Warblers on a trip to the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica -January 28-February 4

Chestnut capped Warbler, Finca Mango, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

I made a trip down to the southern Pacific foothills of Costa Rica at the end of January into early February. This was my 16th (!) trip down to Costa Rica and my first to the area of the former Rio Magnolia Lodge since it closed. I got an Airbnb that was in the same area as the old lodge on a large tract of land (1500 acres) in an area known as Refugio San Antonio. I flew down early morning from Hartford and after a connection in Charlotte I made it to San Jose in the middle of the afternoon and then made the four hour plus trip down along the Pacific coast. I finally arrived a little after 8PM…a long ride down for sure. 

Chestnut sided Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

Mourning Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 29, 2025

After a decent nights sleep I was out at dawn and the first warbler I had was a Blackburnian Warbler. I followed that up quickly with Chestnut sided Warblers, Slate throated Redstarts and Tennessee Warblers. More walking produced multiples of Golden winged Warbler and Mourning Warbler over the course of the morning. The Slate throated Redstarts are a species that I could not get at Rio Magnolia Lodge as the elevation there was too low. Being several hundred meters higher gives the potential of other species with the elevation there around 1300 meters. I ended the morning with half a dozen species before the clouds and fog moved in around 11AM. I stayed around the house for the afternoon and had some warblers but nothing new. 

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 30, 2025

Wilson's Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 30, 2025

Slate throated Redstart, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 30, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 30, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 30, 2025

My second day down there started off a little cloudier but still pleasant and warm. I hiked the road off to the south for about a mile and turned up eight species over the course of a few hours with two new species for the trip with a Yellow Warbler and a Wilson’s Warbler. After a brief break I walked another road and had more warblers including my first Gray crowned Yellowthroat of the trip. The clouds moved in by late morning and persisted for the remainder of day with some brief rainy bouts through the afternoon. Staying around the house did produce another warbler for the day with a Black and White Warbler. By the end of the day I had reached double digits with a total of ten species of warbler. 

Chestnut sided Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Slate throated Redstart, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Black and White Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Slate throated Redstart, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Blackburnian Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Chestnut capped Warbler, Finca Mango, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Chestnut capped Warbler, Finca Mango, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

Chestnut capped Warbler, Finca Mango, Costa Rica, Jan 31, 2025

On Friday I once again walked a few of the roads starting early although I did not cover as much distance. I hit a few good pockets of birds with warblers represented in a few of them. I also added another species for the trip with a Chestnut capped Warbler. Chestnut sided Warbler was the most numerous warbler once again with Tennessee Warbler and Blackburnian Warbler also around in good numbers. Late in the morning I got a ride down to a lower elevation to check out another Airbnb house owned by the same owner as the place I was currently staying. I didn’t arrive until around 10:30 and activity had trailed off quite a bit. Nonetheless I still found some decent stuff including a family group of Chestnut capped Warblers that allowed for some good photo opportunities. By the end of the day I had found nine species of warblers. 

Tennessee Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 1, 2025

Wilson's Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 1, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 1, 2025

Thunderstorm over Pacific, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 1, 2025

To begin the month of February I was out again early tracking down warblers. It actually started off a little foggy and then cleared out fairly rapidly. There was a distant rumbling thunderstorm out over the Pacific as well as threatening gray skies coming in from the east that eventually brought some light rain. Thankfully it didn’t last long and didn’t impact birding much at all. With the weather being less than optimal getting views (and photos) was a bit tough at times. Nonetheless I still managed to track down eight species for the morning. Late in the morning I got a visit from John and Maureen, the former owners and operators of the now closed Rio Magnolia Lodge. I had not seen them since our last trip to the lodge back in January of 2022, not long before the lodge closed. It was great to see them but it would have been even sweeter to see them again at the lodge! 

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

Tennessee Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

Mourning Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

Mourning Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 2, 2025

After getting out early on Sunday to do some owling I then spent the next few hours walking the roads looking for birds. Just as it was getting light enough to see I had an interesting sighting. In a small tree (perhaps 30 feet tall) I noticed some activity and found all the birds (at least seven) to be Tennessee Warblers. I assume they had all roosted in the same general area overnight…very interesting for sure. My initial walk for the day turned up seven species of warbler with some great looks at a few of them. The rest of the morning I spent taking a couple other short walks and during one I came across the owner of the property freshly arrived from Switzerland. I had a nice conversation with him about the property and the birds here. By late morning the clouds had settled in once again with the occasional break. The rest of the day turned up more of the same for species so ended the day with seven species in total. 

