tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50353601919391883742024-03-17T22:03:47.606-05:00Lost in BIrdingNotes on the road from an Impatient Birder...Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.comBlogger750125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-41908193409590147312018-07-14T14:01:00.001-05:002018-07-14T14:01:16.253-05:00Bearly Started…ALASKA (9 June 2018)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2jA5XNgdmAHvV2jx-jG4po2_I1IWi5nwsHHdfCnl8t_w8dvXBv284B6Spg5V_6GdQIzmg5m18W47s6uH3pYYgPQnVZZcQJdpk9-72J9gaF7-EEJv83DEOfOKSXizAkSq0DbGZEYWUAU/s1600/Black-Bear-cub-Eagle-River-Nature-Center-Alaska-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1216" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2jA5XNgdmAHvV2jx-jG4po2_I1IWi5nwsHHdfCnl8t_w8dvXBv284B6Spg5V_6GdQIzmg5m18W47s6uH3pYYgPQnVZZcQJdpk9-72J9gaF7-EEJv83DEOfOKSXizAkSq0DbGZEYWUAU/s400/Black-Bear-cub-Eagle-River-Nature-Center-Alaska-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Under a lit sky, I had arrived in
Alaska, sometimes known as the “<i>Land of the Midnight Sun</i>”, the night before.
These were my very first steps in the state. On this day I was to lift my
binoculars for the first time in Alaska, at which point I feel I can truly “count”
the state as visited! Also, in the middle of the un-darkened night, friends <i>Iain
Campbell </i>and <i>Nick Athanas</i> had also jetted in to start a tour of their own.
However, before, we divvied up into our groups, Nick, Iain and I scouted around
the wider Anchorage area. We started out with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">woodpeckers</i> on our brains, at <i><b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/61%C2%B014'03.3%22N+149%C2%B016'16.4%22W/@61.2342515,-149.2712295,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d61.2342515!4d-149.2712295" target="_blank">Eagle River Nature Center</a></b></i>, supposedly
a hotspot for them. On checking in at the center and getting the lowdown, it
was clear we should be focusing on something bigger there, as a family of <span style="color: red;"><b>Black
Bears</b></span> were being encountered regularly that morning and were showing not far
away. This was a no brainer for me, having seen but one <i>Black Bear </i>in my life
(at <i>Yellowstone National Park in Montana</i>), I was keen to see one properly;
moments later we were. Up high in the trees were a mother and two bear cubs.
Being high in the trees, the photography conditions were frustrating, as the
mother used leaves for a screen to good effect, and the cubs just slumbered
without a care in the world, turning them into nothing more than ill-defined,
furry shapes. However, suddenly, the adult bear was on its paws and making its
way down the trees. We rapidly backed away, knowing that to confront a mother
bear with cubs in the vicinity is not just folly, but potentially perilous. She
seemed unconcerned by our small group standing back, but what was alarming was
how impressively she would disappear in seemingly only sparse cover below; at
times only her ears gave her position away, but for longer periods not a piece of
fur was visible, and her exact location unknown. Her position on the ground
though did cause the cubs to stir too, who seemingly reluctantly, rather
gingerly, shinned their way down the large cottonwood trunk, which made for
great photo moments. The cubs and mother were soon reunited, and quickly melted
into the forest behind, where they were soon visible no more.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy24G8hmeA0Fo__eetahxU44DZljXZT7AkV9qS5k6_I6sMndjPRMVmRptzp7U-jeH5B4XLE6RSR5Ek0rUj2GmxwlAsJQSI7i6kYepKi4pcJrtSB5xmngzj_y2cvKvQPehFicVHGllx03w/s1600/Eagle-River-Nature-Center-Alaska-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods-IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1600" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy24G8hmeA0Fo__eetahxU44DZljXZT7AkV9qS5k6_I6sMndjPRMVmRptzp7U-jeH5B4XLE6RSR5Ek0rUj2GmxwlAsJQSI7i6kYepKi4pcJrtSB5xmngzj_y2cvKvQPehFicVHGllx03w/s400/Eagle-River-Nature-Center-Alaska-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods-IMG_0011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
