There isn’t any late summer season in Costa Rica. On this nation of uplifted land and excessive biodiversity, it’s August all yr lengthy. There may be solely the arrival and departure of rain, at instances, each day. Even so, we’re nonetheless touched by the climate cycles of the north.
Up north, the waning summer season was and is marked by actions of Canada Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, and sandpipers. These had been the “early” migrants, the avian alerts of one other nesting season come to an finish.
In the course of the 80s up north, August was strolling on the northern Lake Erie shore and searching for shorebirds feeding within the algae. Migration was additionally occurring within the fields and woodlands that approached the lake; totally unbelievable migration with Accipiters flapping by and passerines parading by the woods.
Someday Eighties, possibly 1984, I had nice August lifers there; my first Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos, warblers, and a unbelievable Loggerhead Shrike. Throughout these years, there have been heaps extra birds.
There was additionally fantastic music together with this gem by the not too long ago handed Robbie Robertson (RIP and so many thanks for the music!). To me, it was and nonetheless is a music of lovely thriller, northern nights, and being 16 years outdated. At the moment, I might have by no means have guessed that one among my brothers would ultimately have kids with one among Robbie’s family. We’re all related, ultimately, in a roundabout way.
Sadly, Robbie wasn’t the one gifted individual to have not too long ago handed away. The extraordinarily proficient Sinead O’Conner has additionally handed on, all the time too quickly. I liked her music, it was one among a sort, there was simply nothing prefer it! Across the identical time that CFNY was enjoying “Someplace Down the Loopy River”, I used to be additionally seeing posters outdoors document shops that confirmed a bald girl and browse, “The Lion and The Cobra”.
I questioned, what on earth is that? Solutions got here within the type of CFNY enjoying “Troy” by Sinead, again and again. There have been different songs too, together with “Just Like You said It Would Be“.
I might by no means have imagined that, in 1999, I might meet and befriend the man enjoying guitar in that video whereas we each looked for our lifer Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager close to Golfito.
Sure, not solely has Robert Dean illustrated a number of subject guides for birds, he additionally helped make a number of fantastic music, together with songs with Sinead. He hasn’t stopped making music both, take a look at, Light of Day.
Within the birding world, we have now additionally misplaced a few cherished and irreplaceable folks. Tom Johnson was probably the most progressive, knowledgeable, and well-liked birders in North America. His tragic passing was and can proceed to be a horrible loss for his family members and the birding group at massive. I usually marveled over his superb night time images of migrating passerines and noticed him a pair instances in Costa Rica whereas he led excursions. I want I might have had the fortune of understanding him in addition to so many different birders did.
Sadly, Ron Pittaway additionally handed on not too long ago. Ron created the unbelievable Winter Finch Forecast and had an influence on birding in Canada, Western New York, and elsewhere in a variety of methods. He was such a pleasant man and I’ll all the time keep in mind his smile whereas sharing the Niagara Gorge gull expertise along with his companion Jean Iron, associates Willy D’Anna, Betsy Potter, Dean DiTommasso, and different Larophiles. I significantly like this image and post by Alvaro Jaramillo.
Nowadays, as I watch tanagers decide berries from cloud forest bushes, and scan everlasting ocean waters for seabirds, I’ll be pondering of those folks and the way they helped make the world a greater place.
I may even consider them as I look ahead to the birds that join us to Cape Might and people northern shores of Lake Erie. I’ll be searching for most of the identical shorebirds, and people “early” warblers, however we additionally discover the primary flocks of migrating kites, and Pacific shorebirds just like the Surfbird.
It’s a superb time to be birding in Costa Rica, it all the time is. Right here are some things to mirror and notice whereas birding Costa Rica this August and September.
Serving to a Hook-billed Kite in Costa Rica
Not too long ago, Paz Irola and Ernesto Carman of Get Your Birds! and the Cabanisi Mission helped rescue a younger Hook-billed Kite. Watch this impressive video to see how they saved the lifetime of this younger fowl by feeding it snails! It’s additionally attention-grabbing to listen to the juvenile vocalize. Maybe it’s antbird-like music is one more adaptation to assist cover these younger kites from bigger raptors that may eat them.
The First Fall Warbler Depend for Costa Rica
A variety of warblers winter in and migrate by Costa Rica. Cerulean Warblers, Bay-breasted Warblers, and different species make essential stops within the nation as they make their option to South America. To advertise this annual passage, encourage eBird use, and get extra information about numbers of migrant warblers, some native guides and birders have organized a country-wide warbler count.
If you may be birding in Costa Rica in September, you’ll be able to take part too! All it’s worthwhile to do is go birding in Costa Rica on September ninth, and share your lists with person identify, “ReinitasCR”.
Oilbirds
Not too long ago, an Oilbird was sighted in an evening tour within the Monteverde space. August is a superb time of yr to see this fowl in Costa Rica. If you may be visiting the Monteverde space quickly, ask if they’ve been seeing Oilbirds on the night time tour for the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge in addition to different night time walks. In that case, you’ve got an excellent probability of seeing one on that night time stroll tour!
Umbrellabirds and Tiny Hawk at Centro Manu
Umbrellabirds are undoubtedly again at Centro Manu. Not too long ago, a number of native birders have gotten wonderful pictures of this uncommon and endangered cotinga. It could take some time to see one however birding this web site gives you a good shot.
To not point out, the lowland-foothill forests are good for many different species too. Nice Potoo has been roosting close to the parking space, Music Wren has been seen within the forest, and native birders have additionally had attractiveness at a Tiny Hawk!
Ciudad Neily
Final however not least, this is without doubt one of the greatest instances to yr to go birding close to Ciudad Neily and go to the Coto marshes. It’s in all probability additionally the best time to seek out Paint-billed Crake, see different crakes, and discover Masked Duck. Verify for vagrant shorebirds and different odd, uncommon birds among the many 1000’s of waterbirds that use the realm! To not point out, people are nonetheless seeing a pair of Lesser Kiskadees on the road in the Las Pangas sector of Coto 47.
To prepare to your journey and see the place to go birding in Costa Rica, take a look at my 900 plus web page e book, “Easy methods to See, Discover, and Establish Birds in Costa Rica”. As all the time, I hope to see you in Costa Rica!
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