Michael´s Third Year

[xelas]

2 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

My word but you are persistent with the identifications! I would have deleted half of them as being impossible to ID.

 

Hahaha, same here! But now I am able to add a couple of more to the list! Thank you, @michael-ibk! 

 

Also, your outings with the guide at BdC gave you some excellent birds. Well worth the time and the cost.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful collection of Toucans, Woodpeckers and Woodcreepers, @michael-ibk ! I’ll be sure to knock on your door for id-ing the last category after our visit to CR next February. Or perhaps I’ll just ignore them...?

[Zim Girl]

Wow, I have just binged on 175 Costa Rican birds - fabulous!  @michael-ibk

I started writing down my favourites but had to give up as there were just too many. Looks like you had a very productive trip despite all the rain.

 

Congratulations on reaching 400 and I think the 500 is just round the corner

 

[michael-ibk]

Thank you, everybody, and I admit I deleted quite a lot myself.

 

@Zim Girl Ha, "binging " a Big Year - I like that!

 

483/C176.) White-Throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa) / Langschwanzhäher) 

 

Arenal 69 Trail, 16/7. The only sighting of this conspicous huge Magpie. They did not look too happy about the rain.

 

Edited October 3, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

484/C177.) Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio) / Braunhäher

 

Rancho Naturalista, 26/7. Very common around the lodge. This bird feeds on pretty much everything.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Now a family which is "more pleasing to the ear than to the eye" even according to the book - so not the most exciting BY material, Thrushes.

 

485/C178.) Black-Billed Nightingale Thrush (Catharus gracilirostris) / Graukehl-Musendrossel

 

San Gerardo, 27/7. Another CR/Panama endemic. Quite common in the highlands. Highly terrestrial, moving most of the time by hopping in a thrush-like manner, by quick hops until suddenly stopping-still, and then remaining stationary for a few seconds.

 

[michael-ibk]

486/C179.) Ruddy-Capped Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus frantzii) / Bergmusendrossel

 

San Gerardo, 27/7. Only one sighting of this bird. The bicoloured bill is the important fieldmark to tell it apart from other Nightingale-Thrushes.

 

Edited October 3, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

487/C180.) Black-Faced Solitaire (Myadestes melanops) / Maskenklarino

 

San Gerardo, 27/7. Try as I might I was unable to get an angle on this bird even though it was sitting still inside that bush for quite a while. The orange bill, the overall uniform grey appearance and the black facemask (just about visible here) facilitate a positive ID.

 

[michael-ibk]

488/C181.) Sooty Thrush (Turdus nigrescens) / Rußdrossel

 

San Gerardo, 26/7. A very common and bold bird in the Talamanca highlands. Formerly known as the Sooty Robin.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

489/C182.) Mountain Thrush (Turdus plebejus) / Cabanisdrossel

 

San Gerardo, 27/7. Despite being described as fairly common only seen a couple of times. BTW, all the Thrushes so far were only seen in the highlands of Costa Rica.

 

[michael-ibk]

490/C183.) Clay-Coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi) / Gilbdrossel

 

Alahuela, 15/7. Abundant everywhere in the country, in all kind of habitats. From March to June it tirelessly whistles melodic phrases that are responsible for its status as the national bird of Costa Rica. I have to confess I could have thought of one or two or rather dozens and hundreds other choices.

 

[michael-ibk]

491/C184.) Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) / Tropenspottdrossel

 

Arenal Bogarin Trail, 17/7. Seen only here, an uncommon bird. The only resident Mockingbird in Costa Rica. Despite its name it does not imitate other birds much.

 

[michael-ibk]

492/C185.) Long-Tailed Silky-Flycatcher (Ptiolgonys caudatus) / Langschwanz-Seidenschnäpper

 

San Gerardo, 26/7. A common highland species. Not related to Flycatchers, they prefer fruits to insects.

 

 

The female, more confiding than the cooler looking male:

 

[michael-ibk]

493/C186.) Tropical Gnatcatcher (polioptila plumbea) / Amazonasmückenfänger

 

Cahuita, 22/7. One distant sighting of this tiny little bird. These birds are intermedieate between Old World Warblers and Wrens in their structure and habits.

 

[michael-ibk]

The next family is perfect for guaranteeing a high ebc-rate -unlike in the Old World there are many different species of Wrens in the Americas. Similar to ours, they are small, restless and "frustratingly difficult to see since they forage for arthropods in dense tangles and thick vegetation".

 

494/C187.) Rufous-Naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha) / Rotnacken-Zaunkönig

 

Alahuela, 15/7. Not complaining about this one, nicely showing in the garden.

 

[michael-ibk]

495/C188.) Band-Backed Wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus) / Tigerzaunkönig

 

Manzanillo, 23/7. Much more typical of my Wren photos.

 

[michael-ibk]

496/C189.) Stripe-Breasted Wren (Cantorchilus thoracicus) / Streifenbrust-Zaunkönig

 

Manzanillo, 23/7. Ah, really perfect ebc-stuff, I´m proud of this one.

 

[michael-ibk]

497/C190.) Riverside Wren (Cantorchilus semibadius) / Uferzaunkönig

 

Manuel Antonio, 3/8. Another CR/Panama endemic.

 

[michael-ibk]

498/C191.) Bay Wren (Cantorchilus nigricapillus) / Kastanienzaunkönig

 

Manzanillo, 21/7. Sometimes I wonder if this ebc-concept really was a good idea...

 

[michael-ibk]

499/C192.) House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) / Hauszaunkönig

 

Bosque del Cabo, 1/8. A very common Wren, and true to its name mostly found around settlements. Very similar to our Eurasian Wren.

 

[michael-ibk]

And we interrupt our regular program for ...

 

500/C193.) Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) / Quetzal

 

San Gerardo, 27/7. To say it in the immortal words of George Clooney - what else!

 

 

 

[xelas]

3 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

And we interrupt our regular program for ...

 

Bravo, bravo, maestro!!!

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on what is likely an unbeatable 500, with plenty more to go I fear...

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on #500! What a bird to celebrate this!

[TonyQ]

Congratulations on 500 - and with a wonderful bird beautifully photographed.

Wow.

A lot of determination and hard work in some of your identifications. I am sure  would not manage so many. Very impressive.