Home Birding Return to the Southern Nicoya Penninsula
Double-striped Thick-knee, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica

Return to the Southern Nicoya Penninsula

by Chris Fischer

Since I was already in the area for the pelagic trip, I accepted an invitation in support of my Big Year from Tango Mar Beachfront Hotel to stay for several nights. A member of Costa Rica Birding Hotspots, Tango Mar is an upscale beachfront hotel located along the southern coast of the Nicoya Penninsula.

Just walking around the hotel grounds, I recorded more than 60 species, including Steely-vented Hummingbird, Plain Chachalaca, Bat Falcon, White-necked Puffbird, Nutting’s Flycatcher, and Long-tailed Manakin. I was especially excited to photograph a resident family of Double-striped Thick-knee that has become a bit more comfortable being around people.

eBird Hotspot
http://ebird.org/hotspot/L4563303

eBird Checklists
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53624289
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53637074
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53639889
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53650145
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53667290

Double-striped Thick-knee, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Double-striped Thick-knee, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Scarlet Macaw, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Streaked Flycatcher, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
White-fronted Parrot, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
White-fronted Parrot, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
White-necked Puffbird, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Bat Falcon, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Black-headed Trogon, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Collared Aracari, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica
Common Ground-Dove, Tango Mar Hotel, Costa Rica

Tango Mar is well-positioned for visiting local birding hotspots such as Curu National Wildlife Refuge (which I already visited earlier in the year), Pochote mangroves, Río Panica, and more. I went to visit some of these sites with Tango Mar’s very knowledgeable resident bird guide, Jessy Lopez Herra.

Amongst other species, a morning visit to Río Panica yielded Double-striped Thick-knee, Steely-vented Hummingbird, Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Panama Flycatcher, Nutting’s Flycatcher, Long-tailed Manakin, Mangrove Vireo, Rufous-and-white Wren, and Olive Sparrow.

eBird Hotspot
http://ebird.org/hotspot/L5188494

eBird Checklist
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53630893
http://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53630779

Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Black-headed Trogon, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Black-headed Trogon, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Rufous-naped Wren, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Rufous-naped Wren, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Black Vulture, Río Panica, Costa Rica
Black Vulture, Río Panica, Costa Rica

Some highlights at the Pochote mangroves included Mangrove Hummingbird, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Banded Wren, and Streak-backed Oriole.

eBird Checklist
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53624303

Mangrove Hummingbird, near Santa Lucia, Costa Rica
Mangrove Hummingbird, near Santa Lucia, Costa Rica

We went out at night in search of Striped Owl, but didn’t find it this time. We did however hear both Barn Owl and White-tailed Nightjar.

eBird Checklist
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53667673


Mantled Howler Monkey, Nicoya Penninsula, Costa Rica
Mantled Howler Monkey, Nicoya Penninsula, Costa Rica

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1 comment

Paul gonsalves May 30, 2019 - 12:27 pm

Nice trip lots of birds

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