Birding in Costa Rica for Williamson Audubon Group March 9-16, 2016

Transcription

1 Birding in Costa Rica for Williamson Audubon Group March 9-16, 2016 March 9- Wednesday - Travel Day, Arrive San Jose (D) Arrive anytime to San Jose airport, meet your guide, and transfer to Hotel Bougainvillea. Time permitting, you will take a walk around the beautiful grounds of the hotel. At dinner tonight you will go over the plan for the next week. Night: Hotel Bougainvillea March 10 Thursday - Tapanti National Park, Cerro La Muerte (B, L, D) This morning after breakfast, about 8:00 am, we depart for Tapanti National Park, about a 90 minute drive from San Jose. It is surrounded by the Macho River Forest Reserve. The river El Rio Grande de Orosi runs through the middle of it. The park has two main life zones: the lower montane rainforest and premontane rainforest (lowlands skirting the lower slopes). The forests are home to forty-five species of mammals, including tapir, paca, red brocket deer, eastern cottontail, kinkajou, raccoon, white-nosed coati, white-faced monkey, mountain hare, agouti and ocelots. You'll also find some 260 kinds of birds here including quetzals, sparrow hawks, hawks, goldfinch, doves, hummingbirds, parrots, and falcons. We'll be at the park a couple of hours, then head towards the mountains, with a lunch stop enroute. Ascending Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death; a name given to this range in the Talamanca Mountains before the highway existed), the air becomes cooler. Our home in this region is Paraiso del Quetzal, located at approximately 8,694 feet above sea level. in a cabins, with views of the of the cloud forest. We'll arrive in the afternoon, with time to explore before dark. 3 Nights: Paraiso del Quetzal March 11/12 Friday/Saturday - Looking for the Quetzal (B, L, D) The two days here will be spent looking for the Quetzal and other birds of the highlands. The vegetation of the high mountains is quite distinct from lower elevations and dominated by oaks, bamboo and trees of the avocado family. In these high, cool and often windy and misty habitats live a variety of colorful bird species including the Resplendent Quetzal, which were considered sacred by ancient indigenous people. March 13 Sunday Braulio Carillo National Park, Sarapiqui (B, L, D) After an early breakfast we will trade out the highlands for the lowlands. You will see quite a difference in temperature here, as well as species. Our first stop will be a short visit to Braulio Carillo National Park.

2 This different habitat on the foothills of the Central Volcanic Range may produce a mix of birds including Dull-mantled Antbird, Ocellated Antbird, Black-crowned Antpitta, Spotted Barbtail, White-whiskered Puffbird, Tawny-crested, Blue-and-Gold, Emerald, and Rufous-winged tanagers, and Ornate Hawk-Eagle. Some other specialties that can occasionally show up in these trails are Laceolated Monklet, Rufousvented Ground-Cuckoo, Sharpbill, Rufous-fronted Wood-Quail, Red-fronted Parrotlet, Crested Eagle, and Gray-headed Piprites. We proceed to the Sarapiqui area, and Ara Ambigua Lodge, set in an exuberant rainforest. The lodge has 7+ acres of protected secondary forest. We'll arrive in the afternoon, with time to explore before dark. 3 Nights: Ara Ambigua Lodge March 14 Monday Visit to La Selva OTS, Sarapiqui River Boat (B, L, D) The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) field station at La Selva in Sarapiqui is one of the premier rain forest research stations in the world. Researchers have published thousands of scientific papers on tropical ecology based on their studies here. La Selva teams with wildlife and you can easily see monkeys, toucans, sloths, poison dart frogs, green iguanas, peccaries, morpho butterflies and many bird species. The OTS is comprised of 1,614 hectares (3,988 acres) of old growth and disturbed tropical wet forest. The species diversity here is spectacular, as La Selva is home to over 450 species of birds! Some of the more fantastic species of La Selva include the Bare-necked Umbrella Bird, Red-capped Manakin, Great Antshrike, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Chestnut-backed Antbird, and the Slaty-tailed Trogon. We will have lunch on site. A boat trip will offer you the opportunity to observe monkey, iguana, crocodile, sloth, otter, alligator and a wide diversity of bird species in their natural habitat. This trip lasts about 2 hours in a modern and comfortable boat, equipped with 4 stroke engines designed for minimum impact to the environment. This slow flowing river offers the chance to see species like Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Sunbittern, Green Kingfisher, Ringed Kingfisher, Amazon Kingfisher, and the interesting Sungrebe, which swims along the edge usually covered by overhanging branches. March 15- Tuesday - La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Tirimbina Reserve (B, L, D) When you think about Costa Rica, you probably imagine lush tropical rain forest, flowing white rivers, spectacular waterfalls, birds, butterflies, monkeys, sloths, snakes, frogs and jaguars. At La Paz Waterfall Gardens, you are guaranteed to see all that and more, making this an excellent introduction to the country's habitat and wildlife. You will find five waterfalls, a cloud forest and rain forest, safe hiking trails, an aviary with 40 species of birds, toucans feeding, marmoset monkeys, an insect exhibit, a butterfly observatory and butterfly gardens, a butterfly laboratory, two-toed sloths, Capuchin (white

