Costa Rica Discoveries
2010 WildBird magazine Birder of the Year Aileen Peaco-Burkett of Maine sees her first birds outside the United States thanks to WildBird readers.
September 1, 2011
By Aileen Peaco-Burkett
In each November/December issue, WildBird readers get to crown one of their peers as Birder of the Year. The candidates appear as Forum Birders and Backyard Birders in each issue throughout the year. The contest is open to everyone who responds to the questions in the Birder’s Back Yard and Lister’s Forum departments.
As 2010 Birder of the Year, Aileen Peaco-Burkett of Bridgton, Maine, received a Swarovski EL binocular and an expenses-paid five-day guided trip for two to Costa Rica with Swarovski Optik and WildBird hosts. Here is Aileen’s account of the June 2011 trip.
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| Green Violet-ear by Clayton Taylor/Swarovski Optik Digiscoping |
When my husband, Scott, and I arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica, we were met by Clay Taylor of Swarovski Optik; our native guide, Alex Villegas; and our driver, Raphael Arguedas. While waiting for WildBird editor Amy Hooper’s flight to land, we had the chance to meet Richard Garrigues, author of “The Birds of Costa Rica” (Zona Tropical/Comstock/Cornell University Press, 2007). It was a pleasure to meet him -- such a wonderful beginning to our trip.
After picking up Amy, our first destination wasSavegre Mountain Hotel, about a three-hour ride away in San Gerardo de Dota. I felt in awe of our surroundings, all the while looking for birds. As we wound up the mountain road, I kept thinking, “I’m in Costa Rica.” It felt like a dream.
At the lodge, we stopped on the patio where they hang hummingbird feeders. I stood there looking at all the hummingbirds with tears in my eyes. I had never seen such beauty at one time. Amy was telling me the names: Magnificent Hummingbird, Green Violet-ear, White-throated Mountain-gem and many more.
I could walk right up to them and take pictures as they competed for the feeders. The zipping and zapping sounds of their wings combined with the squeaking noises of their calls totally absorbed me.
After waking in the morning to the beautiful birdsong, we met to look for Resplendent Quetzal. Not only did we see it, we also saw an Emerald Toucanet as well as Black-faced Solitaire, Long-tailed Silky-Flycatcher, Collared Redstart and Silver-throated Tanager among others.
On Thursday morning, we headed toward our next stop. On the way out of the cloud forest, we stopped at a restaurant called La Georgina. Through the open windows, we took pictures of Fiery-throated, Volcano, Magnificent and Scintillant Hummingbirds at the hanging fuchsias and sugar-water feeders.
Outside Turrialba on the Caribbean side, Rancho Naturalista hangs hummingbird feeders along its upstairs and downstairs balconies. On the grounds, feeders hold fresh fruit, while stone birdbaths bring in more birds.
Among the hummingbirds, we identified Green Hermit, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Green Thorntail, Violet Sabrewing and many more. After dinner, Clay provided an extra treat: a much-appreciated photography class. Then I retired to the balcony and watched the hummingbirds until I could no longer keep my eyes open.
Loud birdsongs woke me on Friday morning, and I headed to the balcony. I couldn’t take my eyes off a beautiful bird that flew in: Passerini’s Tanager -- brilliant colors of black and red. Two more birds that I really enjoyed from the balcony were Blue-gray Tanager and Montezuma Oropendola.
Before breakfast, we walked to a moth tent with a light to attract the moths. Many birds were there, eating breakfast. Later at another spot, we watched hummingbirds on the hedgerow of purple porterweed, and I heard Clay say, “There she is, the Snowcap!” What a treat to see the smallest of hummingbirds.
After lunch, I watched different birds around the lodge, some making nests, others eating the fruit. Drawn back to the balcony to watch the hummingbirds, I wanted to make sure I would always be able to see them after closing my eyes at night.
As we loaded the van to return to San Jose on Friday, it still felt like a dream. Oh, Costa Rica, you are a beautiful country, full of amazing birds, flowers, vegetation and people. What an exciting trip for someone who never has been out of the United States. Thank you, everyone; I’ll never forget this trip.