Birding With The Jays : Birdwatching Adventures & Guide

Well. We are back at it again.

In the pursuit of birds, I mean, happiness. But if you are here, I guess we can all agree, it is definitely the same thing, right?

June of 2019, was the last time we set foot in the outstandingly beautiful country of Costa Rica. It is now October 2024, 5 years later.

We consider this to be the place where you embrace the Pura Vida slogan. Here you dream of obtaining a job, so that you will have a reason to never leave.

Costa Rica encourages the surrender of any old lifestyle and inspires you to pause and exist.

Just be present, among the friendly Ticos. Enjoy their delicious food. Start the mornings with Gallo Pinto accompanied by savory fried plantains. Drink freshly ground, aromatic coffee. (yes, typing this while mouth waters) All the while, listening to the sounds of the jungle. Tuning in, to birds singing and calling you to join them.

We yearned to go back some day.
And guess what?
In a couple of hours, off we go.

Bags packed. Camera ready. Currently, clearing space on memory cards and updating phones. Julian and our baby are fast asleep, I should be too. It is now 1:02 am but I am VERY, too much excited.

Our flight will take off from Houston at 4:00 pm, a couple of hours from now. Soon, we will fly towards the birds that await for us in paradise.

I have had nightmares recently, like falling off a cliff, not reaching a rope to save myself from an abyss. Or, freakier things like; while birdwatching with my family, my camera runs out of memory, then shortly after my battery dies! Cue in a rare bird.

Have any of you ever felt this kind of apprehension?

My anxiety leading up to this trip has been at an all time high. I have noticed I’ve been treating this amazing opportunity to get away, more as a project than a vacation.

I have been pressuring myself, not only to learn as many new birds as I can and to be fast enough to snap all the perfect, once in a life time pictures. But also, to make this a memorable trip for our little family.

As I am now finally heading off to bed, literally this precise moment, I also realized, I am a first time mom. Traveling on an international flight. To a foreign country. With a toddler. With only the most beautiful of sights and birds ahead of us. Not to mention the celebration of my birthday and just two days after, Julian’s birthday (my husband).

I’ll cut myself some slack. This is exhilarating! Whatever photographs we capture and share, you all will be fine with it, right?

Hopefully, so.

So, cheers to the possibly beautiful, possibly blurry future bird photographs we can’t wait to share with you all!

Cheers to great birding!
Love Always,