I returned to Zapotal … 4×4 vehicle required … trogons!
Elegant Trogon!
Black-Headed Trogon!
Then I felt like I was being watched, and it turned out a White-faced Capuchin Monkey was on the ground only 30 yards away on the other side of the dry creek bed, and I was the focus of curiosity. I returned the favor.
Eventually I looked up, and finally was able to spy a White-Fronted Amazon Parrot above me. They make an incredible racket, but are actually hard to find once they perch.
This morning down here in Costa Rica I headed out birding shortly after 6 am … driving up and over the steep mountain dirt road to Zapotal. As I descended, I realized I had a flat tire. Ouch. Not what this almost 70 year old guy (birthday only a few days off) wants to attack early in the morning. Ten minutes into my tire changing job I remembered this song from Monty Python … Always Look on the Bright Side of Life! (video link for email subscribers)
Moments later a motorcyclists drove along the road, and he took pity of the old American guy (me!). Within moments my new best friend was changing my tire for me. Pura Vida!
My morning birding hike was delayed only 25 minutes, and I hiked to Zapotal Beach which is paradise (watch a brief video I took of the beach from an earlier post). While walking back to my car from the beach … I heard it! Yes … an Elegant Trogon was near! Remember, without my birdsong listening device I would not even have known this bird species lives in the “dry forest” near my birding location (see prior post). Anyhow, patience and few a few calls from Merlin (Cornell App) on my phone and the Elegant Trogon was in my line of sight! Life is great. Pure Vida. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.
Research also determined that the Elegant Trogon I saw in Medera Canyon some years ago in southern Arizona is now considered a separate species, a Coppery Tailed Trogon (see video from Madera Canyon). Thus, the morning’s find was a lifer!
And a short video I took this morning of the Elegant Trogon (video link for blog email subscribers)
Most birds do NOT visit bird feeders. If you do not understand bird calls and the habitat the bird species you are hearing prefer, you will see fewer birds. Both down here in Costa Rica and back home in northern Minnesota, I use technology as an assist. Here are the devices I bring when I travel:
Upon arriving on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, I setup the trailcam and birdsong listen station deep in the forest where I like to bird. Only 24 hours into our time at Las Catalinas, my devices near Zapotal Beach have ID’d these bird species, which I have successfully now seen and photographed:
Still on my target to find, and hopefully photograph:
Once I am convinced I understand a location in terms of species and habitat, I may shift the location of the devices. One very important part of my search process is conducting research via Cornell’s premium database, Birds of the World (not expensive). I pay particular attention to the habitat section. I want to know “why” a given bird species is located where my devices made the identification.
On the trailcam side of the equation, my camera photographed and took a video of a Guatusa. I saw this smaller mammal while birding shortly after sunrise this morning, and while I was not able to get a photograph, my trailcam came through for me. A quick check of Wikipedia helped me understand this animal. I am using the local name my hosts provided me.
While I am using these devices down here in Costa Rica, I follow the same process back home in northeastern Minnesota.
In closing, today’s birds from Zapotal, Costa Rica …
Streak-Backed Oriole
Turquoise Browed Mot Mot
Green Heron at Zapotal Beach
Black-Headed Trogon
