Costa Rica '08
Trip Report
By Steve Semanchuk
With Liz Skiles
And Alice Semanchuk
11-20
Arriving from the U.S. 30 minutes late meant a drastic change in traffic patterns in the metropolitan area of San Jose. The driver of the shuttle service from El Toucanet Lodge, Jose Cordero, took it in good stride despite the additional time in the clogged eastbound streets. We cleared the city eventually; night caught us halfway to the Dota Mountains, normally a two hour drive. It was November 20th and my Mom, my wife, Liz, and I had reserved a week's worth of lodging with Gary and Edna Roberts at their place just outside the town of Copey. We chose them for our visit because they were reasonably priced, offered a shuttle to and from the airport and were at an elevation that wouldn't have overly tropical temperatures. We chose the dates to coincide with a lull in Liz's work schedule.
Amazingly, though our first bird for the trip was the expected GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE, while stuck in traffic, I spied a tree with several CRIMSON-FRONTED PARAKEETS and scored a lifer. The only other bird that day was a single TURKEY VULTURE.
11-21
I woke at dawn to a new world, unfamiliar sounds of exotic birds filtering into our room. I could hardly dress fast enough. With a mouth full of granola bar, I stepped out into what would be normal weather for our time in the Dota mountains, a misty rain that occasionally would completely stop or turn into something that had to be paid attention to. A CLAY-COLORED THRUSH was on the path and a WILSON'S WARBLER landed nearby. A VIOLET SABREWING was at the feeder but I didn't have my life bird for the day until I looked over a nearby bank and spied a CHESTNUT-CAPPED BRUSH FINCH, making a fuss on a fallen log. Several migrants, a TENNESSEE WARBLER and a BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER were next, familiar birds to us North Carolina residents. Then, a SILVER-THROATED TANAGER flew in followed by a FLAME-THROATED TANAGER and I breathed my first deep breath through a big grin.
Coffee was on when I came back and Gary was ready to go for the pre-breakfast Quetzal walk, a morning routine that was never missed. We missed the showy trogons that day and returned for a gallo pinto and fruit plate breakfast that was to become a standard high-calorie start to our day. Our day was spent wandering in every compass direction, appreciating the flowers, the views from the hillsides and, of course, a tropical bird or two. When we needed a "break" from that, we would sit on the open porch and watch the feeders, not an unproductive way to see new species. That first day, I saw 6 new species of hummers, only one was not using the feeders. The light drizzle and the sociable lodge dogs followed us throughout the day; the rain eventually producing a double rainbow over the Dota Valley.
Jet lag and the time change had taken their toll by day's end so we retired to our two bed, one room cabin early that night. A strong breeze had now joined the rain, making the prospect of night birding nearly impossible. We fell asleep listening to the sound of Pedregoso Creek, the wind and the falling water.
So, did you see the Resplendent Quetzal on your "pre-breakfast Quetzal walk"!
Nice start to your report and nice photos too! Although I live in CR (am in the office now in San Jose- its cloudy and I long to be up in those nearby mountains) I always enjoy reading bird reports from here-Cant wait for more!