Corcovado & Osa - Costa Rica

Exploring Costa Rica.

After my volunteer days in Playa Tortuga were over, I decided to stay a bit longer in Costa Rica and explore the fauna world too by myself. This is part 1.

Near the Playa Tortuga there were places where fishermen could sell their catch-of-the-day. It seems that not only the local buyers were interested but also Black Vultures and Brown Pelicans.

This Blue-throated Golden Tail was one that gave me a hard time. I had my smaller camera with me so I had to be creative to somehow manage to take a picture.

American Crocodiles were seen quite often near the beaches, but they were also alert of our presence too. Most of the time they disappeared under the water right when you wanted to take a picture. But after waiting patiently I managed to take one.

The Great Tailed Grackle was one of those birds you would hear every morning.

Cherrie's tanagers were also well represented.

And so was the Great Kiskadee, seen here resting on a wire.

The Ruddy Ground Dove was one bird I couldn't approach at a closer distance but still visible enough to recognize.

Red crowned Woodpeckers were also common birds and also not human shy. They were too occupied with the tree trunks.

Crested Guans weren't shy for humans and were seen eating berries in someone's backyard. 

Green Iguana's were practically locals, everywhere I looked I saw these small green guys.

Most of the fauna inhabitants were small fellows, just like this anole who was hanging on.

I spotted Black Mandibled Toucans right next to the highway of Osa.

This was the largest raptor I spotted: the Roadside Hawk. Also a local.

White-throated Capuchins  surely didn't disappoint, but they were best known as morning animals.

Social Flycatchers weren't so social. The moment they spotted me they either flew away or were just sitting between the branches.

This Tiger Heron was spotted in the gutter trying to catch fish and frogs.

And further away in the same gutter I spotted the Ringed Kingfisher, the Black bellied Whistling Duck and the Purple Gallinule.

Being small surely has some advantages. I almost missed this small fellow. It was busy making a tree hole bigger. This is the Orange chinned Parakeet. In the first picture you can clearly see the orange spot right under its beak.

Inside the forest you will 'bump' into some inhabitants too and most of the time they just pass by as it is normal for them. Here I barely have a clear shot of a White nosed Coati passing by. I guess it took my by surprise.

Agouti's were seen inside the forest of Corcovado a lot trying to find something to snack on.

As we were walking inside the Corcovado's forest we stumbled upon this inhabitant right above our head: a Collared Anteater. After a while it fell asleep too.

A White-whiskered Puffbird was spotted in the same neighborhood as the Collared Anteater.

This Tiger Heron was well camouflaged between all those rocks.

Magnificent Frigatebirds were seen also in abundance especially where fish was caught and sold.

And this White Ibis was trying to mingle with the Black Vultures and Brown Pelicans. It was so far the only White Ibis I spotted in Costa Rica.

Scarlet Macaws were seen often in fruit trees, they especially liked those with a lot of leaves, good for hiding.

Just like the Toucans I also spotted this Sipurio Snouted Tree frog near the highway of Osa.

Spiders monkeys were also seen in Corcovado. They almost look like our Red howler Monkeys from a distance.

And here are pictures taken via a telescope; Collared Anteater and the White-whiskered Puffbird.

You can easily do birding by yourself in Costa Rica especially when you are already familiar with the family groups. 

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