March 2016 – Osa Peninsula Costa Rica

We were ready to start the last leg of our Costa Rican trip to the Osa Peninsula. We can’t say enough about the tour group Costa Rica Vacations that helped customize the perfect trip for us. They arranged for a driver to pick us up at the Hotel Si Como No. After a relatively short ride we came to a group of businesses on a river with no resorts in site. Our driver saw our confusion and pointed out a small boat that would take us the rest of the way. Our captain made good use of his time and picked up supplies to take to the resort. Once our luggage was stowed aboard we were on our way. Since we had our bins he was happy to point out and bring us closer to birds during the trip. Some of the best were Gray-breasted Martin, Whimbrel and Common Black-hawk.

Boat to Drake’s Bay

 

Common Black-hawk

Grey-breasted Martin

Our Aguila de Osa host Carlos and his dog Coco greeted us on our arrival and showed us to our wonderful room with a great view of Drake’s Bay. Before dinner Carlos took us for a walk across the hanging bridge where we saw our first ever Black-crowned Tityra.  Coco went with us on the walk but was more interested in the Howler Monkeys than birding. Next it was a boat ride to view the sunset before our meet and greet cocktails and appetizers.  Dinner was amazing and we met the kitchen staff, picked out a great wine and enjoyed the company of the other guests.

Howler Monkey

Black-crowned Tityra

We were up early the next morning enjoying the beautiful grounds and birds right outside our room. A pair of Red-legged Honeycreeper and several hummingbirds were quite entertaining. Later we took another hike with our birder friend Carlos who put us on four hummingbird and three Trogan species.

Red-legged Honeycreeper

Slaty-tailed Trogon

Gartered Trogon

On the way back to the resort we found Black-striped Sparrow and several Capuchin (white-faced) monkeys including a baby being carried by the mother. Carlos is a great birder and we saw 54 species on the walk to the northwest of the resort. The best bird was a brief glimpse of the endemic Buff-rumped Warbler.

Black-striped Sparrow

Capuchin Monkeys

After lunch we went to the beach for a swim and quick siesta before Mike’s birthday dinner. There was a snake on the steps leading to the dining room that we were careful to avoid. Carlos promptly went up to catch the boa constrictor and brought it back to the delight of the guests. The dinner that night was extra special with fresh fish, locally caught and they even had a birthday cake!

Boa Constrictor

Mike and Carlos

The third day was a chartered birding boat ride with two other guests. Our first stop off the Osa Peninsula was an island with 200 Magnificent Frigatebirds, 40 Brown Booby and 5 lifer Red-footed Booby. While traveling up the river we got another lifer, Collared Plover.

Magnificent Frigatebird

Collared Plover

Red-footed Booby

Further up the river we headed into the mangrove canals for more extraordinary birds. We saw the male Yellow Warbler with it’s chestnut head, locally referred to as Mangrove Warbler. Carlos and the captain know where many of the best birds can be found and showed us a nesting pair of Scarlet Macaw and Mike’s target bird, the Common Potoo.

Scarlet Macaw

Common Potoo

We stopped at the docks where this journey started for breaks and more birding. A quick conversation with the locals confirmed the location of a pair of Tropical Screech-Owl. So many great birds on the way back including all the herons and shorebirds. One bird that stands out is the Yellow-headed Caracara.

Tropical Screech-Owls

Yellow-headed Caracara

Our final breakfast at Aguila de Osa was outstanding with the best ever huevos rancheros. We were thrilled to see a few bats on the thatch roof. One last walk of the grounds rewarded us with a great look at a Cocoa Woodcreeper.

Osa Bats

Cocoa Woodcreeper

After breakfast it was another boat ride to the village of Drake’s Bay where we had a wet landing (walk in shallow water). A cab was waiting to take us to the smallest airport we have ever seen. Each passenger has to get weighed in with their luggage before the flight. Once the eight of us were onboard it was time to taxi down the one mile strip and fly out over the beautiful water. (The cover photo is from that plane ride.)

Sansa Plane

We were sad to leave Costa Rica and the Osa Peninsula but made memories to last a lifetime. Follow this link for a list of all the birds we found in Costa Rica.

 

Trip Birds: 98  Life Birds: 24

Total Costa Rica Birds: 171   Life Birds: 99

Next up: Christmas Bird Count