And I had a great time at Rancho Naturalista, with Kevin's younger brother
Stephen as a guide.
A brief report of the birds Kevin and Stephen
found me includes:
Prevost's Ground Sparrow Great views on Sat 8 at 6
am at Hotel Bougainvillea. This is the best place in the world to see this
rare and local bird. It comes out soon after first light and hops along
the wall behind the vegetable refuse pits at the back of the hotels vegetable
garden. It then usually flies down to the vegetable refues pit.
at Braulio Carillo Sat 8 in persistent rain.
2 White-throated Shrike-Tanager males
2 Streak-crowned Antwren male and female
1 Tawny-faced Gnatwren
At El Tigre Marsh Sat 7
2 Grey-breasted Crake
at EARTH Sunday 8
Wonderful views of Slaty-breasted Tinamou
At Braullio Carillo Sunday 8
Staggering views of Black-headed Antthrush.
The bird filled the field of view of my binoculars in perfect focus.
at house below Waterfall Gardens Sunday 8
White-tipped Sicklebill (at 10 feet, twice)
2 Grey-headed Dove
at Mirador Restaurant below Waterfall Gardens
Sunday 8
4 White-bellied Mountain-Gem
1 Brown Violetear
at Tapanti Monday 9
Black Guan
Red-faced Spinetail
1 Brown-billed Scythebill
Scaled Antpitta
at Rancho early Tuesday 10
Snowcap 2 males and 2 females
On Silent Mountain (El Silencio- this was a REALLY
tough hike through knee deep mud in pouring rain much of the day, but the birds
made it worth it! This is virtually the only place in Costa Rica wehere
you can access forest at this altitude.)
4 Rufous-browed Tyrannulet
1 Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl (by the way, the reports
of this bird around the lodges at Savegre are mistaken. That bird is a
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. G.costaricanum can only be found up high at
Savegre).
1Ochre-bellied Antpitta at an antswarm. For
10 minutes in a low tree!
4 Rufous-rumped Antwren (see well. This is hard
bird to get a good look at, as it moves quickly in the canopy, usually with
flocks)
Silvery-fronted Tapaculo
Sooty-faced Finch
Spotted Barbtail
Wed 11
Tuis Valley
Sunbittern
Platanillo Marsh
1 White-throated Flycatcher
Rancho Naturalista
White-ruffed Manakin (4 imm males, 3 females,
finally 1 mature male!)
Tawny-chested Flycatcher (Rancho is the best place
on earth to see this very local flycatcher)
2 Mottled Owls
Thursday 12
Rancho
Checker-throated Antwren (male seen very
well)
Dull-manted Antbird
Despite searching for 9 hours, we never found a
Lanceolated Monklet.
I strongly recommend Kevin as a guide if you are
looking for specific species in Costa Rica. He is an excellent guide, and his
rates are very reasonable.
If you would like a full report, with numbers,
localities keyed to subspecies level for both the group tour with Paco, and the
final week with Kevin and Stephen, let me know, and I'll attach them.
Cheers and good birding,
John
