Birdwatching at Casitas Tenorio in Bijagua, Costa Rica


We had just spent a few days in Guanacaste where we experienced a terrific heat wave at Santa Rosa National Park and Liberia After picking up our rental car, I found four Western Meadowlarks standing underneath a tree for shade.

Western Meadowlark in Liberia, Costa Rica

We were happy to head up into the cooler hills of Bijagua for the next part of our birding adventure. We had our reservations at Casitas Tenorio, which is located just east of Bijagua at about 2,300 feet. The temperatures were indeed nicer here, and we actually had a bit of rain--our only rain on the entire trip.

Birding takes priority over unpacking, of course, so we immediately moved to the small dining area at the lodge to watch the feeders. We had some great, close views of a male and female Red-legged Honeycreepers.

Female Red-Legged HoneycreeperThe male is a bit more showy than his girlfriend.

Male Red-Legged Honeycreeper at Bijagua, Costa RicaA Palm Tanager was waiting to get its turn at the bananas.

Palm TanagerThere was also a pair of Yellow-Throated Euphonias. The female is beautiful, but subdued:

Female Yellow-Throated EuphoniaThe male is also a bit more colorful:

Male Yellow-Throated EuphoniaWhile Blue-Gray Tanagers are a very common bird in northern Costa Rica, I really love the subtlety of their colors.

There was also a nice view of a Montezuma Oropendola. These are also very common birds in northern Costa Rica, and you'll hear and see them wherever feeders are present.

Montezuma Oropendola

After getting checked into our rooms, we headed back down the road for lunch at the Hummingbird Cafe near Finca Verde. While waiting for our food, we got to watch a napping Pacific Screech Owl and a Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird perched nicely for me with the sun shining through it's tail feathers.

Pacific Screech Owl

Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird