Costa Rica

Well, after a smooth and uneventful 11hr flight from Gatwick we arrived in San Jose in the early afternoon. The usual customs stuff was smooth and it was great to see our guide waiting at the exit with our names on a board. Always a relief when that happens.

After a short transfer we were at the hotel and soon out birding  in the grounds.

Birds were all over the place and it was hard to keep up at times. Blue grey tanager, social flycatcher, chestnut sided warbler, yellow throated vireo to name a few. As we were watching a pair of rufous tailed hummingbirds Rachael spotted an owl sitting in the tree. Rather like a long tailed little owl it turned out to be a ferruginous pygmy owl!! A little cracker

After many hours travelling I was beginning to get a bit tired and the names were starting to get a bit lost. A couple of swainsons thrush and then Rachael spotted a distant blob in a tree that turned out to be a gray hawk. This highlight of the walk round was great views of Lesson's motmot. Even when it was in deep cover the blue on the head really shined out but when it got into the open it was something else. Definitely Bird of the Day

Final addition was a couple of common nighthawks hunting at dusk.

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to keep a travelogue going every day but I will try and post photos and updates on a regular basis.

Trip list - 33