Trip to the mountains in Costa Rica-Dec 23rd

Green Violetear, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Fiery throated Hummingbird, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Collared Redstart, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Volcano Junco, Parque nacional Los Quetzales, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Sooty capped Chlorospingus, Savegre Mountain Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Slaty Flowerpiercer, Savegre Mountain Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

View from the high point-Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Flame colored Tanager, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

On December 23^rd I joined bird guide Johan Fernandez for a trip to the top of the Cerro de la Muerta and the nearby San Gerardo de Dota valley.  This all day trip produced 15 life birds including the Volcano Juncos that we missed finding last December up in the same area.  Among the 15 life birds found on that day was the 800^th species for my life list, a Timberline Wren.  Although I got some brief, but great looks at it, I was unable to get a photo but managed lots of photos of species #801…the Volcano Junco.  The guide was great and would recommend him for anyone planning a birding trip to Costa Rica.  Just let me know if anyone needs contact information for either guide…I would be happy to provide it.

Winsor Dam (somewhere out there is a Gadwall!), Quabbin Park, Jan 11, 2014

Meanwhile back here in the great white north we had to contend with a little freezing rain overnight into this morning which turned to just plain rain as the temperatures rose into the 50's.  The rain and fog made viewing difficult at times and I never made it over to Winsor Dam until after 7:30 (late for me!).  Despite the on and off heavy rain I managed to get out a little and find some birds.  The best by far was an odd in January male Gadwall at Winsor Dam.  The bird was fairly far out and the photos I got are too blurry to even post.  I also hit Hank's Meadow and the only species of waterfowl was a single Mallard.  Overall quite quiet but I was very happy to find a Gadwall.  A few other stops at Winsor Dam only produced a single Common Merganser. 

A day into the Cordillera de Talamanca -Dec 23

Resplendent Quetzal, San Gerardo de Dota, Dec 23, 2012

Resplendent Quetzal, San Gerardo de Dota, Dec 23, 2012

Fiery throated Hummingbird, La Georgina, Dec 23, 2012

Volcano Hummingbird, San Gerardo de Dota, Dec 23, 2012

Collared Trogon, San Gerardo de Dota, Dec 23, 2012

Rufous collared Sparrow after eating berries, San Gerardo de Dota, Dec 23, 2012

On the morning of the December 23^rd  I made the trip up to San Gerardo de Dota with guide Johan to bird a higher elevation area in the Cordillera de Talamanca mountains with the biggest target species being the Resplendent Quetzal.  The ride from the lodge to the location took hours but was worth it in the end.   A brief stop near the tops of the mountain at a local restaurant with a number of hummingbird feeders proved quite productive with killer looks at Volcano, Fiery-throated, and Magnificent Hummingbirds and Green eared Mango’s.  The weather here was windy, foggy and temperatures around 4 degrees Celsius.  A ride down into the Savegre River valley to San Gerardo de Dota provided lots of great birds which I have not seen before.  The list is long and included a total of 32 new species to my Costa Rica list and 27 of those life birds, including the stunning Resplendent Quetzal.  It was a long, full day of birding that was truly spectacular.

Meanwhile back at home I added a Northern Pintail (#81) flying over with a group of Mallards at Quabbin Park.