Sites visited

1. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 17-19th January, 2005

The Monteverde area was accessed from the town of Santa Elena where there was a good choice of cheap accomodation. I visited 3 different sites spending a day birding in each. The Monteverde Reserve was 6km from Santa Elena and reached by bus leaving at 6:15. The Santa Elena Reserve was about 5km from Santa Elena town in the other direction from Monteverde. There was also a bus leaving at about 6:45. The last day was spent at the Bajo Del Tigre trail which was 3km from town towards the Monteverde Reserve to which I walked. The Bajo del Tigre trail was at lower elevation and had very different species from the other 2. Monteverde and Santa Elena Reserves had good forest at similar elevations but I saw a few species in each reserve that I didn't see at the other. Several species were seen walking to or from the reserves. The weather was very windy and rainy on all days and really affected the birding. I saw only 1 of my target species, the Black Guan, at the Santa Elena Reserve. I saw 77 species including 22 lifers

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Broad-winged Hawk ?	Buteo platypterus
Black Guan	Chamaepetes unicolor	Near-threatened
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica	Seen in Liberia
Buff-fronted Quail-Dove	Geotrygon costaricensis
White-fronted Parrot ?	Amazona albifrons
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Bare-shanked Screech-Owl	Megascops clarkii
Green Hermit	Phaethornis guy
Violet Sabrewing	Campylopterus hemileucurus
Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus
Fiery-throated Hummingbird	Panterpe insignis
Coppery-headed Emerald	Elvira cupreiceps	Endemic
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird	Eupherusa eximia
Purple-throated Mountain-gem	Lampornis calolaema
Green-crowned Brilliant	Heliodoxa jacula
Magenta-throated Woodstar	Calliphlox bryantae
Orange-bellied Trogon ?	Trogon aurantiiventris
Blue-crowned Motmot	Momotus momota
Prong-billed Barbet	Semnornis frantzii
Blue-throated Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis
Smoky-brown Woodpecker	Veniliornis fumigatus
Spotted Barbtail	Premnoplex brunnescens
Ruddy Treerunner	Margarornis rubiginosus
Spotted Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
Slaty Antwren	Myrmotherula schisticolor
Long-tailed Manakin	Chiroxiphia linearis
Mountain Elaenia	Elaenia frantzii
Olive-striped Flycatcher	Mionectes olivaceus
Rufous-browed Tyrannulet ?	Phylloscartes superciliaris
Yellow-olive Flycatcher	Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Yellowish Flycatcher	Empidonax flavescens
Bright-rumped Attila	Attila spadiceus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher	Phainoptila melanoxantha
Black-throated Wren ?	Thryothorus atrogularis
Rufous-and-white Wren ?	Thryothorus rufalbus
Ochraceous Wren ?	Troglodytes ochraceus
White-breasted Wood-Wren ?	Henicorhina leucosticta
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Black-faced Solitaire	Myadestes melanops
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus aurantiirostris
Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus fuscater
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush ?	Catharus frantzii
Mountain Robin	Turdus plebejus
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Lesser Greenlet	Hylophilus decurtatus
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Collared Redstart	Myioborus torquatus
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Three-striped Warbler	Basileuterus tristriatus
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus pileatus
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Silver-throated Tanager	Tangara icterocephala
Spangle-cheeked Tanager	Tangara dowii
Blue Seedeater ?	Amaurospiza concolor
Yellow-faced Grassquit	Tiaris olivacea
Yellow-thighed Finch	Pselliophorus tibialis
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	Buarremon brunneinucha
White-eared Ground-Sparrow	Melozone leucotis
Rufous-collared Sparrow	Zonotrichia capensis
Buff-throated Saltator	Saltator maximus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus

2. Monte Sky Reserve & Tapanti National Park 21st-22nd & 30-31st January, 2005

These 2 reserves were reached from the town of Orosi where there were several places to stay. I stayed at a cheap hostal called Montana Linda (Dorm $6.50). Orosi is within easy reach of San Jose. First take a bus to Cartago from the Sacsa terminal in the South of the San Jose which take just 45 minutes and leave often. The bus from Cartago to Orosi leaves every half hour and also takes 45 minutes. I stayed in Orosi twice. On my first visit, the Tapanti National Park had been cut off by a land slide so I visited the nearby Monte Sky reserve. The road had been cleared by my second visit. Monte Sky was up a steep gravel road through coffee plantations about half way to Tapanti. It was a right turning and well signed. Tapanti is 12km from town. There is no public transport but some buses go as far as Purisil (just after Monte Sky). It is easy to hitch a ride with friendly locals the rest of the way. Otherwise a taxi can be hired in Orosi (about 2000 colons per person in a group) all the way to Tapanti. Arrange a time to be picked up with the taxi driver. Many birds can be seen in the coffee plantations between Orosi and the reserves. From the turning to Monte Sky it is a long walk up a steep hill. This has good birding as does the reserve. Tapanti has several trails and a long central road. Black Guan was seen at Monte Sky but Blue-and-gold Tanager and Red-fronted Parrotlet were not seen at Tapanti. I saw 121 species including 24 lifers

Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Sharp-shinned Hawk ?	Accipiter striatus
Bicolored Hawk	Accipiter bicolor
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus
Black Guan	Chamaepetes unicolor	Near-threatened
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Crimson-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga finschi
Sulphur-winged Parakeet	Pyrrhura hoffmanni
White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
White-tipped Sicklebill	Eutoxeres aquila
Green Hermit	Phaethornis guy
Little Hermit	Phaethornis
Violet Sabrewing	Campylopterus hemileucurus
Green-breasted Mango	Anthracothorax prevostii
Green Thorntail	Discosura conversii
Stripe-tailed Hummingbird	Eupherusa eximia
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
White-bellied Mountain-gem	Lampornis hemileucus
Purple-throated Mountain-gem	Lampornis calolaema
Collared Trogon	Trogon collaris
Red-headed Barbet	Eubucco bourcierii
Prong-billed Barbet	Semnornis frantzii
Blue-throated Toucanet	Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis
Red-faced Spinetail	Cranioleuca erythrops
Spotted Barbtail	Premnoplex brunnescens
Ruddy Treerunner	Margarornis rubiginosus
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner	Anabacerthia variegaticeps
Lineated Foliage-gleaner	Syndactyla subalaris
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper	Glyphorynchus spirurus
Spotted Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
Streak-headed Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
Brown-billed Scythebill	Campylorhamphus pusillus
Slaty Antwren	Myrmotherula schisticolor
Lesser Elaenia	Elaenia chiriquensis
Mountain Elaenia	Elaenia frantzii
Torrent Tyrannulet	Serpophaga cinerea
Olive-striped Flycatcher	Mionectes olivaceus
Paltry Tyrannulet	Zimmerius vilissimus
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant	Lophotriccus pileatus
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Todirostrum cinereum
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Dark Pewee	Contopus lugubris	Endemic
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris
Yellowish Flycatcher	Empidonax flavescens
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Golden-bellied Flycatcher	Myiodynastes hemichrysus
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Blue-and-white Swallow	Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher	Phainoptila melanoxantha
American Dipper	Cinclus mexicanus
Plain Wren	Thryothorus modestus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Ochraceous Wren	Troglodytes ochraceus
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Black-faced Solitaire	Myadestes melanops
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus aurantiirostris
Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus fuscater
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus
Mountain Robin	Turdus plebejus
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Tropical Gnatcatcher	Polioptila plumbea
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
Azure-hooded Jay h	Cyanolyca cucullata
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Brown-capped Vireo	Vireo leucophrys
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Tropical Parula	Parula pitiayumi
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Yellow-throated Warbler	Dendroica dominica
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Collared Redstart	Myioborus torquatus
Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
Three-striped Warbler	Basileuterus tristriatus
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
White-shouldered Tanager	Tachyphonus luctuosus
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Elegant Euphonia	Euphonia elegantissima
Tawny-capped Euphonia	Euphonia anneae
Golden-browed Chlorophonia	Chlorophonia callophrys
Silver-throated Tanager	Tangara icterocephala
Rufous-winged Tanager ??	Tangara lavinia
Spangle-cheeked Tanager	Tangara dowii
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
Yellow-faced Grassquit	Tiaris olivacea
Sooty-faced Finch	Lysurus crassirostris
Yellow-thighed Finch	Pselliophorus tibialis
White-naped Brush-Finch	Atlapetes albinucha
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	Buarremon brunneinucha
White-eared Ground-Sparrow	Melozone leucotis
Rufous-collared Sparrow	Zonotrichia capensis
Grayish Saltator	Saltator coerulescens
Buff-throated Saltator	Saltator maximus
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives	Rare/Accidental
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Chestnut-headed Oropendola	Psarocolius wagleri
Montezuma Oropendola	Gymnostinops montezuma
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

