White-winged Becard at El Rodeo

Went birding with Adolfo Mendez on Aug. 9th early morning around el Rodeo. Saw a group of white-winged Becards and Russet Antshrike. I have not see both species in the area before.
Below is list of birds I have seen around the University of Peace in the past several years.

U of Peace List - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: U of Peace List

Help with Bird Call Recording

click on the attached link and then download and listen to the attached wav file I recorded at Rancho at 700 m at 8 am in the morning. I believe this is a white-collared manakin call. It also sounds like an Occelated Antbird call. Can anyone listen and then help me distiguish between the two. Thanks....Lance

http://sites.google.com/site/bucksspot/files

Great Weekend at Rancho Naturalista

I had a fabulous weekend (August 1,2, and 3) of birding at Rancho Naturalista near Turialba. I saw 113 bird over the weekend just in the trails near the lodge. Highlights include seeing a Tawny-throated Leaftosser (Sclerurus mexicanus) at dawn at the hummingbird pools below lodge, a Thrush-like Schiffornis (Schiffornis turdina) on the trails around from hummingbird feeders, White-crowned manakin (Pipra pipra) on upper mountain trail on leks at around 1000 meters altitude, and Garden Emeralds (Chlorostilbon assimilis) feeding on verbinas around lodge. Snowcaps (Microchera albocoronata) and Tawny-chested Flycatchers (Aphanotriccus capitalis) are common at Rancho. The hummingbirds come into the pools at around 3:30 - 4 pm.

An adult pair and juvenile Bi-colored Hawks had been reported by the guide Herman Vemegas and some of the guest recently. In addition, Black-crested Coquettes and a stray White-crested Coquette had been reported by the guests.

Kathy Erb runs an amazing place dedicated to birding and protecting and guarding the environment. The food is great and the staff are friendly and focused on service. Visit her website at www.ranchonaturalista.net or give her a call at 2-433-8278

Great Tinamou
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
White Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Gray-headed Chachalaca
Short-billed Pigeon
Ruddy Pigeon
White-tipped Dove
Gray-chested Dove
Crimson-fronted Parakeet
White-crowned Parrot
Squirrel Cuckoo
Mottled Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Pauraque
Green Hermit
Stripe-throated Hermit
White-necked Jacobin
Brown Violet-ear
Green-breasted Mango
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Green Thorntail
Garden Emerald
Coppery-headed Emerald
Black-bellied Hummingbird
Violet-crowned Woodnymph
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
Snowcap
Green-crowned Brilliant
Purple-crowned Fairy
Violaceous Trogon
Collared Trogon
Blue-crowned Motmot
Rufous Motmot
Broad-billed Motmot
Collared Aracari
Keel-billed Toucan
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Hoffmann's Woodpecker
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner
Tawny-throated Leaftosser
Plain-brown Woodcreeper
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper
Spotted Woodcreeper
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
Plain Antvireo
Checker-throated Antwren
Dot-winged Antwren
Dusky Antbird
Immaculate Antbird
Black-faced Antthrush
Fulvous-bellied Antpitta
White-collared Manakin
White-ruffed Manakin
White-crowned Manakin
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Mountain Elaenia
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Northern Bentbill
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
Tawny-chested Flycatcher
Bright-rumped Attila
Rufous Mourner
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Great Kiskadee
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Social Flycatcher
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Thrush-like Schiffornis
Cinnamon Becard
White-winged Becard
Masked Tityra
Black-throated Wren
Bay Wren
Stripe-breasted Wren
House Wren
White-breasted Wood-Wren
Scaly-breasted Wren
Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush
Clay-colored Robin
Long-billed Gnatwren
Tropical Gnatcatcher
Brown Jay
Lesser Greenlet
Tropical Parula
Bananaquit
Red-throated Ant-Tanager
Crimson-collared Tanager
Passerini's Tanager
Blue-gray Tanager
Palm Tanager
Yellow-crowned Euphonia
Olive-backed Euphonia
Golden-hooded Tanager
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis
Variable Seedeater
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Orange-billed Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
Buff-throated Saltator
Black-headed Saltator
Melodious Blackbird
Yellow-billed Cacique
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Montezuma Oropendola

Slaty-backed Forest Falcon at Pizote Lodge, Puerto Viejo

I walked the trail above the Pizote Lodge in Puerto Viejo on July 19. I observed a Slaty-backed Forest Falcon (Micrastur mirandollei) at 4 pm at approx. 440 ft. elevation after trail turn up hill. In addition at end of trail on other side of fallen fense, I happened on an army ant swarm with spotted antbirds (Hylophylaw naevioides, observed 1 male) and Ocellated Antbirds (Pahenostictus mcleannani). On way back down trail at approx. 360 ft. elevation at trail intersection to return to lodge and to overlook, I observed group of 6 Black-chested Jays (Cyanocorax affinis).

On July 20th, I birded Kekoldi with guide Alex Paez (great birder). Observed some early raptor migrants (Swallow-tailed Kites and Double-toothed Kites) and 100s of swifts. I recommend him as a guide (8-838-0179, manakinguia@hotmail.com).

Pizote Lodge: http://www.pizotelodge.com/

Has anyone seen a sulphur-rumped Tananger (Heterospingus rubrifrons) in S. Caribean recently?

Unknown all-dark Pacific shearwater

First four photos are of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters for comparison. The first photo is by Juan Pablo Elizondo taken on April 2 on a Golfito, Costa Rica trip. The other three photos (with water background) were taken by Bruce MacTavish during his March 20 to April 16, 2008 trip off Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

The final five photos are of the mystery shearwater originally thought to be a Short-tailed Shearwater. Identification presently not known. All photos are of the same individual taken on March 29, 2008. The following are data for the sightings of similar birds. Photos and observations by Bruce MacTavish.

• 1 on 21 March at about 25 km south of southern tip of Nicoya Peninsula.
• 2 on 29 March. The attached photos were taken about 60 km offshore at N 8°59.95’, W 84°44.24’.
• 4 on 30 March atN 8°46.121’, W 84°23.943’ about 50 km west of Osa Peninsula with 75 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters feeding around a group of 75 Common Dolphins.
• 1 on 1 April at about 100 km SE of Osa Peninsula.

We are seeking comments from seabird experts (there is some discussion at http://groups.google.com/group/Seabird-News/browse_thread/thread/b34a6413fd338523?hl=en ) and will update when a decision is made about the identification of this bird.

Sharpbill and Nest at Tampanti NP

I had the priviledge to observe a Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) nest, mother, and 2 chicks (perhaps 3) in Tampanti National Park on June 21, 2008 with Elidier Vargas. Julio Sanchez and 6 others were also there taking pictures and field observations. Randal Ortega discovered the nest. It is the second known nest and the first to be documented in Central America.

The nest locations is up the road from the ranger station at N 09-44.931, W 083-47.119 (elevation approx. 1230 m).

Lance

Steely-vented Hummingbird (Amazilia saucerrottei) cerca de Guapiles

Tomando derecha a la restaurante Troucha en la pista cerca de Guapiles hacia la montañia unos 5-7 kilometros (450 metros sobre mar), observé un colibri Amazilia saucerrottei. El ave no tenia color rufous en la ala ni cola para eliminar el cyanura (blue-tailed HB) y el tzacatl (Rufous-tailed).

No veo mencionado en libro Skutch ni en libro Garrigues en esta area. Alguien lo ha visto alli?

saludos,

Lance