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The Gone Birding Newsletter

Vol. 7, No. 1

January 2006

 

 

The Aerial Tram Tops CBC Results

Once again, the communication from most of the Christmas Bird Count compilers has been sparse, to say the least. In fact, I have the preliminary results from just three of the seven counts, and no additional information beyond that for any but the Aerial Tram and Grecia counts.

The “count period” here in Costa Rica opened on 03 December with the inauguration of an unofficial count based around Carara NP. I’ve always felt that a well-placed circle, coupled with good participation, in this part of CR could produce a higher species count than any other area in the country. Although, part of that reasoning was based on the assumption that birders could get to the upper parts of Cerro Turrubares that looms behind Carara and reaches an elevation of more than 1700m. Given this excuse to finally put my hypothesis to the test, I rented a Nissan Terrano and headed off with my sons David, Daniel, and Roberto (Leonardo was chasing jaguars in Corcovado NP) in search of mid-elevation species. In retrospect, it would have been wise to have tried to obtain a bit of info regarding access to the slopes of Cerro Turrubares, rather than to have relied on dead reckoning. As it turns out, there apparently is some access from the Puriscal side of the mountain, however, I attempted my approach from the Carara side and ended up negotiating the “Ruta de los Conquistadores”, which was once an ox-cart path used by people living in the village of Bijagual to get to Orotina and is now a locally (in)famous dirt bike route. To make a looooooong story short, there were moments when I seriously wondered if there would be any other way of getting the vehicle out of there short of hiring a military helicopter to airlift it out!

As sort of a Christmas miracle, a dirt biker came up the track as I was walking out the road to seek some sort of assistance (e.g., a tractor, someone to lend me chains I could put on the tires, or at least a taxi to send the kids home in). As I turned around to look, the biker hollered, “Richard, what the #@&$! Are you doing here?!” It was Billo Pacheco, one of the sons of the owner of Villa Lapas, who was out biking with a friend whose quad had broken down about a half kilometer behind where I had abandoned our vehicle. Having plenty of experience driving on unimproved roads, Billo told me he’d try and get the car out. And he did! Sure, we had to push it through two large mud holes and it was a hair-raising, fish-tailing, hold-on-for-dear-life ride back to civilization.

Oh birds, yeah right, we were supposed to be looking for birds. Well, despite having had the outing turn into a survival challenge, we still managed to log 82 species for the day, though nothing that one couldn’t have seen down below in the Carara area, since we never managed to get higher than about 500m in elevation.

I haven’t heard from Randall Ortega, the compiler, as to how the total effort fared, nor did I hear of any newsworthy species seen that day.

The following weekend, the Cartago count had good weather, which should have helped produce a good tally, but I haven’t heard what the final number was. One comment which Julio Sánchez did make, however, was that he had never seen/heard more Golden-browed Chlorophonias (Chlorophonia callophrys) on his Tausito route than he did this past December. In Tapantí, the boys and I logged 17 chlorophonias, which was a fair number, but by no means extraordinary.

On 15 December, the Aerial Tram sponsored it’s fourth CBC and (in complete contrast with last season’s count) was likewise favored with clear, calm skies. The combination of fine weather, 68 participants covering 22 routes, and good organization all helped to generate a record-breaking 403 species!! Congratulations to Daniel Torres and everyone who helped him organize the count!

Of the 13,356 individual birds reported for the day, Band-tailed Pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) made the largest contribution with 799 individuals. Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) was the most ubiquitous species, occuring on all 22 routes. And 20 new species were added to the cumulative count tally, bringing the four-year total to 470 species.

The Monteverde CBC was held early the next week and also had decent weather. However, I have heard no news regarding the outcome. Then again, I still haven’t heard any results from their 2004 count, either.

On 23 December, the Grecia count celebrated its 22nd season and, appropriately enough, came up with the final result of 222 species. For the second half of that period, my sons and I have been covering the southern sector of the circle (La Garita/Turrucares), and on this recent count logged fully half of the species with a total of 112 species for the day, which surmounted our previous high count by five species. We also added 12 species to our route’s cumulative total, including such surprises as Spot-breasted Oriole (Icterus pectoralis) and Double-striped Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus). Elsewhere that day, Rafa Campos and Rolando Delgado found a Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea) at the confluence of the Río Colorado and Río Grande—it was another addition to the count’s cumulative list.

