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Willoughby

Social climber

Truckee, CA

Apr 23, 2012 - 09:10pm PT

Just back from a VERY short trip to Costa Rica, half of which was surfing. Unofficial tally is about 240 species in ~5 days of actual birding, and 165 lifers. I also managed to bring home around 1500 photos, and I'm sure 1000+ of those are birds. However, I suspect 975+ of them will look horrible on a screen larger than my camera's. Regardless, it will take me some time to go through them, and right now I'm catching up on work. I'll try to trickle a few in over the next week or so, starting with this artsy-fartsy Turquoise-browed Mot-mot:

Mike Bolte

Trad climber

Planet Earth

Apr 23, 2012 - 10:18pm PT

Here is another view. Darwin, I think you are right about the mis-ID. Now I am thinking song sparrow rather than Fox or Lincoln.

EDIT: those damn lbb (little brown birds). In Sibleys they warn about the geographical variations among these particular sparrows. I wonder if there is interbreeding or just adaptations to local environments.

Darwin

Trad climber

Seattle, WA

Apr 23, 2012 - 11:10pm PT

Mike you and Reily must be correct: Song. Our Song Saprrows are a little grayer and darker. Comparisons between ours and the guides books always confuse me. Or I'm just wrong, wrong wrong. This is what I call a Song.

And the below added in edit what I think is a Lincoln: "crisper stripes on the breast and flank" better defined pattern on the back. I hope I'm not digging myself into too deep a hole. Like I say, Sparrows are really tough for me, and we're undoubtedly running into some geographical variation.

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Apr 24, 2012 - 12:07am PT

I had a meeting with the BLM up at Penitente Canyon and made it into a little birding trip. Had a really good day..Spotted Towhee were taking over the canyon.

Check out this bad boy that was at the Monte Vista NWA on the drive back.

This was a prize (White Faced Ibis) in a little pond just off US 285 near Romeo, CO

Slater

Trad climber

Central Coast

Apr 24, 2012 - 12:45am PT

yeah! owls!

how in the heck do you guys find them in the day time!?!?!?!

Did see a goldfinch and hooded orioles in my yard feeder today!

and finally found my green heron.

Still want a barn owl. What do I gotta do... crawl up into every palm tree in town!?!?!

costa rica... sigh...

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Apr 24, 2012 - 01:24am PT

Willoughby

Social climber

Truckee, CA

Apr 24, 2012 - 01:31am PT

Let's start with some trogons!

This one has a few orangish feathers in the mix, but I'm calling it a Collared. Could be an hybrid/intergrade, but probably too much red for Orange-breasted. Personally, I'm not sold on this split, anyhow

I love the little yellow guys!

Saw a whole bunch of these at La Selva, but never did see a male

This one's crappy, but it's a one-handed shot with my point and shoot. Surfboard was occupying the other hand!

And, of course, that biggest and baddest of the trogons

mouse from merced

Trad climber

merced, california

Apr 24, 2012 - 01:36am PT

In a novel I read of the herons supposedly located in the Kern River and nesting in a tall tree. It was a novel about a kid who grew up on the Kern.
I wonder if anyone's been to the area and has some insight. And has anyone the vaguest notion of this novel? And is the nesting place referred to as a heronry or what?

Darwin

Trad climber

Seattle, WA

Apr 24, 2012 - 01:41am PT

Owls, Ibis and Trogons! I guess I'll stop with the Sparrow photos, now. ;-) Thanks you all. Nice detailed photo of the Great Horned(?). And What can you say about the Trogons but: wow!

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Apr 24, 2012 - 02:13am PT

Great stuff Willoughby...really beautiful.

Here is another one from today.

Darwin...love the sparrow shots.

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Apr 24, 2012 - 09:02am PT

Woke up to some awesome photos. I love the Motmot as well Riley. Beautiful all - including the sparrows!

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Apr 24, 2012 - 10:14am PT

Riley..yes it is a Swainson's.

Also some colorful Barn Swallows.

Zander

climber

Apr 24, 2012 - 10:18am PT

Spotted Towhee in Coyote Gulch Saturday.

Crimpergirl

Sport climber

Boulder, Colorado!

Apr 24, 2012 - 10:19am PT

Riley - it was a good time. We arrived on Tuesday and headed home late Sunday. Even got in a couple of mornings of dedicated birding. Got 67 species. We've been swamped since returning home. Hopefully Dave can get some bird photos up the next day or two.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Apr 24, 2012 - 11:13am PT

Riley, I went back a ways but I didn't see anything like a cuckoo.
Here's a Squirrel Cuckoo from Iguazu...

Willoughby, awesome trogonidae!

Bob D'A

Trad climber

Taos, NM

Apr 24, 2012 - 11:16am PT

What a beautiful way to greet the morning. Meadowlark singing.

Reilly

Mountain climber

The Other Monrovia- CA

Apr 24, 2012 - 11:42am PT

If she is Mrs Squirrel it is no wonder she is skulking. He hubby has it
goin' on in comparison. I don't think she is a Squirrel Cuckoo. She almost
looks a Striped Cuckoo but I'm not seeing her superciliary and it is hard
to see how long her tail is. It is hard to guage her size but it doesn't
look 11-12" either. She's definitely not the 17-19" of a Squirrel Cuckoo.
She looks more thrush-like to me especially with the malar stripe.

Willoughby

Social climber

Truckee, CA

Apr 24, 2012 - 11:45am PT

Riley, I've never been to Puerto Rico (beyond the airport), but I'd suggest Pearly-eyed Thrasher. Seems a good fit, and they're super common there.

Squirrel Cuckoos have red eyes, are sexually monochromatic, and most importantly, don't occur in the West Indies.