BIRDING THE HOTEL GROUNDS - TRANSFER TO ENSENADA WITH STOPS ALONG THE APPROACH TRACK
WEATHER: low cloud, very misty to start and very hot and humid when we arrived at Nicoya Bay, on the Pacific Coast at Ensenada Ranch.
We started our day with a walk in the meadows below the hotel, it was a little chilly, misty with drizzling rain at times. However, despite the adverse weather conditions we added a few new species to te list. Jason found us some 'goodies' in the woodland areas, such as Dusky Antbird, Long-billed Gnatwren, Tropical Pewee and others. The best of the rest was the stunning, male, Kentucky Warbler, what a little beauty! We also saw Slaty Spinetail, White-breasted Wood-Wren and others.
we left the damp, misty weather at Lake Arenal behind us, as we drove eastward towards the Pacific Ocean
Most of the morning was spent travelling, we drove westward along the northern shore of Lake Arenal, it took us an hour to pass the reservoir some 30 miles long!! We made two stops along the way and added new species at both stops. The Black-headed Tityra was found in a cafe car park whilst Goove-billed Ani and Scarlet Macaw was found in another, where we had lunch.
that's better - a bit sunshine and dry weather
We were now, well and truly, in the dry forest region on the Pacific side of the country. We had clear blue sky and a temperature around 30C,. what difference from this monrings dull, misty and cool weather!
Our most fruitful birding stops were along the dusty track to Ensenada from the main road. We stopped to look at some Ground Doves and then found a small group of White-throated Magpie-Jays. The next stop was more productive. We saw Yellow-throated Vireo, Orange-fronted Parakeets, Cinamon and Stripe-breasted Mango Hummingbirds, Groove-billed Ani, a White-necked Puffbird was a beauty and the reason for our impromptu stop was the sighting of a Hook-billed Hawk.
a Banded Wren
Further sightings ensued with Lineated Woodpecker, White-browed Gnatcatcher, a beautiful Banded Wren showed well. Brown-crested Flycatcher, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Common Black Hawk and several more.
Groove-billed Ani
White-necked Puffbird
We arrived at Ensenada Ranch around 3:30pm and after a short settling-in time some of us took a walk down to the shore. This famous hotel is a working ranch and sits on a hill overlooking Nicoya Bay, the views are stunning. It is a short walk to an ancient wooden, jetty where gulls and tern roost during the high tide period and that is where we headed.
the old wooden jetty with Royal Terns and laughing Gulls roosting on it
Tthe tide was ebbing and so was the number of birds on the jetty, we saw only two species, Royal Tern and Laughing Gull. Scanning the shoreline as the tide dropped we found a few waders. Hudsonian Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Black-bellied Plover and some distant Willets. We did see a flock of peeps but they were too far away to identify them.
The Hudsonian Whimbrel is a recent split from the Eurasian Whimbrel that we get in the UK
Lots of herons and egrets appeared, we added White Ibis and Tri-colored Heron, we also saw an Osprey and in the sky there was a constant presence of Magnificent Frigatebirds.
We met at 7pm for our el fresco dinner and a nice cold beer!