3. Carara National Park 25th-28th January, 2005

The Carara National Park was accessed from the town of Tarcoles which can be reached in about 2 and a half hours from San Jose on regular buses towards the beach town of Jaco. Tarcoles has several places to stay. I stayed at the Restaurant Hotel Carara ($20 for a double) which is a 10 minute walk from where the bus drops you (towards playa Azul). Scarlet Macaws could be easily seen feeding in trees near the hotel during the day. The park headquarters were about 2km back along the highway. There are some trails through good forest from the Headquarters but better is the Sendero Laguna a further 2km towards the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles. This has a wide trail through secondary and primary forest and also passes a lake which has many water birds. Entrance tickets ($6 for foreigners) are sold from 7am but it seems possible to buy a ticket the day before and go along the lake trail earlier. I also birded along the beach to the river estuary which had several wading bird species and I also checked mangroves near Tarcoles for possible Mangrove Hummingbird and Yellow-billed Cotinga. Some mangroves are easily accessible. From the Hotel Carara take the road towards Playa Azul for just a few hundred metres and turn left at a sign which reads 'Paseo de la Laguna'. This comes to a dead end but before that on the left is a small wooden bridge over a creek with some mangroves. Neither species were seen here although Mangrove Warlber was. A female Yellow-billed Cotinga was seen just before bridge over the Rio Tarcoles perched in a tree by the road. It then flew down into trees by the river. Three-wattled Bellbird was heard along the Sendero Laguna but Baird's Trogon and Mangrove Hummingbird were not seen. Apparently good mangroves occur upstream of the bridge over the Rio Tarcoles where Mangrove Hummingbird may occur and one of the tour companies running crocodile viewing trips may be persuaded to take people up there. I saw 153 species including 35 lifers

Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea
Boat-billed Heron	Cochlearius cochlearius
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron	Tigrisoma mexicanum
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis
Muscovy Duck	Cairina moschata
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Crane Hawk	Geranospiza caerulescens
Gray Hawk	Asturina nitida
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
Yellow-headed Caracara	Milvago chimachima
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinica
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Wilson's Plover	Charadrius wilsonia
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Gull-billed Tern ?	Sterna nilotica
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
Short-billed Pigeon h	Patagioenas nigrirostris
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Violaceous Quail-Dove	Geotrygon violacea
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana
Scarlet Macaw	Ara macao
Crimson-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga finschi
Orange-chinned Parakeet	Brotogeris jugularis
White-fronted Parrot	Amazona albifrons
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris
Lesser Nighthawk	Chordeiles acutipennis
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Band-tailed Barbthroat	Threnetes ruckeri
Little Hermit	Phaethornis
Western Long-tailed Hermit	Phaethornis longirostris
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird	Phaeochroa cuvierii
Violet Sabrewing	Campylopterus hemileucurus
Green-breasted Mango	Anthracothorax prevostii
Blue-throated Goldentail	Hylocharis eliciae
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Steely-vented Hummingbird	Saucerottia saucerrottei
Black-headed Trogon	Trogon melanocephalus
Slaty-tailed Trogon	Trogon massena
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata
Amazon Kingfisher	Chloroceryle amazona
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
Turquoise-browed Motmot	Eumomota superciliosa
Rufous-tailed Jacamar	Galbula ruficauda
White-whiskered Puffbird	Malacoptila panamensis
Golden-naped Woodpecker	Melanerpes chrysauchen
Hoffmann's Woodpecker	Melanerpes hoffmannii
Pale-billed Woodpecker	Campephilus guatemalensis
Plain Xenops	Xenops minutus
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper	Dendrocincla anabatina
Long-tailed Woodcreeper	Deconychura longicauda
Olivaceous Woodcreeper	Sittasomus griseicapillus
Streak-headed Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
Barred Antshrike	Thamnophilus doliatus
Black-hooded Antshrike	Thamnophilus bridgesi
Dot-winged Antwren	Microrhopias quixensis
Chestnut-backed Antbird	Myrmeciza exsul
Yellow-billed Cotinga	Carpodectes antoniae	Endangered
Three-wattled Bellbird h	Procnias tricarunculata	Vulnerable
Orange-collared Manakin	Manacus aurantiacus
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
Yellow-bellied Elaenia	Elaenia flavogaster
Northern Bentbill	Oncostoma cinereigulare
Slate-headed Tody-Tyrant ?	Poecilotriccus sylvia
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Todirostrum cinereum
Yellow-olive Flycatcher	Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Yellow-margined Flycatcher ?	Tolmomyias assimilis
Least Flycatcher ?	Empidonax minimus	Rare/Accidental
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Streaked Flycatcher	Myiodynastes maculatus
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus
Black-crowned Tityra	Tityra inquisitor
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea
Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Rufous-naped Wren	Campylorhynchus rufinucha
Black-bellied Wren	Thryothorus fasciatoventris
Rufous-breasted Wren	Thryothorus rutilus
Riverside Wren	Thryothorus semibadius
Rufous-and-white Wren	Thryothorus rufalbus
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Tropical Gnatcatcher ?	Polioptila plumbea
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Lesser Greenlet	Hylophilus decurtatus
Rufous-browed Peppershrike	Cyclarhis gujanensis
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Prothonotary Warbler	Protonotaria citrea
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
Kentucky Warbler	Oporornis formosus
White-shouldered Tanager	Tachyphonus luctuosus
White-lined Tanager	Tachyphonus rufus
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Palm Tanager	Thraupis palmarum
Yellow-crowned Euphonia	Euphonia luteicapilla
Bay-headed Tanager	Tangara gyrola
Golden-hooded Tanager	Tangara larvata
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
Stripe-headed Sparrow	Aimophila ruficauda
Grayish Saltator ?	Saltator coerulescens
Buff-throated Saltator	Saltator maximus
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea
Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris
Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives	Rare/Accidental
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius

4. Braulio Carillo National Park (Quebrada Gonzalez Sector) 3rd-5th February, 2005

The Quebrada Gonzalez sector of the Braulio Carrillo National Park was reached in 45 minutes by bus from San Jose leaving the Caribe Terminal. Buses leave every half hour with the first at 5:30am. The park opens at 8am but I found out on the first day that walking the trails before this and buying your ticket ($6) later is accepted. The reserve has good low to mid-elevation forest and a good range of foothill species but the quality of birding depends very much on the weather. My first day was bright sunshine and third, very rainy and few birds were seen. The second day was overcast but dry and the birding was excellent. There are trails on both sides of the road. The trail on the same side as the buildings is higher up and this is where I saw Bare-necked Umbrellabird on the first day at the site marker number 10. Accross the road, a longer series of trails runs along the valley and down to the banks of the Rio Sucio. This trail has a couple of miradors (viewpoints) from where Bat Falcon was seen. There also were a good place to view mixed flocks of tanagers as they passed along the valley. In 3 days I failed to see my target species, the Blue-and-gold Tanager. I saw 58 species including 20 lifers

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Bat Falcon	Falco rufigularis
Crested Guan h	Penelope purpurascens
Gray-chested Dove	Leptotila cassini
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Green Hermit	Phaethornis guy
Little Hermit	Phaethornis
Violet-crowned Woodnymph	Thalurania colombica
Purple-crowned Fairy	Heliothryx barroti
Collared Trogon	Trogon collaris
Rufous Motmot	Baryphthengus martii
Broad-billed Motmot	Electron platyrhynchum
White-whiskered Puffbird	Malacoptila panamensis
Keel-billed Toucan	Ramphastos sulfuratus
Black-mandibled Toucan	Ramphastos ambiguus
Black-cheeked Woodpecker	Melanerpes pucherani
Spotted Barbtail	Premnoplex brunnescens
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner	Automolus ochrolaemus
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper	Glyphorynchus spirurus
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper	Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
Chestnut-backed Antbird ?	Myrmeciza exsul
Bicolored Antbird	Gymnopithys leucaspis
Spotted Antbird	Hylophylax naevioides
Bare-necked Umbrellabird	Cephalopterus glabricollis	Vulnerable
White-collared Manakin	Manacus candei
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant	Lophotriccus pileatus
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Todirostrum cinereum
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher	Myiobius sulphureipygius
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia
Bay Wren	Thryothorus nigricapillus
Stripe-breasted Wren	Thryothorus thoracicus
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta
Nightingale Wren	Microcerculus philomela
Pale-vented Thrush	Turdus obsoletus
Clay-colored Robin ?	Turdus grayi
Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
Lesser Greenlet	Hylophilus decurtatus
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Buff-rumped Warbler	Basileuterus fulvicauda
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Black-and-yellow Tanager	Chrysothlypis chrysomelaena
Dusky-faced Tanager	Mitrospingus cassinii
Olive Tanager	Chlorothraupis carmioli
White-shouldered Tanager	Tachyphonus luctuosus
Tawny-crested Tanager	Tachyphonus delatrii
Summer Tanager ?	Piranga rubra
Tawny-capped Euphonia	Euphonia anneae
Golden-browed Chlorophonia ?	Chlorophonia callophrys
Emerald Tanager	Tangara florida
Silver-throated Tanager	Tangara icterocephala
Bay-headed Tanager	Tangara gyrola
Green Honeycreeper	Chlorophanes spiza
Orange-billed Sparrow	Arremon aurantiirostris
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Montezuma Oropendola	Gymnostinops montezuma

