Country: Costa Rica
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La Ensenada Ranch Tractor Tour
In the afternoon we tour the ranch by tractor, a slow circuit that ends with wine and cheese at sunset. The dry-forest watch list includes White-throated Magpie-Jay, Streak-backed Oriole, Banded Wren, and Black-headed Trogon. The evening is ours at the lodge, to tally the trip's sightings at leisure.
Read MoreLa Ensenada Dry-Lowland Birding
Work the reserve's dry scrub, dry forest, pasture and mangrove mosaic for Crested Bobwhite, Double-striped Thick-knee, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Plain-capped Starthroat, Steely-vented Hummingbird, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Banded Wren, White-lored Gnatcatcher, Stripe-headed Sparrow, Streak-backed Oriole and Spot-breasted Oriole.
Read MoreDawn Birding in the Hotel Bougainvillea Gardens
Before the road climb, early risers can walk the hotel gardens, where a great diversity of tropical flowers keeps birds busy from the door. A quiet first hour together before breakfast sets the pace for the journey ahead.
Read MoreOptional La Ensenada Mangrove Boat Trip
If arranged, take a boat into the mangroves behind the lodge for Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Hummingbird, Panama Flycatcher and common wetland birds.
Read MoreWilson Botanical Gardens
Visit the well-kept gardens near San Vito, one of the source's reliable settings for Turquoise Cotinga. Other possibilities include Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Brown-throated Parakeet, Red-headed Barbet, Fiery-billed Aracari, Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Orange-billed Sparrow, several euphonias and feeder hummingbirds.
Read MoreBalcony Birding at Rancho Naturalista
Dawn on the balcony, coffee in hand. Mixed groups of colourful tanagers — Passerini's, Speckled, Bay-headed, Silver-throated, and Summer — work the bananas on the feeders; White-necked Jacobins are regulars, and the tiny Black-crested Coquette is the bird everyone hopes for. More than 200 species have been recorded from this balcony alone.
Read MoreVeranda Birding at Rancho Naturalista
The veranda does the introductions: hummingbirds come in close as the light fades, and there is a good chance of Keel-billed and Yellow-throated Toucans and Collared Aracari arriving to roost at day's end.
Read MoreDanta Lodge Hummingbird Feeders
Spend a flexible midday session at the feeders for Band-tailed Barbthroat, Stripe-throated Hermit, Purple-crowned Fairy, White-crested Coquette, Long-billed Starthroat, Garden Emerald, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Mangrove Hummingbird and Blue-throated Goldentail.
Read MoreDanta Corcovado Lodge Trails
Work the 30-hectare primary and secondary forest property for Rufous-winged Woodpecker, Black-hooded Antshrike, Chiriqui Foliage-gleaner, Turquoise Cotinga, Isthmian Wren, Spot-crowned Euphonia and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. Orange-collared, Velvety and Red-capped Manakins add a distinctive display experience.
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