By Jody Allair, Director of Communications, Birds Canada
The October 2025 Costa Rica: Caribbean Mountains to Coast Tour was a special trip in partnership with Birds Canada and Eagle-Eye Tours. These partner tours have been running almost annually since 2008 and help provide financial support for Birds Canada and are an opportunity for our supporters to travel with Birds Canada staff along with local experts. Over the 12 days, our group of 12 participants, 2 guides (Jody Allair and Ernesto Carman), along with our driver Ricardo Gomez, visited Irazú Volcano and the Central Valley, the Limon region along the Caribbean Coast and the famous Observatory Lodge and bird-filled forests of Arenal. The weather was fairly hot and humid throughout, but the rain was mainly focused on the Pacific Coast and not so much on the Caribbean slope – due in large part to a hurricane out in the Caribbean.
Arenal Volcano Photo: Jody Allair
We had innumerable highlights on this tour from up-close views of a Resplendent Quetzal on the high elevation slopes of Irazú Volcano, an almost eye-level Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth moving along a wire right in front of us, scenic ocean views along the Caribbean coast with herons and egrets and Great Green Macaws, and a mesmerizing foraging flock encompassing 40+ species of birds (including some North American migrants such as Wood Thrush and Bay-breasted Warbler) along the forest trails of Arenal.
Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth Photo: Jody Allair
Resplendant Quetzal Digiscoped Photo: Jody Allair
Our hummingbird totals were very impressive and included such highly sought after tropical species as Snowcap (in two different locations!), White-tipped Sicklebill and Black-crested Coquette. We also found two outstanding jay species: White-throated Magpie-Jay and the rare Black-chested Jay.
But the biggest highlight, and one of the main reasons we visited the Caribbean coast in late October, was the raptor migration. And with luck on our side, we managed to time it perfectly for the peak migration day for Swainson’s Hawks, and Turkey Vultures along with several thousand Broad-winged Hawks—all migrating down from Canada and the US. The day tally from the nearby Talamanca Hawk Watch was just shy of half a million raptors! Our group alone counted 80,000 raptors in one hour along the roadside. It was truly a once in a lifetime spectacle for all involved. It’s also an eye-opening experience to think that I may have been looking at Swainson’s Hawks that have travelled from where I live in Southern Alberta—a 7,000 km trip!
Our group counting thousands of raptors migrating overhead. Photo: Jody Allair
A portion of the 80,000 Swainson’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures and Broad-winged Hawks we observed over a one hour period. Photo: Jody Allair
Throughout the tour we explored several conservation initiatives happening in Costa Rica including a bird-friendly coffee farm (Cafe Christina – owned and operated by Ernesto’s family) and several projects that incorporate Birds Canada’s. Many of the participants appreciated hearing about how Birds Canada is making an impact across the hemisphere by managing this innovative and readily accessible conservation technology.
Ernesto also told us about the great work he and his team of collaborators are doing through the newly established Cerulea Environmental Association. One day we visited a region where the Cerulea team is studying and protecting a critically important migratory stopover habitat (known as the Blue Corridor) for Cerulean Warblers. We also learned about their outreach initiatives—engaging with local schools to help plant more native vegetation in this important region.
A local school that is participating in Cerulea Environmental Association outreach program. Photo: Jody Allair
Any visit to the tropics will be filled with countless non-bird highlights. And we had many, including: 3 species of primates (Mantled Howler, Spider and White-faced Capuchin), 2 species of leaf frogs (Golden and Red-eyed), White-faced Coati, Agouti, 3 species of Morpho butterfly, and a rarely seen Lichen-coloured Snail Eater Snake.
In all, we found 337 species of birds which you can explore by visiting our eBird Trip Report. On all these Birds Canada and Eagle-eye Tours partner trips, a portion of the proceeds is donated back to Birds Canada to help support our important work.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for this amazing tour! The next Birds Canada and Eagle-Eye Tours partner trip will be to Nova Scotia, August 31 – September 9, 2026 and be led by Dominic Cormier and Birds Canada’s Yousif Attia.