Birding in Costa Rica - Part 9

13 January, 2025

Selva Mar- Limón - Bijagua - Caño Negro

     We had enjoyed our stay at Selva Mar, but it was time to move on.

     We set off in high spirits ready for new adventures. 

     A stop at Limon for washrooms and coffee was very pleasant and Miriam and I enjoyed a cappuccino and split a chocolate croissant.

     Many large trees surrounded the restaurant, and Mantled Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata) were a marquis attraction for the many tourist buses pausing their journey here.

     Lest anyone doubt the gender of this fine fellow, I am ready to offer Simian Anatomy 101 at a very reasonable cost.

     Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) is a charismatic bird; much better in real life, I assure you, than on the shoulder of a pirate in a Hollywood flick.

     Inter-species pairings are evidently attractive to flirtatious males and females, as this hybrid shows.

     Obedient to a fault, we did not feed the animals.

     Here is a Calabash Tree (genus Crescentia).

     We were excited to find a male Spot-breasted Oriole (Icterus pectoralis) at this location, our only sighting of the trip. 

     Perhaps he knew how special he was and in consequence perched for us splendidly. 

     This elegant plant, known curiously as a Stickpea, takes its place in the genus Calliandra.

      Clockvines (genus Thunbergia) are not native to Central America, but so many plants have been introduced from other parts of the world the line between native and non-native seems to be blurring.

     The rhythmic, chortling song of Rufous-backed Wrens (Campylerhynchus capistratus) alerted us to their presence.

     We motored on and stopped for lunch at a lovely restaurant out in the country, overlooking extensive  grassland.

       It was a great spot to scan while waiting for our food to be prepared.

      Western Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis), in affirmation of their name, were very adept at snapping up insects disturbed by the bovines.

     One of the prize sightings was an Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), not a rarity at home in Ontario, but it was the first time I had seen one in Costa Rica.

     Tania kept a watchful eye on everything before her.

     After a tasty lunch we left for the euphemistically named Bird Songs Garden in Bijagua, and this turned out to be a memorable stop. There was so much to see, so much to enjoy, so much to learn.

     A White-tipped Cycadian (Eumaeus godarti) was part of the welcome committee that day.

     Heliconias (genus Heliconia) are magnets for several species of hummingbird, quite apart from being very pleasing to the human eye.

     I think this caterpillar is that of a species of Tiger Moth (tribe Arctiini), but if someone is able to identify it with certainty I'd be happy to know. (Thanks to Traude (see below), this is Dysschema jansonis. Thank you, Traude.

     We were able to examine Yellow-throated Euphonia (Euphonia hirundinacea) close at hand, and with ease. It was such a pleasure.

     Clay-coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi) was probably ignored most of the time; the sort of wallflower at the dance, so to speak.

     Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzactl) was ubiquitous.

     I have to apologize once again for my lack of familiarity with Central American lepidoptera. This handsome specimen is in the subtribe Eudamina, a subfamily of Skippers (Hesperidae), but I am unable to get more specific than that.

      Our thoroughly engaging host, Enrique, made sure that we enjoyed all that his gardens had to offer.

     He was a very talented fellow and produced, among other items, water bottles featuring his designs, all supremely attractive, and well executed. Miriam bought the bottle he is holding in this picture.

     In addition to the water bottles he showed us photographs on his phone of masks he had made for traditional Costa Rican festivals - and many other items. 

     Getting to meet him and chat at some length was a highlight for me.

     I don't think I have words in my vocabulary to adequately describe Yellow-throated Toucan (Rhamphastos ambiguus). I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

     I'd be willing to bet that at least some of you are now saying, "Gotta go to Costa Rica!"

     And you should. Friendly people, exceptional wildlife, great accommodation, good infrastructure, tasty food - all you could wish for.

     I assure you that I am not being paid in any way to shill for Costa Rica! My feelings come from the heart after four visits.

     There were several vantage points from which to observe the birds.

     A Rufous-tailed Hummingbird obviously knew where it was supposed to be.

     A Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetti) pleased us to no end by hitching up a tree in front of us.

     This plant is a type of Porterweed (genus Stachytarpheta).

