IMG
© Dragan Simic

Casa Tangara dowii

9.74262 , -83.96082

Costa Rica

Casa Tangara Dowii is a small cloudforest reserve that buffers Tapanti and Los Quetzales National Parks and is an essential spot for some very specific birds.

At 2100 m / 7000 ft a.s.l. in the Talamanca Mountains, the Casa Tangara dowii boutique lodge is located in Cartago Province, along the Panamerican Highway in the Navarro Sombrero Protected Area that buffers Tapanti and Los Quetzales National Parks. It consists of a small reserve with a well maintained in site trail (over 200 species recorded, many endemic and rare birds accessible), cozy lodging and a dining room. The resident Bare-shanked Screech-Owl can be heard calling throughout the night. Birding activities include Resplendent Quetzal search, and excursions to San Gerardo de Dota, Quetzals and Tapantí National Parks, and more.

From the comfy observation sofa, I observed a feeding station attracting Slaty Flowerpiercer, Spangle-cheeked Tanager and Silver-throated Tanager, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Prong-billed Barbet, Common Chlorospingus, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, White-naped Brushfinch and Yellow-thighed Brushfinch. Both Mountain Thrush and Clay-colored Thrush also showed up. On the ground, spilled wheat attracted a Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, and one of the specialty birds, the elusive Buff-fronted Quail-Dove. Even the extremely elusive Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge often makes an appearance, too, but I wasn’t so lucky.

Its position at the Panamerican Highway means that many birding groups travelling either north or south will stop by, bird the reserve trail and afterwards stay for breakfast or lunch. Species more commonly encountered while walking the trail include Black Guan, Swallow-tailed Kite, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Hairy Woodpecker, Barred Parakeet, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Barred Becard, Brown-capped Vireo, Ochraceous Wren, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Elegant Euphonia, Slate-throated Redstart and Collared Redstart. Sometimes the Resplendent Quetzal too.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Site name was changed by Dragan Simic into "Casa Tangara Dowii" (2023-05-09 15:56:15 )

Coordinates were set by Dragan Simic : 9.7426/-83.9608 (2023-05-09 15:52:45 )

Site name was set by Dragan Simic as "Casa Tangara Dowii - For Birdwatching" (2023-05-09 15:52:45 )

Edited by Dragan Simic on 2023-05-09 15:53:17
Casa Tangara Dowii is a small cloudforest reserve that buffers Tapanti and Los Quetzales National Parks and is an essential spot for some very specific birds. At 2100 m / 7000 ft a.s.l. in the Talamanca Mountains, the Casa Tangara dowii boutique lodge is located in Cartago Province, along the Panamerican Highway in the Navarro Sombrero Protected Area that buffers Tapanti and Los Quetzales National Parks. It consists of a small reserve with a well maintained in site trail (over 200 species recorded, many endemic and rare birds accessible), cozy lodging and a dining room. The resident Bare-shanked Screech-Owl can be heard calling throughout the night. Birding activities include Resplendent Quetzal search, and excursions to San Gerardo de Dota, Quetzals and Tapantí National Parks, and more. From the comfy observation sofa, I observed a feeding station attracting Slaty Flowerpiercer, Spangle-cheeked Tanager and Silver-throated Tanager, Purple-throated Mountain-gem, Prong-billed Barbet, Common Chlorospingus, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, White-naped Brushfinch and Yellow-thighed Brushfinch. Both Mountain Thrush and Clay-colored Thrush also showed up. On the ground, spilled wheat attracted a Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush, and one of the specialty birds, the elusive Buff-fronted Quail-Dove. Even the extremely elusive Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge often makes an appearance, too, but I wasn’t so lucky. Its position at the Panamerican Highway means that many birding groups travelling either north or south will stop by, bird the reserve trail and afterwards stay for breakfast or lunch. Species more commonly encountered while walking the trail include Black Guan, Swallow-tailed Kite, Northern Emerald-Toucanet, Hairy Woodpecker, Barred Parakeet, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Barred Becard, Brown-capped Vireo, Ochraceous Wren, Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, Black-faced Solitaire, Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Elegant Euphonia, Slate-throated Redstart and Collared Redstart. Sometimes the Resplendent Quetzal too.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge (Dendrortyx leucophrys)
Buff-fronted Quail-Dove (Zentrygon costaricensis)
Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaemus)
Bare-shanked Screech-Owl (Megascops clarkii)
Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
Prong-billed Barbet (Semnornis frantzii)
Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus)
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch (Arremon brunneinucha)
Yellow-thighed Brushfinch (Atlapetes tibialis)
Flame-throated Warbler (Oreothlypis gutturalis)
Spangle-cheeked Tanager (Tangara dowii)
Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea)

Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 16:01:15)

Bare-shanked Screech-Owl (Megascops clarkii) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 16:00:55)

Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 16:00:07)

Yellow-thighed Brushfinch (Atlapetes tibialis) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:59:53)

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch (Arremon brunneinucha) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:59:32)

Common Chlorospingus (Chlorospingus flavopectus) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:59:15)

Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaemus) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:58:38)

Prong-billed Barbet (Semnornis frantzii) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:58:07)

Flame-throated Warbler (Oreothlypis gutturalis) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:57:39)

Spangle-cheeked Tanager (Tangara dowii) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:57:24)

Buff-fronted Quail-Dove (Zentrygon costaricensis) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:57:08)

Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge (Dendrortyx leucophrys) was added by Dragan Simic (2023-05-09 15:56:53)

  • Timing and strategy

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Not available yet
  • How to get there

Casa Tangara Dowii is located by the Panamerican Highway south from San José, in Vara del Roble, Km 47. 

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Dragan Simic on 2023-08-17 07:03
Casa Tangara Dowii is located by the Panamerican Highway south from San José, in Vara del Roble, Km 47. This is a true birders’ venue, and visits are possible by previous reservation only. 
Edited by Dragan Simic on 2023-05-09 15:53
Casa Tangara Dowii is located by the Panamerican Highway south from San José, in Vara del Roble, Km 47. This is a true birders’ venue, and visits are possible by previous reservation only.

Private reserve belonging to the Casa dowii lodge, and visits are possible by previous reservation only.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Dragan Simic on 2024-04-19 06:10
This is a true birders’ venue, Private reserve belonging to the Casa dowii lodge, and visits are possible by previous reservation only.
Edited by Dragan Simic on 2023-08-17 07:03
This is a true birders’ venue, and visits are possible by previous reservation only.
  • Other attractions

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Not available yet

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Not available yet

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Not available yet
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