The last couple of days had been slowing down a bit as we increasingly ticked off more and more of the species around the Canopy Tower. However today we hit new habitat and elevations and things picked up again. Even before we left the lodge we added #734 Rufous Motmot at the feeders, and then #735 Lineated Woodpecker, atop a nearby tree. I missed the Grey-necked Wood Rail though; and indeed I missed it repeatedly throughout my stay, even though it was haunting the grounds.
We then drove further inland to near the top of the mountains (i.e. near the edge of the extinct volcano we’re in the middle of) to Los Minas Road, and in a few hours of casual strolling we added nine new species:
Silver-throated Tanager
Tawny-capped Euphonia
Scarlet-thighed Dacnis
Ornate Hawk-Eagle (perched in the distance through a scope)
Tufted Flycatcher
Orange-bellied Trogon
Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher
Olive-striped Flycatcher
Plain Antvireo
But we weren’t done yet.
On the way back we stopped at the Canopy Adventure where our local guide had staked out #745 Mottled Owl.
We had a nice lunch back at the lodge where #746, White-lined Tanager, visited the feeders.
Around 3:00 we headed out in the opposite direction back through El Valle, and birded on the Cara Iguana Road.
Tody Motmot
Tropical Screech-Owl (2, staked out behind a large house)
Blue-crowned Motmot
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
It’s good trip for Motmots.
Finally we headed back around 4:30, but we got flagged down by a local caretaker at one of the big houses who showed us two Common Potoos. #751! Seeing both Potoos in one trip is really spectacular. These are very hard birds to find.
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