Los Cusingos

Yesterday, we visited a nature reserve near San Isidro called Los Cusingos; the Costa Rican name for the Fiery-billed Aracari. It was the home and study area of famous ornithologist, Alexander Skutch, who studied the in-depth breeding ecology of nearly all of Costa Rica's birds, publishing numerous scientific papers.

Our trip started with a stop off at an area of riverside trees on the outskirts of San Isidro where we saw Scaled Pigeon, Lesser Elaenia, Tropical Gnatcatcher and an overflying flock of 25+ Crimson-fronted Parakeets.

Arriving at Los Cosingos, we first spent a while in the garden where the bird feeders attracted a multitude of colourful species. A berry bush nearby did a good job of attracting Manakins, with Oranage-collared Manakin, White-ruffed Manakin and Blue-capped Manakin seen, with Red-capped Manakin later completing the set in the woods.

Other notable species not photographed below included Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher, Spotted Woodcreeper, Dot-winged Antwren, Chestnut-backed Antbird, White-throated Thrush, Orange-billed Sparrow and Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher. All photos were digiscoped.

Scaled Pigeon - two flew in and landed at the top of a tree as the sun rose and the nearby Cattle Egrets left their riverside roost.

Lesser Elaenia - note the sharp cut off in the pale edged secondaries 1/3 of the way along the feathers.

Golden-naped Woodpecker

Red-crowned Ant-tanager (fem) - this bird visited the feeders, however the rusty red males were also seen in the forest.

Spot-crowned Euphonia

Green Honeycreeper

Blue Dacnis

Grey-headed Tanager

Blue-crowned Manakin (fem)

Orange-collared Manakin (fem)

Red-capped Manakin (fem)

Streaked Flycatcher

Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

Black-throated Trogon (fem)

Black-throated Trogon (male)

Least Flycatcher

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

Orange-collared Manakin (male)

Wedge-billed Woodcreeper

White-ruffed Manakin (male)

Lineated Woodpecker - our VW campervan got a flat tyre on the drive down (not surprising considering the road conditions!), and this woodpecker was clearing out a hole by the garage in San Isidro where we got the tyre repaired.