Bird watching in Costa Rica - December 2024

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

December 2024

Day 10

Monday 30 ^th of December 2024 and my alarm goes off at 4 o'clock. I felt asleep again and I did not wake up until 5 thirty. I went to the reception around 8 thirty and they did not have any birding Guide. I was not happy and I asked about a car and a driver.

Her daddy could take me tomorrow for 6 hours at a cost of 100 US$ and he will be here to pick me up at 6 o'clock in the morning.

The car and driver were not available today, and she would check with a taxi that could take me to the Poás Volcano up the mountains. I wanted to rent the car for about 6 hours and the driver asked for 150 US$.

I asked the girl in the reception why he wanted 150$ when her daddy only wanted 100$ We agreed on 100$ and we took off towards the Poás Volcano.

We are on the way

We are on the way Poás Volcano

We stop to buy refreshments

We are on the way Poás Volcano

We are on the way Poás Volcano

The Poás Volcano

is an active 2,697-metre stratovolcano in central Costa Rica and is located within Poas Volcano National Park. It has erupted 40 times since 1828, with a strong eruption on April 2017—causing the evacuation of visitors and residents.

The volcano and surrounding park were closed for nearly 17 months, with a 2.5 kilometer safety perimeter established around the erupting crater.

On September 1, 2018, the park was reopened to the public only with limited access to the crater observation area. They have started to require a reservation on the National Park Website before visitation.

Adjacent trails to Lake Botos, and the museum at the visitor center remained closed. The volcano erupted briefly twice in September 2019.

We stop at Restaurante Freddo Fresas in Poasito to buy entrance tickets to Poás Volcano. We are across the street and there is a small park with a wooden house and I look for the ticket office. I turn on my eBird app as it is an eBird hotspot.

But it had started to rain and I only spotted one humming bird that I could not ID. I went across the street to try to buy the ticket at Restaurante Freddo Fresas. This was the place to buy the ticket, but it was sold out until 12:20.

I asked if it was allowed with the car inside and it was walking only. I looked out and it was pouring down outside and I left without buying any ticket.

We drive up the mountain towards Poás Volcano and by the time we reach the gate I had only seen one bird sitting on a fence in the rain along the road up the mountain.

We turn around and we drive down the mountain again and we take off the road when we reach a small road going in to the forest. The road ends at a tour company, but no people are seen.

Mountain Thrush

Rufous-collared Sparrow

We spot two Rufous-collared Sparrows and one Mountain Thrush, nothing exciting, but the Mountain Thrush is a LIFER for me. One new LIFER and I had really not expected anything at all. The rain is pouring down and the taxi is full of water.

Back on the road we turn left and we go back up towards Poás Volcano, still raining but we will have a look along the road if there is something.

Exactly ZERO birds seen and we make a U-turn to go back to Poasito. There is one eBird hotspot: Volcan Poas--Restaurant El Rio The restaurant was closed and we left again, driving through Poasito and we continue towards east instead of going south towards San Jose.

Leaving Poás Volcano

There is a couple of eBird hotspots I want to have a look at. we take of the road to go to explore the eBird hotspot: Poás Volcano Lodge

Reaching the Poás Volcano Lodge and I went in to ask about birding in the reception. There are birds in the area, but no feeding and not many birds to be seen when it is raining.

He suggested La Paz Waterfall Gardens, the very same place we are going to. I said thank you and we left. Still raining, but I spotted one Mountain Thrush leaving the area.

And three Rufous-collared Sparrow was put on my eBird checklist when I stopped the eBird app coming back on the paved road.

Rufous-collared Sparrow

Mountain Thrush

Rufous-collared Sparrow in the fog and rain

Continuing towards La Paz Waterfall Gardens and this was a real tourist destination. The parking was full of tourist vans and busses. And the reception was full of people. I was hungry and we went to the restaurant, and it was a nice place with a good view.

Raining and no birds to be seen. The Waitress told me that there were birds when the sun was shining. But the view was great from the restaurant and we were sitting outside.

The food was good, I had asked for a steak with four avocados. And I cannot stress this enough, one avocado spit in to four pieces are still ONLY one avocado.

View from the restaurant

View from the restaurant

View from the restaurant

Melodious Blackbird

Melodious Blackbird

Rufous-collared Sparrow

It stops raining and two Melodious Blackbird perch in the top of the tree across the walk path. And it was eye level with me on the restaurant and I got a picture. Melodious Blackbird, second LIFER for me today and this was a really pleasant surprise.

When it started to rain, and it had rained all day and I had given up on any birds today. And when we come back to the parking, I see two Squirrel Cuckoos

I have a look and it looks like two leafs in the tree, but turned out to be two Squirrel Cuckoos. I spotted this bird 2 days ago but I never got any pictures. So, I was happy for this opportunity.

Squirrel Cuckoo

Squirrel Cuckoo

Leaving La Paz Waterfall Gardens driving back to Hotel Robledal. Driving back and we pass through Poasito. And the road is lined with people selling strawberries. And there are plenty shops and the shops are named something with “Fresa”

Fresa is strawberry in English and the area is obviously famous for strawberries. We are back at Hotel Robledal around 3 o'clock in the afternoon and now the driver wanted 150$. We had a long discussion and I was not happy.

I involved the staff at the hotel and now it was between 100 and 150$ What the duck is “between 100 and 150$”?

I spent the rest of the day in my room listening to the rain and thunder outside my room wondering if there would be any bird watching tomorrow.

You just need to click HERE to find out if there will be any bird watching tomorrow.

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