After the Christmas break, the Osa count held its second event on 27 December, though, again, I haven’t had news of how things went down there other than that apparently no Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja) were sighted.

On 30 December, a good turnout was on hand to cover the trails and environs of La Selva Biological Station. Miraculously, all four counts on the Caribbean side of CR had good weather this season! The end result ought to be respectable given those two factors, but I haven’t heard yet exactly how many species were recorded.

Last, but far from least, the season-ending Fila Costera count drew an impressive number of birders to the Dominical area to see how many species we could find on 03 January. Ironically, after having had such good weather on the Caribbean side of the country during the count period, it was raining and/or foggy at dawn on most of the routes. Fortunately, the weather cleared by mid-morning, but the damage had probably already been done since by the end of the day our output was “only” 370 species. Not bad, but 22 fewer than the previous year. With twelve new species added this year, the cumulative total for the four-year-old count rises to 451 species.

 

 

News from the North Country

While staying at the Caño Negro Fishing Club [despite the name, I can certainly recommend this establishment for birders visiting these wetlands] on 07 January, Kevin Easley found a perched screech-owl. The bird never vocalized,nor did Kevin play any recordings, but a “prolonged close view” with a good look at the relatively faint facial disk outline revealed the bird’s identity as a Pacific Screech-Owl (Megascops cooperi). Given the number of dry forest species whose local ranges also extend onto the Caribbean side of CR in the Caño Negro region, it’s not so surprising that this owl would turn up, but it’s the first record that I’m aware of for the region.

Also, reading the recently-arrived edition of North American Birds that covers March through May 2005, I see that on 06 March 2005, a probable subadult Striated Heron (Butorides striata) was seen and photographed at Caño Negro by Bill Tweit. This would be the first Caribbean record in CR for this species.

A bit farther south, in the field in front of the Montaña de Fuego Hotel at Arenal Volcano, another unexpected species has joined the Southern Lapwings (Vanellus chilensis) that have been there for more than a year now. On 28 December, Leo Chaves discovered a Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) there! And it was still to be found at the site in mid-January.

In addition to the two above species, Leo also reported seeing a Merlin (Falco columbarius) in the same field. And on 29 December, at 6:30, while birding along the paved road between La Fortuna and the volcano, he encountered a Keel-billed Motmot (Electron carinatum). The bird was perched in a Cecropia tree beside the road, just beyond the entrance to the El Silencio farm.

Another “historic” record that reached me via an email from Dave Martin was a sighting of three American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana). Dave wrote that, “On February 23, 2003, we were transferring from a hotel near Arenal by boat across Lake Arenal to Monteverde. I don't remember the village where we came ashore on the south side of the lake but it must be a regular transfer point because the day we were there, there were lots of boats arriving and vans waiting to pick up and transfer visitors. While waiting for our van, we walked about 100 meters up the road to where the inlet narrowed. On mudflats at the shallowest part were 3 American Avocets in basic plumage. We only had binoculars so were not close enough to determine what the age or sex was of these birds.”

 

 

Still More Doves for the Tortuguero List

On 06 December, Daryl Loth reported sighting “three Scaled Pigeons (Patagioenas speciosa) perched on the highest branches of a Sangrillo tree (Pterocarpus officinalis) just off the main river and to the north of the gasoline station here in Tortuguero. I've never seen them here before. I had a good sighting with full early morning sunlight. Very strong red color on the bill and the scaling was as plain as the day. Very exciting.”

Although the field guide calls the species uncommon to rare in the Caribbean lowlands, neither Daryl nor I are aware of any other reports for Tortuguero. Nor is the species included on Widdowson’s list for the area.

 

 

Raptor Roundup

During the Aerial Tram CBC on 15 December, Noel Ureña and Luis Sánchez found a perched Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis) at Quebrada González in Braulio Carrillo NP. The bird was high in a tree on the Las Palmas trail, behind the ranger station.

On 16 January 2006, Mariano Cruz again had the fortune of spotting a Crested Eagle in Tortuguero NP. The bird was perched on a bare branch about 15 meters above the stream along the Río Tortuguero. It was only about 300 meters from where he saw what was apparently a different individual in August 2005.

