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Guiding in the Carara area yesterday turned up 2 more species for the year. Since I have nearly everything from that area for the year, new additions for 2013 would have to be good and they are: 658. White-crested Coquette- Very rare around Carara, we had brief glimpses of a female on the...

A few days ago, I helped out with the Bosque del Rio Tigre Christmas count. I expected to pick up 3 new year birds and that's what happened although two were not species I had expected to get. 655- Black-cheeked Ant Tanager was expected and came through with flying colors- on the feeder, heard...

I got 654 last night while driving at 10 pm between Tibas and Santo Domingo. Along this urbanized, busy route, there is a riparian zone that acts as a corridor for birds. Just as we were driving past, an owl flew up and landed on a cable. A brief look while driving confirmed its identity as a...

A trip to Chomes and nearby for shorebirds and ducks ended up being slim pickings for duck species but good for adding 4 more birds to the year list. My 650th bird for the year was Caspian Tern- a dozen at Chomes and a country first for me! Also picked up three more year birds: 651. Stilt...

A 4 day trip to the Sierpe area was productive for several year birds, including 3 new species for my Costa Rica list and one lifer! On a boat trip to Cano Island, we managed a few pelagics, including: 641. Wedge-rumped Storm Petrel 642. Black Storm Petrel 643. Red-necked Phalarope 644...

Got 640 while guiding in the Poas area on Sunday- Townsend's Warbler! Was hoping to get this rare winter resident one of these days.

I just got back from a weekend at Zota Research Station, a little known site in northeastern Costa Rica with lots of potential. There weren't as many migrants as I had hoped but I still added some key species to the year list. Shortly after arrival, a Snowy Cotinga flew by to become 635. Next to...

Tropical Screech Owl made it onto the year list yesterday (bird 634) while picking up my daughter at dusk. This is a common owl in surburban areas around San Jose but calls more often at this time of the year.

Was just going over the bird list for Costa Rica to see if I can hit 650 by the end of the year (I can if I go to the right places) and realized that Black and white Owl from the trip to Lands in Love was new for the year. That makes bird 633. Hopefully, I can get over to the Caribbean lowlands...

Forgot to mention one other year bird from Chomes- 632. Collared Plover on the beach.

A Sunday jaunt to dry forests and wetlands at Chomes gave me 6 new species for the year. Although we didn't see the Maguari Stork that was found a few weeks ago (and will probably be a one day wonder), I still picked up some excellent birds: 626. Clapper Rail: This rarity has been showing...

Three year birds from guiding this past weekend at Lands in Love hotel, two of those being new species for my CR list! 623. Sepia-capped Flycatcher- rare in CR. 624. Short-tailed Nighthawk- overdue for the year. 625. Lanceolated Monklet! Much wanted bird for the country and very rare in Costa...

Guiding in middle elevation rainforests near San Ramon turned up a MacGillivray's Warbler for species number 622.

621 was a Dickcissel on Sunday. Got that one in the way that usually get them- as a flyover while doing something other than birding. Sunday was Costa Rica's independence day and while partaking in activities at the school where my wife teaches, one of those sparrow-like grassland species called...

Number 620 could be my bird of the year. After not getting the chance to chase the few Oilbirds that have made an appearance in the Monteverde area for the past few years, I made the trip this past weekend and had perfect looks at three perched birds. Many thanks to my friend Robert Dean for...

Two more year birds from a couple days at high elevations on Turrialba Volcano. We were hoping for Unspotted Saw-whet but not a peep from that difficult bird. At least we had crippling looks at a Bare-shanked Screech Owl, saw a couple quetzals, and I added: 618. Dusky Nightjar- several birds...

Most of my remaining species for the year are going to be rare or uncommon species I don't get to see that often. Number 617 is that and some. Although we didn't see it, a friend and I heard a Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo on Sunday along the road to Manuel Brenes Reserve. Habitat there is perfect...

Two more birds from recent mornings at El Tapir and sites near Carara: 615. White-crowned Manakin- expected at El Tapir and Quebrada Gonzalez at this time of the year. 616. Black Tern- several at the mouth of the Tarcoles River.

Guiding the Poas and Cinchona area yesterday gave me two new year birds, both pretty much expected: 613. Yellow-billed Cacique 614. White-throated Flycatcher

I also forgot to mention Scrub Greenlet from the crake weekend down in the southwestern part of Costa Rica. That makes 612. I am starting to wonder if I can hit 650 by the end of the year?