Costa Rica 2018: Birdin' in the Rain

[xelas]

To attract as many birds as possible (and thus as many birders as possible) Rancho Naturalista has implemented not only the feeders for various bitd species, but also planted those trees and bushes that attracts them. The main "feeding station" is strategically positioned just in front of the main building, easily visible either from the balcony or from the ground level. It attracts bigger birds, but not only birds.

 

The feeding station (notice the bright morning sun ?!)

 

Lessons's Motmot

 

Grey-headed Chachalaca

 

Montezuma Oropendula

 

Agouti

 

Variegated Squirrel

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

The property of the lodge is extensive, and covers both the pasture lands, the rain forest and have several trails on it. Trails could be better signed, IMO, and they were working on this when we were there. As in other places also here they have a map, or better, a sketch of their trails. Also here it is best to explore those with a guide first, then on your own.

 

Open space area

 

Black-stripped Sparrow

 

Cinnamon Becard

 

 

 

[xelas]

The approach road is also a great place to look after birds of prey and other type of birds that are not so willing to come to the lodge. Just down the road there is a house where a fellow birder and photographer is living; he is well known for his hospitality, and I was not the only or the first person that he has invited to his home, to see also what birds are hanging around his feeders. I have used the time to have a great, and long, conversation with the man. Thank You for sharing your home, your knowledge, your photos and your birds with me (us), Wayne!

 

Laughing Falcon

 

 

Roadside Hawk (the weather changes quickly in the mountains)

 

Olive-backed Euphonia (from Wayne's house)

 

The ex-Oropendula nest re-used and re-fitted by Wayne became a new home for Olive-backed Euphonia family

 

 

 

[Alexander33]

I’m glad you liked Rancho Naturalista, Alex, and that you met Wayne.  Did you all have an opportunity go down to Lisa’s parents’ house for hummingbirds, also?  (Sorry if I’m getting ahead of myself in your report). 

 

And finally a break in the weather!  Looking forward to more. 

Edited October 30, 2018 by Alexander33

[xelas]

Yes, we were all taken there by our guide Herman. Great hummers around.

[xelas]

We have had only one full day at Rancho Naturalista; and to increase our chances at spotting as many birds as possible we have arranged for a bird guide through the lodge. Herman Venegas Paniagua is one of the freelancer working with Rancho Naturalista, and to my limited experiences with guides, he was one of the best we have had during our trip. Engaging, professional, always on the lookout to get that elusive bird the client wanted to find. Our target was the Sunbittern. That gets us down the hill and along the Silent Valley, and yes, Herman found the Sunbittern for us. And not only the Sunbittern.

 

Misty morning

 

 

Butterflies, so colourful

 

 

 

Deep down in the creek, the Sunbittern!

 

 

 

Smooth-banded Sister - Adelpha Cytherea

 

Snakes too

 

Juvenile Green Heron

 

 

Black Phoebe

 

Common Tody Flycatcher

 

 

Those were perfect 4 hours of birding, talking, walking, and, believe it or not, it was a sunny day! We all deserved a sunny day.

 

[Peter Connan]

Wonderful!

[Zim Girl]

What a lovely bird the Sunbittern is.  Glad you finally got some sunshine.

[xelas]

While hummingbirds can be found all over the country, it is the cordillera where they are really found in numbers, both in quantity as in quality. There are several well known locations/lodges for observing hummingbirds (hummers, as they are also called) and Rancho Naturalista is among the best of them.

 

Its highlight, the hummingbird star or celebrity for sure is Snowcap. This hummer is on the smaller size, and it almost never comes to the feeders; instead of it loves to buzz around the nectar-producing flowers of the certain bushes. Its white head feathers gave them its name. And it is also one of those rare hummingbirds that do not come in ubiquitous green colour. Small, always on the move, never still and rarely seen perched ... quite a task for any photographer. So with no further delay, the star of the show:

 

Snowcap

 

 

 

[xelas]

The Rufous-tailed Hummingbird is found also at mid-elevation, where it starts the habitat of the similar sized Talamanca Hummingbird (cca 1500 mm and up). Talamanca used to be named Magnificient Hummingbird, who was recently split into this one and Rivoli's Hummingbird.

 

Rufuous-tailed Hummingbird

 

 

 

Talamanca Hummingbird (female)

 

 

[xelas]

Next three hummers are larger then the previous two, and often seen at feeders, or perching in the bushes near the feeders. They were easily photographed from the balcony: Brown Violetear is another rare example of non-greenish coloured hummingbird, Green-crowned Brilliant has a slightly menacing look, while Crowned Woodnymph has always an imposing stance.

