
My wife and I had planned to rent a camping van and stay at various places around the country. We tried it for a couple days and quickly realized we wanted a real shower and toilet, so we ditched the camping and stayed at a nice AirBnB! As a result, I didn't see nearly as many birding places as I wanted, but I did manage to spend a day birding Monteverde at the [Curi-Cancha Reserve](https://ebird.org/checklist/S127884204). This was by far the best birding of the trip. I ran into a couple from Turkey and Switzerland who were also birding, and we had a great time together.

<EbirdImage id="ML534019121" species="Lesser Violetear" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534010891" species="Purple-throated Mountain-gem" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534019801" species="Coppery-headed Emerald" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534111201" species="Lesson's Motmot" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534082021" species="Dusky-capped Flycatcher" />
<EbirdImage id="ML534082231" species="Resplendent Quetza" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534082491" species="Northern Emerald-Toucanet" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534081591" species="Chestnut-capped Warbler" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534010781" species="Black-faced Solitaire" lifer />

The rest of the trip was spent in the Nicoya Peninsula, primarily in Playa Carrillo. Here's some of my favorite shots from there.

<EbirdImage id="ML533964091" species="Rufous-naped Wren" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534140081" species="Scarlet Macaw" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534140071" species="Scarlet Macaw" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML533956481" species="Nutting's Flycatcher" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML533955231" species="Cinnamon Hummingbird" />
<EbirdImage id="ML533877461" species="Double-striped Thick-knee" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML534151701" species="White-throated Magpie-Jay" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML533963991" species="Blue-throated Goldentail" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML533955411" species="Canivet's Emerald" lifer />


Nicoya Peninsula and Monteverde

Costa Rica


This was my second trip to Puerto Rico. I had been previously on vacation just to the San Juan area, so I still had 4 endemics I needed to see, plus some other reasonable targets that are not endemic. I was hoping to see either a Ruddy or Key-west Quail Dove but that turned out to be a pipe dream.

<EbirdImage id="ML506072771" species="Puerto Rican Tanager" />
<EbirdImage id="ML506032011" species="Yellow-shouldered Blackbird" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML504933101" species="Monk Parakeet" />
<EbirdImage id="ML504932961" species="Green-throated Carib" />
<EbirdImage id="ML506072061" species="Puerto Rican Vireo" />
<EbirdImage id="ML505464101" species="Antillean Crested Hummingbird" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML505470921" species="Lesser Antillean Pewee" />
<EbirdImage id="ML505487471" species="Adelaide's Warbler" />
<EbirdImage id="ML504409981" species="Yellow-faced Grassquit" />
<EbirdImage id="ML506058361" species="Puerto Rican Flycatcher" />
<EbirdImage id="ML506075631" species="American Oystercatcher" />
<EbirdImage id="ML505513641" species="Elfin-woods Warbler" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML505476961" species="Puerto Rican Nightjar" lifer />


Puerto Rico


This was another vacation trip where I managed to fit in some birding. I wasn't exactly staying in prime areas for birding, so overall it wasn't my best birding trip, but I did pick up 35 lifers which was alright. My time was mostly split between Panama City area and the little island of Bocas Del Toro. I made it to the famous Pipeline Road spot about 40 mins out of Panama City on my first day. I wanted to go back but I ended up getting into a car accident (not my fault) which disrupted my plans a little! Regardless, here's a selection of some of my less bad shots.

<EbirdImage id="ML496691131" species="Red-throated Ant-Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496691121" species="Red-throated Ant-Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496636091" species="Plain-colored Tanager" text="Appropriately named" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496356681" species="Morelet's Seedeater" />
<EbirdImage id="ML496278911" species="Yellow Warbler (Mangrove)" text="First time seeing this striking subspecies!" />
<EbirdImage id="ML496308181" species="Golden-collared Manakin" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496314461" species="Dusky Antbird" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496291211" species="Bronzy Hermit" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496692311" species="Crimson-crested Woodpecker" lifer />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML497204901"
  species="White-whiskered Puffbird"
  text="One of the few birds that actually posed nicely. Taken at the Pipeline Road."
  lifer
/>

The gardens surounding the Biomuseum were surprisingly good for hummingbirds that I didn't see anywhere else.

<EbirdImage id="ML496720671" species="Snowy-bellied Hummingbird" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML496727041" species="Garden Emerald" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML494311641" species="Orange-chinned Parakeet" />


Bocas Del Toro and Panama City

Panama


While visiting family in the Los Angeles, area my wife and I found some really affordable flights to Puerto Vallarta. We made a short trip out there and I was able to do some casual birding. Here's a few of my favorite shots from the trip.

<EbirdImage id="ML451549591" species="Citreoline Trogon" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML451604131" species="Golden-cheeked Woodpecker" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML451593761" species="Orange-fronted Parakeet" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML451581011" species="Sinaloa Wren" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML451587931" species="Russet-crowned Motmot" lifer />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML451546301"
  species="Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow"
  text="This species was supposed to be fairly uncommon but I regularly had them right around the AirBnb where we stayed."
  lifer
/>
<EbirdImage id="ML451557891" species="Stripe-headed Sparrow" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML451553381" species="Yellow-winged Cacique" lifer />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML451577561"
  species="Blue Bunting"
  text="Not the best picture, but I was excited to see a male. I've seen boring females in Texas."
/>
<EbirdImage id="ML451548121" species="Rufous-bellied Chachalaca" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML451589301" species="Black-bellied Whistling-Duck" />


Puerto Vallarta, Mexico


After arriving in Quito we went to the Papallacta for a day. My wife and the others on the trip enjoyed the hot springs while I went birding. Numbers weren't great but it was certainly worthwhile. Here's a few of the highlights.