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The woodpeckers were far from
cooperative, but my main target there was clearly to be <b><span style="color: red;">Varied Thrush</span></b>, a common
Alaskan native, but one I had never seen, with only limited time spent birding
in the western US. This thrush throws off the usual pigments of other American
thrushes, browns not being sufficient for this northern breeder, preferring a
mix of blue-gray and bunt orange. It was this reason that made me want to see
it with such gusto. What I had not realised would add to its considerable
allure, was its haunting song, a series of downward slurs that rang out of the
tall spruce trees at Eagle River. It was haunting, beautiful and evocative,
but, frankly, where was it!? I had been warned by Iain they like nothing better
than calling from the densest, highest canopies when possible, and the first
few heard were frustrating testament to that. However, moving into a stand of
smaller, younger spruces we tracked one down by following its haunting marker,
and it was everything it was cracked up to be (perhaps immortalised best by
Sibley’s famous Western Birds cover to his popular guides, which featured a
flying impression of this species).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6i8afDl0WxgHbAUSYcb_RTXrnLDPDmip2IxrCuU_w4Jv939FjCKeZF1iVwZrm2unIKlpckKa8mtKHC02PeT7PNSKBeL5yMUl9pwDmg8t3pGpvSRRp9IWcv-8FUZ0Ncy7Ly2YN6_t8L8/s1600/Varied-Thrush-Eagle-River-Nature-Center-Alaska-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6i8afDl0WxgHbAUSYcb_RTXrnLDPDmip2IxrCuU_w4Jv939FjCKeZF1iVwZrm2unIKlpckKa8mtKHC02PeT7PNSKBeL5yMUl9pwDmg8t3pGpvSRRp9IWcv-8FUZ0Ncy7Ly2YN6_t8L8/s400/Varied-Thrush-Eagle-River-Nature-Center-Alaska-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8218.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After enjoying the views of <b>Grey Jays </b>and the jaw-dropping scenery, it was decided we check out a couple of
sites closer to <i><b>Anchorage</b></i>. <i><b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/61%C2%B004'39.3%22N+149%C2%B049'34.3%22W/@61.0775802,-149.8262,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d61.0775802!4d-149.8262" target="_blank">Potter Marsh</a> </b></i>came first, with its abundance of
breeding <b>Mew Gulls</b> and <b>Arctic Terns</b> being very conspicuous there. However, we
also saw some singing <b>Orange-crowned Warblers</b> singing on a bright and sunny day
that felt somewhat like a European spring day, with cerulean skies and wisps of
clouds only, and an unexpected warmth in a state known for its proximity to the
Arctic. A few <b>Lincoln’s Sparrows</b> were in song too, as were several <b>Alder
Flycatchers</b>, but the prize bird that was probably a <b>Short-billed Dowitcher</b>,
which was happy to sleep in the open within inches of parked cars.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYPEajOjc6GZW_XY6bntciYtFwS3fgNnITT9ZTvVmsHXUvhTqAwDVagbAu_jF3uWfIKWUxj_jpOSOiPNZ_dGbDfiR6My6QSyuyJSpuCRzsevM4iYPkuRHUF28ux4dvUIBBCdo6teNn7k/s1600/Red-necked-Grebe-Westchester-Lagoon-Anchorage-AK-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYPEajOjc6GZW_XY6bntciYtFwS3fgNnITT9ZTvVmsHXUvhTqAwDVagbAu_jF3uWfIKWUxj_jpOSOiPNZ_dGbDfiR6My6QSyuyJSpuCRzsevM4iYPkuRHUF28ux4dvUIBBCdo6teNn7k/s400/Red-necked-Grebe-Westchester-Lagoon-Anchorage-AK-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8309.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our final stop of the day was a
popular <i><b><a href="https://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=61.2059712,-149.9211502&ll=61.2059712,-149.9211502" target="_blank">Westchester Lagoon</a></b></i>, which with the extraordinarily warm weather seemed
to have brought out every jogger, cyclist, skater and fitness enthusiast out of
the woodwork. We weaved our way through these active groups, at a somewhat
slower pace, as we admired gatherings of <b>scaup</b>, and mainly the dozens of
<b><span style="color: red;">Red-necked Grebes</span> </b>congregated on the lake, Westchester’s star avian attraction.
