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Red-throated Bee-eater

Red-throated Bee-eater
join us for a fantastic tour of The Gambia this November

Monday, February 17, 2014

COSTA RICA - DAY 9 - FEBRUARY 16TH 2014


TAPANTI EARLY MORNING THEN TRANSFER TO SAVERGE WITH A STOP AT PARAISO del QUETZAL

A brilliant day full of exciting finds with many endemic species added to our list. It was a full-on action packed day today with dull overcast conditions to start and to finish with and bright sunshine in the middle.

The early morning walk was taken along the track above the lodge, we drove 2km uphill reaching 2700 meters elevation and then began the descent on foot. We started in the clouds so the light was really bad when we found our first new bird of the day. A pair of Orange-bellied Trogon sat on the wires near a street lamp, they were catching moths and gave continuous calls which was the only way we could separate them from the Collared Trogon in the poor light.


The exquisite Golden-browed Chlorophonia


At times the cloud lifted and it did turn brighter and as it did so, so the birds came out. We had a nice spell when we tracked down a Rufous-browed Peppershrike, what a great bird species to locate and one that is not easy anywhere. Next we heard a Golden-browed Chlorophonia but could not see it in the gloom but a pair of Elegant Euphonias were nice and again they were not easy to track down.
Band-backed Wren
 

A Yellowish Warbler came next and then an unexpected Band-backed Wren put in an appearance, this species is out of range here. After chasing and searching for a view of the Elegant Euphonia earlier on the walk we now found a male sitting out in the open singing his little heart out. Then just around the next bend we bumped into a small flock of Golden-browed Euphonias and got some outstanding views of this exquisitely coloured little gem.

Well that walk set us up for the day, so after scrambled eggs, toast and wonderful coffee we set off in the bus to our next destination, the Savegre hotel.

We stopped after 3 hours to take a light lunch which was over in 30 minutes and soon we arrived at the Paraiso del Quetzal Lodge where we hoped to see the most wanted species of all the Resplendent Quezal.

After collecting a local guide from the Lodge we drove a short distance and then turned onto a side track and quickly parked up. We followed the track on a steep downhill course, it was very windy on the way down but we managed to see a few species including Common Bush-Finch, Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager and a newly fledged Green Voiletear.

At the bottom of the hill the guide led us to a fruiting avocado tree where we found a superb male Resplendent Quetzal, our most wanted species was now in the bag. We had great views of it perched and in flight what a stunner.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE A FEW PICS OF THE QUETZA
 
 

We crawled our way back up the 1km hill (remember we were at 8000ft so the air was a little thinner so some of us struggled) and got back onto the bus. The short drive back gave us time to recuperate before another walk was taken. We birded the track to the Paraiso del Quetzal Lodge and new species came thick and fast. Black-billed Nightingale-thrush was first on the list, then Yellow-thighed Finch, Mountain Elaina, Black-capped Flycatcher, Sooty Thrush and lots more.
SOOTY THRUSH


At the lodge the group split into two, some went on a further walk whilst others stayed at the lodge. More birds were added from both groups; Wrenthrush is a little beauty and well applauded by the group for showing so well, Timberline Wren, another sought after bird also showed well, we also saw both the Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher and the Black & Yellow Silky-Flycatchers as well as a lot of ‘good’  high altitude species.

Back atthe lodge we spent some time on the excellent veranda watching the hummer feeders where we had great views of a number of hummingbirds including Volcano, Magnificent, Fiery-throated, Green Violetear and Purple-throated Mountain-gem.
 
                                                            BLACK-CAPPED FLYCATCHER

Other birds seen around the lodge not already mentioned were: Large-footed Finch, Black-cheeked Warbler, Collared Redstart, Band-tailed Pigeon and close views were had of Mountain Thrush.

At 5pm we had to make a move to our next venue which was the Savegre Hotel some 45 minutes away. We still added a couple species as we drove there, Acorn Woodpecker, Sulphur-winged Parakeet and Red-tailed Hawk.
                                                    THE ENDEMIC - VOLCANO HUMMINGBIRD

Well what a day, we added 25 species to our list which now stood at 305 and we are only just passed half-way.

We arrived at Savegre which just enough time to settle in and then later we enjoyed a super dinner and a nice cold beer.

 

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