<EbirdImage id="ML417561711" species="Masked Trogon" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML417569621" species="Chestnut-bellied Chat-Tyrant" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML417560311" species="Buff-breasted Mountain Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML417549101" species="Plumbeous Sierra Finch" lifer />

The rest of the time I spent casually birding around Mindo. One particular place, San Tadeo, really stood out. They have hummingbird and fruit feeders. Here's a few of my favorites.

<EbirdImage id="ML424405331" species="White-booted Racket-tail" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424416401" species="Blue-winged Mountain Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424412761" species="Golden Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424412811" species="Flame-faced Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424408781" species="Empress Brilliant" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424408971" species="Violet-tailed Sylph" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424414181" species="Black-capped Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424408131" species="Purple-bibbed Whitetip" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424416001" species="Orange-bellied Euphonia" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424416191" species="Black-chinned Mountain Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML424416021" species="Red-headed Barbet" lifer />

In addition, I paid for the half-day birding tour at the famous Refugio Paz de las Aves (Angel Paz). The owner hand feeds the antpittas and the refuge also provides great looks at many other species. I had 70 species in one morning. Here's a few highlights.

<EbirdImage id="ML422238681" species="Golden-naped Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML420151631" species="Andean Cock-of-the-rock" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422241431" species="Ochre-breasted Antpitta" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422234771" species="Yellow-breasted Antpitta" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422242631" species="Chestnut-crowned Antpitta" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422218791" species="Giant Antpitta" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422267641" species="Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422240111" species="Toucan Barbet" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422226771" species="Empress Brilliant" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422238041" species="Purple-bibbed Whitetip" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422229111" species="Velvet-purple Coronet" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML422220471" species="Common Potoo" lifer />

Here's a few others from various locations around Mindo.

<EbirdImage id="ML417992331" species="White-necked Jacobin" />
<EbirdImage id="ML420140781" species="Ornate Flycatcher" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML420135001" species="Rufous-tailed Hummingbird" />
<EbirdImage id="ML422272741" species="Purple-throated Woodstar" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML420135371" species="Fawn-breasted Brilliant" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML417985201" species="Blue-necked Tanager" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML417984621" species="Little Cuckoo" lifer />


Mindo and Papallacta

Ecuador


Even though the Galapagos Islands have a relatively low bird species abundance, the species they do have are quite unique. I found the birds and other wildlife to be quite approachable which afforded great photo ops. I went to the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabella, San Cristobol, and a short trip to Floreana. The purpose of my trip was not soley birding, so I didn't make it out to the far side of Isabella where the Flightless Cormorants are found.

<EbirdImage id="ML363177591" species="Galapagos Penguin" lifer />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML361218541"
  species="Waved Albatross"
  text="I had the best success with Waved Albatross on the boats between the islands."
  lifer
/>

<EbirdImage id="ML361213521" species="Red-billed Tropicbird" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML363706101" species="Blue-footed Booby" />
<EbirdImage id="ML363176681" species="Striated Heron (Galapagos)" />

Unfortunately I didn't do quite as well with the endemic shearwater and petrel.

<EbirdImage id="ML363187181" species="Galapagos Shearwater" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML363170611" species="Galapagos Petrel" lifer />

<EbirdImage id="ML363709881" species="Galapagos Dove" lifer />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML361252091"
  species="Dark-billed Cuckoo"
  text="I thought I would have a difficult time with these, but after searching for and finding this one I incidentally saw several more"
  lifer
/>
<EbirdImage
  id="ML360633991"
  species="Galapagos Rail"
  text="This was possibly the biggest highlight of the trip. They're extremely secretive and very few people have photos of them at all. I was fortunate enough to get amazing views after putting in quite a bit of effort researching and searching in the field."
  lifer
/>
<EbirdImage id="ML361233831" species="San Cristobal Mockingbird" />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML361209501"
  species="Floreana Mockingbird"
  text={`Evidently at one point they moved all the Floreana Mockingbirds onto one or two offshore "rocks". Our boat circled one of them and I was eventually able to spot one on a cactus. There's only about 750 left in the wild, 70 of which were evidently on the rock we visited (Champion).`}
  lifer
/>
<EbirdImage id="ML361214191" species="Galapagos Flycatcher" lifer />
<EbirdImage
  id="ML363169581"
  species="Short-eared Owl (Galapagos)"
  text="This was a pleasant surprise. I randomly came across it while out cycling the highlands of Santa Cruz in search of a Brujo Flycatcher. I only ever saw a Brujo briefly from a bus."
/>
<EbirdImage id="ML363206601" species="Green Warbler-Finch" lifer />

At the end of the trip I hiked the Sierra Negra volcano on Isabella. I had several target species including the Hawk and Martin for which I thought my chances were pretty low. Thankfully I had great success with both!

<EbirdImage id="ML363171871" species="Galapagos Hawk" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML363174191" species="Galapagos Martin" lifer />

The finches were kinda tough to identify, but thankfully I saw so many that I was able to feel confident about my identifications. Some have such massive bills that they're undoubtedly Large Ground-Finch, and some islands have Medium-Ground Finches but not Large, so it all worked out.

<EbirdImage id="ML361238771" species="Small Ground-Finch" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML361237541" species="Vegetarian Finch" text="Such a cool name!" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML361237571" species="Woodpecker Finch" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML361243921" species="Large Ground-Finch" lifer />
<EbirdImage id="ML363207781" species="Common Cactus-Finch" lifer />

Some additional shots from the trip:

<EbirdImage id="ML363178361" species="Whimbrel" />
<EbirdImage id="ML363178411" species="Ruddy Turnstone" />
<EbirdImage id="ML363710841" species="Brown Noddy" />


Trip Reports

Costa Rica

Puerto Rico

Panama

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Ecuador

Galapagos Islands

Adam Jackson

Birding Life List