December birding in Costa Rica is a time of transition. Lastly, the rains appear to have gone, no less than on the Pacific slope and across the city asphalt methods of the Central Valley. They get changed by solar and a little bit of wind; mockingly, not the perfect state of affairs for birding however nonetheless higher than blinding, heavy rains. Now, we will head out birding once more, now, the tip of the yr is all of the sudden nigh…we have now to exit birding!
It’s not simply birding although, no less than not in case you are “yr birding”. Yr birding is searching for species not heard or seen since January 1st and in the event you nonetheless wish to hit a aim for 2022, December is now or by no means time.
It’s the house stretch and despite the fact that my companion and I aren’t not doing any official large yr insanity, we don’t thoughts seeing as many birds as we will. Now that we’re within the residence stretch, it’s time to see what number of extra we will feasibly establish in 2023. For me, that interprets to betting on hitting 700 species.
In Costa Rica, the large 7 hundred is at all times a doable yr birding aim however it’s additionally one which requires a sure diploma of effort. For instance, you need to go birding throughout each migrations, have to attach with Cerulean Warbler (test), Purple Martin (test), Chimney Swift (test), and different species like Frequent Nighthawk (no test!), and perhaps a Buff-breasted Sandpiper (additionally no test).
You must go birding in should go to hotspots like Cano Negro (we did that final week), the excessive mountains, and method down close to the Panama border. I’ve been lucky to have visited most corners of Costa Rica in 2022, the principle exceptions being San Vito and pure grasslands with Ocellated Crake and some different birds. I haven’t achieved a pelagic journey both however at 677 species, I’m nonetheless shut sufficient to sneak a birding foot previous that end line by December thirty first.
It’s going to take some targeted birding and luck however it may occur. Right here’s my plan:
Guanacaste
To hit my aim, a go to to the good dry northwest is crucial. It’s the place I may nonetheless decide up species like Ivory-billed Woodcreeper, Elegant Trogon, Plain Chachalaca, and others. I hope to get these birds at Rincon de la Vieja the place we may even have an opportunity at unusual sparrows and another decidedly uncommon species.
The opposite principal birds to search for within the dry forest are, oddly sufficient, wetland species. At the moment to yr, the rice fields are nonetheless moist sufficient to host Noticed Rail, wintering Sora, and Wilson’s Snipe in addition to varied geese. I’m hoping for these and extra and there’s at all times an opportunity of operating into one thing decidedly uncommon, perhaps some misplaced warbler or sparrow that wouldn’t imply a lot to birders in North America.
A Complete Lot of Pishing Going On
Talking of small misplaced birds, to seek out them, there should be a variety of pishing. I’m alread uninterested in making that foolish noise however what are you gonna do? It’s what brings these small birds out of the vegetation. It even labored this very morning, if for only a fraction of a second after we noticed a troublesome for Costa Rica Yellow-breasted Chat in a brushy espresso subject. There’s different unusual wintering birds on the market, pishing will get annoying however it could possibly actually assist.
Uncommon Residents
The remaining number of birds I may add to my 2022 checklist are all uncommon residents. These are the robust ones, the birds that require visits to particular spots and even then, they won’t wish to play. I’ve seen a good variety of such birds this yr, species like Blue Seedeater, Peg-billed Finch, Yellow-eared Toucanet, Yellow-tailed Oriole, cotingas, Black-chested Jay, and, simply the opposite day, a shock implausible Tiny Hawk that blessed the feeders of the Cafe Colibri in Cinchona (!).
There’s nonetheless extra to see although, birds like Black-banded Woodcreeper, Olive-backed Quail-Dove, and Rufous-rumped Antwren, and Black and White Becard. We would get them, no less than if we do extra birding of their ordinary haunts. Naked-necked Umbrellabird could be good, hopefully one just like the featured picture for this put up.
It’s time to make the ultimate plans, time to see how we will join with our ultimate yr birds. Even when we don’t meet any of the haughty objectives, it’s nonetheless gonna be good, that is birding in Costa Rica in any case.