Hacienda El Roble Birding | Scarlet MaCaw | Pygmy Owl | White-Necked Puffbirds

Sunday morning Molly and I drove over to Hacienda El Roble to greet the sunrise. While the Adventure Center offers zip lining, ATV rides, and horseback riding on the farm which the family has owned for generations, I had reached out because of birding opportunities. I dealt directly with the owner, Cristobalina Arrieta Sanchez, via email. I told her I had no interest in the publicized activities, but given eBird reports for her farm, and the great habitat (wetlands, dry forest, and even a stream still holding water at the very end of Guanacaste’s dry season), I thought birding would be fantastic. Cristobalina took great care of me and arranged for a local guide (more on him later, but he was fantastic) and a plan where we would arrive at 6:00 for a half’s day birding followed by a late farm breakfast. This sounded like a great plan, and the price was reasonable. Cristobalina had all the details perfectly taken care of from water to farm truck rides between birding locations and hikes.

The day started out in an unbelievable manner. Our guide, Christhiam Carrillo Villarreal (email and phone) met us as planned and I immediately liked him. When I told Christhiam I knew my desire was unreasonable, but I was hoping to see a Scarlet MaCaw (I knew this bird had been seen on the farm due to eBird reports). He said follow me! Amazingly in a nearby tree sat a Scarlet MaCaw right out in the open enjoying the first light of the morning. Later that morning as we ended our birding we saw the same bird once again but it was buried deep in the foliage hiding from the heat and sun.

Scarlet MaCaw at Hacienda El Roble, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (sunrise)

Scarlet MaCaw … The Movie (video link for email subscribers)

Our next birding stop was a small stream next to both forest and pasture. Oh wow, the birds were stupendous and we had moved only over 800 yards from the farm house. For the next 45 minutes we stood next to the small stream and looked every which way! The highlight of this stop was Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. This little owl sounds like our Northern Saw-Whet “tooters” at home, but instead of voles this owl eats other birds (plus insects and small reptiles). There were obviously a pair of Pygmy Owls nesting near the stream (toots from two directions) and the local songbirds were NOT happy about that fact. Think mobbing of a predator.

Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

And the movie (video link for email subscribers)

Molly and I saw a lot of other birds at the stream crossing, but soon it was time to hop in the back of a farm truck and cross the fields to the farm’s wetlands. Quite frankly without the ride, it would have been a long hike in the heat. Instead we drank up water provided by a farm hand and were delivered to a hiking trail near the wetlands.

On the way to the wetlands, Squirrel Cuckoo

At the wetlands, Bare-Throated Tiger Heron and Northern Jacana

After the wetlands (I only mentioned a few of the birds we saw), we were delivered by truck to a streambed (mostly dry at this time of year) for a final hike back through the forest to the stream crossing. Wowie, Zowie! Stay tuned! When your guide gets excited you know what you are seeing is special … and Christhiam was excited!

Before that special birding expereince we stopped for quality time with a Turquoise-Browed MotMot. I really like MotMots … even the name is cool!

Turquoise-Browed MotMot

And the movie (video link for email subscribers)

And the Grand Finale! A pair of White-Necked Puffbirds getting ready to nest in a termite mound attached to / up in a tree (think about that for a nesting location!). Puffbirds are hard to find, and often spend their time high up in the forest canopy, but this loving couple was low to the ground, easy to see and interested in love plus a termite mound (i.e. not us).

White-Necked Puffbirds … the loving couple

The Termite Mound / Nest in a Tree which only a Puffbird could Love!

Puffbirds … the movies (video links for email subscribers: One | Two)

After our looonnng Puffbird session, we drove back to the farm for a late, but well earned breakfast at 11 am (remember we started birding at 6 am … the heat is now starting to push 90F). The breakfast and our hostess / farm owner, Cristobalina Arrieta Sanchez, were wunderbar! Remember, you may also bird Hacienda El Roble. While the website does not mention birding, Cristobalina will take good care of you (contact her via email) . Our guide was also top of the line. You can arrange him through Hacienda El Roble, or retain him on your own for birding throughout Costa Rica (Christhiam Carrillo Villarreal … email and phone). Like always in this blog, I never take pay or any renumeration for my endorsements. I paid for this birding just like anyone else, and my opinions are NOT based upon any benefit given to me. Finally, I will update this post with our eBird Report in the near future. Here, however, is an eBird link to Hacienda El Roble. This was a great place to bird, and only a 45 minutes drive from my brother’s spot at Las Catalinas.

The following photographs were taken by Molly our her iPhone and helps document our experience. Remember, she blogs at SuperiorFootprints.Org.

Riding the Farm Truck from the Stream Crossing to the Wetlands