Chris Lansdell's Birding & Nature Diary: Costa Rica Day 8, 13 February 2014

Sitting here writing this blog post makes me wish I was still at the magical La Selva Biological Station! I was determined to spend the whole day birding here before moving on. After all the next stop at Selva Verde Lodge is only a few miles away.

At our accommodation a pair of Short-billed Pigeons showed nicely before we drove round to the dining room for brekkie.

Short-billed Pigeon

After breakfast in the communal (dare I say it rather kibbutz-like) dining room we ventured out and spent the whole day walking the trails as I'd hoped - awesome! Wood Thrush, Black-cheeked Woodpecker and Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth were bagged early doors before our guided walk. Included in the fee we'd paid was a free guided walk in the morning and despite my reservations about such things the guy who guided us round was very good and we saw some good birds to boot - best of all was a Snowy Cotinga in the trees behind the football pitch together with Violaceous Trogon, 5 Crested Guan and 2 Orange-chinned Parakeets while a Central American Agouti scampered past.

Crested Guan

Wood Thrush

Black-cheeked Woodpecker

Snowy Cotinga

After bidding farewell to our small tour group we began our exploration of the Sendero Tres Rios, Camino Experimental Norte and Camino Experimental Sur trails. A couple of Bright-rumped Attilas started things off but then we had a real surprise in the form of a Little Tinamou right on the path! Sadly it saw us and quickly dashed into thick cover but not before positive id was secured. Around the trails we also came across a White-collared Manakin lek but despite enjoying this curious sound the birds remained out of sight. Other things we did see included 2 Green Honeycreepers, a King Vulture perched close and low in the forest, 2 Slaty-tailed Trogons, Chestnut-mandibled Toucans, Keel-billed Toucans, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Streak-headed Woodcreeper, Cocoa Woodcreeper, Violet-crowned Woodnymph and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Crossing back over the bridge a Tropical Gnatcatcher and a Blue Dacnis also showed.

Cocoa Woodcreeper

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

Slaty-tailed Trogon

King Vulture

Back at the area near reception both Cinnamon Becard and House Wren showed really nicely, a Collared Aracari sat slightly lower in the trees near the bridge, 2 Great Green Macaws were about again, Scarlet-rumped Cacique flew by and then a lovely male White-collared Manakin hung around long enough for me to get a shot or two. Olive-backed Euphonia and Plain-coloured Tanager joined the list too. With the light now beginning to fade it was time to leave and make our way the short distance to Selva Verde Lodge our next destination.