky flycatchers, Marbled Wood Quail, Tiny Hawk, Black-Cheeked AntTanager, American Pygmy Kingfisher, and fingers crossed for the diminutive White-Crested Coquette. A walk up the river may provide us views of the stunning Fasciated TigerHeron, and/or a long stroll into town for some fantastic birding which may include Striped Cuckoo, Melodious Blackbird, Bronzy Hermit, Black-Tailed Flycatcher, Long-Billed Hermit, and Green Kingfisher. At Sandalo, we hope to observe Mangrove hummingbird, shorebird species, and learn about the several types of mangroves and their importance to the shoreline. Potential species include various shorebirds such as Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Semi-Palmated Plover, Willet, and Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron, and Common Potoo. Overnight at Danta Corcovado Lodge (BLD)

Late morning ride back to Puerto Jimenez where we should have time to browse a shop or two before flying back to San Jose. Most folks stay another night in San Jose as the majority of international flights head out early in the AM. Included is our stay at the lovely Villa San Ignacio near Poás Alajuela. Breakfast provided at Danta Corcovado Lodge. Lunch/ Dinner on our own.

Depart for the airport early in the AM, heading home with wonderful pictures, fond memories, and new friends! Box breakfast provided by Villa San Ignacio. **Please note that some particulars of the itinerary may change, but it is relatively close to what we’ll experience. We will make sure everyone is accommodated. It is also worth mentioning that there is a fair amount of walking (considered moderate) on this adventure which includes gravel, some hilly and uneven surfaces—talk to me should there be any concerns. reservations@surcostours.com.Please bring collapsible walking sticks if needed. Also, be advised that the food is exceptional!!! **In addition to birds, we have observed species such as Tamandua (small anteater), two and three-toed sloths, kinkajous, coatis, spiny rat, rice mouse rat, numerous bat species, 4 species of monkeys (white-faced capuchin, squirrel, howlers, and spider), 9 banded armadillo, many lizard species, spectacled caiman, American crocodile, Baird’s tapirs, countless butterflies, abundant species of frogs, as well as leaf cutter and army ants. If folks aren’t too tired, night hikes can be done and we’ll explore around the lodge(s) searching for snakes and frogs. Adventure travel can be unpredictable; therefore, understanding and some flexibility is necessary—if we face surprises head on and with a smile, all will be okay. Whining is not permitted; it has been my experience on previous birding excursions that whiners inexplicably disappear! Hope to see you in beautiful Costa Rica.