We are over on the coast, and we hope the Rainy Season will start soon … and with it some thunderstorms which may provide some afternoon cooling temperatures. While Duluth just set an all time record for snow in a single winter (135+ inches of snow), we reach close to 100F every afternoon, plus humidity.

The two birds I most wanted to find here at Las Catalinas were the Black-Headed Trogon, and Turquoise-Browed Mot Mot. I am pleased to report both birds after early morning and late afternoon hikes have yielded themselves up to my camera. April makes birding a bit easier as one may follow bird song as our feathered friends search for  mates. Both the Mot Mots and Trogon’s song helped me narrow down the areas of my search, which leads to this comment … if you are not using Cornell’s Merlin app, you should. By installing the bird pack for Costa Rica (and earlier this year for Hawaii) I was able to learn more about my target birds habits. Once I obtain good photographs, Merlin’s Bird Photo ID helps with identification.

• One of my very enjoyable tasks while down here in Costa Rica is updating my Costa Rican Birding Book … The Birds of Las Catalinas (Free full copy PDF’s of Version 1 are available). While the major focus of the book is the birds of this region, Version 2 will also cover El Viejo Wetlands and the Rainforest Highlands. Full copies of Release #2 will also be freely available as a PDF Download.

Anyhow … the Black-Headed Trogon and Turquoise-Browed Mot Mot

This is my final post about our stay at La Carolina Lodge up in the Rainforest Highlands of Costa Rica. This is a most excellent eco-lodge, which will help you get off the grid and relax. Sorry if this post seems like a “data dump”, but even with restricting images to just one per bird species, I saw some amazing feathered friends. Visiting in April means many birds are busy “courting their prospective mates”.

Before the birds, more about our lodge. If you want fancy … air conditioning with wifi plus TV’s go elsewhere. Our basic cabin was open to the mountain stream below our deck. In the image of Molly reading she is NOT online. We both downloaded books to our tablets before visiting. However, if you want to experience life at a slower pace which is immersed in nature, La Carolina Lodge is for you! All our meals were family style, and the lodge raises / grows 80% or more of what we ate. Our all inclusive cash price (credit card price is higher) for our cabin including 3 nights and 9 meals for two adults was $690 in April of 2023. The staff is super friendly.

Molly Reading on our Cabin Deck

The View of the Eating Area (open area structure at the top is my next image)

Happy Hour View of the Stream from the Lounge / Eating Area (alcohol is not available, but you are allowed to bring your own … of course for us, Chardonnay!)

• One of my very enjoyable tasks while down here in Costa Rica is updating my Costa Rican Birding Book … The Birds of Las Catalinas (Free full copy PDF’s of Version 1 are available). While the major focus of the book is the birds of this region, Version 2 will also cover El Viejo Wetlands and the Rainforest Highlands. Full copies of Release #2 will also be freely available as a PDF Download.

And now the remaining birds … (in alphabetical order)

• Post 1: Yellow-Throated Toucan
• Post 2: Collared Aracari (also a Toucan)
• Post 3: Crested Caracaras and Southern Lapwings

Black Vulture

Black-Cheeked Woodpecker

Blue Gray Tanager

Clay Colored Thrush

Crested Guan

Green Honeycreeper

Montezuma Oropendola

Palm Tanager

Red-Legged Honeycreeper

Red-Lored Parrot

Ruddy Ground Dove

Russet-Naped Wood Rail

Scarlet-Rumped Tanager

Streak Backed Oriole

White-Whiskered Puff Bird

Yellow Green Vireo

Yellow-Throated Euphonia

I still have lots of birds that I have not shown from our time up in the Rainforest Highlands at Las Carolinas Eco-Lodge, but it seemed appropriate to show a few images I took at our new location, Las Catalinas on the Pacific Ocean (NY Times Article). I will get back to wrapping up our time in the rainforest, but each day now I start with a bird hike at 6 am. When the temperature will soar to almost 100F by noon, it is important to get up before the sun. While sunrise technically is earlier that 6 am, the golden orb does not peek above the hills to the east till pushing 6:30. While birding I am rarely very far from the Pacific.

• One of my very enjoyable tasks while down here in Costa Rica is updating my Costa Rican Birding Book … The Birds of Las Catalinas (Free full copy PDF’s of Version 1 are available). While the major focus of the book is the birds of this region, Version 2 will also cover El Viejo Wetlands and the Rainforest Highlands. Full copies of Release #2 will also be freely available as a PDF Download.

From this morning’s bird hike …

Turquoise-Browed Motmot

Grooved-Billed Ani