Vogelbeobachtung

A BIRD WATCHERS TESTIMONIAL

from Ray Leggett - Natural History Consultant

Rio Blanco, just east of Parque National Braulio Carillo.    Santa Elema, close by the Monteverde cloud forest.    Campimg ground at Parque National Santa Rosa.    La Purruja Lodge Golfito and Parque National Corcovado.    Restaurant Georgina, Cerro de la Muerte at 3200m above sea level.    Tortuguero Village with the adjacent rivers and wetlands.    La Fortuna and Volcan Arenal.

During the eight weeks I spent time searching for and photographing reptiles, spectacular insects, freshwaterfish and mammals. I spent on average only 1 hour a day full on bird watching, generally at first light. I identified the birds seen using the excellent Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica by Stiles & Skutch. The guide is available in book shops in San José.

In all I saw 282 species, 114 at la Purruja Lodge and surrounds with makes this area the best birdwatching area I found in all of Costa Rica. The placement of the Lodge with a western view over rainforest and a small valley of rural land gives the birdwatcher an excellent early morning view with the sun from behind. Many birds can be seen perched on the top branches of the tallest trees catching the first rays of the sun. The Lodge gardens and immediate surrounds contain many native and introduced fruiting and flowering trees and shrubs.

It is not difficult to see 20-30 species while sitting enjoying an early morning cup of the famous Costa Rican coffee, my kind of birdwatching!

Just a few of the highlights seen were Yellow-headed Caracara nesting, White-fronted, Red-lored & White-crowned Parrots, Keel-billed & Chestnut-mandibiled Toucans, Golden-hooded, Blue-gray, Scarlet-rumped, Hepatic and Western Tanagers, Redlegged Honeycreeper, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Seedeaters, Grosbeaks, Finches, Flycatchers and Sparrows and large numbers of humming birds.

On th 14th January we flew out to Houston, then LA, Auckland in New Zealand and then Brisbane and home. A verry long trip but well worth it to have visited your lovely friendly country and I will always remember you as a very helpful person that made our visit to the Golfito area the highlight of our stay in Costa Rica.

Ray Legett