[TN-Bird] No. Amer. Migrants in Costa Rica
- From: "Dev Joslin" <devjoslin@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 14:03:03 -0600
Just a note from Monteverde, Costa Rica to document what North
American neotropical migrants we have been seeing since Oct. 15. (I could
bore you with all the beautiful native birds, but I thought the migrants
would be of more interest to TN-birders.)
We have been seeing a number of species daily that are well-known to
overwinter here. Our regulars these past 10 days or so have been Summer
Tanager, Black-and-white Warbler, Wilson?s Warbler and Baltimore Oriole.
Until recently Wood-Pewees have been very common, but most seem to be moving
further south (virtually impossible to distinguish Eastern from Western as
they are not singing and both are common at this location.) By the way, we
are at 4500 feet elevation on the Pacific slope on northern Costa Rican
mountains, just below cloud forest level ?about 100 inches of rain a year.
One of the more amazing phenomena to me has been the discovery that we
appear to be on some portion of the ?Baltimore Oriole flyway.? On Oct. 22
we had waves of orioles coming through all morning (I estimated that I saw
over 100?who knows how many I missed) and yesterdayday (Oct. 26) we had more
smaller waves (about 50 counted). Strangely almost all are females or
immatures?I have only clearly seen one mature male. This species is a
common overwintering species here, but these were clearly passing through in
waves on their way further south, stopping briefly to feed in the tallest
tree tops.
It has been particularly interesting to watch the N.A. migrants
mingling
peaceably amongst feeding flocks with the local residents. Today (Oct. 27)
I watched Golden-winged Warblers and a Mourning Warbler feeding along with
local Common Bush-tanagers and Slate-throated Redstarts. All were at the
mid canopy/understory level near an edge except the Mourning who was feeding
closer to the ground in shrubs on the edge.
Other notable species have been Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tennessee
Warbler,
Red-eyed Vireo, Wood Thrush, and Empidonax spp. These all may overwinter
here so it is hard to know which are passing through and which are staying.
The most exciting species for me have been two western N.A.
warblers?Townsend?s Warbler (my first) and MacGillivray?s Warbler (my
second). Both seen close up and very clearly--most exciting to find here.
Dev Joslin (Pajaro Loco)
Monteverde
Puntarenas
Costa Rica
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