5. Cerro de la Muerte (Restaurant Las Georginas) 6th-9th February, 2005

We stayed on Cerro de la Muerte for 3 nights at the Restaurant Las Georginas which also had cheap cabins (about $15 for a double). The restaurant had good, cheap food and 4 species of hummingbird could be seen at the feeders from the window. Las Georginas can be reached in 2 hours by buses heading to San Isidro from the Musoc terminal in San Jose. All the bus drivers know the restaurant and many stop for food there. The staff are very friendly and a good set of trails lead from the cabins where many highland species could be found. The restaurant is just above 3000m and trails lead down as far as a set of cascades at about 2800m. The trail down is called Sendero Los Quetzales and unsurprisingly I saw Resplendent Quetzals, both at the top and the bottom of the trail. Black Guans were also seen at the bottom in the evening. Along the main road about 2km back towards San Jose, I birded a trail heading up towards the peak with paramo habitat. Along the main road about 2km towards San Isidro from Las Georginas was a right turning towards Villa Mills, where there is a school, church and football pitch. This area had a few species not found near Las Georginas. The weather was surprisingly good whilst we were there and we had blue skies everyday. I saw 41 species including 16 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Black Guan	Chamaepetes unicolor	Near-threatened
Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata
Ruddy Pigeon	Patagioenas subvinacea
Dusky Nightjar	Caprimulgus saturatus
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus
Fiery-throated Hummingbird	Panterpe insignis
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
Volcano Hummingbird	Selasphorus flammula
Resplendent Quetzal	Pharomachrus mocinno	Near-threatened
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus
Ruddy Treerunner	Margarornis rubiginosus
Buffy Tuftedcheek	Pseudocolaptes lawrencii
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis
Mountain Elaenia	Elaenia frantzii
Black-capped Flycatcher	Empidonax atriceps
Barred Becard	Pachyramphus versicolor
Blue-and-white Swallow	Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher	Phainoptila melanoxantha
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys caudatus
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus gracilirostris
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus frantzii
Sooty Robin	Turdus nigrescens
Mountain Robin	Turdus plebejus
Silvery-throated Jay ?	Cyanolyca argentigula
Yellow-winged Vireo	Vireo carmioli
Flame-throated Warbler	Parula gutturalis
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Collared Redstart	Myioborus torquatus
Black-cheeked Warbler	Basileuterus melanogenys
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus pileatus
Slaty Flowerpiercer	Diglossa plumbea
Yellow-thighed Finch	Pselliophorus tibialis
Large-footed Finch	Pezopetes capitalis
Rufous-collared Sparrow	Zonotrichia capensis
Volcano Junco	Junco vulcani
Yellow-billed Cacique	Amblycercus holosericeus

6. Dominical 9-11th February, 2005

Dominical is a very small beach town known best for surfing. We stayed here for 2 nights mainly as a break from birding. Cheap, basic accomodation is available at Cabinas Coco (about $11 for a double). Dominical can be reached by an hour and a half bus ride from San Isidro. It is nothing special as a birding spot but did have a few shore birds around the estuary and a few birds not seen at other sites. I saw 39 species.

Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus

7. Golfito area 12-14th February, 2005

Golfito is a fairly small harbour town on the Golfo Dulce. We stayed here for 3 nights at Hotel Delfinas (about $11 for a double) but it was fairly run down. The Hotel Golfito nearby at the same price would probably be a better bet. Golfito can be reached by a 4 hour bus ride from San Isidro. I birded an area about 10km away from Golfito next to a supposed small village called Las Gambas. The road to las Gambas starts from the Zona Libre or duty free area which is about 3km from the centre of town and is reached by regular buses. From here there is no public transport and traffic is light. However hitching is quite easy and any car passing is likely to stop. There is a sign at a left turning for Esquinas Rainforest Lodge. This expensive lodge has trails through good forest. The staff are friendly and don't charge admission. It was midday when we arrived so birding was slow. We did however see Baird's Trogon which appeared to be quite common at the forest edge. The following day we birded a place called Tropenstation (before Esquinas) which had a 5 dollar entrance fee. It also had some trails though forest where I saw Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager. On the last morning I checked mangroves accross from the new courthouse between Golfito and Zona Libre. I had met some other birdwatchers previously that had seen Mangrove Hummingbird here although I did not find it. I saw 109 species including 19 lifers.

