FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Migrants in Costa Rica on way to Tenn.

["Dev Joslin" <devjoslin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following are reports of my observations for the last two weeks (March 
22-April 4) of North American neotropical migrants that are (or have 
recently been) here in the middle elevations (circa 4000 feet) of 
northwestern Costa Rica.

BLACKBURNIAN Warbler:  Have started passing through here this week on their 
return from Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Panama.  Great 
looks at male and female yesterday.  Should be back in Tennessee by the end 
of the month.

TENNESSEE Warbler: Overwinter here and are still here in good numbers.  In 
fact, we are probably now getting some moving north from South America.  
Should be leaving here in a couple of weeks, and some should be arriving in 
Tennessee in a couple of weeks (early ones are probably from Mexico, 
Guatemala, Belize, etc.)
        Some NOTES:  I used to think these guys were mostly insectivorous.  But 
these rascals often feed on bananas here and they are common nectar-feeders 
on our flowers.  I have even caught them flower-piercing on Hibiscus?that 
is, puncturing the base of the flower to get nectar and thereby ?stealing? 
lunch without pollinating the flower.

BLACK-AND-WHITE Warbler:  A common winter bird here.  I haven?t seen one in 
weeks as they appear to leave here in March.  Should be in Tennessee by now. 
  Ah, I see where there is a report of a sighting today on TN-birds.

BLACK-THROATED Green Warbler:  Another common winter bird here, but most 
seem to have left for the North, though I did see one yesterday (Apr. 3).  
Have noticed reports of arrivals in Tenn. on TN-birds.  Interesting that 
some are there in Tenn. while others still have not left Costa Rica.

GOLDEN-WINGED Warbler:  Another winter bird here.  Saw one yesterday (Apr. 
3), so they are still around.  They should depart some time this month.  
Early ones should be arriving in Tenn. later this month.

SWAINSON?s Thrush:  Have started passing through here this week in good 
numbers from Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil.  They normally hang around 
here for a month or more, fattening up on berries of the Hasseltia 
floribunda trees (no common English name).  These trees fruit every year 
just as the Swainson?s thrushes are passing through, and they seem to be 
very dependent on the fruit, at least in this part of Costa Rica.
        These birds are especially rewarding this time of year as they are both 
calling (?Fwheet?Fwheet?) or singing.  They all should be gone from here in 
six weeks or so, while the early ones should arrive in Tennessee by the end 
of this month.

WILSON?S Warbler: Very common winter resident here.  They are still around, 
though numbers seem somewhat down.  They should be hanging around for 
another month or so, and probably will not arrive in Tenn. until May.

SUMMER Tanager:  Our local pair of ?yard? birds that were here all winter 
seem to have departed, but I saw one yesterday in the forest.  Most should 
be departing here in the next couple of weeks, and the early ones arriving 
in Tennessee during the same period of time.

ROSE-BREASTED Grosbeak: These have been passing through on their way from 
Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama for a couple of weeks now, 
and should be continue to do so for a couple of weeks more.  They should be 
arriving in Tenn. about mid-April.

BALTIMORE Oriole:  Our scattered local wintering population has started to 
increase as birds appear to be arriving from northern South America.  They 
should continue to do so for the rest of April, with the early birds 
arriving in Tenn. around the end of April.

WOOD-PEWEES: These have been around for about a month now.  Eastern, 
Western? Who knows?  The last should depart by early May.  Some Eastern W-Ps 
should be arriving in Tenn. by the middle of this month.

RUBY-THROATED Hummingbird:  Our last sighting was three weeks ago.  
Obviously people are already seeing them in Tennessee.

CANADA Warbler:  I saw just my third one here in our ?back woods? yesterday. 
  Very exciting and beautiful!  They are uncommon transient spring migrants 
here as they pass through from northern South America, and almost all should 
be gone by the end of the month.  They should be passing through Tenn. from 
the end of April through May.

SHOREBIRDS:  About 10 days ago (March 22-24), we were at the beach on the 
Pacific coast of Costa Rica.  Moderately abundant were Little Blue Herons, 
Snowy Egrets, Spotted Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, 
and Whimbrels.  Most of these will be leaving for North America soon to 
breed.  A few first-year, non-breeders of some species will remain through 
the summer.  I notice reports of Little Blues, Snowy?s, and sandpipers 
species showing up in Tennessee already.

NOTE: Information on departure times from here and arrival times in 
Tennessee are based on records in F. Gary Stiles and Alexander Skutch? "The 
Birds of Costa Rica," and John C. Robinson?s "An Annotated Checklist of the 
Birds of Tennessee," respectively.

Dev Joslin
Monteverde, Costa Rica


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