Costa Rica Day 10

What a day. Our first full day in the Talamanca Highlands was a massive success. We woke up early to head to a local farmer's property for a bird that moves people to tears: the Resplendent Quetzal. The fog was tough to shoot through, but it didn't stop the bird's absurd colors from appearing unreal in camera. It really is one of the most stunning birds on this planet. Here we also picked up Buffy-crowned Wood Partridge, Mountain Elaenias, Sooty-capped Chlorospingus, and Spotted Wood Quails. 

After our incredible sunrise birding on the farm, we headed to a local guide and lodge owner's lodge for breakfast and some birding. Hotel Gema del Bosque is a seriously amazing property in the Talamanca Highlands, I'd seriously recommend staying there if you head out that way. Breakfast was amazing, and the birds (what do ya know) were better. While sipping coffee, White-throated Mountain Gems, Lesser Violetears, Talamanca and Volcano Hummingbirds zipped around some tastefully set up feeders allowing for stunning photos. After breakfast, we walked one of the trails on the property  to see what we could pick out, and we had some great success. We had a female Resplendent Quetzal, Ruddy Pigeons, Golden-browed Chlorospingus, a Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, a group of Black-capped Flycatchers, and more. After we turned around and headed back, we entered a small clearing and found a very solid mixed flock consisting of Flame-throated Warblers, a Ruddy Treerunner, more Black-capped Flycatchers, Golden-winged Warbler, Black-cheeked Warblers, Slaty Flowerpiercers, our first Fiery-throated Hummingbird, and more. Back at the lodge, we found some Large-footed Finches and a Mountain Thrush before we headed out. 

We drove a ways to get our first taste of the Paramo, the equivalent of "alpine" farther north. It was a seriously incredible habitat to be able to bird. We were birding well over the elevation threshold that keeps plants in the United States at a max of about 6 inches, but were surrounded by trees, shrubs, and a lot of really cool looking plants. Another cool thing was that despite being at around 11,000ft, the air didn't feel too thin at all. Our main targets here were the Volcano Junco and Timberline Wren, both of which we knocked out easily. 

Lunch at a restaurant above Savegre gave us another amazing hummingbird feeder experience, one that included Lesser Violetears coming up to my ears thinking they must've been flowers. We got more amazing photos of Lesser Violetears, and a great show of a few Fiery-throated Hummingbirds occasionally flashing the incredible gorget in the cloudy light. 

It was sadly too windy and rainy for us to go owling, so we went to bed a bit early which was nice. 

Trip report for Day 10: https://ebird.org/tripreport/351560