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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hamhed" data-source="post: 3582180" data-attributes="member: 70825">I’d like to say that we were getting the hang of some of the calls at this point and we did have the Lizard-Cuckoo down, the Scaly-naped Pigeon and many of the Doves, the Puerto Rican Vireo, the Woodpecker, the Bullfinch but the sound we quickly learned was the buzzy call of the Puerto Rican Tody.  We found two of these little cuties, working their way through the understory, calling to each other with insect-like sounds.  Unlike the larger flycatchers, they spent little time perched but tended to move along at a steady pace.  Focused on the enjoyment of being in their company, we regrettably missed any decent photos; the best record I have is a video of just 7 seconds!Our second choice of trails, Camino Alto was more exposed with less birdlife.  One small, female hummingbird zipped past us.  We wanted to call it a Puerto Rican Emerald but our look was too brief, the tentative identification made mostly by size.  Several swallows, Cave Swallows most likely, crossed the ridge we were on.  We became distracted by plants, lizards and butterflies, dangerously close to sensory overload!The morning long gone, we made our way back down the winding but good road to Sabana Grande, stopping at Mercado’s Bakery where 9 Greater Antillean Grackles worked the edges of the parking lot.  Cameras temporarily packed away, I can describe them best as purplish-black, with wide tails and yellow eyes, in other words, just like most Grackles I’ve seen.  Another 30 minutes of driving had us on the far side of Guanica, on the coastal route adjacent to the state forest.  A side road leading to the ferry dock had us stop for views of White-cheeked Pintails and a pair of Black-necked Stilts.  We continued on Rt. 334 thinking we might find a convenient place for some afternoon snorkeling.  The Caribbean was pretty windy and rough however; the few parking areas we found did not lead to any sheltered locations for a placid salt water float.  Further on, a road sign that read “Yauco” alerted us to the end of the Guanica municipality and the Guanica state forest.  Just before that sign, we had noticed a gate blocking a single lane, gravel road that lead up into the scrub forest.  We parked there, taking note that we would be on a tsunami escape route.  The gradient was not difficult for birding but, I could imagine that beachgoers trying to escape a towering wave by running up this rough, gravel path would have limited success.  We were on a west facing hillside in late afternoon so didn’t expect much bird activity.  A short way above the road was a very small, shaded pond, probably a rainwater catchment.  A pair of Gray Kingbirds were swooping down and striking the water surface for insects or possibly minnows?  A colorful Prairie Warbler responded to some pishing; a single Bullfinch called.  Minutes before 5 pm, we were at the state forest entrance gate on Rt. 333 where our first Pearly-eyed Thrasher, Gray Kingbirds and Black-faced Grassquits were seen.  By dark, having walked some distance up the road and almost 90 minutes later, we were back at the car, no owl or nightjar seen or heard.  For the Puerto Rican Nightjar, I used playback 3 or 4 times, being aware of how often this method was probably used, we were reluctant to try more often.  My fears were confirmed later by a San Juan birding friend who told us the nightjar was being called on to perform much too often.  Also, time of year was likely a factor, March being the prime month for this pair of species to be vocal.</blockquote>

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