Ken Cross in Costa Rica 2018: Costa Rica Day 2 – Hotel Bouganvillea, San Jose

Glenis, Pam, John and Vince chasing Tropical Kingbirds

We arrived in Costa Rica a few minutes before we were scheduled; strangely our group was divided into two different planes for the last flight between San Salvador in El Salvador and San Jose, Costa Rica. It caused a slight panic at the time however it all worked out with everyone and all baggage arriving safely. This seemed a surprise as when we were in LA the airline, Avianca's desk did all they could to assure us that we would miss our connection and were offering a variety of plans. It turned out all panic was unnecessary....

female Hoffman's Woodpecker

Summer Tanager male

Tropical Kingbird

Blue crowned or Lesson's Motmot

resident Chestnut-capped [Rufous-capped] Warbler

Chestnut-capped [Rufous-capped] Warbler

As promised Diego was there to meet us and was very personable. At that time of night , after such a long flight, I doubt we made such a good first impression.

male Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

female Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

The Hotel also made a good first impression and after a brief check in we were off to our rooms for shower and the promise of sleep. It was 11pm and breakfast was set for 8am.

Rufous-backed Wren

We had been warned that the gardens at the Hotel Bouganvillea, where we were staying for our first three nights, were very good but they proved to be excellent! Indeed, a very easy place to spend a day or two or seven. Most folks made their way to the gardens briefly before an excellent breakfast but certainly everyone wandered out exploring straight after.

Birds seen included

Greyish Saltator

Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Broad winged Hawk, Red-billed Pigeon, Inca Dove, White-tipped Dove, White-winged Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo [seen the day before by Helen], Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Hoffmann's Woodpecker, Great Kiskadee, Tropical Kingbird, Blue-and-white Swallow, Rufous-naped Wren, Clay-coloured Thrush, migrant Yellow and Tennessee Warblers and the resident Chestnut-capped Warbler, Blue-grey Tanager, Greyish Saltator, Rufous-collared Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle, Summer Tanager and Baltimore Oriole. Blue crowned [Lesson's] Motmots were another highlight.

Rufous-collared Sparrow

More new birds were seen in the afternoon; Melodious Blackbird, Yellow faced Grassquit, Crimson fronted Parakeets, Yellow headed Caracara plus some folks got Broad billed Flycatcher, Groove billed Ani, Rose breasted Grosbeak.

Blue Grey Tanager

A group of three parrots, probably Crimson fronted Parakeets, did a fly-over.

Oriole sp

Baltimore Oriole

Tennessee Warbler

The breakfast – by the way – was excellent, too. Good coffee, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, fried plantain, beans and rice plus a fried potato mash [like a bubble and squeak]. Speaking of catering we enjoyed a three course lunch of soup, salmon and pasta and strawberry tart for afters. For dinner there was a variety of meals ordered but i had a typical Costa Rica plate; Chicken, rice, beans, salad and fried pantain. Good stuff.

Post dinner frogging was the option with two spp seen. See next Blog entry for pics and descriptions.