 

Brown Violetear

 

Green-crowned Brilliant (female)

 

Crowned Woodnymph (male)

[xelas]

White-necked Jacobin deserves a separate post. It was probably the most numerous hummer at RN, both males and females. Easy to ID, and not shy at all, it was the most photographed hummingbird species. Its unique pattern makes it strikingly beautiful one.

 

White-necked Jacobin (male)

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Back to small gems. As with Snowcap also next two hummers were only seen at the bushes; and getting a clear path of view was a task that required much patience and quick reflexes. The female of Black-crested Coquette is less fancy then the male but nonetheless attractive to my eye. Green Thorntail male has long tail feathers, uncommon for hummers, and is also less frequently seen. 

 

Black-crested Coquette (female)

 

 

 

Green Thorntail (male)

 

 

[xelas]

Last but not least is the one hummer that gave Zvezda a run for her money (or whatever the expression is). Green-breasted Mango frequently fan out its tail when feeding, and this is what Zvezda was after. Perched it does not look all that impressive but in flight, with its tail fanned out ...

 

Green-breasted Mango (female)

 

Female

 

Male

 

[TonyQ]

Wow, what a stunning collection of hummingbirds- and beautifully photographed.

[xelas]

Thanks, Tony! To select them probably took longer then to photograph them. But the final result is worth the troubles.

[Dave Williams]

Whereas the Hummers are something I would love the challenge of capturing in camera my definite star there is the Sunbittern.Brilliant photos too.

[kittykat23uk]

Great collection of hummers! Surely candidates for the "show us your little gems" thread.  I was also pleased to get a few new hummers on our Brazil trip, although typically the males of the most strikingly beautiful ones played hard to get. Fantastic shot of the sunbittern's wings, we saw several but none posed quite as well as this! 

[Feliz]

Great report, despite the weather.  I just love hummingbirds!

[xelas]

These 3 butterflies/moths are colourful enough to get the right to be posted. At RN they have a dedicated place with moth light that has a dual purpose: one is to attract the moths and second is to attract the birds that are attracted by moths. Michael and I have tried this place once, but a flash is obligatory, and mine was not adequate for the (I should have mounted it a bit higher above the camera body). I think Michael has a few photos from that site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Herman told us about a place that we could find Eastern Meadowlark. As we have had enough time to reach our next destination, we have tried our luck. The location is a private property of Casa Turire Hotel, a farm house from the colonial time. It is located on the bank of the large artificial lake on Rio Reventazon (a river also known for its white water rafting). They have horses and birding should be OK also.

 

The weather turned to the worse again, with drizzling rain, but that did not stopped us from exploring the meadows to find the meadowlark. No luck for us, yet it was not a complete waste of time. Meadows were productive with other birds.

 

The grassy area around the hotel

 

Southern Lapwing

 

Green Ibis

 

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

 

Long-tailed Grackle

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

While asking the permission to be on their property (which was granted without much questioning), I have taken the opportunity to take a few snapshots of the interior of this house converted into hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Outside we went down to the lake shore, and had some luck along the paths nearer to the hotel. Rain was on and off the whole time, and clouds were thick. We have driven past the Volcano Turrialba without ever knowing where it was. Anyway, we were happy that the one full day in that area was nice and dry, and we were hoping that up in the mountains where our next stop will be, there would be no snow .

 

 

Golden-hooded Tanager

 

House Wren

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by xelas

[Zim Girl]

Absolutely fabulous hummingbird pictures and the butterflies are lovely also.

[Terry]

What a wonderful trip to Costa Rica you were able to have, in spite of the weather.  Your sightings of birds, butterflies, and animals are amazing.  We are enjoying your trip report and all the wonderful photographs  immensely.   Thanks to my Swift Guide  of butterflies, I believe I can add some names to the butterflies.

 

Post 106, Brown and orange long wings is a True Brushfoot,  Smudged Crescent - Castilia Eranites.

Post  120, 1.  Brown and trimmed with white and red, is also a True Brushfoot, a Banded Peacock - Anartia Fatima  

                   2.  Large eyes, brown with a topping of blue, is a Spreadwing Skipper with what looks like a tail - a Long-tailed Flasher   Astraptes megalurus.  If there is no tail, then he is a Gilbert's Flasher - Astraptes Gilberti.

                  3.   Yellow decorated with orange spots and scribblings, is a Orange-barred Sulphur - Phoebis philea.   

                               

Edited November 1, 2018 by Terry