What a glorious experience! Two full days near the top of the Turrialba Volcano with nary a drop of rain! However, I must again curse my wimpy camera that could not appropriately document the beauty of the environment and its birds. Witness for example the only shot I could get of one of the four Resplendent Quetzals (Pharomacrus mocinno) that patiently stayed in place for more than 30 minutes.

Male Resplendent Quetzal at home on the Turrialba Volcano

Well, at least you can see the wonderful vegetation! Thanks to this particular male, I will now never forget the sound of the quetzal in the quiet of the forest. He spent many full minutes calling to his mate, who sat nearby. Or perhaps he was chiding another male, who came in from the right-hand side.  I like to think not, since another female showed up presently to accompany the potentially rival male.

I was again at El Tapojo, but this time spent a totally undisturbed and black night at the rustic Cortijo El Quetzal lodge https://www.facebook.com/Alberguecortijoelquetzal/

Here’s the species list, which does not include a possible Worm-eating warbler and several other near misses:

1. Black Guan
2. Turkey Vulture
3. Dusky Nightjar (voice only)
4. Magnificent Hummingbird
5. Fiery-throated Hummingbird (the most numerous bird in the area, it seems)
6. Volcano Hummingbird
7. Resplendent Quetzal
8. Spot-crowned Woodcreeper
9. Ruddy Treerunner
10. Buffy Tuftedcheek
11. Black-capped Flycatcher
12. Yellow-winged Vireo
13. Ochraceous Wren
14. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
15. Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush
16. Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush
17. Sooty Thrush
18. Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher
19. Flame-throated Warbler
20. Wilson’s Warbler
21. Collared Redstart (they approach so close, makes you feel like St. Francis!)
22. Slaty Flowerpiercer
23. Sooty-capped Chlorospingus
24. Rufous-collared Sparrow
25. Large-footed Finch
26. Summer Tanager