Michael´s Third Year

[michael-ibk]

350/C42.) Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) / Graubussard

 

Sarapiqui, 19/7. Seen thanks to Zvezda´s impeccable spotting skills. I assume they get their unflattering "plagiatus" part of the scientific name because perched Adults resemble Roadside Hawks, flying Adults resemble Borad-Winged Hawks and juveniles juvenile Common Black Hawks.

 

[michael-ibk]

351/C43.) Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) / Krabbenbussard

 

Very common on both coasts, multiple sightings.

 

An adult from Bosque del Cabo, 31/7.

 

 

And a juvenile from the Carribean side, 21/7.

 

[michael-ibk]

352/44.) Zone-Tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus) / Mohrenbussard

 

Lago Hule area, 15/7. One to keep Galana happy. A widely distributed raptor, from the States down to Bolivia. I struggled with this one but the good folks at birdnet helped me out.

 

[michael-ibk]

353/45.) Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) / Rotschwanzbussard

 

San Gerardo, 27/7. A North American bird reaching the end of its range in Costa Rica. A highland bird here. Yes, another prize-winning ebc.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

354/46.) Northern Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) / Nordkarakara

 

Bosque del Cabo, 31/7. Common on the Osa Peninsula, otherwise only seen once in the Arenal area. The National bird of Mexico.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

355/C47.) Yellow-Headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima) / Gelbkopfkarakara

 

Bosque del Cabo, 30/7 & 31/7. Common on the Osa Peninsula, seen nowhere else. The opposite of the Red-Tailed Hawk range-wise -it´s a predominantly South-American bird reaching its Northern end in Costa Rica.

 

 

And the juvenile:

 

 

[michael-ibk]

356/C48.) Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) / Lachfalke

 

Manuel Antonio, 3/8. A similar range like the Yellow-Headed Caracara. "Cachinnans" means "laughing immoderately", so I suspect its call must be interesting. A Snake specialist, hence also called the Snake Hawk. The only Falcon we saw.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

357/C49.) Pacific Screech-Owl (Megascops cooperi) / Mangrovekreischeule

 

Arenal 69 Trail, 16/7. Unfortunately the only Owl we saw, a friendly guide alerted us to it. The Tropical Screech-Owl looks extremely similar and also occurs only on the Pacific side, so that distinction is not too helpful.

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

358/C50.) Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis) / Riesentagschläfer

 

Cahuita (Carribean Coast), 22/7. One bird impossible or at least extremely unlikely to find on your own. Our guide was told where it should be. We stared at the tree for an eternity and saw - nothing. Its camouflage is extremely effective even though the bird is huge - more than 50 cm in length. We were about to admit defeat and leave again when the guide finally spotted it.

 

[michael-ibk]

359/C51.) Common Potoo (Nyctibius griseus) / Urutau-Tagschläfer

 

Bosque del Cabo, 31/7. The resident guide showed it to me on a morning walk. I tried to show it to the others later when we returned to the place but even though all four of us were staring at branches and twigs in the bamboo for 20 minutes we failed. I´m still unsure if it was gone or still hiding there, secretely laughing at us. Even when the guide showed me with a laser it was difficult, I had to hunch down and could only see it from one specific angle.

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

Suffer with me through a most problematic chapter - Swallows & friends. I promise to compensate with some good stuff straight after it, really!

 

360/C52.) White-Collared Swift (Streptoprocne rutila) / Halsbandsegler

 

Rancho Naturalista area, 25/7. The collar is just about visible here but I did follow them with the binocs so am quite sure about the ID here. And yes, I would never have taken a photo of them without this Big Year business.

 

[michael-ibk]

361/C53.) Mangrove Swallow (Tachycineta albilinea) / Mangroveschwalbe

 

Puerto Jimenéz (Osa Peninsula), 2/8. A Swallow which at least has the decency to sport some distinctive traits.

 

[michael-ibk]

362/C54.) Blue-And-White-Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) / Schwarzsteißschwalbe

 

Sarapiqui, 19/7. A long-distance traveller, it is breeding down South in Patagonia.

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

363/C55.) Grey-Breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) / Graubrustschwalbe

 

Bosque del Cabo, 2/8. This one and the two Rough-Winged-Swallows look extremely similar unless seen in very good light.

 

[michael-ibk]

364/C56.) Northern Rough-Winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) / Graukehlschwalbe

 

Sarapiqui, 19/7. Very common. As the name implies, this is a North American species.

 

 

Probably the juveniles, Puerto Jimenéz, 2/8.

 

[michael-ibk]

365/C57.) Southern Rough-Winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) / Zimtkehlschwalbe

 

Cahuita, 22/7, and BdC, 1/8. The South American answer to its Northern cousin. Told apart by the cinnamon throat.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

That´s enough for today, but I really don´t want to end on such a miserable grey-in-grey note, so here´s a teaser from the next chapter - Hummingbirds!

 

366/C58.) Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) / Violettdegenflügel

 

Bosque del Tolomuco (San Gerardo area), 28/7. The only place where we saw this beautiful species.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2018 by michael-ibk

[xelas]

What a fabulous hummer photo @michael-ibk! Glad you have stopped as I have plenty of work now , to replace those identical shots and to find those missing birds .

[Dave Williams]

Excellent stuff. You have just blown me away in the process. No catching you or Alex now.

 

[xelas]

26 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

365/C57.) Southern Rough-Winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) / Zimtkehlschwalbe

 

Sarapiqui, 25/7, and BdC, 1/8. The South American answer to its Northern cousin. Told apart by the cinnamon throat.

 

Sarapiqui or 25/7, one data is not correct  (because I want to find that bird also ).

[xelas]

6 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Excellent stuff. You have just blown me away in the process. No catching you or Alex now.

 

 

Who knows what Corfu has to offer !

[michael-ibk]

5 minutes ago, xelas said:

 

Sarapiqui or 25/7, one data is not correct  (because I want to find that bird also ).

 

Sorry, guilty on both accounts, fixed it. Look for it after our Potoo sighting.

[Galana]

More excellent stuff.

I must give Cornell and birdnet a call.  Maybe they can help me out by splitting Linnets?

[TonyQ]

Wow- racing along with some great additions. An excellent Humingbird teaser for your next section.

[michael-ibk]

Hummingbirds are undoubtedly one of the most fun aspects of birding in Costa Rica. 50 different species are waiting to be discovered, and since many lodges put up feeders they also make for pleasing subjects photographically at those places. The challenge is to try to get them away from the feeders - not that I always suceeded in that. If the following photos are close-ups you can count on a feeder not being more than a few metres away unless otherwise noted. If they do not come to gardens they are actually tough little birds - not surprising, since they are tiny, fast and restless. Photowise or not, they were a constant source of enjoyment for me, and just sitting somewhere (like at Rancho Naturalista) with dozens of them constantly bzzzzing by was a beautiful and peaceful experience that simply made me happy - when I was not swearing about not getting a shot.

 

367/C59.) Band-Tailed Barbthroat (Threnetes ruckeri) / Weißbinden-Schattenkolibri

 

Manzanillo, 23/7. Obviously not one of the feeder birds. In general the Hermits (Hummers with long and strongly decurved bills) were only seen away from human settlements. The white  base of the outer tail feathers (without streamers) are the fieldmarks enabling an ID even with this photo.