Monthly Archives: April 2019

Quiz Bird Winner!

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Congratulations to the great and powerful Randall Jimenez for submitting the first correct answer to our April 2019 Quiz Bird.

Randall (from the Pajareros del Sur) correctly identified the Cooper’s Hawk.  This medium-sized Accipiter hawk is occasionally seen in San Vito during its migration north.

We also had guesses of Sharp-shinned Hawk.  The ‘Sharpie’, though slightly smaller than the Cooper’s, looks very, very similar.  The most significant difference between the two species is the rounded tail of the Cooper’s Hawk; the Sharp-shinned has a squared off distal end of the long tail.  (see below)

Again, please join me in congratulating Randall Jimenez.

(Cooper’s Hawk tail on L–Sharp-shinned tail on R)

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Bird Watching This Sunday / ¡Mirar aves este domingo!

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Join us at the Wilson Botanical Gardens this Sunday, April 28th at 7:30 AM. We will be meeting on the terraza next to the comedor. Those who wish to sit and relax to watch birds may, and those who wish to walk and seek them out may as well. Maybe we’ll see which group has more success! There will be binoculars and guides as usual. It will be fun as always.

Júntese con nosotros al jardín botánico Wilson el próximo domingo el 28 de abril a las 7:30 AM. Reuniremos a la terraza al lado del comedor. Los que quisieran sentarse y descansarse par ver aves podrían, y los que quisieran caminar para buscarlas también podrían. ¡Tal vez veremos cual grupo tendrá más éxito! Habrá binoculares y guías disponibles como siempre. Pineso que sería muy divertido.

Friends From Afar — We’ve Got Mail!

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Greetings, members of the SVBC:

We wish to convey to you all our sincere thanks for the welcome that the SVBC members extended to us during our recent visit to San Vito this past March. Our little group of six was comprised of short term visitors (a few days for four of us; an additional couple of weeks for two of us). Although there was only one formal SVBC member among us, we were all treated as regulars and included in a delightful variety of birding adventures: the walk and brunch at Cecilia Sansonetti’s beautiful finca; the walks at Cántaros (with the opportunity to meet new owner, Lilly, and managers, Yei and Marylin); the tense photo competitions, the awards, the refreshments, etc.

Greg Homer took two of us on an early morning walk to Tres Rios in search of, among other birds, the albino vultures. Peter Wendell gave us a primer on using eBird. Alison Olivieri gave us perfect directions to Rio Negro. And everyone else was equally gracious. We were also impressed with the club’s industriousness—from its nascent effort to merge with the Pajareros del Sur, to the continuing inclusion of young birders, the involvement with the local schools and the Detectives de Aves education progam. You folks gave us all great memories of San Vito, its birds and its birders. Thank you! 

David and Audrey Fielding, on our own behalf and on behalf of our friends: David Rorick, Sandra Braden, John Denvir and Miriam Rokeach.

David and Audrey Fielding, members from San Francisco

 

PS – It must be about time to renew our membership, so for David & Audrey Fielding, our check is in the mail (via Paypal).

The SVBC responds: this is the nicest news we’ve had in forever, so thank you both for your note and your Membership Renewal.

Biggy and Smally: Woodpecker Messenger Service

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The smallest woodpecker in Costa Rica, the Olivaceous Piculet, is no bigger than a warbler!  This very charismatic, big-bird-in-a-small-bird’s-body is often seen tap-tap-tapping on a slender dry twig looking for bugs.  The tapping sounds the Piculet makes have given it the local name of the Telegraph Bird.

The biggest woodpecker in Costa Rica, the Pale-billed Woodpecker, (probably the model for beloved cartoon character ‘Woody Woodpecker’) is over a foot long.  Normally, the Pale-billed Woodpecker is identified by it’s robust and very loud two-note rap…’TOCK-TOCK’…but recently I discovered the actual call of the Pale-billed Woodpecker.  To my surprise the Pale-bill’s call sounds very much like one of those old electric Morse Code devices with the key!  Click on the ‘Listen’ button in the lower right corner of this eBird page.

https://ebird.org/species/pabwoo1

If you’re an old Boy Scout or Girl Scout, listen carefully–maybe IT IS an actual Morse Code message coming from the Pale-billed Woodpecker.  What message might they be sending us?

(images from eBird)

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Reminder: Bird Walk Tomorrow / Aviso: Caminata para ver aves mañana

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There will be a bird walk tomorrow at the Wilson Botanical Garden. We will meet at the reception at 6:00 AM for a quiet walk, and again at 7:30 AM to join up with the kids, etc. There will be coffee in the comedor afterwards. See you there!

Habrá una caminata para ver aves mañana al jardín botánico Wilson. Reuniremos a la recepción a las 6:00 AM para una camininata tranquila, y también a las 7:30 AM para juntarnos con los jovenes, etcétera. Tomaremos un café en el comdeor después. ¡Hasta mañana!

Bird Walk this Sunday!–¡Caminata para ver aves el próximo domingo!

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We will be having a walk this Sunday April 7th at the Wilson Botanical Garden. This will be another double walk, with one walk starting at 6 AM for more the serious and experienced birders, and another starting at 7:30 AM for kids, newbies, late-sleepers, etc. Everyone is welcome. Binoculars and field guides will be available as always. Please join us to view the wonderful birds of the WBG!

Habrá una caminata para ver aves el próximo domingo el 7 de abril al jardín botánico Wilson. Será una caminata doble, una empezando a las 6:00 AM para los pajareros mas experimentados. La otra empezerá a las 7:30 AM para los jovenes, novatos, etcétera.Todo el público será bienvendido. Tendremos binoculares y guías de campo para prestar, como siempre. ¡Por favor júntese con nosotros para ver las aves bonitas del jardín botánico Wilson!