Re: Costa Rica
GAIL@UMDD.UMD.EDU
Fri, 19 Jun 98 08:18:59 EDT
Joe -- We went to Costa Rica in January - actually, over New Year's, and
saw about 350 species in 9 days of birding. We had some rain (this was not
an El Nino year), esp. on the Caribbean side, which hindered birding at La
Selva. Nevertheless we had a brilliant time! Places visited included:
"Rt. 9 Loop" as described in the CR birding guide, La Paz Falls, Virgen del
Socorro canyon, Volcan Barva (some). One place that is a "must-see" but not in
book is La Mirador Restaurant, on right about 2 km after the falls. The owner
has hummingbird and fruit feeders, we had 12 spp. of hummer at a meter's
distance, including Violet Sabrewing. Green Thorntail is frequent here.
La Selva environs -- we didn't go to the research station as it was raining
torrentially, but birded a near-by forest reserve. Wet, but we got some good
birds.
Volcan Arenal -- for the volcanic spectacular -- stay at the Smithsonian
Arenal Observatory Lodge -- good birds which bridge Pacific and Caribbean
faunas. Umbrellabird is seen here sometimes, by the waterfall, but not by
us.
Guanacaste (dry forest) at various sites including Rancho Humo, a ranch cum
lodge bordering Selva Verde wetlands, where we had Jabiru. In winter a lot of
highland species such as Bellbird are in the dry lowlands.
Cerro de la Muerte for paramo and highland Pacific species -- we stayed one
night at Tapanti Lodge for access to paramo and the wonderful walk up into
cloud forest at km 63 (in book). Two nights then at Finca Chacon where
Quetzals are in the garden. Btw, the quetzals are not at Monteverde in January.
Carara Reserve -- where we had one of the single best day's birding of our
lives, an experience enchoed by several folks we have met since, including
old Peru hands (typical, "Peru is wonderful but the BEST day I ever had was
at Carara in Costa Rica") -- the action never stopped from dawn to dusk.
We rented a car through American car rental agency, a new Toyoto Tercel,
and arranged the lodging thru Armas Hill (FONT), although now with the
INternet you could probably do much of this on line.
Have a great trip!
Gail Mackiernan
Silver Spring, MD
gail@umdd.umd.edu