Yes … it’s that time again when I challenge my readers to help me ID birds found via my world wide travels. Last spring while bike touring in Scotland, I discovered the Funky Petite  Penguin! My rules are simple. I create names for the birds that I find, but cannot ID. You … my readers comment with the real ID. Please realize if I like my “made up” name better, perhaps I will never edit the post! 🙂

Thus … let the Costa Rican bird ID olympics begin! Cue the music. Today’s two competitors … the Yellow-Breasted Bug Eyed Grosbeak and the White-Throated Black Masked Finch.

Post Update: My thanks to Andy Nabor who let me know the first bird is a Black Headed Trogon. Gee … the real name is almost as good as my made up name!

In addition over the past 24 hours I’ve found (real bird names): the Gray Capped Flycatcher, and the White Throated Magpie Jay.

Edit / Update: My thanks to Adam Roesch who often comments on this blog. I agree with this assessment that the bird shown below is actually a Tropical Kingbird!

Many of these birds were found while mountain biking up and down the steep Pacific hills around 6 am in the morning … when both the birds are more active and the heat is not so oppressive. Thankfully the sun finally sets and one gets to watch both birds and humans fishing in the waning light of the day.

Dorothy … you’re not in Kansas anymore!!!

Early this week I was bicycling in a snow flurry along the cold, windy shores of Lake Superior. Yesterday, in 85F heat, along with Molly we both went mountain biking for the first time in our lives. I figured at age 61 it was time to try something new in life!

Given the name of the sport includes “mountain”, we biked up and down steep trails next to the Pacific Ocean. Uff dah! Scarier going down than up. In addition. without meaning to I often popped wheelies on the uphills during particularly steep climbs. Finally throw in 85F heat and humidity just to make things interesting. We both survived. Molly took two minor falls. I somehow avoided falling. Much messier sport than road biking. Dirt all the way up my shins. Now we will need a great sunset, a drink and dinner. Given we are in Costa Rica, that will not be a problem!

Here is a pic of my wife enjoying that well earned sunset … and yes, my camera is focusing on some birds too! Hopefully my ID’s are correct.

High up in the trees … Orange Fronted Parakeet, Red Crowned Woodpecker and White Tipped Dove

Just above me! Iguana.

Beachcombing … Spotted Sandpiper and Great Tailed Grackle