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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Birdingcraft" data-source="post: 2646743" data-attributes="member: 55810">I did a bit of guiding at Quebrada yesterday. Most of our time was spent at El Tapir and we connected with some excellent species at both sites. Funny how it seems so long ago and it was just yesterday!Since El Tapir is just up the road, I will talk about that too. We met at El Tapir at 6:30 AM and the hummingbird garden was pretty much fantastic. In quick succession, we got nearly every regular species. We had:SnowcapGreen ThorntailBlack-crested CoquetteViolet-headed HummingbirdBronze-tailed PlumeleteerRufous-tailed HummingbirdWhite-necked JacobinBrown VioletearViolet-crowned WoodnymphTanagers and Black-faced Grosbeaks were also moving through trees at the edge of the forest, Speckled and Black and Yellow being species that stood out.We ventured into the forest on the loop trail and it didn't take long before we heard the sounds of a big mixed flock. It was frustratingly located where we couldn't see them but some of the birds eventually came around and we got looks at several of them wheil trying to also get looks at an understory flock. At one point, it seemed like the flocks kind of converged and awesome birding pandemonium ensued. Must have been 100 or birds of the following species:Black-throated Trogon (sure seemed to be hanging with the flock)Spotted WoodcreeperWedge-billed WoodcreeperBuff-throated Foliage-gleanerPlain XenopsStriped Woodhaunter (sadly invisible)Russet AntshrikeChecker-throated AntwrenWhite-flanked Antwren (good site for this uncommon species)Streak-crowned AntvireoDusky-capped FlycatcherSulphur-rumped FlycatcherRuddy-tailed FlycatcherLesser GreenletTawny-faced GnatwrenChestnut-sided WarblerCarmiol's Tanager (a bunch as always)Tawny-crested TanagerBlack and yellow Tanager (heard only, probably other tanagers were missed as they were way up in the canopy and out of sight)White-throated Shrike Tanager (listen for this nucleous sp. to find the flock)Emerald TanagerSilver-throated TanagerSlate-colored GrosbeakScarlet-rumped CaciqueTawny-capped EuphoniaOlive-backed EuphoniaAs we were watching the flock, we also heard both Spotted and Bicolored Antbirds singing nearby! Couldn't find any antswarm though so no crazy luck there. Venturing further on, we heard Slaty-breasted Tinamou, several White-ruffed Manakins, a Lattice-tailed Trogon, and a couple of Slate-colored Grosbeaks. At one point, I saw a silhouetted bird high up and promptly called out the grosbeak before looking at it with binos. That resulted in an embarrassing fail when it turned out to be a Broad-billed Motmot perched so high up and at such an angle that it didn't really look like a motmot.We didn't see much else until we exited the forest. Watching for raptors paid off with Barred Hawk in the distance and a majestic Black Hawk Eagle that flew into view, called once or twice and was driven off by a Peregrine Falcon that appeared out of nowhere! Mind you, I have seen Peregrine there on just a few occasions and those were migrating birds.The adult Peregrine looked like a kestrel next to the hawk-eagle.We headed over to Quebrada at that point and picked up Dull-mantled Antbird as soon as we walked into the forest. Pale-vented Thrushes played their usual hide and seek and Black and yellow Tanagers called from the canopy. After walking up the stairs, unfortunately, my client's back was bothering him so we slowly returned to the HQ. Luckily, serendipity struck when we espied two Olive-backed Quail Doves (!) in the understory and watched them for a few minutes.From the parking lot, a King Vulture flew into view and a Short-tailed Hawk briefly showed before going into a long dive.Lunch at the Cicharonerra Patona (also known as McLeans Soda) turned up more Black-faced Grosbeaks and Short-billed Pigeon, White-crowned Parrot, and Bay-headed Tanager in a fruiting fig.After that, we spent another hour and a half at El Tapir to watch the hummingbirds buzz around, and tried to watch the tanagers and other small birds that were moving along the edge of the forest. We scoped out Shining and Green Honeycreepers along with another bird or two and called it a day.It was a good day of birding overall but I can't help but be concerned by the dry aspect of the forest. I have never seen it like that in the past, it seems like some formerly common species are absent or rare, and I can't help but wonder if that is related to changes in those forests caused by a warmer, drier climate.</blockquote>

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