Phil Saunders
Professional bird botherer & bug chaser (not like that), based in Dorset. Freelance ecologist / leader for Wildlife Travel #LGBTQinSTEM. Mainly birds, inverts, & plants, with the occasional arty photo. All views my own.
- The diverisity of habitats within Costa Rica is staggering, & our @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social group were able to experience a fantastic sample of them, incl'g Pacific coastal waters & seasonal forest, Caribbean lowland forest, mid & high elevation tropical forests, & the fascinating paramo
- We were treated to an amazing spectacle on the Tarcoles River, during the recent @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Costa Rica tour, when our arrival coincided with local fishermen emptying their nets, surrounding them (& us) in a swirling mass of Magnificent Frigatebirds, Brown Pelicans, & Royal Terns
- The mammal lovers had their fill too during the recent @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Costa Rica tour, encountering White-nosed Coati, Nine-banded Armadillo, Humpback Whale, C.American Agouti, & Proboscis Bat, plus 2 sloth & 3 monkey spp, altho' these amazing views of Tayra definitely stole the show
- Amphibians were well represented during the recent @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Costa Rica tour, with the group encountering a range of beautiful species during our night time forays, including the iconic Red-eyed Leaf Frog, the burly Cane Toad, & the charming Golden-eyed Tree Frog
- Any encounter with an owl, particularly away from known roost sites, is a joy & we were fortunate to record 4 species during the recent @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Costa Rica wildlife tour, incl'g multiple night time Spectacled Owls, as well as this showy Ferruginous Pygmy Owl at Punta Leona
- We were treated to fantastic views of the extemely range-restricted & decidedly angry-looking Volcano Junco at Cerro de la Muerte, during the recent @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Costa Rica tour, encountering at least 6 individuals, & with one even running between the feet of one of our group!
- We were treated to superlative views of both Costa Rican sloth species during the recent @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social tour, but this impeccably groomed female Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth at Baru (alongside her tiny pup, just off camera) was particularly confiding (video taken through 'scope).
- Just back from two weeks guiding on the 2026 @wildlifetraveller.bsky.social Costa Rica wildlife tour, with a few of the avian highlights pictured below. Just some of the 260+ bird species we encountered, including 23 species of hummingbird(!), in this fantastically diverse & welcoming country