Great Tinamou h	Tinamus major
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
Yellow-headed Caracara	Milvago chimachima
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Pale-vented Pigeon	Patagioenas cayennensis
Short-billed Pigeon h	Patagioenas nigrirostris
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Inca Dove	Columbina inca
Blue Ground-Dove	Claravis pretiosa
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Gray-headed Dove ?	Leptotila plumbeiceps
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana
Crimson-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga finschi
Olive-throated Parakeet	Aratinga nana
Orange-chinned Parakeet	Brotogeris jugularis
White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis
Mealy Parrot	Amazona farinosa
Smooth-billed Ani	Crotophaga ani
Band-tailed Barbthroat	Threnetes ruckeri
Little Hermit	Phaethornis
Western Long-tailed Hermit	Phaethornis longirostris
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Charming Hummingbird	Polyerata decora
Purple-crowned Fairy	Heliothryx barroti
Baird's Trogon	Trogon bairdii	Near-threatened
Violaceous Trogon	Trogon violaceus
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
Black-mandibled Toucan	Ramphastos ambiguus
Olivaceous Piculet	Picumnus olivaceus
Black-cheeked Woodpecker	Melanerpes pucherani
Red-crowned Woodpecker	Melanerpes rubricapillus
Rufous-winged Woodpecker	Piculus simplex
Black-hooded Antshrike	Thamnophilus bridgesi
Orange-collared Manakin	Manacus aurantiacus
Yellow Tyrannulet	Capsiempis flaveola
Yellow-bellied Elaenia	Elaenia flavogaster
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher	Mionectes oleagineus
Paltry Tyrannulet	Zimmerius vilissimus
Northern Bentbill	Oncostoma cinereigulare
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Todirostrum cinereum
Northern Royal-Flycatcher	Onychorhynchus mexicanus
Rufous Mourner	Rhytipterna holerythra
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Gray-capped Flycatcher	Myiozetetes granadensis
Piratic Flycatcher	Legatus leucophaius
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
Black-crowned Tityra	Tityra inquisitor
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea
Southern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Black-bellied Wren	Thryothorus fasciatoventris
Riverside Wren	Thryothorus semibadius
Rufous-and-white Wren	Thryothorus rufalbus
Plain Wren	Thryothorus modestus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Prothonotary Warbler	Protonotaria citrea
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager	Habia atrimaxillaris	Endemic Endangered
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Crimson-collared Tanager	Ramphocelus sanguinolentus
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Spot-crowned Euphonia ?	Euphonia imitans
Bay-headed Tanager	Tangara gyrola
Golden-hooded Tanager	Tangara larvata
Green Honeycreeper	Chlorophanes spiza
Shining Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes lucidus
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina
Slate-colored Seedeater	Sporophila schistacea
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
Thick-billed Seed-Finch	Oryzoborus funereus
Orange-billed Sparrow	Arremon aurantiirostris
Black-striped Sparrow	Arremonops conirostris
Buff-throated Saltator	Saltator maximus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
Giant Cowbird	Molothrus oryzivorus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Scarlet-rumped Cacique	Cacicus uropygialis
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Introduced species

8. Corcovado National Park 15-18th February, 2005

The Corcovado National Park is a phenomenal place. It is accessed from the town of Puerto Jimenez which is the best place to plan and buy supplies for the trip. All reservations for the park must be made at the office. They are very helpful and can suggest itineraries. Entry to the park is $8 per day and camping an extra $4 per day. A special 5 day pass is available for $17. Rustic accomodation is only available at Sirena. Flights or water taxis to the Sirena ranger station are available but are expensive. We took a communal taxi to Carate which left at 6am. This is organised by Tonsa travel and leaves from outside a Soda (cafeteria) in town. Tonsa also rents camping equipment. From Carate it is a 3.5km walk along the beach to the La Leona ranger station where entry and camping fees can be paid. From here it is a further 16km to the Sirena ranger station partly through forest and partly along beaches. This is a very tough (8-9 hour) hike especially with food and camping equipment. Some parts are impassable at high tide so tide charts must be checked before leaving (available at the national park office in Puerto Jimenez). We stayed 2 nights at Sirena which has many trails through forest and is good for birdwatching (Great Currasows are common) and even better for mammals. Tapirs can be seen in the nearby river at dusk. We saw anteaters, coatis, peccaries, agoutis and 4 species of monkeys. After the second night we hiked a further 20km (8-9 hours) to the Los Patos ranger station. On this hike, we saw many Three-wattled Bellbirds and Black-cheeked Ant-Tanagers. From Los Patos it is a further 13km to La Palma from where buses run back to Puerto Jimenez. I saw 132 species including 18 lifers.