A small group of <span style="color: red;"><b>Sandhill Cranes</b></span> was also seen closeby, before we returned to
our <i><b>Anchorage</b></i> hotel to connect with our corresponding groups, and plot our
plans for moving into the Arctic Circle the next day, for a vastly different
experience indeed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-WSeMlx9JnqB9EhwAtHzTX2z4ErXuj-1djBInbJQaKsEL3QApqhvTj9RmIgiIL1qFt0r4Qw2Cq5oI6zft9UmwDozsLRcHxDo0RaA7WQCMJb9chFIlcgWU5HVD7zuTy_6Qws6mbSlDvY/s1600/Sandhill-Crane-Westchester-Lagoon-Anchorage-Alaska-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1200" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-WSeMlx9JnqB9EhwAtHzTX2z4ErXuj-1djBInbJQaKsEL3QApqhvTj9RmIgiIL1qFt0r4Qw2Cq5oI6zft9UmwDozsLRcHxDo0RaA7WQCMJb9chFIlcgWU5HVD7zuTy_6Qws6mbSlDvY/s400/Sandhill-Crane-Westchester-Lagoon-Anchorage-Alaska-USA-9-June-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: orange;">Next up, the Ice and Snow of Barrow, at the very Top of the World…</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jlczbdi_ToCIYp8S6ri2CrteHL1g8sqFO4Gs4g8_6uF4LwlimGrDHb1Rqd2JoavxjCNJllW0g5XelxGp8ArhI0I-AhVQJSeJ9v7_Gqy9AqPLXm-h9maq_0_06foOm0iRjVlQRvrMzdQ/s1600/Barrow-scene-IMG_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1080" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jlczbdi_ToCIYp8S6ri2CrteHL1g8sqFO4Gs4g8_6uF4LwlimGrDHb1Rqd2JoavxjCNJllW0g5XelxGp8ArhI0I-AhVQJSeJ9v7_Gqy9AqPLXm-h9maq_0_06foOm0iRjVlQRvrMzdQ/s400/Barrow-scene-IMG_0081.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: orange;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br /></div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-43948911639395235192018-02-08T17:03:00.001-05:002018-02-08T17:03:14.449-05:00An Indian Parliament (India) Feb. 9, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReqVZc0nGfGCszrR5Gu_Ggv0Zjb1x0lnWqycGmTBF2GBJELftP8_gqQL7hQxniqUeizis9nf1zTJwqJUqlw7mjcxS8RhttXvXK3djU3YY7rRM4gU6pAKs5TWZTRyzVQ1GPU9bNtC9qjs/s1600/Indian-Eagle-Owl-Baland-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReqVZc0nGfGCszrR5Gu_Ggv0Zjb1x0lnWqycGmTBF2GBJELftP8_gqQL7hQxniqUeizis9nf1zTJwqJUqlw7mjcxS8RhttXvXK3djU3YY7rRM4gU6pAKs5TWZTRyzVQ1GPU9bNtC9qjs/s400/Indian-Eagle-Owl-Baland-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9394.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">We came coursing through the area just 2 weeks
before with a singular vision to photograph </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">Indian
Courser</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;"> and quietly add the utterly drab </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">Sind Sparrow</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;"> to my personal life list. Today’s focus, within almost
the same hectares of Haryana state, was entirely different however. It was
about owls. India can rightly claim to be one of the best nightbird sites, </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">by day</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">. And this day proved just that,
