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The Gone Birding Newsletter

Vol. 7, No. 3

July 2006

Cocos Island Trip Report

From 29 April to 05 May 2006, Kevin Easley was privileged to visit Cocos Island with the Organization of Tropical Studies Biocursos group. This is the report he sent of that trip, along with an annotated list of bird species. The links are to photos Kevin took during the trip.

“29 April: We departed from Playa Herradura, north of Jacó, aboard the Pacific Explorer at 19:00. The total time to reach Cocos Island was 35 hours, of which the first 10 hours and the last 11 hours were at night, giving us a full day (30 April) on the open sea. We had four full days at Cocos, where we visited the following locations:

01 May: Wafer Bay in AM / Chatham Bay in PM

02 May: Wafer Bay in AM / aboard ship in PM

03 May: Circumnavigated the island in small boat in AM / aboard ship in PM

04 May: Wafer Bay in AM / Circumnavigated the island on Pacific Explorer in early PM

“We departed Cocos Island in the late evening of 04 May. It takes less time to return (31 hours) to the mainland due to currents. Of those 31 hours, the first 8 hours and the last 11 hours were at night giving us a full day (05 May) on the open sea. We arrived back at Playa Herradura soon after dawn on 06 May.

“With the help of Mike Mulligan, a long time friend and Costa Rica lister, we were able to put together a small birding group of seven other people to join us on this unique OTS event: Bart Brown, Ron Cicerello, Mark Citsay, Audrey Evers, Ken Havard, Pat Mitchell, and Doug Stucki.

“On behalf of the group, I would like to thank the OTS staff for all of their hard work in making this trip possible. Cocos Island is truly a remarkable place. Through their efforts we were able to learn its rich history, snorkel in its clear waters, and see not only the three endemics bird species found there but many others as well.

“Also on behalf of the group, I would like to send a huge thank-you to the crew of the Pacific Explorer. The accommodations and meals were excellent. The personal attention and professionalism of the staff simply superb. Well done!

“To birders and nature enthusiasts I would highly recommend this journey.

“For more information on future Cocos Island cruises operated by the OTS you can contact them by email at: biocursos@ots.ac.cr

“You can also visit their website (in Spanish) at: www.ots.ac.cr

Species List for Cocos Island Trip, 30 April – 05 May 2006

Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus): two separate individuals on crossing to Cocos and another individual during return crossing to mainland.

Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri): several during crossing to Cocos, one at Cocos, one during return crossing to mainland.

Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma tethys): two separate individuals on crossing to Cocos, two groups of eight or more, along with several singles, on return crossing to mainland – by far the most common storm-petrel encountered.

Leach's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa): two singles seen well on return crossing to mainland.

Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra): fairly common during the crossings, colony (30+) on Cocos, regularly followed the boat.

Red-footed Booby (Sula sula): common on crossings, abundant in nesting colonies on islets around Cocos, brown phase to white phase in colonies approx 100/1.

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster): common on crossings, several colonies on islets around Cocos.

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens): several on crossings, few seen on Cocos.

Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor): abundant on Cocos.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias): an individual was seen at Wafer Bay on Cocos most days.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula): up to five birds together at near Wafer Bay on Cocos, could have been the same individuals seen daily in singles in the same general area.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus): three sightings of single birds on Cocos, possibly two different individuals.

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus): two individuals at Wafer Bay on Cocos were seen most days.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius): an individual at Wafer Bay on Cocos was seen most days.

Wandering Tattler (Tringa incanus): an individual at Wafer Bay on Cocos was seen daily.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus): an adult was seen well, late in the afternoon on return crossing to mainland.

Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan): individuals and groups (12+) were not uncommon during the crossings.

Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini): adult pair seen during crossing to Cocos, another adult pair seen during return crossing to mainland, both pairs flying north.

Swallow-tailed Gull (Creagrus furcatus): a pair first seen following the boat at approx 20:30 after the full day crossing to Cocos, early the next day (pre-dawn), while approaching Cocos Island, we saw three individuals following the boat.We also saw one on the return crossing at approximately 08:00, our only daytime sighting. (Note: This is the world’s only nocturnal gull feeding off the top of the water for fish and squid at night – nearest known breeding grounds are in the Galapagos Islands and on an island well off Columbia.) [Editor’s note: This is the first documentation I am aware of for this species in Costa Rican waters, although there have been sight reports since 2000.]

Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscata): four on islet in Wafer Bay on Cocos, possibly nesting.

Black Noddy (Anous minutus): fairly common on Cocos but less so than Brown Noddy.

Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus): very common on Cocos, few on crossings at sea.

White Tern (Gygis alba): common on crossing but toward Cocos side (late afternoon on crossing to Cocos, early morning on return crossing to mainland), abundant on Cocos where seen in pairs and feeding young.

Cocos Cuckoo (Coccyzus ferrugineus): seen daily at Wafer Bay on Cocos and also a pair above Chatham Bay.

Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani): an individual in the grassy area above Chatham Bay on Cocos, few if any records of this species on Cocos.

Cocos Flycatcher (Nesotriccus ridgwayi): easily encountered once voice is recognized, seen or heard daily at Wafer Bay on Cocos.

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota): a group of at least six were seen foraging over the grassy area above Chatham Bay, first reported on the island in 2005 by Robert Dean.

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens): an individual seen daily at the soccer field and along the beach at Wafer Bay on Cocos. [Editor’s note: This photo provides the first unequivocal evidence of this species in Costa Rica, though there have been two previous reports.]

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis): odd to see this species at open sea, we had an individual on the return crossing approach and circle the boat allowing for great views – hope he made it north!

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia aureola): fairly common on Cocos seen mostly along the beach areas, listed as same subspecies as found on Galapagos with rusty crown.

Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis): an individual approached the boat on the crossing to Cocos, flew around the boat, entered the dining room, and then apparently continued north, also an individual seen daily at Wafer Bay on Cocos.

Cocos Finch (Pinaroloxias inornata): abundant on Cocos, all habitats. (Note: although considered by some to be closely related to the “Galapagos” finches it is taxonomically listed quite distant from them.)

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus): female seen at close range the first morning near the buildings at Wafer Bay on Cocos, in the afternoon a male was seen in flight above Chatham Bay.

Another Pelagic Report from out of Golfito

On 01 March, Soo Whiting and her birding group did a day of pelagic birding off the southern Pacific coast. I unfortunately don’t have any additional details such as the name of the boat and captain or how far out into the Pacific they got, but here is the list of birds that were identified that day:

Mottled Petrel (Pterodroma inexpectata): one [Editor’s note: according to what is suggested in Harrison’s Seabirds, it seems a bit out of range in both time and space, but if Soo’s ID was correct, this would be a new species for the CR list.]

Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus): 1000-1500

Audubon's Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri): 15-20

Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus): one juvenile

Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus): three

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus): two

Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus): one

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger): 100's

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maxima)

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)

Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus)

Red-footed Booby Nests off Isla Violines

Noel Ureña sent word of seeing three nests of Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) on rocky islets off Isla Violines. All three nests had nestlings when he saw them on 22 April, and there were also many Brown Boobies (S. leucogaster) nesting on the islets.

On 12 May, Noel had another opportunity to pass by the site and was able to count six active Red-footed Booby nests, all with nestlings. The nests were easy to spot on the bare branches of the relatively few trees on the islets.

Motmot Mixed Pair Photographed at Arenal

Keel-billed Motmots (Electron carinatum) in the Arenal area hardly seem newsworthy as there have been numerous reports in the past few years now that more and more birders spend time there. However, a report of this species hybridizing (or simply sharing a nest burrow??) with a Broad-billed Motmot (E. platyrhynchum) does merit mention. Thanks to Willy Piessens for forwarding a message from Andrew Russell, who happened to meet Phil and Jeannie Slosberg. While visiting Arenal Mundo Aventura (located 2 km south of La Fortuna), Phil found both species of motmots bringing food items to the same nest. Rather than summarize the rest of the story, I invite you to read Phil’s entertaining description of the incident. Go to http://www.critterimages.com/ and click on The Slozblog Travel Log, then follow the link to previous issues. The motmot article is issue #7.

This brings to mind the case of a similar mating attempt between these two species that was witnessed by Michael and Patricia Fogden some twenty years ago in the Peñas Blancas Valley (only 15 km from the current nest site). The field guide states, “no young have been produced.” Unfortunately, in this recent situation there are still question marks since Phil had to return to the US after making the observations that are reported on his website. Since returning to CR on 02 July, he has visited the site several times but has not found any motmots and the nest burrow is empty.

Brown-chested Martin Seen at Cortés

Thanks to Jim Zook for passing along this report from Carl G. Lundblad of Las Cruces, NM, who, on 25 March 2006, found a Brown-chested Martin (Progne tapera) at the blue-and-yellow gas station along the highway, in Cortés, west of Palma Sur.

“The bird was associating closely with a flock of Gray-breasted Martins (P. chalybea). It, and the others, were perching up in the metal rafters of the canopy which stood over the pumps. They were flying out in a circular pattern mostly, catching insects and returning to perch.

“The bird was a fairly large passerine, roughly thrush sized, with long narrow pointed wings, a notched tail of moderate length, and a small bill. The bird was essentially identical in size and structure to the Gray-breasted Martins with which it was associating. The birds upperparts were almost solid brownish from cap, across the back, wings, and tail. The face showed brown auriculars, darkest in an oval patch extending from the eye downwards and towards the nape. The throat was solid white.The area above the bill and forehead was paler, but not clean white, fading to brown towards the crown. The bird’s underparts were predominately white including on the throat, belly, and undertail. Across the breast was a distinct brown horizontal band with “fuzzy” edges separating it from the white of the throat and lower chest/belly area. A vertical brown stripe ran perpendicular to the broader horizontal band, downward from the sternum about 1/2 of the distance from collar to vent. The pattern was very reminiscent of a bank swallow.

“The bird was easily placed into the family Hirundinidae based on the overall structure and behavior, specifically the bird’s long pointed wings, forked tail, small bill, and unique swallow-like foraging behavior. The bird was easily separated from Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) based upon its size, identical or larger than the Gray-breasted Martins. The bird was separated very easily from the attendant G-b Martins based upon the very distinctive throat and chest pattern.

“I was unaware of the significance of the sighting until we left and I looked at Stiles and Skutch (I don’t know if the status may have changed since the book was published). I could have had great photos if I had snapped while we were still there. I had to consult Stiles and Skutch to be sure of what I had seen, but upon consulting the book there was no doubt.

“I have no prior experience with either Brown-chested or Gray-breasted Martin. I do have extensive experience with Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) and Purple Martin (P. subis). I am certain that this was neither a Bank Swallow nor a Gray-breasted Martin. Unless there are theoretical (or recently documented) similar martins I am very confident of my identification. Co-observer, Daniel Paez of Albuquerque, New Mexico agreed.”

Assuming that this bird was a southern migrant, it should have been a recent arrival in southern CR at that time of year. I received the above information in time to let Matt Denton know about the sighting during his July Birdquest tour. However, when they stopped at the Cortés gas station on 19 July, there was no sign of the Brown-chested Martin.

White-crowned Pigeon Spotted at Tortuguero

On the morning of 06 February 2006, researcher Andrew Metcalfe and five other observers watched a White-Crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala) for about ten minutes before it flew off. Andrew reported that, when found, the bird was “resting in a dead tree about ten meters in from the edge of the vegetation on the beach about three meters north of the estuary of the Rio Tortuguero. We had good views and the crown was very distinctive.”

Two New Sites for Double-Striped Thick-knee

Paco Madrigal gave an account of finding a single Double-striped Thick-knee (Burhinus bistriatus) in a newly-planted rice field some five km south of Matapalo. This represents the southernmost sighting on the Pacific side of CR that I’m aware of, though given all of the other dry forest species that have been turning up in the general Dominical region in recent years, it doesn’t seem so surprising.

I was surprised, however, to read in the June 2006 edition of Zeledonia that a pair of thick-knees have been inhabiting a grass airstrip in the San Carlos region for at least four years now. This is the first report of the species on the Caribbean side of CR, though again, it’s not the first dry forest species to expand in that direction either. Thanks to a remark made by a tour bus driver, naturalist guide Herson Guevara found out about the pair of thick-knees and went to see for himself. On 29 November 2005, he visited the El Peje Viejo sugar cane farm in Quebrada Azul de San Carlos, and sure enough, there they were. The site is at an elevation of about 80 meters above sea level.

Interesting Sightings from Río Tigre

After reading in the previous GBN about the Black-cowled Orioles (Icterus prosthemelas) seen along the Tarcoles River in April, Michael Drake wrote to report having seen this species on the Osa Peninsula. In July 2005, “while staying at Bosque del Río Tigre, I found one bird in Dos Brazos. I was with Abraham Gallo, who initially thought I'd made a wrong ID. However, he got a good look at the bird and agreed that it was a Black-Cowled Oriole.”

My curiosity aroused my Michael’s comment, I wrote to Liz Jones to ask if the bird had been seen since. She replied that yes they continued to see at least one individual from August through November, and stated that “on 22 November, I definitely saw at least two on the cecropia out front. They disappeared a day or two later, I believe.”

Another species that had not previously been known for the area is Barred Hawk (Leucopternis princeps). Queried about this, Liz wrote, “We had seen the Barred Hawk about five years ago soaring. Abraham and I were walking in the same area but not together, near the Rio Nuevo (one valley south of us). Both of us came up with the same ID but admittedly hawks are not our strong point, and we were not 100% sure, especially since we had never seen one before. A year later we ran across another one perched near the Rincón Bridge, close enough and for long enough to get a positive ID. It was an adult and I don't think it can be confused with any other hawk that could possibly be here. Since then, we usually see one or two a year, some sightings we have been sure of, others may not have been so clear. The sightings this year were all Abraham's with guests. He says there were three sightings at least.” [Discussing these sightings with Jim Zook, he mentioned having seen Barred Hawk in the hills of the Nicoya Peninsula—an area for which it had likewise not been previously reported.]

An additional unexpected highland species that has apparently turned up down there is Green-fronted Lancebill (Doryfera ludovicae). “Abraham has been saying that he has seen a Green-fronted Lancebill several times over the last few years. Well one of our guests, an experienced birder, saw one this year!”

And finally, Liz described the nest of a Striped Woodhaunter (Hyloctistes subulatus) that they discovered up the Pizote River in mid-March.

“The Striped Woodhaunter had it's burrow nest on the side of a vertical stream embankment about 1 1/4 meter above the water level, right under the upper edge. We were afraid someone would walk on the edge and collapse it. There was someone gold mining about 10 meters up river and the embankment it chose was actually part of the channel cut earlier by the miner (miners start cutting a channel and work progressively upstream). I was amazed that the birds continued with the nest with the activity nearby.

“When the Woodhaunter left the nest he always flew quickly out across the stream, horizontally, into the forest. I also saw him/her sitting about 15 meters from the nest a meter from the ground calling while in the process of building (I assume they were still building). No one actually saw material leaving the burrow or being brought in so as to what stage they were in when we observed them, we really can't be sure and no one spent more than 1/2 hour or so with the nest. On one occasion, I waited a good distance from the nest, hoping for my first sighting (Abraham and Scott had already seen the bird) and it did not appear. I wandered upriver looking for a mixed flock thinking they may be feeding. No flocks and no Woodhaunter showed so as I went back down stream I decided to give one more look at the hole and there was a bird head just visible inside the hole. Was it just guarding the entrance or was it a shallow burrow, I don't know. A bit later it left the nest and as I was walking downstream I heard it call for the first time. I went back and that was when I saw it calling near the nest. A week later we were up the stream and a bird left the burrow just before we passed by but the activity was greatly reduced and we did not hear it call while we were in the stream valley so we assumed that they were sitting on eggs. A few days later we had the storm and the nest collapsed. End of story.”

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher at Kéköldi

On 10 June, while working some mist nets in an abandoned cacao plantation on the Kéköldi Reserve, north of Puerto Viejo de Limón, Daniel Martínez was amazed to find that he had trapped a female Green-and-rufous Kingfisher (Chloroceryle inda). Not only was this a new species for the reserve’s list and a lifer for Daniel, but it turned up in the only net that wasn’t set up near the only stream that passes through the particular area where he was working!

Black-striped Sparrow at El Rodeo

On the morning of 31 May, I was birding along “Radio Station road” in the El Rodeo Forest Reserve with Jerry Goldsmith. We had heard and seen several Olive Sparrows (Arremonops rufivirgatus) that morning, when I heard something that didn’t sound right. The song recalled that of an Olive Sparrow, but was much richer. Never having seen or heard a Black-striped Sparrow (A. conirostris) in the western part of the Central Valley, I didn’t consider it at first among the possibilities. But then, up it popped out of the grassy field in front of us and perched on a low branch of a roadside tree just a few meters away from us.

Hardly a mega-rarity, the Black-striped Sparrow is common enough in wet lowland and foothill regions of CR, but I had no recollection of ever running into it at El Rodeo. When I got back home I checked my notes and confirmed that not only did I not have the species listed for El Rodeo, but on a list compiled by Julio Sánchez and amended by Daniel Solano about a year ago, it was likewise absent.

Paltry Tyrannulet “Planting” Mistletoe Seeds?

Kevin Easley forwarded a note from Mike and Diana Manetz, who recently visited Rancho Naturalista. While birding from the balcony, Diana photographed this Paltry Tyrannulet (Zimmerius vilissimus), with his “cache.” Mike wrote that, “It was collecting mistletoe berries and then flying to this perch, sitting for a few moments, and then regurgitating them, one at a time, and fastening them to the small branches. Interesting, and amusing to watch.”

Kevin replied, “Other than just a place to regurgitate seeds, the only thing I can imagine is that it is actually farming the mistletoe for a future crop. I know that is a bit presumptuous, but who knows. I think birds are smarter than we give them credit. I have not known Paltry Tyrannulets to be one of those flycatchers that returns to the same perch over and over like a pewee (Contopus sp.) or a Tufted Flycatcher (Mitrephanes phaeocercus). It would be interesting to see if these seeds develop into mistletoe plants.”

To add my dos centavos, it does seem a bit of a stretch to think that the little flycatcher (I hate to call them “paltry” and this behavioral observation does highlight that Mistletoe Flycatcher is a wonderfully appropriate name) has a notion that the seeds may one day germinate and grow into parasitic plants that will provide more fruit for future flycatcher consumption. Rather than being an altruistic activity, I would suspect that the behavior was as much out of necessity as anything else. Mistletoe seeds are typically surrounded by a very sticky substance that even withstands passage through birds’ digestive systems. Euphonias (other mistletoephiles) have been observed wiping their vents against branches to remove the seeds that get stuck to the anal opening upon defecation. Similar cases of beak wiping are also common, as in this instance, when birds deal with the seeds by regurgitation. Of course, the marvel of adaptation here is that the mistletoes have evolved a way of getting where they need to be—on the branch of a potential future host tree, and not ending up in a bit of bird dropping on the ground or the shoulder of a birder.

A Couple of Follow-ups from the Last Edition

Shortly after I posted the last newsletter, Daniel Torres was able to send me one of the photos he took of the Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoos (Neomorphus geoffroyi) that were being seen earlier this year at the Rain Forest Aerial Tram. You can now see the image by clicking here.

I also heard from John Keep, who identified himself as the visiting British birder who had “good but brief sightings” of a Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo at Albergue Heliconias above Bijagua de Upala. You can read his full trip report at his website.

And, thanks to Jim Zook for forwarding a copy of Ryan Terrill’s report of the Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla) that he first saw on 13 February and later photographed on 22 February in the Botanical Garden of the Tirimibina Forest Reserve:

“I noticed a medium-sized warbler in the top of a tree, pumping its tail, and giving a short, whet, slightly nasal chip that I recognized as very much like NAWA calls I am used to in California. I looked at the bird, and saw the underparts were a fairly bright yellow, with whitish around the legs and the bottom of the belly, with yellow under tail coverts. The bird had a cold, gray hood, with a bright yellow throat, and the line where they met was sharp, distinct, and crisp. It had bold, white eye-rings, and the on my second observation, I noticed the slightest hint of a pale supercilium. The gray hood, also constrasted fairly sharply with a green back, which was a kind of lime-olive. When the bird was wet, I even made out a bit of rufous in the cap, underneath the gray feathers. I observed the bird from 3 to 10 meters over about 20 minutes both days. It was raining the first day, and clear the second.”

A.O.U. Publishes 47th Supplement to NA Checklist

If some of the scientific names used earlier in this newsletter had you wondering what was going on taxonomically, then you probably haven’t seen the latest supplement to the A.O.U. checklist of North American birds. On the A.O.U. website, you can find both PDF and Excel versions of the newly revised list for our area. Probably the most important change with regard to species found in Costa Rica is that the family Dendrocolaptidae is now merged with the Furnariidae. There are no changes to the English common names or the scientific names of the species involved, but it does take some mental willpower to think of the woodcreepers as being part of the “ovenbird” family.

Mystery Bird Photo Quiz

Congratulations to Judy Adams, Daniel Martínez, Rafa Campos, Tim Fitzpatrick, Paco Madrigal, Lori Conrad, Dave Tripp, and Pat O'Donnell, who correctly identified the mystery bird from the previous edition of the GBN. This was another example of how brightly-colored birds can camouflage in fruiting trees. If you go back and take a close look, you can distinguish the dark tanager bill, pointing almost straight down in a small opening amidst the fruits. And just above the bill are bits and pieces of a reddish-brown head, which together with the green wings and the turquoise-blue hints on the flank feathers make this a Bay-headed Tanager (Tangara gyrola).

Ready to try again? Can you identify the bird in this image? The answer will be announced in the October 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

 

[If you’re looking for information about a specific species, click on the link above and use the Google “Search This Site” feature to find all relevant references.]

Archives:

April 2006

Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Solitary Eagle (not), Crested Eagle, Harpy Eagle, Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle, Slate-colored Seedeater, Plain-colored Tanager, Black-cowled Oriole, Brown Noddy, Red-footed Booby, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Mangrove Hummingbird, Yellow-breasted Crake, Rusty-margined Flycatcher

January 2006

CBC reports, Tropical Mockingbird, Keel-billed Motmot, Scaled Pigeon, Crested Eagle, Yellow-margined Flycatcher, Long-billed Curlew, Cave Swallow, Prairie Warbler

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