Great Tinamou	Tinamus major
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
Great Egret	Ardea alba
Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor	Seen in Purto Jimenez
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
Boat-billed Heron	Cochlearius cochlearius
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron	Tigrisoma mexicanum
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus
Double-toothed Kite ?	Harpagus bidentatus
Crane Hawk	Geranospiza caerulescens
White Hawk	Leucopternis albicollis
Mangrove Black-Hawk	Buteogallus subtilis
Great Black-Hawk ?	Buteogallus urubitinga
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
Yellow-headed Caracara	Milvago chimachima
Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens
Great Curassow	Crax rubra	Near-threatened
Marbled Wood-Quail	Odontophorus gujanensis
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Wilson's Plover ?	Charadrius wilsonia
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicensis
Royal Tern	Sterna maxima
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Pale-vented Pigeon	Patagioenas cayennensis
Short-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas nigrirostris
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Blue Ground-Dove h	Claravis pretiosa
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Gray-chested Dove	Leptotila cassini
Ruddy Quail-Dove	Geotrygon montana
Scarlet Macaw	Ara macao
Crimson-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga finschi
Orange-chinned Parakeet	Brotogeris jugularis
Brown-hooded Parrot	Pionopsitta haematotis
White-crowned Parrot ?	Pionus senilis
Mealy Parrot	Amazona farinosa
Smooth-billed Ani	Crotophaga ani
Striped Cuckoo	Tapera naevia
Crested Owl h	Lophostrix cristata
Pauraque	Nyctidromus albicollis
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Gray-rumped Swift	Chaetura cinereiventris
Costa Rican Swift	Chaetura fumosa
Band-tailed Barbthroat	Threnetes ruckeri
Little Hermit	Phaethornis
Western Long-tailed Hermit	Phaethornis longirostris
Blue-throated Goldentail	Hylocharis eliciae
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Charming Hummingbird	Polyerata decora
Long-billed Starthroat	Heliomaster longirostris
Black-throated Trogon	Trogon rufus
Slaty-tailed Trogon	Trogon massena
Belted Kingfisher	Ceryle alcyon
Ringed Kingfisher	Ceryle torquata
Amazon Kingfisher ?	Chloroceryle amazona
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
Blue-crowned Motmot	Momotus momota
White-whiskered Puffbird	Malacoptila panamensis
Fiery-billed Aracari	Pteroglossus frantzii
Keel-billed Toucan	Ramphastos sulfuratus
Black-mandibled Toucan	Ramphastos ambiguus
Golden-naped Woodpecker	Melanerpes chrysauchen
Red-crowned Woodpecker	Melanerpes rubricapillus
Rufous-winged Woodpecker	Piculus simplex
Pale-billed Woodpecker	Campephilus guatemalensis
Plain Xenops	Xenops minutus
Scaly-throated Leaftosser	Sclerurus guatemalensis
Tawny-winged Woodcreeper	Dendrocincla anabatina
Long-tailed Woodcreeper	Deconychura longicauda
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper	Glyphorynchus spirurus
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper	Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
Buff-throated Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus guttatus
Black-striped Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus
Black-hooded Antshrike	Thamnophilus bridgesi
Chestnut-backed Antbird	Myrmeciza exsul
Immaculate Antbird	Myrmeciza immaculata
Scaled Antpitta	Grallaria guatimalensis
Rufous Piha h	Lipaugus unirufus
Three-wattled Bellbird	Procnias tricarunculata	Vulnerable
Blue-crowned Manakin	Pipra coronata
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher	Mionectes oleagineus
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Todirostrum cinereum
Golden-crowned Spadebill	Platyrinchus coronatus
Bright-rumped Attila	Attila spadiceus
Rufous Mourner	Rhytipterna holerythra
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Gray-capped Flycatcher	Myiozetetes granadensis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Thrush-like Schiffornis h?	Schiffornis turdinus
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea
Southern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
Black-bellied Wren	Thryothorus fasciatoventris
Riverside Wren	Thryothorus semibadius
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
White-throated Shrike-Tanager	Lanio leucothorax
Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager	Habia atrimaxillaris	Endemic Endangered
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Golden-hooded Tanager	Tangara larvata
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
Thick-billed Seed-Finch	Oryzoborus funereus
Orange-billed Sparrow	Arremon aurantiirostris
Black-striped Sparrow	Arremonops conirostris
Blue-black Grosbeak	Cyanocompsa cyanoides
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Scarlet-rumped Cacique	Cacicus uropygialis

9. Rincon 19-20th February, 2005

Rincon is fairly easily reached by bus from San Jose or Puerto Jimenez. It is about 1 hour from the latter and 4 buses leave every day (2 early morning, 2 afternoon). The bus passes Cabinas Golfo Dulce which has basic rooms ($20). The manageress can also cook meals on request. The main reason for coming here was to look for the Mangrove Hummingbird which I found next to the mangroves behind the cabins. It is possible to walk/wade along the mangroves depending on the tide. Canoes can also be rented. I didn't see the Yellow-billed Cotinga which is apparently found in the area. I saw 63 species including 2 lifers.

Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
Green Heron	Butorides virescens
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans
White-throated Crake h	Laterallus albigularis
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Wilson's Plover	Charadrius wilsonia
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Western Sandpiper ?	Calidris mauri
Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
Pale-vented Pigeon	Patagioenas cayennensis
Short-billed Pigeon h	Patagioenas nigrirostris
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
Scarlet Macaw	Ara macao
Orange-chinned Parakeet	Brotogeris jugularis
Mealy Parrot	Amazona farinosa
Smooth-billed Ani	Crotophaga ani
Striped Cuckoo h	Tapera naevia
Bronzy Hermit	Glaucis aenea
Band-tailed Barbthroat	Threnetes ruckeri
Little Hermit	Phaethornis
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Mangrove Hummingbird	Polyerata boucardi	Endemic Endangered
Long-billed Starthroat	Heliomaster longirostris
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
Black-mandibled Toucan	Ramphastos ambiguus
Olivaceous Piculet	Picumnus olivaceus
Red-crowned Woodpecker	Melanerpes rubricapillus
Yellow-bellied Elaenia	Elaenia flavogaster
Common Tody-Flycatcher	Todirostrum cinereum
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Gray-capped Flycatcher	Myiozetetes granadensis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea
Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea
Southern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Prothonotary Warbler	Protonotaria citrea
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Palm Tanager	Thraupis palmarum
Red-legged Honeycreeper	Cyanerpes cyaneus
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina
Variable Seedeater	Sporophila corvina
Black-striped Sparrow	Arremonops conirostris
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
Giant Cowbird	Molothrus oryzivorus
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Scarlet-rumped Cacique	Cacicus uropygialis

10. Wilson Botanical Gardens, San Vito 21st February, 2005

The Wilson Botanical Gardens are 6km from the town of San Vito, near the Panamanian border. They are easily reached by bus and there is a good choice of cheap accomodation. We stayed in the Hotel Musuco which was 2000 colones per person. The gardens officially open at 8am but it is possible to enter a little earlier. It may also be possible to stay here. Entry to the gardens costs $6. Birding was quite good but I didn't see my target species, the Turquoise Cotinga. I saw 67 species including 5 lifers.

Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
Yellow-headed Caracara	Milvago chimachima
Marbled Wood-Quail	Odontophorus gujanensis
Gray-necked Wood-Rail	Aramides cajanea
Rock Dove	Columba livia	Introduced species
Short-billed Pigeon h	Patagioenas nigrirostris
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
Gray-chested Dove	Leptotila cassini
Crimson-fronted Parakeet ?	Aratinga finschi
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana
Green Hermit	Phaethornis guy
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird	Phaeochroa cuvierii
Violet Sabrewing	Campylopterus hemileucurus
Violet-crowned Woodnymph	Thalurania colombica
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
Charming Hummingbird	Polyerata decora
Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
Blue-crowned Motmot	Momotus momota
Black-mandibled Toucan	Ramphastos ambiguus
Red-crowned Woodpecker	Melanerpes rubricapillus
Streak-headed Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes souleyetii
Dot-winged Antwren	Microrhopias quixensis
White-ruffed Manakin	Corapipo altera
Lesser Elaenia ?	Elaenia chiriquensis
Olive-striped Flycatcher	Mionectes olivaceus
Paltry Tyrannulet	Zimmerius vilissimus
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris
Bright-rumped Attila	Attila spadiceus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
Gray-capped Flycatcher	Myiozetetes granadensis
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
Rufous-breasted Wren	Thryothorus rutilus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
Common Bush-Tanager	Chlorospingus ophthalmicus
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
Passerini's Tanager	Ramphocelus passerinii
Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
Thick-billed Euphonia	Euphonia laniirostris
Silver-throated Tanager	Tangara icterocephala
Bay-headed Tanager	Tangara gyrola
Golden-hooded Tanager	Tangara larvata
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis	Dacnis venusta
Green Honeycreeper	Chlorophanes spiza
Yellow-faced Grassquit	Tiaris olivacea
Black-striped Sparrow	Arremonops conirostris
Streaked Saltator	Saltator striatipectus
Buff-throated Saltator	Saltator maximus
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus

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