A Mild Guide To Nosara Birding

Esta publicación también está disponible en: Español

Birdwatching in Nosara is as simple as walking out of your door on any given day. As an activity, birdwatching has gained in popularity worldwide; Costa Rica and Nosara are no exceptions to the rule.

Costa Rican biodiversity is the sum of more than 505.00 different species of bugs, fish, and reptiles including 894 different species of birds. Here in Nosara, we’re privy to over 270 species of birds, with 19 of them being globally threatened.

After making two outings to the forest and the river-mouth of Nosara, this reporter learned a few things that may come in handy for your preparations for birdwatching in the area.

If you’re looking for a birding experience here in Nosara, here are few tips that you should know:

The early bird gets the worm, pun intended: Being outdoors by 5:30AM is a good bet to see some of the shy little birds in the forests and along the riverbanks, they don’t tend to hunt or forage in the middle of the afternoon, due to heat, although you can get lucky sometimes.

Read a book: Having a copy of Audubon’s field guide or a comparable brand will get your mind into the game of birdwatching, and give you the chance to bone up on variations of plumage, transitionary periods into adulthood and sexual dimorphism, which can dictate what colours and patterns you might see with any given species.

Master the art of Zen, (wo)man: Coming from the modern western world, we tend to take life by the horns. Birding is an art in itself and requires patience, attention and, well, more patience. The photographers at National Geographic may spend a month or two out in the bush before catching a 30-second window of opportunity to actually see their quarry, so keep your eyes and ears open and enjoy the experience.

Birdwatching Options Tours

Logarta Lodge have it own registered private nature reserve, knowledgeable staff, and a gorgeous vista of the mouth of both the Montana and Nosara rivers. Contact them at [email protected] or by phone at (506) 2682-0035. http://www.lagarta.com

Nosara Boat Tours offer a series of guided tours on an eco-friendly vessel good for groups of up to 10. They can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at (506) 2682-0610. http://www.nosarariversafari.com

Experience Nosara takes you out into the river ecosystem and the tropical dry forest inside Lagarta Lodge’s private reserve for birding-specific tours, led by a biologist/ornithologist. Find them at [email protected] or by phone at (506) 8705-2010. http://www.experience-nosara.com

Violaceous Trogon - Trogon Violaceus
Seen: Guiones Beach main strip,
Black head, yellow breast, white strips on the underside of the tail, which is pinstriped.

Pygmy Kingfisher - Chloroceryle aenea Seen: Mangrove forest, Rio Montaña. Orange/Peach breast, blue-green wings, black crown, mottled banding on the neck.

Neotropic Comorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus Seen: Boca de Rio Nosara. Grey neck and head, hooked bill, black body, tail and black, webbed feet.

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea Seen: Boca de Rio Nosara. Blue wings, white belly and legs, purple head, sharp and tapered beak for spearing fish.

Green Kingfisher - Chloroceryle americana Seen: Rio Nosara. Black head, black oversized beak, shiny green wings and body, white band on the neck.

Anhinga – Anhinga anhinga Seen: Boca de Rio Nosara. White diffused plumage on the wings, black body, white neck and head, spear-like beak.

Bare-throated Tiger Heron - Tigrisoma mexicanum Seen: Rio Nosara. Tiger-striped plumage, bright yellow throat, white legs and a spear-like beak.

Black Mangrove Hawk - Buteogallus anthracinus subtilis Seen: Mangrove forest, Rio Montaña. Adult: Solid black plumage, yellow feet with black talons, yellow beak with black at the tip. Juvenile: Yellow with black spotted plumage, which progresses to total black in adulthood.

Green Heron - Butorides virescens Seen: Rio Nosara. Yellow legs, blue-green plumage, white spotted throat on a neck-wide band of purple or russet.

Snowy Egret - Egretta thula Seen: Rio Nosara. Long, black legs with yellow feet, white plumage.

Great Egret - Ardea alba Seen: Rio Nosara. White plumage, long neck, black legs and feet.

Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor Seen: Rio Nosara. Grey legs, white belly, blue plumage, vertically-striped long neck, spear-like yellow beak with black on top.

Social Flycatcher (AKA Vermilion-crowned Flycatcher) - Myiozetetes texensis (M. Similis) Seen: Mangrove forest, Rio Montaña. Yellow belly plumage, short black legs, black head with a white crown, black-topped wings.