10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

Although it’s feasible and fairly easy to see Great Tinamou at some sites in Costa Rica, in most other places, the time investment needed to see one usually relegates it to the “heard only” category. In no particular order, these are my top 25 picks for target birds of Costa Rica. Why 25 and not ten?

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica Panama Birds Eagles 203

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2020

In Costa Rica, our July birding news usually consists of interesting sightings during the mid-summer tours. I savor the timeless experience of scanning these tropical waves for storm-petrels and lost jaegers. Although this robin-sized raptor occurs in quite a few parts of Costa Rica, you would never ever know it.

Costa Rica 223

Costa Rica Birds Thailand Family 223

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2015

In Costa Rica, although I did spend a memorable one years ago in the Osa Peninsula where flocks of parrots flew into the mangroves while we feasted on turkey, pie, and the works, we have no actual Wild Turkeys , nor an official Thanksgiving. That last little bit is also why we call it “Turkey Day”! Ain’t I great?

Costa Rica 178

Costa Rica Turkey Ecuador Hunting 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 19, 2017

In Costa Rica, we don’t get many chances to chase birds. Most times, because they don’t usually stick to one spot, you can’t really twitch the super rare residents and since they live in Costa Rica all year long, I’m not so sure if they fall into the twitchable category anyways.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica San Jose Falcons Nicaragua 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Later, Harry Fuller, President of the Klamath Bird Observatory, led us to an open meadow where we saw a pair of Great Gray Owls hunting in a meadow. The experience, the place, and the bird combine to make this my BBOTY. There were several species of bird I really wanted to get in Costa Rica but none of them showed.

2014 194

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 194

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2017

Another surprise is the two pieces on hunting, an interesting change from the essays on bird feeding in volume one. There are also the essays by birders whose names are familiar but whose claim to fame lie more in birding achievements (big year birder Greg Miller) or birding jobs (Panama tour leader Carlos A. In the next essay, J.

2017 147

2017 Costa Rica 2007 Hunters 147