On 09 January, Jim Zook watched 25 Swainson’s Hawks (Buteo swainsoni) “kiting in strong winds over a burning cane field at Bagatzi.”

On the morning of 10 January, Luis Sandoval had a veritable birder’s bonanza near the village of Sierpe. As a tractor was clearing a field in preparation for rice planting, it attracted two Crane Hawks (Geranospiza caerulescens), one Mangrove Black-Hawk (Buteogallus subtilis), two Roadside Hawks (Buteo magnirostris), one Swainson’s Hawk (B. swainsoni), three Zone-tailed Hawks (B. albonotatus), five Crested Caracaras (Caracara cheriway), and four Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus)! As if that weren’t enough of a show, a group of six Brown-throated Parakeets (Aratinga pertinax) also did a fly-over.

 

 

Second Report of Yellow-margined Flycatcher in South Pacific

Noel Ureña wrote to report an unusual sighting he had on 05 December: a Yellow-margined Flycatcher (Tolmomyias assimilis) near Uvita de Osa. Noel described the location as being about 500 meters outside of the village of Uvita on the road to Cerro Uvita. It was at about 100 meters elevation in an area of second-growth woods and clearings. [The exact coordinates given were 83.79015 W and 9.24331 N.] Noel was birding with his brother, Carlos, Cristian Valenciano and Pieter Westra, when they saw the bird. Something about it didn’t look quite right for Yellow-olive Flycatcher (T. sulphurescens) and closer examination revealed it as a yellow-margined. The bird also vocalized, which clinched their ID.

Apparently, Jim Zook has seen this species near La Gamba, some 60 kilometers to the southwest.

 

 

Migrant Reports

American Wigeon (Anas americana): On 04 January, while birding the shrimp ponds at Chomes, Jim Zook found three females.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta): On 15 November, Jim Zook picked a female out of a flock of some 200 Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) that were in a rice field near Bagatzi. The flock also contained three female Northern Shovelers (A. clypeata) and a female Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis).

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis): On 15 November, near El Pelón de La Bajura, Jim discovered a flock of 56 birds on a temporary lake formed by flood waters from the Tempisque River. On 23 December, I located a female on the ICE empoundment near San Miguel de Turrucares, where for six out of the last nine years we’ve been able to find a few individuals of this species.

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens): On 03 January, during the Fila Costera CBC, Noel Ureña found an individual near the mouth of the Río Hatillo Viejo.

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus): On 19 November, Jim Zook observed a brown-plumaged bird at El Pelón de La Bajura. On 08 January, Kevin Easley had an adult male fly across the road, not far from the village of Parque on the main road to Los Chiles.

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus): On 19 November, Jim Zook found a single bird in a muddy, fallow rice field at El Pelón de La Bajura.

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus): Jim Zook had two sightings of a single bird (the same?) along the Colmenar road in Palo Verde on 13 and 16 November; the actual sites were about four km apart.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus): On 16 January, along the Colmenar road in Palo Verde, Jim Zook spotted an individual. And on 19 January, he found another near Pijije.

Chuck-will’s-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis): Jim Zook reported “one flushed out of roadside vegetation shortly after dawn along the road into Palo Verde between Bagatzi and Falconiania. Another was seen by flashlight in the predawn darkness on its foraging perch along the Colmenar road in Palo Verde on 16 Nov and again on the same perch under the same circumstances on 09 Jan.”

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis): On 23 November, Paco Madrigal found a group of ten birds in a field near Tarcoles. They were on the righthand side of the road just where the little asphalted patch begins as you drive in from the coastal highway.

Purple Martin (Progne subis): On 09 November, Rich Hoyer and his WINGS group spotted a female amongst Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) near Ensenada Lodge—at this date, most martins should have moved through CR.

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor): On 12 November, Jim Zook found one individual with about 100 Barn Swallows all following a mucking tractor in a flooded rice field W of Bagatzi.

Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva): On 17 November, Jim Zook discovered “three flying with half a dozen or so Barn Swallows, over cane fields between La Guinea and Filadelfia, first time I've heard their distinctive vocalizations, which is what drew them to my attention in the first place.” The lesson here seems to be: Check those Barn Swallows!

Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus): A rare winter resident, Jim Zook was surprised to find several birds at Palo Verde in early January. While birding at Carara with my family on 23 January, David noticed a bird in the underbrush along the entrance to the Sendero Universal.

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina): A normally uncommon winter resident, it seems to be here in good numbers this year. Liz Jones sent word of one or two birds at Bosque del Río Tigre in late December, and Jim Zook had several birds at Palo Verde in early January. The boys and I have had them at Braulio Carrillo, La Selva, and La Virgen del Socorro in the past month.

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis): A common enough, though somewhat skulking, migrant on the Caribbean side of CR, we had a bird show up in the bird bath at our house here in the Central Valley (San Antonio de Belén) on 26 November. The bird stayed around for almost a week before disappearing and was a first for our 14-year-old “house list”. Coincidentally, Jan and Pieter Westra reported their first-ever Gray Catbird for Talari Mountain Lodge, with sightings on 24 and 27 November. And Paco Madrigal also had a catbird at Rancho Naturalista on 26 November.

Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata): On 27 October, Daniel Martinez found one individual foraging with three Tennessee Warblers (Vermivora peregrina) in a Casuarina tree on the grounds of the Technological Institute in Cartago.

Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia): On 13 November and 08 January, Jim Zook had sightings of a single female at Palo Verde. The two sightings were at sites about 13 km apart. On 23 December, during the Grecia CBC, Daniel Garrigues found a female in a wooded patch below the La Garita dam. This was our first record of this species in eleven years of covering the La Garita/Turrucares sector of the circle.

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata): On 29 November, Randall Ortega had one bird on the Sendero Universal at Carara NP. On 23 December, Daniel Martinez and Andrés Vaughan visited Turrialba Volcano and had a single bird at La Pastora. On 06 January, Kevin Easley reported at least 14 birds (and probably more) in the vicinity of the fruit feeders at Arenal Observatory Lodge. And on 13 January, Jim Zook found a bird “at a little pond (rapidly drying up) by the town of Pijije (entrance to Lomas Barbudal).”

Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens): Certainly a common NA migrant, however, one hardly expects to encounter this species in the trees at the edge of the soccer field in front of the OTS Palo Verde station, which is exactly where Jim Zook had a hatch-year male on 13 November!

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor): On 26 December, John and Maureen Woodcock, who have been banding birds in mangroves at various sites in the Santa Rosa and Tamarindo area for the last three winters, caught their first Prairie Warbler.

Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea): A very uncommon winter resident, Kevin Easley found a female foraging in the upper garden of Arenal Observatory Lodge on 09 January.

Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum): On 31 December, Daniel and David Garrigues came across a bird at La Selva, about 2000 meters out the STR trail. On 23 January, Daniel spotted another one near the start of the Sendero Universal in Carara NP.

MacGillivray’s Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei): In late October, Bruce Young reported that for the third time in the last four years an adult male has been visiting his garden in Monteverde. And on 04 January, while birding with my family on the grounds of Hacienda Barú, we found an adult male working an overgrown tangle.

Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina): On 01 January, I saw a female foraging behind the Tortuga cabins at La Selva. On 06 January, Jim Zook also found a female on OTS grounds, but his was near a watering hole below the OTS employee houses at Palo Verde.

Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis): On 27 December, Liz Jones reported a bird at Bosque de Río Tigre.

Dickcissel (Spiza americana): On 04 November, Rich Hoyer and his WINGS group had a single bird along the entrance road to Name Lankester Gardens, where they also picked up the resident White-throated Flycatcher (Empidonax albigularis) and Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis).

 

 

The GBN Crosses Borders

In the six years of publishing this online newsletter, I’ve had several birders contact me from Panama, which is always a gratifying experience. Following the publication of the previous edition, Guido Berguido wrote from Panama to inform me that yes, indeed the Grayish Saltator (Saltator coerulescens) has reached Bocas del Toro!

Thanks, Guido, for the update.

