We are over on the coast, and we hope the Rainy Season will start soon … and with it some thunderstorms which may provide some afternoon cooling temperatures. While Duluth just set an all time record for snow in a single winter (135+ inches of snow), we reach close to 100F every afternoon, plus humidity.
The two birds I most wanted to find here at Las Catalinas were the Black-Headed Trogon, and Turquoise-Browed Mot Mot. I am pleased to report both birds after early morning and late afternoon hikes have yielded themselves up to my camera. April makes birding a bit easier as one may follow bird song as our feathered friends search for mates. Both the Mot Mots and Trogon’s song helped me narrow down the areas of my search, which leads to this comment … if you are not using Cornell’s Merlin app, you should. By installing the bird pack for Costa Rica (and earlier this year for Hawaii) I was able to learn more about my target birds habits. Once I obtain good photographs, Merlin’s Bird Photo ID helps with identification.
- One of my very enjoyable tasks while down here in Costa Rica is updating my Costa Rican Birding Book … The Birds of Las Catalinas (Free full copy PDF’s of Version 1 are available). While the major focus of the book is the birds of this region, Version 2 will also cover El Viejo Wetlands and the Rainforest Highlands. Full copies of Release #2 will also be freely available as a PDF Download.
Anyhow … the Black-Headed Trogon and Turquoise-Browed Mot Mot