Author Archives: greghomer

A Third BDB (Big Damn Bird) Shows Up

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BDB #1: Fourteen months ago the first ever American Flamingo showed up in Costa Rica; on the Caribbean mudflats near Limon. You can find an article on this bird by searching our website.

BDB #2: Less than a month ago, in November, a good friend of the SVBC Pat O’Donnell, discovered the first ever Sandhill Crane in Costa Rica while on boat cruise of the Rio Tarcoles. This Sandhill Crane is still around.

BDB #3: Just yesterday, a Jabiru Stork was spotted down in the rice fields of Las Pangas, near Coto 47. The Jabiru Stork, a MASSIVE bird, is a regular species up in the far north rice fields of Guanacaste. So far as I’ve been able to find out, this is the first one seen in our area.

Sandhill Crane photo by Henri Sandi Amador. Jabiru photo (from video capture) by Noel Urena.

Bird Walk Sunday: Oct. 5th at OTS Las Cruces

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for our bi-monthly Bird Walk.

Where: OTS Las Cruces, a delightful place most of know as the Wilson Botanical Garden.

When: Sunday, Oct. 5th. Meet at the OTS Recepcion area at 7am.

Why: Why not? Migratory birds from the north and a few from south are now flowing into our area; not unlike a wide-open fire hose.

Who: You…and I.

What: A relaxing walk, watching for surprises, pleasant conversation (at low volume, please) and a hot beverage at the end.

Binoculars and local guides provided; all free of charge.

But watch out for bugs.

Bird Walk Sunday: Wilson Garden–Sunday, Sept.21

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As the great Emily Dickinson once wrote:

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all.

…whatever the hell that means.

My point is, please join the San Vito Bird Club for our regular every-other-Sunday bird walk, this Sunday, September 21st at 7:00am. Meet up, as usual, as the Recepcion office of the Wilson Botanical Garden. There is no charge.

No binoculars…not a problem; we’ll supply you with a pair.

Limited ability to identify birds…no problem; we’ve got local birders to help you.

No shoes…that’s a problem. Get some and join us this Sunday.

Bran-colored Flycatcher: photo courtesy of Troy Smith.

Birding and Walking About…Then Sitting Down and Talking About It: Sunday Sept. 7th at Wilson Garden

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for our regular Bird Walk. Meet at the Wilson Botanical Garden recepcion office at 7am.

Following the walk, we’ll retire to the Comedor for coffee/tea/water and social time.

No charge; binoculars and local guides are provided.

September is a great birding month.

Collared Trogon

Sunday Birdwalk: At the Wilson Garden of Botanical Wonders

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for an escorted and free-of-charge morning birdwalk on Sunday, Aug. 24th. Meet at the Recepcion Office at 7am (I will be there at 6am if you are up and energetic).

Binoculars and expertise available as needed.

We’re at the close of August. Seasonal migrant birds from the northern latitudes are sure to be arriving in the coming months. But each year we see some early arrivals*. We’ll keep our eyes open for them. Black and White Warblers, American Redstarts, Prothonotary Warblers, Red-eyed Vireos are possible.

*It’s just like when you throw a dinner party and you tell the guests to arrive at your house at 6pm; inevitably a couple will show up at 5pm…and then stay until after midnight.

Hope you can join us.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Aug. 10 Bird Walk at the Gardens of Wilson (OTS Las Cruces)

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for a guided Bird Walk at the Wilson Botanical Garden on Sunday, August 10th; meet at 7am at the Recepcion Office.

There is no charge for this walk; binoculars and local birding guides are provided (if needed).

Hope you can join us; all are welcome.

Yellow-throated Toucans

Bird Walk Sunday: July 27

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club for our Sunday Bird Walk.

Meet at the Recepcion office of the Wilson Botanical Garden (Las Cruces OTS) at 7:00am.

As always, there is no charge for this escorted walk; binoculars and experienced nature guides are provided.

Following the bird walk, we can meet for coffee and good fellowship.

Collared Trogon; photo courtesy of Helen LeVasseur

You WILL See the Forest

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On Saturday, July 19th a group of about twenty-five thoughtful, robust and dedicated citizens of Coto Brus put their shoulders together and began work on a most worthy goal; the creation of a forest in a spot where a forest does not currently exist.

Under the guidance of David Rodriguez Arias and Lilly Briggs and their Asociación Ambiental Finca Cántaros (AAFC), over 150 small trees were planted in a tract of pasture that will soon become part of the Bosque Magico.

To paraphrase 16th century writer John Heywood, ‘You can’t see the forest…yet…but keep watching and you will.’

You can help:

Inicio

Bird Walk Sunday: July 6 at Wilson Garden

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Please join the San Vito Bird Club this coming Sunday, July 6, at the Wilson Botanical Garden (OTS Las Cruces) for our regular Bird Walk.

Meet at the Recepcion office at 7:00am. No charge, all welcome. Binoculars available. Coffee and discussion to follow.

Yellow-throated Toucan