Tropical Parula, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 3, 2025

Chestnut sided Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 3, 2025

Mourning Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 3, 2025

Golden winged Warbler, Refugio San Antonio, Costa Rica, Feb 3, 2025

On my last full day in Costa Rica I figured I would try to maximize the number of species seen in a day by using the knowledge gained the last several days on where some species tend to be found plus walking further down one of the roads into more open and edge habitat. During my four hours walking in the morning I found a total of ten species of warblers with one new one for the trip with a Tropical Parula (one of my main targets for the day). Oddly Tennessee Warbler was the most abundant warbler species for the day, surpassing the usual front runner of Chestnut sided Warbler. The remainder of the day was spent mainly around the house with a few short walks but no new species for the effort.  I then left for the airport somewhat early on the 4th and made the five hour trip to San Jose and then an early afternoon flight to Florida.  I finished my time down there with a total of dozen species of warblers. 

Warblers on a trip to Costa Rica -January 10-27

Tropical Parula, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 14, 2022

Ovenbird, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 23, 2022

Costa Rican Warbler, Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Just back from a long overdue trip back down to Costa Rica after a two year absence due to the pandemic. This trip was our 14th down to Costa Rica and the longest we have been away from there since our first trip back in December 2011. With the ongoing pandemic we planned to spend our entire trip at Rio Magnolia Lodge. We arrived at the lodge late in the day on the 10th after a long day of traveling.  The trip took an unexpected turn when we attempted to return after ten days down there but more on that below.

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 11, 2022

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 11, 2022

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 11, 2022

The first full day produced a half a dozen species of warbler with nothing unusual but it was nice to see multiple species in a single day.

Buff rumped Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 12, 2022

On the second day I had seven species of warbler despite a few afternoon showers and a blister on my foot keeping me close to the lodge. Among the warblers was a Northern Waterthrush I had early in the morning which made photos impossible to obtain. This was my first record of the species at the lodge. 

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2022

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2022

Yellow Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 13, 2022

The third day produced not one but two Northern Waterthrushes with one in the exact same spot I had it the previous morning and another on my way to the water slide area in the lower end of the lodges property. I also turned up my first Yellow Warbler of the trip and found a total of eight species of warbler. 

Tropical Parula, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 14, 2022

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 14, 2022

Friday stayed cloudy most of the day but the birds were still active and I found yet another new warbler for me at the lodge when a Tropical Parula showed up late in the day. I was watching birds moving along the hill below our deck and sighted the parula. It took a bit of patience but I eventually got some photos. My second new warbler species at the lodge for the trip and the first record for the lodge ever as far as I can tell.  A total of eight warbler species for the day. 

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 15, 2022

Black and White Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 15, 2022

Saturday featured seven species with nothing out of the ordinary but some nice views in the afternoon as various species worked their way along the hill near our room.

Tennessee Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2022

Black and White Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2022

Blackburnian Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2022

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2022

American Redstart, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2022

Yellow Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2022

Sunday turned out to be the ‘big day’ in regards to warbler diversity for a single day on this trip with a total of eleven species. I started the morning with a walk out to the gate and picked up the Northern Waterthrush yet again at first light as well as Buff rumped Warblers plus the first of many Chestnut sided Warblers and Tennessee Warblers. Once I made it to the gate I picked up Mourning Warbler and Gray crowned Yellowthroat (neither of which wanted to cooperate for photos). Just beyond the gate I had a nice little flock of birds that added three more warblers for the day including my first American Redstarts and Blackburnian Warbler for the trip (plus a Black and White Warbler). At this point I figured the day held the best chance of maximizing total warbler species for the day so I concentrated on turning up more. I made a couple trips down from the lodge heading toward the water slide area and on my second try picked up a Yellow Warbler. I then went in search of a Golden winged Warbler and eventually found a male in a large mixed flock moving along the river. 

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 17, 2022

Blackburnian Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 17, 2022

Monday was a slower paced day after a more intense day on Sunday but I still managed a total of ten species of warbler including my second ever Louisiana Waterthrush at the lodge. 

Black and White Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2022

Wilson's Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2022

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2022

Blackburnian Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2022

On the last full day at the lodge I had a total of nine species of warbler including a Wilson’s Warbler (no trip is complete without a Wilson’s Warbler!). I covered the same areas as previous days but still managed to find something different. 

