Costa Rica Installment #3 - Mirador La Cascada - Cinchona (26Nov2016)

On the way from Arenal to Sarapiqui, we took a slight detour to check out what I thought was the highlight of the trip.  The town of Cinchona which is situated in an incredible gorge just a couple kilometers from the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, was devastated by an earthquake in 2009.  34 people died.  Now they have moved the town and it is called Nueva Cinchona.  However, near the old Cinchona is a small Mirador or Soda overlooking an incredible waterfall.

The porch at this Mirador is precariously perched over the gorge and lined with hummingbird feeders and a platform fruit feeder.  As if that is not enough, they had some of the most authentic and delicious food I had all trip.  Basically they bring you into the open air kitchen and have you point at all the dishes you want to try and heap it onto your plate.  The stewed chicken dish was out of this world and although the Tamale was a bit weird, it was the real deal wrapped in a banana leaf.

Now for the birds....

Green-crowned Brilliant

Silver-throated Tanager

When the light hits a male Green-crowned Brilliant just right, it looking like it has a cartoonish smile.

Green Hermit - during the trip I was thinking I was seeing some Long-billed Hermits, but the photos all appear to be Green Hermits.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird

Green Hermit

Kind of looks like Gonzo from Sesame Street.

Emerald Toucanet - probably the best bird of the trip.

My new screen-saver.

Coppery-headed Emeralds can be very tricky and can look like a bunch of other species when they turn their heads a certain way.

I was on the fence about this one, but probably just a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird.

Silver-throated Tanager

Baltimore Oriole

Prong-billed Barbet

Coppery-headed Emerald

Clay-colored Thrush

White-bellied Mountain-gem

Passerini's Tanager female

Passerini's Tanager male

Rufous-tailed HB

Summer Tanager

White-bellied Mountain-gem

Coppery-headed Emerald

Blue-gray Tanager

Silver-throated Tanager

Palm Tanager

Violet Sabrewing

Green-crowned Brilliant

Violet Sabrewing

Prong-billed Barbet

Collared Trogon

Grayish Saltator

The family eventually wanted to leave.  I would stayed all day.  I shall return......

Next I convinced my family to stop really quickly at Dave's Nature Pavilion in La Virgen.  The specialty here was White-necked Jacobin.

Golden-hooded Tanager

Olive-backed Euphonia

White-necked Jacobin - the light was really failing at this point, it was almost sunset.

Rufous-tailed HB - I love how they set up some Heliconias which they put some nectar in.

Scaly-breasted HB

Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer - the other specialty here.  Notice the red feet.

After the Nature Pavilion we headed a little down the road to our next destination, Selva Verde Lodge in Sarapiqui.  Coming soon, installment #4.