 

 

Rosy Thrush-Tanager Site Yields Great Results

The news of Jim Zook’s Rosy Thrush-Tanager (Rhodinocichla rosea) site, published in the previous GBN, has resulted in various birders being able to add the bird to their life (or at least CR) lists. In mid-November, Robert Dean and Eduardo Amengual visited the area and heard various thrush-tanagers and saw two individuals. They also had quite entertaining birding at the spot with good activity that lasted all morning and included White-crested Coquette (Lophornis adorabilis) and Bare-crowned Antbird (Gymnocichla nudiceps) as highlights. They also had Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch (Emberizoides herbicola) prior to reaching the thrush-tanager spot.

Shortly thereafter, on 20 November, Jean Jacques Gozard got the grass-finch and the thrush-tanager en route to the Durika Reserve. He also reported a pair of Bicolored Hawks (Accipiter bicolor) at the entrance to the reserve (above the goat farm). The birds were present the whole morning of 21 November.

Then, on 14 January 2006, Luis Sandoval went to the spot and found four thrush-tanagers, a low-flying King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), a male White-crested Coquette, ten Bicolored Antbirds (Gymnopithys leucaspis), and a pair of bare-crowneds.

Still, no one has reported Pheasant Cuckoo (Dromococcyx phasianellus)!

 

 

Listen to This

Thanks to Rafa Campos for having sent the URL for the Xeno-canto website. The site aims to eventually house recordings of the calls and/or songs of virtually all 4122 neotropical bird species. Sounds ambitious? They have already posted vocalizations of 1685 species, with more added daily!

If you happen to have recordings that you would like to share with the world, or just want to check out some sounds, visit the website.

 

 

Mystery Bird Photo Quiz

Congratulations to Dennis Miller, Rafa Campos, William Granados, and Roger Everhart for having correctly identified the mystery birds from the previous edition of the GBN. Everyone who took a stab at it correctly IDed the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) on the left side of the image—which is reassuring since that bird was pretty much a giveaway. There’s not much to go on in terms of field marks on the right hand bird, though just about everyone placed it in the flycatcher family (Tyrannidae). So, here’s a case where size is actually useful since we have a known species close to one we’re not sure of. The bird on the right looks a little smaller than the Eastern Kingbird, but not by much. Although measurements vary from one field guide to another, the size difference between an Eastern Kingbird and an Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) remains fairly constant at about an inch (or two to three centimeters). Any of the other kingbird species would actually be larger than the eastern, and either of the wood-pewees would be about two inches smaller—and given that the Eastern Kingbird is approximately an eight-inch bird, that 25% difference would be much more noticeable than the minor difference in the image. Here’s a more revealing view of the two birds that ought to eliminate any doubts.

Also, in the last edition, I included an image of a mystery shorebird that numerous readers attempted to ID. So, congratulations to Chris Sloan, Jesse Ellis, Bill Tice, Carson Wade (at least until he talked himself out of it), and Lori Conrad for having recognized the bird as an adult Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) molting into basic plumage. This is what Robert Dean and I agreed that the bird was, but I included the image since I couldn’t find this “halfway” plumage illustrated in any of the field guides I have around the house.

Ready to try again? Can you identify this species? The answer will be announced in the April 2006 newsletter. Good luck!

 

 

Thanks to everyone who contributed news of rare sightings and good finds. I hope that you've enjoyed this newsletter and welcome any comments at gonebirdingcr@gmail.com or if you're in Costa Rica, feel free to give me a ring at 293-2710.

Wishing you all great birding,

Richard Garrigues

https://www.angelfire.com/bc/gonebirding/index.html

 

Archives:

October 2005

Shiny Cowbird, Pale-breasted Spinetail, White-winged Dove, Crested Eagle, Solitary Eagle, White-tailed Hawk, Ocellated Poorwill (not), Tricolored Munia, Rusty Sparrow, Buff-breasted Sandpipier, Golden-cheeked Warbler, albino hummer, Rosy Thrush-Tanager

July 2005

American Pipit, Cocos trip report, Cedar Waxwing, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Red-throated Caracara, Black-chested Jay

April 2005

White-crowned Pigeon, Lark Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Northern Harrier, Long-billed Curlew, Dunlin, Warbling Vireo, Crested Eagle, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Southern Lapwing nest, Mangrove Hummingbird study

