7th February - Cafe Colibri, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Rather than hang around the hotel once again we decided to check out where the Curi Cancha reserve was, the last time we had been here back in 2017 we discovered this reserve as a bit of a hidden gem.  I finally got the right directions right and we set off down the hill from the hotel.  A combination of ups and downs took us past a stream where a Black Phoebe could be seen by the side of the water.

After 25 minutes we reached the turn for the reserve close to the Monteverde Cheese Factory, we didn't go up to the reserve but decided to walk on, I wanted to go to the Cafe at the entrance to the Monteverde reserve, but completely underestimated how far and how steep.  We crossed another stream and here Helen pointed out an Armadillo walking across the road, I just could get the camera right in time

The walk continued and it was now hot, fortunately we were saved by a taxi driver who stopped and gave us a lift to the Cafe Colibri.  We bought a couple of iced lattes and then made our way to the Hummingbird feeders and settled in.

The birds were buzzing around, but the first bird that caught my eye was a female Purple-throated Mountain Gem.  Now I don't normally photograph them on the feeders, but I took this for two reasons:  One, the hummingbird never hovered or settled any where else and two, this hummingbird means a lot to me, when we first came to Costa Rica in 2012 I photographed one at El Silencio in Banous el Torro and had the picture published in BBC Wildlife

The male Purple-throated Mountain Gem, I personally think the female looks s much better.

This is a female Green-crowned Brilliant.

This Magenta-throated Woodstar would dip into the feeder and then fly back, never settling on the feeder, but using the wings to hold it steady.  I just waited for it to pull back.

The largest hummingbird in Costa Rica, the Violet Sabrewing.

This one had a favourite perch where it would return to and enjoy the dappled sunshine.

The male Green-crowned Brilliant, there is a blue patch on the throat.

The female once again

There were also White-necked Jacobins, but because I have so many shots I decided not to dwell on them.

We called the taxi to take us back and as we waited this Highland Tinamou came through the scrub.  They are terrestrial tailless birds more often heard than seen.  They feed on fallen fruits, but also small frogs and lizards.  They nest in the buttress of trees and the male incubates and stays with the young for the first few weeks.

On the drive back the taxi stopped for me to photograph this Lesson's Motmot.

Tomorrow we were going to have a tour at the Cur Cancha reserve, it will be interesting to see how much this might have changed.

The trip list has increased to 130 and lifers is now 42