3 faced) monkeys, black-handed spider monkeys, hummingbird garden with 26 documented species, hummingbird hand feeding in the mornings and afternoons, a serpentarium (snake exhibit), Jaguar, pumas, ocelots, jaguarundi, margays, casita de la paz with petting zoo and ox cart, ranarium (frog exhibit), orchid exhibit, heliconia exhibit, bromeliad exhibit. This afternoon you will visit the Tirimbina Biological Reserve in Sarapiqui. Monkeys, toucans, colorful birds, poison dart frogs, and the famous blue morpho butterflies are just some of the wonderful forest residents you may encounter on your walk here. Birds possible include Spotted Antbird, Ocellated Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Song Wren, White-fronted Nunbird, Rufous Motmot, Bay Wren, Northern Barred Woodcreeper and many more. Your trail includes a long suspension bridge over the wide Sarapiqui River from which you may see shorebirds. March 16 - Tuesday - Departure Day (B) The drive to the airport is about 2 hours and we must check in 2 ½ hours before flight, so plan for the afternoon flight. Final itinerary subject to change due to weather, road condition, etc Tour Leader Laurie Foss Laurie started birding in 1971 at the urging of her high school science teacher in Wisconsin. Since moving to Austin in 2003 she has discovered the joys of Hill Country birds and birding. A member of Travis Audubon and a board member of the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands NWR, as well as other local, state and national birding organizations, Laurie is active leading field trips both local and afar, teaching birding classes, traveling to see birds and working for habitat conservation. In addition to her guiding services for JB Journeys, Laurie works at Shield Ranch in the Texas Hill Country. The ranch is under a conservation easement and hosts El Ranchito, a summer camp for economically disadvantaged youth in central Texas. Laurie will be assisted by a bilingual local bird guide. Accommodations Hotel Bougainvillea Only 15 minutes from downtown San José, the Bougainvillea is family owned and operated inn with tastefully decorated rooms and 10 acres of well cared gardens. home to some 60 species of birds. 82 Rooms, Restaurant, Pool and Jacuzzi, Tennis and Gym, Wifi. Ara Ambigua Lodge Located in Sarapiqui, set in a rain forest of 300 Ha of secondary forest with private trails. The lodge is surrounded by tropical gardens with lagoons, butterfly grounds and frog garden and two swimming pools. The lodge rooms have air conditioning, private bath with hot water, and private porch, and wireless internet in the lobby. The restaurant offers local and international cuisine. Paraiso Quetzal Lodge Nestled in a cloud forest nearsan Gerardo de Dota, this rustic but comfortable lodge is, indeed, a paradise for resplendent quetzals and other highland birds, including hordes of hummingbirds. Cozy bungalows, each set in splendid isolation, have picture windows and modern bathrooms. Nighttime temperatures drop into the 40s at this high altitude,

