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

1st February - Rancho Naturalista Day Two, Turrialba, Costa Rica

The rain was so heavy overnight and was still with us when we made our way to the balcony to meet our guide for the morning, fortunately the tour starts around the garden so we had the benefit of the shelter, the birds didn't seem to ming the rain.  The hummingbirds have to feed no matter what.  Here some idea of the conditions that we were facing.  Cloud hanging around the slopes.

Visibility poor in the tops of the trees.

The Brown Jays are some of the first birds to the feeding stations, but this morning they looked a little drowned.

At the feeders a Crowned Wood Nymph male showing off the iridescent purple and green in the murky conditions.

A Coati wandered by looking for fallen bananas knock off the perches by the Grey-headed Chachalacas.

Feeding under the verbena was a male Black-striped Sparrow, this sparrow favours the undergrowth and tangly bushes in forests and gardens.

Rancho Naturalista uses the little Snowcap hummingbird as it's logo and we had good views of them on our last visit, we had seen the male Snowcap yesterday and this morning but they are very difficult to get clear and sharp views.  This morning an immature male showed very well while feeding around the verbena.  There are spots of the male plumage developing in this individual.

More movement beneath the verbena revealed another view of the Yellow-faced Grassquit.

Our last visit to the lodge was in Late July, a completely different season in Costa Rica.  Then we were fortunate to experience the White-collared Manakins lekking.  This time of year they are quite mobile around the lodge and we managed a great view of a male in the trees.

There were loads of Red-billed Pigeons feeding on the cracked corn spread beneath the feeders, strangely the bill doesn't really look red.  This bird was also to be a part of an interesting story later in the visit.

The first Toucan to appear was the Collared Aracari, there are two species of Aracari, the Collared here on the Caribbean slopes and the Fiery Aracari on the Pacific side.  The Collared's bill here looks as if it as been cracked.

Back to the hummingbirds, but in the gloom.  However it was an opportunity to experiment with black and white images, here a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird.

Breakfast was at 7.00 am, it was still raining and there wasn't any sign of it easing.  In discussion with our guide we agreed to postpone the tour today and to re-schedule for tomorrow morning.  We went off to breakfast and then returned back to the balcony and settled in to watch.  With the rain it was cool and the birds were very active.

Coming back on to the balcony the rain was very heavy as can be seen from thi video

The Montezuma Oropendola, a large bird of the oriole family.  Its song very evident around the forest., along with it's distinctive yellow tail

Close up views of the colourful beak and the facial markings.

The male White-collared Manakin once again.

A Rufous-tailed Hummingbird taking in a rain shower for a bath.

Closer views of the Collared Aracari tucking into some banana.

It was quite comical to see this Variegated Squirrel using it's tail as an umbrella as it ate some banana.

A male Summer Tanager.

And the first woodpecker, a Black-cheeked Woodpecker.

Back again to the hummingbirds, here a Green-breasted Mango, this one the female with a black stripe down the chest.

The more vibrant male.

This is the Violet Sabrewing, the largest hummingbird found in Costa Rica.  as expected by the name the dominant plumage is violet in colour but with very distinctive white tips to the tail feathers.  Its size means it dominates the feeders, being quite aggressive to the smaller species.  It was suggested that maybe it should be renamed the "Violent" Sabrewing.

More of the White-necked Jacobins.

Some more experimenting with black and white images on the Jacobins.

The White-necked Jacobins do provide you with some lovely poses with the perfect backgrounds.

One of the guides still on the balcony then pointed out an Ochre-bellied Flycatcher feeding around the branches of one of the trees.  Normally a bird of the deeper forest it was unusual to see around the lodge area.  As can be seen here one characteristic of this bird is that it will flick one wing over the body.

 

Another Oropendola, this time the Chestnut-headed Oropendola.  It lacks the yellow tail of the Montezuma and has a very distinctive ivory white bill and blue eye ring.

It was dark and gloomy still.  When I took this I thought it would look good as a portrait, I loved the way it enhanced the bill and the blue eye ring.  It seems I wasn't alone in liking it as it was selected as "Photo of the Week" on Bird Guides.

The rain was easing and the birds were moving to the trees in an attempt to dry out.  Here a Collared Aracari is hanging out it's wings.

While a pair of Gray-headed Chachalacas do a very good impression of a "push-me-pull you" as they fluff up their feathers in an effort to dry out.

With the rain easing and it still quite cool the birds were very active.

A Yellow-throated Euphonia, a very smart male.

A male Olive-backed Euphonia.  The female as an orangey-red forehead in comparison.

The bay-headed Tanager, a beautifully coloured Tanager.

Several birds use the name "Bay", apparently it refers to the colour of rats.

With the hummingbird feeders emptying the male White-necked Jacobins had become very possessive and would guard them from nearby perches.  They would either fly at any other bird trying to use them or would flare the white tail feathers at them as a warning.

 

The Green-breasted Mangos were of similar size but would end up being chased off despite that.  This is a female.

A female Baltimore Oriole appeared at the top of a tree close by.

A silhouette of a Collared Aracari.

Movement on the trunk of a tree in front of us revealed a Cocoa Woodcreeper.  This woodcreeper has a very distinct call that repeats and echoes throughout the forest.

It lacks the down curved bill of many of the woodcreepers and there is reduced amount of streaking on the head.

The clouds were clearing and we could see the valley and gradually the rain stopped and the sun put in an appearance.  With cabin fever beginning to set in we decided to walk down the track to Lisa's house, she is the owner and is more than happy for you to walk around her garden.  I was very keen to do so as there had been a Black-crested Coquette reported, this was a particular hummingbird I was keen to see.  

As we arrived there were Southern rough-winged Swallows flying around.  These can be separated from the Northern Rough-winged by their pale rump.

Almost immediately there were hummingbirds around the verbena and the first one I saw was a splendid Black-crested Coquette.

This is a tiny, insect like hummingbird of humid tropical forest and edge in foothills and lowlands; infrequently seen. Feeds quietly at all levels in small flowers where could easily be passed off as a big moth or bumblebee (and vice versa). Male often perches on exposed thin twigs. Feeding flight notably slow and beelike, with tail held cocked to show off bold white rump band. Male has long wispy crest of black feathers and bright red bill. Female has boldly spotted underparts and white rump band.

The name Coquette originates from the French language and derives its meaning from the term coquetterie, which refers to a flirtatious or seductive behaviour.  It is thought the behaviour and feeding action of this hummingbird was associated with a flirtatious behaviour, along with the outrageous crest feathers.

The garden overlooks the valley with some incredible views.

A Dusky-capped Flycatcher in the nearby trees.

Back at the balcony as the sun began to set and the gloom returned some atmospheric shots of the the hummingbirds.  A Green-breasted Mango.

And the White-necked Jacobin.

Sunset saw the skies clearing.

After dinner there was a wonderful view of the crescent moon and alongside it a crescent Venus.

Hopefully the clear skies this evening will give us a lovely clear day tomorrow and we can get out with the guide around the forest.

Birds today took the trip list to 83 species nd the lifers to 25.