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Talari Mountain Lodge "Gateway to Southern Costa Rica"
Birding and Wildlife Attractions of Talari
Mountain Lodge:
Birding
at the Lodge: The grounds of Talari Mountain Lodge
support a host of interesting Costa Rican species. Just
outside your cabin at dawn and dusk watch for the ground
foraging Gray-necked Wood-Rail and Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush.
Blue-crowned Motmots are resident and easily seen, their
bobo call can be frequently heard in the early morning.
Flowering trees attract a host of hummingbirds including
Long-billed Starthroat, Scaly-breasted and Snowy-bellied
Hummingbirds, Garden Emerald, and the occasional White-crested
Coquette along with several others. Fruiting trees attract
Fiery-billed Aracari, dacnis, honeycreepers, a host of flycatchers
and tanagers, and, and even the glorious Turquoise Cotinga.
Species found typically here and and further to the south
are well represented with Pearl Kite, Scaled Pigeon, Olivaceous
Piculet, Red-crowned Woodpecker, Pale-breasted Spinetail,
Bran-colored Flycatcher (uc), Cherrie's Tanager (split from
Scarlet-rumped), Streaked Saltator, and Yellow-bellied Seedeater.
Nocturnal species include Tropical Screech-Owl, Common Potoo,
and Parauque. Though not a large area, you can see that
Talari has plenty to keep you occupied during you stay here!
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Nearby sites: If spending
more than one night in the San Isidro area we recommend a
visit to nearby Los Cusingos Neotropical Bird Sanctuary located
just 20 minutes by vehicle from the lodge. This sanctuary
was home to the renowned ornithologist, botanist, and author
Dr. Alexander Skutch from 1941 to when he passed away in 2004.
It was here that Dr. Skutch unlocked many mysteries of tropical
bird behavior. Dr. Skutch also co-authored "A Guide to the
Birds of Costa Rica" which greatly increased a southerly migration
to Costa Rica of not birds but birders. The sanctuary protects
a section of land complete with primary Pacific rainforest.
Birds to watch for during your visit here that you are unlikely
to encounter at Talari Mountain Lodge include Black Hawk-Eagle,
Golden-naped Woodpecker, Slaty-tailed Trogon, Bicolored Antbird,
Rufous Piha, and Red-capped Manakin while Fiery-billed Aracari
and Turquoise Cotinga are more regular here than at the lodge.
Transport and guide can be arranged for your visit to this
unique sanctuary while at Talari Mountain Lodge. |
We recommend one to two nights at Talari Mountain Lodge although
three nights would be more relaxing and give you an opportunity
to visit other sites in the area.
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birds of Talari Mountain Lodge: |
Gray-necked Wood-Rail - Though found throughout
the lowlands, Talari is one of the best sites to see this
large and colorful rail.
Pearl Kite - Not uncommon in the fields
near the lodge and adjacent area.
Scaled Pigeon - A spectacular canopy pigeon
found here and further south.
Tropical Screech-Owl - Resident on the
grounds, can be difficult to locate.
Common Potoo - Seasonal? Can sometimes
be seen in the forest patch by the lodge.
White-crested Coquette - An uncommon SW
Costa Rica, NW Panama endemic occurring seasonally to flowering
trees in the area.
Smooth-billed Ani - Common in the open
fields of the area.
Long-billed Starthroat - Another widespread
bird found more easily here than most other places in Costa
Rica. Garden Emerald - Not uncommon when
there are flowering bushes in the area.
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird - regularly nests
on the grounds of the lodge.
Fiery-billed Aracari - A stunning bird,
fairly common in small groups around the lodge and at nearby
Los Cusingos. Olivaceous Piculet - Mostly
in secondary growth, behavior and call like diminutive woodpecker.
Red-crowned Woodpecker - Common at the
lodge, becomes the common woodpecker from here south into
Pacific foothills and lowlands.
Turquoise Cotinga - Electric!!! Often perches
high on open branches. Not uncommon on the grounds of Talari
and at Los Cusingos.
Orange-collared Manakin - Common in Talari's
private forest and fruiting trees in the garden.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher - Spectacular! Fairly
common in open fields near lodge and vicinity.
Bran-colored Flycatcher - Local, stays
low in grassy pastures with scattered trees.
Lesser Elaenia - Fairly common, secondary
growth, distinctive call and short but definite crest help
separate it from Yellow-bellied and seasonal Mountain Elaenias
in the area.
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush - A widespread
middle elevation garden bird found readily in the early
morning at the lodge.
Streaked Saltator - Common around lodge,
more widespread further south.
Yellow-bellied Seedeater - Another common
SW Costa Rica species, this being its most northern stronghold.
Red-breasted Blackbird - To be looked for
in cattle pastures south of Talari, spreading.
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Orange-billed |
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Nightingale-Thrush |
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"the birding and nature specialists"
Copyright © 2008 Costa Rica Gateway.
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