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Bran-colored Flycatcher(Myiophobus fasciatus)
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Last April 23, 2011, with Bryan Pollock, Carey Lee, and Luis Sánchez, we found several Bran-colored Flycatchers along the Bajos de Las Esperanzas Road.
We managed to take some photos of this beautiful small flycatcher which is only 5” long.
Noel Ureña
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This photo shows the breast streaking much better. For ID purposes.
Noel Ureña
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Variable Seedeater
(Sporophila americana)
A very common bird along roads and grassy fields, however I thought I would share this photo too. I like the see the little drops of water on its tail.
Noel Ureña
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Northern Scrub-flycatcher(Sublegatus arenarum)
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Last April 8, 2011, as I walked out of the baot trip in Tarcoles River with Betty Moylan and Maggie Malone, we encountered this interesting Northern Scrub-Flycatcher, very cooperative individual, we watched it for about 10 minutes.
This species of flycatcher is uncommon and found around mangroves and adjacent scrubs in the pacific coast of Costa Rica.
Noel Ureña
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Swallow-tailed Kite
(Elanoides forficatus)
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March 20, 2011: Joel and Monica McCrady where touring with me around Fila Costera in the Southern Pacific portion of the country. We were hoping to find a Bat Falcon which we didn’t find.
However we found one of the most interesting raptor shows I have ever seen. After seeing a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites copulating we tryied to locate tehm again for a photo.
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I remembered I had seen them in the past breaking dead little branches to build a nest in this same general area so we drove a bit and stop in a little look out point.
As we stepped out of the car we had a group of Swallow-tailed Kites on the tree right in front of us, quite exciting already!.
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About 6 individuals were perching and a few were flying around the tree! After several minutes of watching we observed some males carrying good size preys as they circle the tree.
Then they would perch next to females and show them the prey, females wouldn’t take the gift and males will continue to approach them in a very interesting courtship ritual.
The most impresive preys included tree frogs and lizards.
The kite on the left was carrying a tree frog, we could have certainly win the contest!
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This other kite had managed to catch a lizard.
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I love this photo. Look at the very aerodynamic shape of the body and the bent tail that provides direction. Perfect evolutionary design for this magnificent fliers.
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After a few minutes the kites quit their ritual and started bringing little twigs and lichens to work on their nests. We located two nests within a 50 meter diameter area.
Noel Ureña
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