January 2005

Red-billed Tropicbird, Pink-footed Shearwater, Arctic Tern, Black Storm-Petrel, Masked Booby, Herring Gull, Parasitic Jaeger, Cory’s Shearwater, Yellow-breasted Chat, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Dunlin, CBC results, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Greater Ani, Red-throated Caracara

October 2004

Black-vented Shearwater, Sabine's Gull, Brown Noddy, Brown-chested Martin, Cerulean Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Violaceous Quail-Dove, Rusty Sparrow

July 2004

Dr. Skutch eulogy, Shiny Cowbird, Crested Eagle, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Warbling Vireo, Keel-billed Motmot, Rufous-necked Wood-rail, White-throated Magpie-Jay

April 2004

Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Striated Heron, Red-billed Tropicbird, Masked Yellowthroat, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cape May Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Bullock's Oriole, Crested Eagle, Uniform Crake, Paint-billed Crake, White-rumped Sandpiper, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Tropical Mockingbird, Blue Seedeater

January 2004

Christmas Bird Count results, American Bittern, Gray Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Brewster's Warbler, Great Swallow-tailed Swift, Unspotted Saw-whet Owl, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove, Worldwide Ornithological Literature website

October 2003

Cory's Shearwater, Swallow-tailed Gull, Black Tern, Gray-breasted Crake, Gray Kingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Bobolink, Lincoln's Sparrow, Peg-billed Finch, Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge, rare raptors

July 2003

Greater Ani, Green Heron, Bat Falcon, Orange-breasted Falcon, Swallow-tailed Kite, Keel-billed Motmot, Spot-tailed Nightjar, Black-whiskered Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow, Yellow-breasted Chat, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Strong-billed Woodcreeper

April 2003

Large-billed Tern, Green Heron, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Keel-billed Motmot, Red-throated Caracara, Pheasant Cuckoo, Wattled Jacana, Tropical Mockingbird

January 2003

Christmas Bird Count results, Southern Lapwing , Short-tailed Nighthawk, Lanceolated Monklet , Sunbittern, Magnolia Warbler, Prevost's Ground-Sparrow, Tricolored Munia

October 2002

Golden-cheeked Warbler, Migrant monitoring, Southern Lapwing, Harpy Eagle, Violaceous Quail-Dove,Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, Rusty Sparrow

July 2002

Dr. Skutch update, Veraguan Mango, Pearl Kite, Red-breasted Blackbird, Tody Motmot, Mourning Dove, Red Knot, Pinnated Bittern, Black-and-white Owl

April 2002

Harpy Eagle, American Avocet, Pacific Golden Plover, Ruff, Cave Swallow, Southern Lapwing, South Polar Skua, Maroon-chested Ground-Dove

January 2002

Southern Lapwing, White Tern, Chipping Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Migrant warblers, hummers and more hummers

October 2001

South Polar Skua, Pomarine Jaeger, Sharpbill, Long-billed Curlew, Lovely Cotinga, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, White-tipped Sicklebill, Bicolored Hawk, Lanceolated Monklet

July 2001

South Polar Skua, Silvery-fronted Tapaculo, Scaled Antpitta, Pearl Kite, Scarlet Macaw, Mystery hummers, White-eyed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Masked Duck

April 2001

Crested Oropendola, Rosy Thrush-Tanager, Wattled Jacana, Brown-throated Parakeet, Lanceolated Monklet, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Lovely Cotinga, Cinnamon Teal, Silvery-throated Jay, Migrant wood-warblers, Violaceous Quail-Dove

January 2001

Crested Oropendola, Lark Sparrow, Oilbird, Double-striped Thick-knee, Pheasant Cuckoo, Y2K CBCs, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Crested Eagle, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail

October 2000

first migrants and rare warblers, disappearing migrant shorebird habitat, Mallard (sic), Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Scaled Antpitta, Black-and-white Owl

July 2000

Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Prairie Warbler, Tiny Hawk, Red-throated Caracara, Western Slaty-Antshrike, Red-breasted Blackbird, Clapper Rail, Swallow-tailed Gull

April 2000

Green-winged Teal, Painted Bunting, Green Ibis, Western Slaty-Antshrike, Pearl Kite, Southern Lapwing, Lanceolated Monklet