Mourning Warbler, Hacienda Baru NWR, Costa Rica, Jan 19, 2022

Northern Waterthrush, Hacienda Baru NWR, Costa Rica, Jan 19, 2022

After a brief time of birding at the lodge we had our final breakfast and then headed out around 9:30 with our next destination being Hacienda Baru near Dominical. We decided to break up the long trip back to San Jose with a couple hours at Hacienda Baru. Despite the mid morning heat and corresponding lack of bird activity I still turned up some warblers including a Prothonotary Warbler among some five species of warblers present. 

The entire trip went great until the time we wanted to leave to head back home. As the US requires a negative Covid test to enter the country I took one on our way to the airport and it came back positive. I quickly took another test in the hopes it was a false positive and this one came back positive too. This meant no flight home for me and a ten day quarantine in Costa Rica. I felt fine beyond some mild cold like symptoms that started several days before. Although it sounds on the surface like a great idea to get to spend another week and a half in the warmth the reality is it stinks when you are not prepared for another vacation…you don’t have supplies, clothes, lodging, time off, etc, etc. I eventually worked out a place to spend my quarantine in the Monteverde area. 

Chestnut capped Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 22, 2022

Black throated Green Warbler, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 22, 2022

Chestnut sided Warbler, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 22, 2022

Wilson's Warbler, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 22, 2022

Slate throated Redstart, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 22, 2022

Golden crowned Warbler, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 22, 2022

After spending the 20th and 21st figuring out everything and finally making the journey I was able to get out and bird on Saturday the 22nd. I spent most of my morning at the nearby Santuario Ecológico where I turned up a total of ten species of warbler with multiple species new for the trip including Ovenbird (a new warbler for me in Costa Rica), Black throated Green Warbler, Chestnut capped Warbler, Golden crowned Warbler and Slate throated Redstart. The nearly continuous windy conditions made tracking down stuff really difficult at times.

Ovenbird, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 23, 2022

I made a return trip to Santuario Ecologico on Sunday and although the overall warbler diversity was down a bit I still had some good stuff including a very uncooperative Kentucky Warbler that only showed itself fleetingly and I got no photos (but did get a recording as it chipped away in a thick area of brush). Later in the day when I was walking around the town I came across a Townsend’s Warbler mixed in with a lot of Tennessee Warblers (the predominate warbler species by far in the area). 

Costa Rican Warbler, Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Yellow Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Black throated Green Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Tennessee Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Black and White Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 24, 2022

Monday I explored a small portion of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and had five species of warblers as I sought out other target species. Among the highlights were several Costa Rican Warblers (a species I had seen previously but never got photos of before). During the late morning and well into the afternoon I birded in town and along the road. I was once again amazed at the number of Tennessee Warblers around. I also found at least three Townsend’s Warblers in a small area among a large flock of Tennessee Warblers. I ended the day with ten species of warbler. 

Kentucky Warbler, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 25, 2022

Wilson's Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 25, 2022

Chestnut capped Warbler, Santuario Ecológico, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 25, 2022

Tennessee Warblers, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 25, 2022

Chestnut sided Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 25, 2022

After getting a notice that my quarantine time was up (I never got notification of how long it would be so had to guess by looking online and that information pointed toward 10 days and possibly more). I was happy to start planning my escape back home. With all the details to be worked out I picked Thursday as the day to make my flight back home. With this in mind Tuesday would became my last full day in Monteverde and I decided to try to try a big warbler day. I figured I had a fairly good handle on where to find various species after a few days checking out the area. I decided to start at Santuario Ecologico and had some great luck there turning up eleven species there including two Kentucky Warblers (one of which I was finally able to photograph). I then walked around various other spots in town over the course of the day in between trying to set up all the details for my trip back home. I added two more species during the rest of the day giving me a total of 13 species for the day. 

Black and White Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 26, 2022

Golden winged Warbler, Santa Elena, Monteverde, Costa Rica, Jan 26, 2022

I had a little time in the morning before taking the 3+ hour ride back to San Jose. I walked along the road to the preserve and had a few pockets of warblers including at least one Louisiana Waterthrush along a fast moving stream.

Overall I found a total of 23 species of warbler for the entire trip. Two of the species were new for me in Costa Rica (Ovenbird and Townsend’s Warbler…both seen in the Monteverde area) bringing my total warbler species in the country to 33. Species seen during the trip included the following: Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Waterthrush, Golden winged Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Mourning Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, American Redstart, Tropical Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut sided Warbler, Townsend’s Warbler, Black throated Green Warbler, Chestnut capped Warbler, Golden crowned Warbler, Costa Rican Warbler, Buff rumped Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler and Slate throated Redstart.