10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2017

As with peninsulas and places situated on an isthmus, Costa Rica has more than one coast. White-crowned Pigeon might be on the list, but that rare prize for Costa Rica is far from regular. Birds with white on them are much more likely to take the form of goodies like the Snowy Cotinga , or two species of tityras.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica San Jose Birds Bats 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2017

Are you on your way to Costa Rica? If not, I hope the following tips will convince you to come on down to this easy birding paradise: 100s of bird species are closer than you think. That said, not even 300 of those were identified in an area around the same size as Costa Rica. Planning a trip for later this year?

Costa Rica 115

Costa Rica 2017 Birds West Virginia 115

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2020

Costa Rica is a country situated well south of the Tropic of Cancer and like most places without a winter, parrots are an essential part of the local avifauna. With 18 species of native Psittacids to choose from, birding in Costa Rica is always a thrill, especially for someone who grew up in parrotless Niagara Falls, New York!

Parrots 268

Parrots Costa Rica San Jose Endangered Species 268

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

I spent two full days where the birding was near constant, and, just to keep the binoculars from being neglected, topped it off with another half day of birding on our drive back from Cano Negro, Costa Rica. One of those species was a Pied Puffbird , our sole individual for the day and maybe the only one for the count.

Costa Rica 121

Costa Rica San Jose Birds Farming 121

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2018

Many of them come to Costa Rica because even when it rains, it never really gets cold this far south of the Tropic of Cancer. Surviving on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. This might be partly why Halloween hasn’t taken hold in Costa Rica. These are the winners: BEST COSTUMES. Laughing Falcon.

Costa Rica 160

Costa Rica Bats Birds Falcons 160

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2016

Last weekend, I guided a trip to Laguna del Lagarto for the Birding Club of Costa Rica. Since all sorts of rare species are possible at this remote lowland rainforest site, I was looking forward to this trip for a while. Since the title of this post does not say, “Harpy Eagle in Costa Rica!”,

Costa Rica 128

Costa Rica Nicaragua Eagles Parrots 128

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

When looking for birds in Costa Rica, the Central Valley isn’t the first place that comes to mind. Some call them trash, tours might not visit, but they can host more than the expected and common species. Some such vegetated spots can also attract oddball birds, species that wander to find a home in urban circumstances.

Costa Rica 254

Costa Rica Sparrows Birds Rodents 254

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

Our second week here in Costa Rica has certainly seen a great increase in the amount of rain. He quickly starts pointing our different species that are all around us, with exceptional and obvious knowledge. We were able to get in about 2 hours with Abner the next day, before heading off to the southern end of Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica Falcons Mexico Groups 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2018

The pressure is on if you can only get certain species during the first month of the year but if you just want to add any old birds to the year list, everything is fresh! Since I’m in no big hurry to reach any number of species in 2018, my year birding is going to be a fresh one hopefully touched with a good dose of Zen.

Costa Rica 156

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 156

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2018

I am making the assumption, that with my upcoming trip to Costa Rica, I will be in areas that are teeming with hummingbirds. Today, with assistance from the Tucson Audubon Society, this world-famous destination is “The Place” to go for not only rare hummingbirds, but dozens of other species as well. US species – 257.

Tucson 113

Tucson Costa Rica Arizona Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Finally, the Similan Islands are perhaps one of the most beautiful islands in the world and form a stunning backdrop to this species, one of the loveliest pigeons in the world. Apart from being an incredibly exciting bird, this is a species I had longed to see since my first trip to southern Africa way back in 1991.

2014 188

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 188

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Many Nearctic species and families reach their southern terminus in the Northern Central American Highlands, such as Common Raven , Red Crossbill , Steller’s Jay , and even Brown Creeper. Alex also masterfully worked another tricky species into view for us during that first afternoon, Ruddy Crake (a close relative of the Black Rail ).

Honduras 214

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 214

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

When Costa Rica becomes a topic of conversation, we don’t usually hear the word “extinction” being thrown around. But how about when the Costa Rica conversation involves a birder? It’s easy to bedazzle the bins with this one when birding in Costa Rica. Must be a joke, right?

Costa Rica 217

Costa Rica Species Panama Birds 217

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

These arid hills, cloaked in a mosaic of deciduous scrub and desert vegetation, form a northern outpost for several Neotropical species while also harboring several key endemics and southwestern Nearctic species. Think Arizona meets Costa Rica with a Mexican twist. Lesser Roadrunner with a cicada.

Mexico 191

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 191

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

The guide presents 69 species and 1 subspecies, from “NEW WORLD VULTURES: Cathartiformes” to “OSPREY: Pandioninae” to “FAMILY: Accipitridae” (Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Hawk-Eagles), to “FALONIDS: Falconidae” (Falcons, Forest-Falcons, Caracaras, Kestrels, Merlin). Here’s a sample of Plate 30, Bat Falcon and Orange-Breasted Falcon (pp.

Mexico 163

Mexico America North America Falcons 163

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia). The year list ends on a provisional 1803 species from 1608 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. If you wish to see a full list for 2020, you can find it here. .

2020 222

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago.

Woodpeckers 182

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 182

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2022

8 of them sent 153 lists, noting 645 species of bird across 7 countries (Mexico, UK, USA, Serbia, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia). It has not resulted in extraordinary numbers of sightings personally, but the beats have been busy on their respective patches and have sent me their lists to collate.

Sparrows 231

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 231

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

But in bigger news, could this be the month that UK outbirds Costa Rica? At time of writing (usually a couple of days early to avoid the deadline panic), UK is fielding 63 species. Costa Rica has also submitted 63. Costa Rica v UK is bino a bino and UK has never before beaten The Man. UK El Campeón!

2020 158

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Sparrows 158

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143.

Sparrows 157

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

Incidentally, Uganda ( 510 ) leap-frogged Australia ( 475 ) to become the list’s fourth most prolific country behind Costa Rica ( 763 ), USA ( 654 ) and Brazil ( 555 ). They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. Bat Hawk – Macheiramphus alcinus. Lake Mburo NP.

2019 167

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 167

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2018

It was October 6, Global Big Day part dos and birders in Costa Rica were stoked. A birder can of course celebrate open days of constant birding however he or she wishes, in Costa Rica, the birding community did so on October 6th with dawn to dusk birding in several corners of the country. A Snowy Cotinga from another day.

Costa Rica 137

Costa Rica Argentina Bats Birds 137

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

During July, 11 beats birded 11 countries (USA, UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Japan, UAE, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia) and submitted 82 checklists. They accounted for 562 species at this sluggish time of year. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. These are the numbers. Alphabetic Taxonomic.

2019 119

2019 Sparrows Woodpeckers Idaho 119

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. 14 Jun 2019.

2019 120

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 120

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

9 beats submitted 172 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) for 640 species.

Woodpeckers 153

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 153

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

7 countries (Costa Rica, China, USA, UK, Mexico, New Zealand and Serbia) were birded by 11 beats during October. They submitted 124 checklists for 671 species of bird. In particular 272 species were noted from 14 checklists submitted on October 17th, eBird’s October Big Day. 31 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis.

2020 129

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 129

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

172 lists were shared and 1004 species were seen, both records for October, so well done beats! Visited this month were; Germany , France , Austria, South Africa, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, Australia, China, Indonesia , Switzerland and Singapore). Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. has reached 54.

2019 115

2019 China Battery Jamaica 115

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

The beats are famed for their inclusion on the nice side of the ledger and this month 9 of them shared 163 lists from 7 countries (Australia, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) and accounted for 735 bird species. Mike doubled up with “smushed”, a new addition to the adjective list.

Sparrows 185

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 185

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

This shows the top birders, by species or checklists submitted. The year has started well with 10 new birds from India, China, Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica. 12 beats birded 10 countries (Costa Rica, USA, Brazil, China, India, Serbia, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico), submitting 187 lists and spotting 902 birds.

2020 158

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 158

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

In publishing the most current thinking, eBird have become the month’s biggest contributor to the life list, expanding it by 7 brand new species and pushing it to 3774. 7 species were added to the life list in the time-honoured fashion of actually identifying the birds in the field. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis.

2019 117

2019 Arizona Ghana Tucson 117

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. Bat Hawk – Macheiramphus alcinus. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. 26 Nov 2019.

2019 139

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 139

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

The engaged and generous beats ( 10 of them) have shared 188 checklists during January and have accounted for 859 species from 8 countries (USA, Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, UK, New Zealand and Serbia. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. A gathering of the beats at the “Hot Duck” barbeque.

2019 113

2019 Australia Jamaica Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

9 beats shared 100 checklists from 8 countries (Costa Rica, USA, UK, Brazil, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Australia. They noted 598 species as a team, bringing the year total to 2118 and pushing the life list to 3555. In an unusual turnaround during September, more birds were seen in USA than in Costa Rica.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

9 countries were visited during March by your tireless beats ( 11 of them); India, UK, USA, Serbia, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. Only 123 species appear on both sides of the life list. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. And Pat gets to keep the awards in the remainder of the categories.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113