Rich wildlife around Arenal

Posted byMichael CookPosted in2. International, Central America, Costa RicaTags:, , , , ,
Strawberry poison-dart frog with blue legs on a leaf in Costa Rica.

Our last post from the rich nature wonderland of Costa Rica focuses on birding around the Arenal Volcano. We had quite mixed weather including lots of rain but we were still pleased to see a range of birds and other wildlife.

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1 Arenal Observatory Lodge
2 Bogarin Trails
3 La Selva Biological Station
4 Share this:
5 Related
6 Discover more from WildScot Photography
Arenal Observatory Lodge

We had a very wet soggy morning at Arenal Observatory Lodge. We picked up several new hummingbirds which cannot stop for the rain as they will die if they don’t eat every couple of hours (Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, Violet-headed Hummingbird, White-tipped Sicklebill, Blue-throated Goldentail and Brown Violeteer). We also saw several Tanagers on the fruit feeders and in nearby trees including Bay-headed, Golden-hooded, Crimson-Collared and Camiol’s). But because it was so wet I had left my camera in the car. We did however get some photos from the car on the the nearby stream of a Fasciated Tiger Heron.

  • Rufescent Tiger-Heron on a rock in Arenal. Rich wildlife view.
    Fasciated Tiger Heron
  • Juvenile Fasciated Tiger-Heron standing on a rock in a stream near Arenal, Costa Rica.
Bogarin Trails

The next day was a bit dryer so we went for a walk by ourselves in the Bogarin Trails from Fortuna and took the camera this time. We didn’t have a guide but were keen to try and find some Sloths if we could.

Stopping at the fruit feeders near the entrance we saw several interesting birds with the Orange-Chinned Parakeet offering lovely close views.

  • European pied flycatcher perched on a wooden birdhouse, a charming sight during Highland birding.
    Orange-Chinned Parakeet
  • European pied flycatcher perched on a wooden birdhouse, a charming sight during Highland birding.
  • Green orange-chinned parakeet perched on a branch in lush Arenal wildlife setting.
  • Gray bird perched on a branch in Arenal's rich wildlife.
    Tropical Mockingbird
  • Grey bird eating fruit in Arenal. Rich wildlife in Costa Rica.
  • Blue-necked tanager eating papaya in Arenal. Rich wildlife.
    Red-Legged Honeyeater
  • European pied flycatcher perched on a wooden birdhouse, a charming sight during Highland birding.
  • Grey-cowled wood rail perched on a branch in Arenal's rich wildlife.
    Black-headed Saltator
  • Grey-cowled wood rail perched on a branch in lush greenery near Arenal, Costa Rica.
  • Black and yellow oriole bird perched on a branch in Arenal, Costa Rica. Rich wildlife.
    Black-cowled Oriole
  • Black and yellow oriole perched on a branch near Arenal, Costa Rica.
  • Yellow-crowned Euphonia perched on a branch. Rich wildlife of Arenal.
    Yellow-throated Euphonia
  • Golden-browed Chlorophonia bird perched on a branch in Arenal's rich wildlife.

A nearby pond also offered good views of a Green Kingfisher and a Bare-throated Tiger Heron which stayed skulking behind reeds so I didn’t get any good photos.

  • Ringed Kingfisher perched on a branch in Arenal. Rich wildlife detail.
    Green Kingfisher
  • Green Kingfisher perched on a branch in Arenal, Costa Rica. Rich wildlife.
  • Close-up of a crested guan bird with brown feathers, showcasing Arenal's rich wildlife.
    Grey-headed Chacalacha
  • Orange-winged oriole perched on a branch in Arenal. Rich wildlife.
    Scarlet-rumped Tanager
  • Black-and-red tanager bird perched on papaya, enjoying rich wildlife around Arenal.
  • Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush perched on a branch in Arenal, Costa Rica. Rich wildlife photo.
  • Great Kiskadee bird perched on a branch in the Arenal region, showcasing rich wildlife.
    Great Kiskadee
  • Woodpecker clinging to a branch in Arenal's rich wildlife. Red head, black and yellow feathers.
    Black-Cheeked Woodpecker

We continued to walk the trails looking particularly for Sloths. After some perseverance we found a total of 4 sloths – 1 Hoffman’s Two-Toed and 3 Three-Toed Sloths. It was rewarding working to find them rather than just being shown them by a guide.

