Pop Quiz: if you are drinking your morning coffee at first light and you see a Northern Waterthrush, Common Black Hawk, Brown Pelicans and House Wrens, where are you?

Answer: Cabinas Los Cocos at Playa Zancudo, where else?

The waves are calling you, not to mention the River Cruise, for which Los Cocos is justifiably famous. Recent highlights included soaring King Vultures, Grey-lined Hawk, Mangrove Hummingbird and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.

It is a total bird show there, from the river to the beach to the rice fields (where Red-breasted Meadowlarks, grassquits, seedeaters and Fork-tailed Flycatchers steal the show).

Just in case Susan England, boat captain and owner of Los Cocos, decides not to run her boats this coming high season, we had a good run with Captain Erick Chavarria who is not accustomed to birders but did a great job backing up, turning around for better views, etc. His boat is comfortable, he speaks English, is reasonably priced and on WhatsApp at 8638 7712.

If you need to be reminded about Cabinas Los Cocos, here you go: