CR birds

SCOUTING TRIP REPORT ON

BIRDS

Weather: Mostly overcast to partly cloudy with intermittent evening showers, sometimes extending into the early morning hours.

Winds NE 0- 10 mph; Temp. 70F to 85F; Relative Humidity 80- 90%

Time: 0600 - 2300 hrs.

Observers: Merissa Mendez, Didier Castro, Adolpho Gonzalez and I; occasionally other lodge guests.

Material and Methods: We conducted visual and auditory, walking surveys, primarily in the morning and evenings, using bincoculars (8 x 40; 10 x 42) and two, hand-held DSLR cameras fitted with telephoto lenses (Nikon D3X with a Nikkor f 5.6 80-400 mm VR lens and a Nikkor Fisheye lens; Nikon D 3100 with a Nikkor f 2.8 19-200 mm IF VR lens). We also used a Kodak pocket-size, auto-focus digital camera with a flash, which in some cases out-performed the Nikon D 3100 and 19-200mm lens for close-up photography. Battery-powered (AAA) headlamps were used for night surveys. Observations were recorded in a field notebook. Vocalizations of birds and frogs were often recognized and correctly identified by our guides Didier Castro and Adolpho Gonzalez. High-top rubber boots, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and insect repellent were used due to the widespread occurrence of biting arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes and chiggers) and poisoness snakes. All animals were either photographed in situ (arthropods and birds) or captured, positioned nearby for photographs and immediately released unharmed (amphibians and reptiles). Photos were uploaded, edited and stored on an 8 GB Sandisk thumb-drive, using a HP laptop computer.

Areas Covered: 1) Laguna Del Lagarto (LDL), elevation 100 -120 m,: We walked the well-marked trails through a 100 ha rainforest, including primary and secondary growth. Many openings and large tree-falls in the forest had resulted from a tornado (highly unusual in this region) touching ground briefly here last year. These highly productive, sunlit patches, attracted many insects and other animals. Several low-lying depressions held rainwater in more or less permanent lagoons or swamps. These are the favored haunts of such specialities as Agami Heron (Agamia agami), Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) and the famous "Jesus Christ" Lizard (Basiliscus plumifrons). Outside of the forest are clearings (e.g. LDL lodge, Santa Rita), large tracts of pasture land with isolated tall trees ( i.e. tropical savanna) with small herds of emaciated cattle, heart-of-palm and box-lumber "reforestation" monocultures. The lodge grounds, about 1.5 ha, is set on a hill overlooking one of the largest forest-lined lagoons in the region. This area has been cleared and replanted with an assortment of native and non-native flowering shrubs, together with a regularly mowed ground cover of Bermuda grass. A few tall, native forest trees dot the lodge landscape (fortunately none of these was uprooted by the recent tornado and almost no damage was done to LDL buildings). Trees and branch arrangements are used near the elevated and covered dining area for bannana-bait stations to attract fruit-loving birds such as Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis), Brown-hooded Parrot (Pionopsitta haematotis), Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii), Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus), Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani) and Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma). Tall fruiting trees on the lodge grounds attracted Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata), Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua), Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) and many other frugivorous animals. We spent at least 2 hours daily observing and photographing animals at close range around the lodge. The entire LDL property (500 hectares) consists of rolling hills and swampy depressions (the deeper, permanent ones with caiman and turtles and fish (e.g. a rare native Gar) are called "lagoons"), at an elevation of about 100 -120 meters above sea level.

2) Santa Rita (SRG). We observed and photographed birds in Adolpho's garden, just off the main road through the village of Santa Rita. Fresh bananas were placed in half sections of giant bamboo, positioned in the center of the garden. Many flowering shrubs (Bougainvilla, Hibiscus, Heliconia) in the garden and one hummingbird feeder attracted insects (mostly Hymenoptera) and Rufous-tailed Hummingbirds (Amazilia tzacatl). Two visits to the garden were made, each for about one hour: April 2 (1600-1700 hrs.) and April 6 (1030-1200 hrs.).

3) Santa Rita Lagoon (SRL): Adolpho led us on an expedition around the northern margin of Santa Rita Lagoon, through secondary rainforest, swamp forest and the vegetation-choked lagoon. We walked slowly and quietly on a muddy trail, stopping frequently to view the marsh from different angles. Our survey included the open marsh on either side of the roadway, where we made several brief visits in transit between LDL and Boca Tapada during the time of our stay at LDL. Traffic on the roadway between LDL and Santa Rita was minimal; an hour or more passing without a single vehicle.

4) Boca Tapada (BT): We made two visits to the outskirts of Boca Tapada (April 1: 1600-1630 hrs; April 6: 0930-1000 hrs.). We surveyed the roadside fence lines overgrown with flowering shrubs, adjacent pastures with scattered trees (i.e. savanna) and ploughed taro fields. The second visit on April 6 was specifically for refinding the Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala), which I had seen on April 1; the bird was not found this time. Some local foot traffic occurred along the roadway during both of our visits, in addition to one or two other vehicles.

5) San Carlos River (SCR): We traveled by covered motorboat between Boca Tapada and Boca San Carlos (at the Costa Rica - Nicaragua border) on April 7 (0830-1230 hrs.). The northward current was estimated at 3-5 mph; water level relatively low ( rising as high as 30 feet during the rainy season), with exposed, muddy, snag-ridden banks. Tall riverine forest occurred only along the banks; pasture land and savanna covered the adjacent hills. A few small villages and docks were seen along the way, including an abandoned elementary school that reportedly closed after graduating its only student last year. The captain of the boat, together with Didier, our guide from LDL, readily spotted birds and other animals and manuevered the boat for photos. Despite the swift current, they managed to get us close enough for some really fine photo opportunities. We stopped for lunch at the border town of Boca San Carlos (BSC), where a group of Costa Rican police graciously welcomed us and allowed us to take their photograph. Subsequently we strolled along the main trail through town, photographing butterflies, people and scenery. The nearby intersection of the San Juan river marks the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua; several Nicaraguan police were posted on the opposite shore. The return voyage upriver produced several more species for our day-list, including two Tropical Sliders (Chrysemmys ornata) and two groups of Long-nosed Bats (Rynchonycterus naso) on partially exposed branches in shallow water on the east bank. The cost of this excursion was $25 per person.

Birds noted (Reference: Stiles, F.G. and A. F Skutch. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica. Cornell Univ. Press. 511 pp)

Tinamiformes

Great Tinamou (Tinamus major) 2 calling in forest, afternoons and evenings, LDL.

Galliformes

Great Currasow (Crax rubra) 1 photographed at edge of garden by a lodge guest, LDL.

Podicipediformes

Least Grebe 1 ad swimming, diving in second lagoon, LDL (photo).

Suliformes

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) 1 swimming submerged in lagoon, SRL (photo); 4 perched on snags in river, SCR (photo).

Pelecaniformes

Bare-throated Tiger Heron 1 (ad) west bank of river, SCR (photo).

Great Egret (Ardea alba ) 6 standing on sandbars at junction of SCR and San Juan River, CR/Nicaragua border (photo).

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 4 on snags at edge of river, SCR.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta cerulea) 4 (ad, imm; light and dark phases) standing on sandbars in river, SCR (photo).

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 30 in pastures with cattle, BT; 5 flying over, LDL, SR; 15 perched on snags, SCR (photo).

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1 in lagoon, LDL (photo) 1 flushed from side of lagoon, SRL; 1 flushed from edge of river, SCR.

Agami Heron (Agamia agami) 1 ad in dense tangle of branches at edge of lagoon, LDL (photo).

Boat-billed Heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) 6 nesting in low, dense foliage in the middle and west end of the lagoon; two nests with well-concealed chicks, SRL (photos).

Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis) 2 west bank of river, walking on shore and large branch in water, SCR (photo).

Accipitriformes

Black Vulture 20 in and around pastures, BC; 12 feeding on something in pasture, SCR; 10 circling overhead, LDL.

Turkey Vulture 30 circling over roadways and pastures, BC; circling with BLVU and KIVU, LDL; SCR.

King Vulture 2 circling high with BLVU and TUVU over pasture and forest, LDL; 1 circling high over pasture, SCR.

American Swallow-tailed Kite 1 flying over forest, LDL.

Double-toothed Kite 1 perched in canopy of tall tree in forest, LDL.

Mississippi Kite 100 + migrating flock, moving slowly at 150-200 ft. northwest over the forest, LDL (photo: 5 April, 2011).

Gray Hawk 1 flying over canopy, LDL; 1 flying over riverine forest, SCR.

Broad-winged Hawk 8 (est.) migrating nw over forest with much larger flock of Swainson's Hawk, LDL( 2 April, 2011).

Swainson's Hawk 20 (est) migrating nw over forest; higher than BRHK, LDL ( 2 April, 2011).

Laughing Falcon 1 perched at edge of forest in subcanopy, LDL. Calls heard in forest, LDL.

Gruiformes

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) 2 a pair staying close and vocalizing at edge of marsh in center of lagoon, SRL (photo).

Charadriiformes

Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) 2 pair staying close at edge of marsh in lagoon, SRL (photo); 4 sandbars along river, SCR.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) 1 on sandbar, SCR.

Columbiformes

Short-billed Pigeon (Columba nigriristris) 2 pairs calling throughout morning in forest edge, LDL.

Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) 8 roadsides in pasture land, BC; 2 nesting? SRL (photo).

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) 2 on ground in ploughed taro field, BC.

Blue Ground Dove (Claravis pretiosa) 1 flushed from forest trail, LDL.

Olive-backed Quail Dove (Geotrygon veraguensis) 1 on nest less than 1m above the ground on fallen log near trail; no eggs or young (photo).

Rock Dove (Columba livia) 2 flying over buildings, BC - Pital.

Psittaciformes

Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga finschi) 3 in leafless tree in pasture, late afternoon; wary and flighty, LDL (photo)

Olive-throated Parakeet (Aratinga nana) 2 secondary forest subcanopy, LDL.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) 6-8 flying, calls, over pastureland and forest canopy (photo) and isolated tall tree in pasture with nest cavity, LDL; 4 riverine forest canopy, SCR A pair nesting in same tree with two pair of GRGM, LDL.

Great Green Macaw (Ara ambigua) 6-10 in forest canopy; 2 pair nesting in isolated pastureland tree with SCMA; common; heard and/or seen at LDL every day (photos).

Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis) 5 coming every day to feeder with bananas at the lodge; pairs courting (photo)and copulating; one female with deformed bill, LDL.

Brown-hooded Parrot (Pionopsitta haematotis) 6-8 m,f parties of 2-4 birds visiting the feeders daily, LDL (photo).

White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis) 2-4 shy, flighty, in tall trees around the lodge and edge of forest; not seen at feeders, LDL (photo).

Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis) 6 very vocal, courtship in sub-canopy of secodary forest and tall , fruiting trees (e.g. Leguminoseae) around the lodge, LDL (photo).

Yellow-crowned Amazon (Amazona ochracephala) 2: April 1, 2011: 1600 hrs. a pair flying southwest over a pasture near Boca Tapada. Large, conspicuous yellow markings on forehead were clearly seen. Apparently, this species is extremely rare north of central Panama; a few older sightings of it have been documented in northwest Panama (Bocas Del Toro: by A. Wetmore), which were thought to be escapees. Since this parrot is a common cage bird, the possibility exists that the birds I saw in Boca Tapada, CR, were escapees. Yet another pair of Amazona. ochracephala was seen flying over Santa Rita the following afternoon (around 1530 hrs.). These two sightings, about 5 Km apart, suggest that this parrot, whether an escapee or native species, is established in the San Carlos River area. Further surveys in this region are needed for documentation.

Cuculiformes

Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) 1 very active in the lower levels of second-growth at the edge of the forest, LDL (photo).

Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) 4 roadside fence lines and adjacent pasture, BC (photo); 2, SR.

Strigiformes

Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) 1 calling continuously at dusk from a well-concealed spot in a in a clump of trees at the edge of pasture, (ID by voice), LDL.

Caprimulgidae

Short-tailed Nighthawk (Lurocalis semitorquatus) calling continuously from a hill-top clearing near the roadway, (ID by voice), LDL.

Apodiformes

White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) 1 (f) visitng flowering shrubs briefly at the lodge, LDL.

Black-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae) 2 m,f visiting flowering shrubs at lodge, LDL (photo (f)).

Crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania columbica) 1 (f) perched on small branch overhanging forest stream, LDL (photo).

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) 3 - 5 m, f, frequenting flowering shrubs at the lodge, LDL; 3, at and around feeder, SR (photo).

Trogoniformes

Slaty-tailed Trogon (Trogon massena) 1 (f) perched in middle level of secondary forest, LDL.

Violaceous Trogon (Trogon violaceus) 1 (m) perched in middle level of tall secodary forest, LDL (photo).

Coraciiformes

Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle torquata) 1 wary and flighty as we approached in the boat, east bank of river, SCR.

Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona) 1 flying around the lagoon; perching for several moments on branch above the water, LDL (photo).

Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) 1 perched on snag, flighty, east bank of river, SCR (photo).

American Pygmy Kingfisher (Chloroceryle aenea) 2 wary and flighty, forested edge of LDL and SRL (photo).

Piciformes

White-fronted Nunbird (Monassa morphoeus) 2 middle level of forest over stream, LDL.

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) 4 flying, edge of forest and second growth, LDL; SR.

Keel-billed Toucan ( Ramphastos sulfuratus) 2 occasionally visiting banana feeders at lodge, LDL (photo)

Chestnut-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos swainsonii) 4 frequenting banana feeders daily at lodge, LDL (photo).

Black-cheeked Woodpecker (Melanerpes pucherani) 2 -4 visiting banana feeders daily, LDL (photo).

Pale-billed Woodpecker ( Campephilus guatemalensis) 1 middle level in forest; 1 vising Cercropia Tree at lodge, LDL (photo).

Passeriformes

Plain Xenops (Xenops minutus) 1 lower middle level of forest, LDL.

Plain Brown Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) 2 middle to lower levels at edge of forest and second-growth, LDL.

Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) 2 boxwood monoculture and second growth at edge of forest, LDL (photo).

Dot-winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis) 1 middle level, edge of forest, LDL (photo).

Chestnut-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza exsul) 1 singing at edge of clearing in secondary forest, LDL.

Common Tody Flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) 1 in roadside trees at edge of pasture, BT (photo).

Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens) 1 sally-flycatching in open area, secondary forest, LDL.

Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus) 3 1 adult at nest with two chicks; small tree in a village clearing, Boca San Carlos (photo).

Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus) 1 sally-flycatching from atop a decapitated coconut palm, BT (photo).

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 3 pastures and edge of forest, LDL; 5 pastures, BT; 1 in Adolpho's garden, SR (photo).

Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) 2 carrying nest material from shrubs at lodge, LDL (photo).

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) 2 a pair flying between trees in pasture, BT.

Cinnamon Becard (Pachyramphus cinnamomeus) 1 in tall trees around lodge; 1 in secondary forest clearing, LDL (photo).

Masked Tityra ( Tityra semifasciata) 2 nesting in cavity in tree trunk outside of our room, LDL (photo).

White-collared Manakin (Manacus candei) 2 (m) concealed;, singing, calls, wing-snaps, in secondary forest on both sides of lagoon 2, LDL.

Red-capped Manakin ( Pipra mentalis) 1 (m) calls; perched on branch, mid-lower level in secondary forest, LDL (photo).

Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea) 6 flying back and forth, low over river, SCR.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 2 flying back and forth, low over river, SCR.

Southern Rough-winged Swallow ( Stelgidopteryx ruficolis) 1 flying over river bank and adjacent pasture, SCR.

(Southern) House Wren (Troglodytes aedon australis ) 2 singing, active in low shrubs around lodge, LDL.

White-breasted Woodwren (Henicorhina leucosticta) 1 singing in second-growth at edge of forest, LDL.

Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptila plumbea) 1 moving fast through canopy of secondary forest, LDL.

Clay-colored Robin (Turdus grayi) 3 in and around garden, LDL; in Adolpho's garden, SR (photo); villages, BT; SCR.

Chestnut-sided Warbler ( Dendroica pensylvanica ) 1(m) in subcanopy of secondary forest, LDL (photo).

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis poliocephala). 1 in subcanopy of small tree at edge of pasture, LDL (photo)

Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus novebaracensis) 2 along east bank of SCR.

Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla) 1 showing broad white eyebrow; faint but distinct buffy supraloral; buffy spotting on rear flanks; moving quickly through sticks at edge of lagoon, LDL (a new record for LDL - photo).

Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) 2 gathering nest material in bottlebrush at lodge, LDL (photo); 1 visiting feeder in Adolpho's garden, SR.

Golden-masked Tanager ( Tangara larvata) 4 a pair nesting in a bottlebrush shrub at lodge, LDL (photo); 2 visiting feeders in Adolpho's garden, SR.

Blue Dacnis ( Dacnis cyana) 1 (m) in Aldolpho's garden (photo), SR; 1 in canopy of secondary forest, LDL.

Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanea spiza) 2 in Adolpho's garden, SR (photo).

Shining Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes lucidus) 1 in Adolpho's garden, SR (photo).

Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus) 1 (m) in Adolpho's garden at banana feeder, SR (photos).

Olive-backed Euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) 2 one with nesting material in garden, LDL (photo); in Adolpho's garden at feeder, SR.

Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) 2 at banana feeder, LDL; in Adolpho's garden at banana feeder, SR (photo).

Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) 2 at banana feeder, LDL; 1 Adolpho's garden banana feeder, SR (photo).

White-lined Tanager (Tachyphonus rufus) 1 in Cercropia tree at lodge, LDL.

Scarlet-rumped Tanager (Ramphocoelus passerinii) 4 in and around garden and banana feeder, LDL (fem - photo); 1 (m) Aldolpho's garden, SR ( male - photo); 10 roadside fence lines and edge of pastures, BT.

Buff-throated Saltator (Saltator maximus) 1 briefly visiting banana feeder in Adolpho's Garden, SR (photo).

Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) 1 calling in second-growth next to main road, LDL.

Variable Seedeater ( Sporophila aurita) 2 a pair staying low in a roadside pasture, BT.

Blue-black Grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) 2 brushy ditch and fence line next to pasture, BT.

Thick-billed Seedfinch 2 edge of forest; second growth, garden, LDL ( m & f photo).

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) 2 around homesteads, calls, BT.

Nicaraguan Grackle (Quiscalus nicaraguensis) 2 in pastures and around homesteads, BT.

Black-cowled Oriole ( Icterus dominicensis) 1 briefly visiting Adolpho's garden, SR.

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 1 (m) in canopy of tall trees in garden, LDL.

Red-winged Blackbird ( Agelaius phoeniceus) 2 (m,f) marsh at edge of lagoon, SRL.

Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) 5 daily visitor to banana feeder, LDL (photo).

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