Great Weekend at Rancho Naturalista

I had a fabulous weekend (August 1,2, and 3) of birding at Rancho Naturalista near Turialba. I saw 113 bird over the weekend just in the trails near the lodge. Highlights include seeing a Tawny-throated Leaftosser (Sclerurus mexicanus) at dawn at the hummingbird pools below lodge, a Thrush-like Schiffornis (Schiffornis turdina) on the trails around from hummingbird feeders, White-crowned manakin (Pipra pipra) on upper mountain trail on leks at around 1000 meters altitude, and Garden Emeralds (Chlorostilbon assimilis) feeding on verbinas around lodge. Snowcaps (Microchera albocoronata) and Tawny-chested Flycatchers (Aphanotriccus capitalis) are common at Rancho. The hummingbirds come into the pools at around 3:30 - 4 pm.

An adult pair and juvenile Bi-colored Hawks had been reported by the guide Herman Vemegas and some of the guest recently. In addition, Black-crested Coquettes and a stray White-crested Coquette had been reported by the guests.

Kathy Erb runs an amazing place dedicated to birding and protecting and guarding the environment. The food is great and the staff are friendly and focused on service. Visit her website at www.ranchonaturalista.net or give her a call at 2-433-8278

Great Tinamou
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
White Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Gray-headed Chachalaca
Short-billed Pigeon
Ruddy Pigeon
White-tipped Dove
Gray-chested Dove
Crimson-fronted Parakeet
White-crowned Parrot
Squirrel Cuckoo
Mottled Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Pauraque
Green Hermit
Stripe-throated Hermit
White-necked Jacobin
Brown Violet-ear
Green-breasted Mango
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Green Thorntail
Garden Emerald
Coppery-headed Emerald
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Woodnymph
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Snowcap
Green-crowned Brilliant
Purple-crowned Fairy
Violaceous Trogon
Collared Trogon
Blue-crowned Motmot
Rufous Motmot
Broad-billed Motmot
Collared Aracari
Keel-billed Toucan
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner
Tawny-throated Leaftosser
Plain-brown Woodcreeper
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper
Spotted Woodcreeper
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
Plain Antvireo
Checker-throated Antwren
Dot-winged Antwren
Dusky Antbird
Immaculate Antbird
Black-faced Antthrush
Fulvous-bellied Antpitta
White-collared Manakin
White-ruffed Manakin
White-crowned Manakin
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Mountain Elaenia
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Northern Bentbill
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
Tawny-chested Flycatcher
Bright-rumped Attila
Rufous Mourner
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Thrush-like Schiffornis
Cinnamon Becard
White-winged Becard
Masked Tityra
Black-throated Wren
Bay Wren
Stripe-breasted Wren
House Wren
White-breasted Wood-Wren
Scaly-breasted Wren
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush
Clay-colored Robin
Long-billed Gnatwren
Tropical Gnatcatcher
Brown Jay
Lesser Greenlet
Tropical Parula
Bananaquit
Red-throated Ant-Tanager
Crimson-collared Tanager
Passerini's Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Palm Tanager
Yellow-crowned Euphonia
Olive-backed Euphonia
Golden-hooded Tanager
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis
Variable Seedeater
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Orange-billed Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
Buff-throated Saltator
Black-headed Saltator
Melodious Blackbird
Yellow-billed Cacique
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Montezuma Oropendola