     We still had quite a way to travel to Caño Negro; time for a quick snooze on the bus.

     We made a brief stop along the road, to stretch our legs - and do a little birding, of course.

     Not a great shot, but this is an Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius).

     

     The highlight for me was the presence of several juvenile Blue-black Grassquits (Volatinia jacarina), flitting all around us and from time to time affording excellent views.

     We pressed on, and the driving was slow, but right around dinner time we arrived at our base for the next couple of days.

     The rooms were comfortable and we settled in.

     We took dinner at a nearby outdoor restaurant; very enjoyable with good food.

     The end of another great day in Costa Rica.

Letters from Pakistan - Additional Information

 

      Many of you will no doubt recall that I recently reviewed the above book here.

     The earlier post would have been more complete had I included information about how to obtain the book.

     Dr de Scally took a conscious decision to eschew the normal route of selling on Amazon as a means to support Canadian booksellers, even though this makes distribution more difficult. Perhaps there are those among you who are also avoiding Amazon as a protest against restrictions on editorial independence.

     The book is available at locally-owned bookshops in mountain communities in British Columbia (Armchair Books in Whistler; Fable Book Parlour in Revelstoke, and Four Point Books in Golden and Invermere). It may also be ordered from the author by emailing lettersfrompakistan@gmail.com.

     The book price is CAD30.00. Shipping within Canada is CAD19.30, but up to three books can be shipped without an increase in postage. For mailing outside Canada send an email with your full address and request a quote. Payment is by domestic or international e-transfer.

    Given the current rate of exchange the prices for American buyers is USD21.00 for the book, so there is an added incentive to buy!

     It is a fine book, very suitable as a gift, and a way to support Canada. And you don't have to be Canadian to do that!

More Hints of Spring

14 March 2025

     As the snow receded at home Snowdrops (family Amarycillidae) were visible and brought us great joy. We couldn't resist bringing a few into the house, where they remained vibrant for a surprisingly long time.

     We didn't plant these flowers so how they got there is a bit of a mystery, but we are glad that they did.

     They are exquisite, don't you think?

Hillside Park

     A female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) hitched up a tree; earlier she had been jousting with another female, so hormones are firing them up.

     A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) were hanging out together.

     Soon the female will construct a nest, lay eggs and begin incubation.

     At that point she will cease to receive attention or cooperation from the male and will go on to raise her brood independently.

     Some humans are even like that!

     White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) may now be heard singing its distinctive song, generally represented anthropomorphically as "Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada" - and that seems especially endearing at present.

     Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is ubiquitous and much loved, and the males are now serenading females with their seductive "feebeee" invitation to cohabit for the season.

     A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) sailed overhead, momentarily harassed by crows. Raptors too are pairing off in anticipation of the breeding season ahead.

17 March, 2025

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) are now abundant, migrants having joined resident birds.

     There was flooding on the path and the creeks were swollen, so our walk there was curtailed somewhat.

     One might be forgiven for thinking that this Rock Dove (Columba livia) was a weather vane.

     As always, the yellow exclamation point of a Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) was one of the first to herald spring's arrival.

     The infructescences of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) have nothing to do with spring, but are always delightful.

     An American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) digging in the soft ground was doubtless rewarded with many juicy grubs.

19 March, 2025

Benjamin Park, Waterloo, ON

     Flies (order Diptera) are already out. 

     Downy Woodpeckers appeared hyper-active and this female flitted from tree to tree, sometimes barely pausing for a moment.

     Upside down works too!

     I don't have a count on the number of American Crows I saw, but there were readily thirty. 

     A few seemed to be engaged in courtship behaviour, but mostly they hung out together in small groups.

     Black birds are not the easiest to photograph, and I didn't have Miriam with me to weave her magic.

     Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) were exceptionally active; usually seen on the ground, today they favoured perches on trees and shrubs.

     It's hard not to conclude that Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) were not simply enjoying one of the first warm days of spring.

     At times they seemed like children playing tag.

     I pointed  this male Downy Woodpecker in the direction of the females, but I don't think he followed my advice. 

     Perhaps he had another beauty in his sights.

Spring is here! Enjoy!