  • European pied flycatcher perched on a wooden birdhouse, a charming sight during Highland birding.
    Hoffman’s Two Toed
  • Sloth hanging in a tree in Arenal. Rich wildlife of Costa Rica.
    Three-Toed
  • Sleeping sloth clinging to a tree branch. Rich wildlife around Arenal.
  • Green sloth hanging in a tree in Arenal, Costa Rica.
  • Sloth hanging in a tree in Arenal, rich wildlife of Costa Rica.
  • Sloth hanging in a tree, Arenal wildlife.

Whilst looking for Sloths we also saw much more wildlife around the reserve including Leaf-cutting Ants, Black and White Owl, Rufous-Tailed Jacamar and Broad-billed Motmot (life-tick).

  • European pied flycatcher perched on a wooden birdhouse, a charming sight during Highland birding.
    Leaf-cutting Ants
  • European pied flycatcher perched on a wooden birdhouse, a charming sight during Highland birding.
  • Rufous-tailed Jacamar bird perched on a branch in Arenal's rich wildlife.
    Rufous-Tailed Jacamar
  • Rufous-tailed Jacamar perched on a branch in Arenal, Costa Rica. Rich wildlife.
  • Rufous-tailed jacamar perched on a branch in Arenal. Rich wildlife in Costa Rica.
  • Motmot bird perched on a branch in Arenal, Costa Rica. Rich wildlife detail.
    Broad-billed Motmot
  • Turquoise-browed motmot bird perched on a branch in the rich wildlife around Arenal.
  • Gray-headed tanager perched on a mossy branch in lush Arenal wildlife setting.
    Cinnamon Bellied Saltator
  • Arenal's rich wildlife: A slaty antshrike perches on a branch in a lush, green environment.
  • Owl perched on a branch among green leaves, showcasing rich Arenal wildlife.
    Black and White Owl
  • Black-and-white owl perched on a branch amidst lush green foliage in Arenal, Costa Rica. Rich wildlife scene.
  • Green iguana basking on a rock in Arenal. Rich wildlife detail shows scales and spiky crest.
    Green Iguana
  • Green iguana, showcasing rich wildlife around Arenal, Costa Rica
La Selva Biological Station

A couple of hours east from La Fortuna we visited La Selva for a couple of early morning walks – first birding at 5.45am and general nature at 8am. This was a fantastic experience with Great Green Macaws (critical endangered) and Sungrebe being among the highlights of what we saw. But the general wildlife from frogs to bats and a sloth was really interesting too.

  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
    Great Curassow
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
    Middle-American Screech Owl
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
    Millipeed
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
    Blue-Jean Frog
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
    Red-capped Manakin
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
    Three-Toed Sloth
  • Snow bunting in snow, a highland birding find.
  • Muscovy duck swimming in Arenal, Costa Rica, with a worm in its beak, surrounded by green foliage.
    Sungrebe
  • Sunbittern bird swimming in water surrounded by lush green vegetation, Arenal wildlife.

We have had an absolutely wonderful time in Costa Rica. Altogether in our four weeks here we have seen 342 species of bird of which 182 have been lifers and 98 species have been photo-lifers. Our trip total at the end of our time in Costa Rica was 584 species. Next up Panama.

Black bird in flight, "Wild Scot" text. Scottish Wildlife Photos.

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Published by Michael Cook

Wildlife Photographer based in Scotland

2 thoughts on “Rich wildlife around Arenal”

  1. What a fabulous range of birds and animals you’ve seen and photographed. The variety is amazing. Well done for finding the sloths.

    Reply

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