Country: Costa Rica

Bijagua

La Palma

Costa Rica Photography Birding Tour: Osa Peninsula & Savegre Valley

A 16-day Costa Rica birding circuit from Pacific dry forest and Carara through the Osa Peninsula, Talamanca highlands, Caribbean lowlands, Arenal, Monteverde and La Ensenada.

Cinchona Hummingbird Feeders

Stop at the Cinchona feeders on the return to Alajuela, with near-endemic Black-bellied Hummingbird as the main target. Many other hummingbirds also appear at the feeders, although the source does not name them individually.

Great Green Macaw Site near Puerto Viejo

At midday, after forest activity slows, visit the source-described site near Puerto Viejo where endangered Great Green Macaws are reliably found. This short field session adds a focused lowland target before the optional lunch and the return transfer to Alajuela.

La Selva Biological Station Dawn Birding

Depart very early for La Selva Biological Station and begin on the entrance road before entering the reserve. More than 400 species have been recorded there; the morning combines the visitor-center clearing with primary and secondary forest trails, concentrating on the forest interior when activity is best. The source lists Great Tinamou, Semiplumbeous Hawk, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Fasciated Antshrike, Great Antshrike, Black-crowned Antshrike, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Bare-necked Umbrellabird, White-collared Manakin, Crimson-collared Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, and Dusky-faced Tanager, with special effort for reliable Snowy Cotinga.

Additional Roadside Birding Stops toward Puerto Viejo

Continue toward Puerto Viejo with additional roadside birding stops. The main targets are Canebrake Wren, identified in the source as a split from Plain Wren, and Gray-crowned Yellowthroat; White Hawk, Gray-lined Hawk, and Bat Falcon are also possible along the route.

El Tapir Snowcap Flowering Beds

Stop near El Tapir Nature Reserve to work the flowering beds for Snowcap and other hummingbirds. The source describes this as one of the most reliable places for Snowcap, a prized target of the tour; the tiny Black-crested Coquette is very uncommon but can sometimes occur.

Hotel Quelitales Grounds and Scaled Antpitta Hide

Bird the cloud-forest grounds of Hotel Quelitales, where about 460 species have been recorded. The hide is a reliable place to seek the extremely elusive Scaled Antpitta, while Red-headed Barbet, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Dark Pewee, Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush, Sooty-faced Finch, and Cabanis's Ground-Sparrow are other key species named by the source.