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

Southern Lapwing in Santa Ana

I saw the 2 Southern Lapwings on Valle del Sol Golf Course on the 25th of May. I frequently see them on hole 16.

Lance

Black-Crowned Tityra at el Rodeo

Friday, May16th at 8:00 am, I spotted a male Black-crowned Tityra at La Universidad de la Paz (Tityra inquisitor) near the park entrance. I was not aware of this species in the Central Valley. Does anyone have a record of this species in Central Valley.

I also had a Pacific Screech Owl in my backyard on May 15th in Santa Ana.

saludos,

Lance

Golfito Pelagic Birding Trip

Costa Rica Gateway organized a full day pelagic birding trip for 5 people (Kevin and Steven Easley, Magdalena Sánchez, Bart Browne and Jim Zook) out of Golfito on May 5, 2008. We went on the 28 ft. "Rosa Maria V" captained by Jay Belseski. The boat reached a point in open ocean about 45 km SW of Punta Matapalo (tip of the Osa Peninsula) before we turned back to port. Weather was fine with mild seas and no rain. The total number of birds was rather low but there was an excellent selection of species. The wonderful images shown above were taken by steady handed Steven Easley.

Puffinus pacificus Wedge-tailed Shearwater 1
Puffinus lherminieri Audubon's Shearwater 19
Shearwater sp. 1
Oceanodroma leucorhoa Leach's Storm-Petrel (dark-rump) 1
Storm-Petrel sp. 1
Phaethon aethereus Red-billed Tropicbird 1
Sula leucogaster Brown Booby 18
Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican 4
Fregata magnificens Magnificent Frigatebird 3
Bubulcus ibis Cattle Egret 6
Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel 1
Calidris melanotos Pectoral Sandpiper 17
Larus atricilla Laughing Gull 18
Xema sabini Sabine's Gull 1
Anous stolidus Brown Noddy 3
Onychoprion anaethetus Bridled Tern 4
Chlidonias niger Black Tern 71
Sterna hirundo Common Tern 6
Thalasseus maximus Royal Tern 18

Reporte de San Geraldo de Dota

Este fin de semana 2 de mayo hasta 4 de mayo, fui a un observar aves en el bosque del Dantica Lodge (bosque en frente del lodge y una finca y bosque primeria al otro lado del camino (2400 a 2550 mts)) y el Savegre Lodge en las Talamancas. Observé los siguientes:

Highland Tinamou (alredor de 2450 mts)
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Barred Forest-Falcon (2 falcones, uno a 50 metros norte de N 09-35.110 W 83-48.159 y el otro a N09-34.895 W083-47.720)
Spotted Wood-Quail
Band-tailed Pigeon
Sulphur-winged Parakeet
Dusky Nightjar
Vaux's Swift
Green Violet-ear
White-throated Mountain-gem
Green-crowned Brilliant
Magnificent Hummingbird
Volcano Hummingbird
Collared Trogon
Resplendent Quetzal (macho y hembra 20 metros desde el puente en frente de la oficina de Savegre)
Emerald Toucanet
Acorn Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Spotted Barbtail
Ruddy Treerunner
Streak-breasted Treehunter
Spot-crowned Woodcreeper
Mountain Elaenia
Tufted Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Tropical Kingbird
Barred Becard
Blue-and-white Swallow
Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher
Ochraceous Wren
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
Black-faced Solitaire
Black-billed Nightingale-Thrush
Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush
Sooty Robin
Mountain Robin
Clay-colored Robin
Yellow-winged Vireo
Brown-capped Vireo
Yellow-bellied Siskin (en la jardin en frente del restaurante de Savegre)
Flame-throated Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Collared Redstart
Black-cheeked Warbler
Wrenthrush
Common Bush-Tanager
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Flame-colored Tanager
Silver-throated Tanager
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Yellow-thighed Finch
Large-footed Finch
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Yellow-billed Cacique