![\"violet-crowned-woodnymph\"](\"https:\/\/emptynestbirder.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/2014-july-dec\/violet-crowned-woodnymph.jpg\")
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Other hummingbirds found at Rancho Naturalist were Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds, Green-crowned Brilliants, and Purple-crowned Fairies (12 species in all). Aren\u2019t the names amusing? And often very descriptive. The hummingbirds were definitely the highlight at Rancho Naturalista.<\/p>\n
My first sighting of a Snowcap (a hummingbird) occurred as dusk was descending soon after our arrival, and three of us followed Harry into the even darker woods where we looked down into a deep ravine with a number of small pools. As we watched from above, both a male and a female Snowcap came to bathe in the pools, dipping in and out like dragonflies. Another excellent sighting at the pools was a very cooperative Tawny-throated Leaftosser, which kept us entertained with its bathing forays into the shallow pools. Darkness finally forced us to return to the lodge for a delicious dinner, (especially the dessert) served family style to the 8 or 9 guests.<\/p>\n
The feeders outside the lodge attacted many lovely birds including both species of Tourcans and this Collared Aracari. <\/strong><\/p>\n Early in the morning of our departure day, we walked to a large canvas that was stretched between some trees and lit with bright lights during the pre-dawn hours, attracting hordes of moths and other insects, which, in turn brought in a good number of forest birds looking for an easy meal. These included a couple of new birds for me: Plain-brown Woodcreepers, and Tawny-chested Flycatchers.<\/p>\n Rancho Naturalista produced a total of 73 bird species, of which 10 were new to me. On the way to our next Lodge on the morning of Day 5 of our trip, we stopped at Mirador Quetzales. This was a stop both for lunch and to hike the mountains in the area for a couple of hours, primarily for the purpose of seeing a Resplendent Quetzal, just in case we were to miss them at our next lodge, La Selva, where sightings are generally more predictable. The hike was taxing and did not produce a Quetzal although we did see a good number of other birds.<\/p>\n We arrived in mid-afternoon at Savegre and we were pleased and surprised at the beauty of the gardens and general setting. Part 3 of my Costa Rica report will describe our excellent experience at this lovely facility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Days 3 and 4 in Costa Rica were occupied by travelling to Rancho Naturalista in the Tuis-Turrialba region of the Talamanca Mountains. The staff, headed by birder extra-ordinaire, Harry, welcomed us and we were quickly seeing many Hummingbirds attracted to … Continue reading ![\"collared-aracari\"](\"https:\/\/emptynestbirder.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/2014-july-dec\/collared-aracari.jpg\")
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