4 and you'll be happy for the electric heaters, hot-water bottles, and hot water for showers. The main lodge has a wood-burning stove and an observation gallery. COST: $2075 per person in double occupancy. Maximum 10 passengers. (with 8: $2275, with 6: $2595) Single supplement $325 (singles are either a double on your own, or a smaller room for one person) Limited to 10 people. Minimum 6 to run the tour. Led by Laurie Foss of JB Journeys and assisted by local bilingual guide To confirm your spot, please send an message or a call, then compete the reservation form and return to JB Journeys with your deposit of $500 per person within one week. Final payment will be due December 1, Checks should be sent to JB Journeys, attn Jean Warneke, 1202 Newning Ave. #114, Austin, Texas INCLUDED Transportation as listed by van 7 nights lodging with taxes included Services of JB Journeys guide Laurie Foss Services of local bilingual bird guide Entry fees to parks, etc Meals as listed NOT INCLUDED: International airfare Meals not listed Drinks during meals Gratuities suggested guides-$7-10/day; driver$3-5/day) Travel Insurance FLIGHTS: The tour will meet flights arriving anytime on March 9 and departures on March 16 after 1:00 pm. Flight times other than this may have a surcharge for transportation. Let us know if we can assist with flight reservations and / or any pre or post travel that interests you. BRING: Binoculars, flashlight and/or headlamp, rain gear, warmer layers for the cloud forest, Ziplock bags for camera (dust and moisture Place packets of rice or silica gel sachets in your photo equipment cases. The rice or silica gel will absorb moisture from the air), JB Journeys water bottle!, Travel alarm, Knapsack/ day pack/ fanny pack or birding vest. Think light!!! The less you bring, the easier your travel will be. Your guides will have spotting scopes. Entry Requirements - To enter Costa Rica, you must have a valid passport with at least one blank visa page, valid for at least 6 months from entry date, a pre-paid roundtrip airline ticket. Citizens of the US and Canada do not need visas, only passports. Citizens of other countries should check with the Costa Rican embassy or consulate nearest them. Location - Costa Rica is located within the following geographic coordinate system: 8 03' ' north latitude and 82 32' west longitude. Including its insular area has an extension of 51,100 km2. Costa Rica, next to Belize and El Salvador, is one of the smallest republics of Central America. It limits

5 in the north with Nicaragua, in the south with Panama, in the east with the Caribbean Sea and the west with the Pacific Ocean. The biodiversity allows the country to have a population of about 150 amphibians, 210 reptiles, approximately 850 species of birds (625 nest and 225 are migratory), more than 205 species of mammals, including bats and other non- flying mammals. Costa Rica is divided into the following seven provinces (States): Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, & San José (Capital City). Here, geography constricts a breathtaking amount of plant and animal life within a modest area of 19,563 square miles (50,900 sq. km), an area comparable in size to Denmark or West Virginia. Within this diminutive nation is found an astonishing five percent of the world's biodiversity, including more than 800 species of ferns, 1,000 orchids, 2,000 trees, and 200 mammals. Both coastlines of Costa Rica have an abundance of beaches. Between the coasts, the interior of the country is shaped by four cordilleras, or mountain ranges, which run from North to South. The capital, San Jose, rests roughly in the nation's center, settled within a highland valley. Cascading down to the Caribbean from the central mountains are Costa Rica's many great rivers, including the Reventazon. The Pacific side is marked by two broad peninsulas that hook out into the Pacific, the Nicoya and the Osa. It is a geographic curiosity that their shapes are almost identical, the Osa being a smaller rendition of the Nicoya. Language - The most widely spoken language in Costa Rica is Spanish (97% of the population); although there are other native languages used mostly within the indigenous reserves. Many businesses, in and around San Jose, and resorts throughout the country have employees who also speak English. Electricity volts; plugs are two pronged without the grounding prong. Bring plenty of batteries. Sometimes the batteries you get down there may have been on the shelf for awhile. Credit Cards - Automated Teller Machines (ATM's) can be easily found in most populated areas of Costa Rica. Most international credit cards are accepted throughout the country: Visa, Master Card and American Express. We recommend you contact your credit card company prior to your trip to let them know you may be using the card abroad. Also, note that some cards charge foreign transaction fees, which can be from 1% - 3%. Currency & Exchange Rate - The Colon ( 1.00) is the national currency of Costa Rica. The exchange rate against the US dollar can vary day by day. US currency is used throughout the country, but you may get Colones as change. Tipping - Most restaurants will include a 10% service charge on the bill. Taxi drivers generally do not receive a tip. If you are satisfied with the service you receive, hotel maids, tour guides and drivers would appreciate a tip. Suggested amounts are guides-$7-10/day and driver $3-5/day. Climate - Costa Rica's climate is renowned as an atmospheric treat. Mild subtropical conditions prevail year-round, and discomforting temperature extremes and prolonged periods of gray are practically nonexistent. Temperature varies mainly according to elevation, the higher the cooler. The brunt of the rainy season lasts from May through November, while a brief dry spell pays a visit from February to April. Costa Rica's rain falls mainly on the Caribbean coast, giving the Pacific a much more arid climate.

6 Departure Tax - There is a US $29 departure tax (subject to change) for all visitors leaving by air. As of 2015, this tax will be added to the price of your airline ticket. Check your ticket to be certain.