by twilight we had seen 11 individual owls, of 4 species, our very own </span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">parliament</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnufIIG75AhxofTrEVVbro19V4Fp303mCj2xVRg6oFNhJliRDDNjrflDqQbIKkpVQTLdvRM66cdhKCL0vCx_V8gaPhimAzZue9v6RwPqGKC7XlQdgUJrEGxTXXEmjCwqndWFovS6wquJQ/s1600/Spotted-Owlet-Baland-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnufIIG75AhxofTrEVVbro19V4Fp303mCj2xVRg6oFNhJliRDDNjrflDqQbIKkpVQTLdvRM66cdhKCL0vCx_V8gaPhimAzZue9v6RwPqGKC7XlQdgUJrEGxTXXEmjCwqndWFovS6wquJQ/s400/Spotted-Owlet-Baland-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8951.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5hlU0zaXDJRSR9g4hmotO1hK_BUj436OAVVTQKJ7oS2mVkNNCfgHg37OO_xTdn1VlJgvbc9rMzXWgtJ27umO_ojznJOOkvYgA5vmEuIHUldv1yFzFNpVRPSSR7dmmxIt10awW-OqI7I/s1600/Spotted-Owlets-Baland-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5hlU0zaXDJRSR9g4hmotO1hK_BUj436OAVVTQKJ7oS2mVkNNCfgHg37OO_xTdn1VlJgvbc9rMzXWgtJ27umO_ojznJOOkvYgA5vmEuIHUldv1yFzFNpVRPSSR7dmmxIt10awW-OqI7I/s400/Spotted-Owlets-Baland-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8981.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci8Xi_6QMh-eVy4FrxTSV1gqeNaWjL3_QWkZitGAo7lEH8d5VtbX_QRC1cBZMmJWgiEApFbx6hz_-stUjCsBWZJw6fCgyS_XbGLd8iHPCSCSXMXv0Ggt5MCiGrPWMmWJN8mP1QuVbjb4/s1600/Dusky-Eagle-Owl-Baland-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1500" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgci8Xi_6QMh-eVy4FrxTSV1gqeNaWjL3_QWkZitGAo7lEH8d5VtbX_QRC1cBZMmJWgiEApFbx6hz_-stUjCsBWZJw6fCgyS_XbGLd8iHPCSCSXMXv0Ggt5MCiGrPWMmWJN8mP1QuVbjb4/s400/Dusky-Eagle-Owl-Baland-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9281.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">Top target was <i style="color: black;">Indian Eagle Owl</i>, which in spite of its large nest betraying recent
breeding activity there, neither adult or pair of chicks were evident during an
extensive search near <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dighal</i></b>. While searching there though,
the easiest owl for the day put in an appearance, with a feisty 'fivesome' of <b><span style="color: red;">Spotted Owlets</span></b> battling each other for
vocal supremacy. Another <i style="color: black;">eagle-owl</i>
had a nest along the very same river too. A huge swarm of wasps clustered
immediately beneath that sticky structure did not bode well for the nest’s
potential within my thoughts, but Sanjay swept such pessimism aside, when he
calmly gestured towards a <span style="color: red;"><b>Dusky
Eagle-Owl</b> </span>quietly sitting alongside both nest and ominous looking swarm. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M2JjppQdXOvTVtC1JOoSddgv3XmFDd3ow5RNoKbiJVVpZZHHGGRPm-AAxvvr9ZHjaQYx77orG4wMKiXjx5mNEZe2ZYejb8WRKGvxuGXoSbf6AozZVbfCInqbTPXtPZQB1kh_E1fslz8/s1600/Painted-Stork-in-flight-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M2JjppQdXOvTVtC1JOoSddgv3XmFDd3ow5RNoKbiJVVpZZHHGGRPm-AAxvvr9ZHjaQYx77orG4wMKiXjx5mNEZe2ZYejb8WRKGvxuGXoSbf6AozZVbfCInqbTPXtPZQB1kh_E1fslz8/s400/Painted-Stork-in-flight-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8408.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVQw3-vyBHcMfAlJ4bDl8heOVedGeRx2nS5qkRnwx9wyHgfupAKFcSE4waBc_BElwSNB6YYFc35yTpcMa7np4YoSoJqcTXWKHbKQGgyHGYFMyhgfodqeEVW_dMMhU2vx9_zyWGErXQ5s/s1600/Black-winged-Stilt-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVQw3-vyBHcMfAlJ4bDl8heOVedGeRx2nS5qkRnwx9wyHgfupAKFcSE4waBc_BElwSNB6YYFc35yTpcMa7np4YoSoJqcTXWKHbKQGgyHGYFMyhgfodqeEVW_dMMhU2vx9_zyWGErXQ5s/s400/Black-winged-Stilt-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8548.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-FxoCgss_5bcZddicOyhDqez3b7UKSKOZyXe1TDlx8mEZciRJQ5DCoHJcLdfFk0ckrr2mQoHUMbIhFZ242P4gBbKSdT2QhTdKlPPUI5Tgv7TqlUQf33eJIZFhB11ibOl5o6zCagLrWg/s1600/Red-naped-Ibises-Baland-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-FxoCgss_5bcZddicOyhDqez3b7UKSKOZyXe1TDlx8mEZciRJQ5DCoHJcLdfFk0ckrr2mQoHUMbIhFZ242P4gBbKSdT2QhTdKlPPUI5Tgv7TqlUQf33eJIZFhB11ibOl5o6zCagLrWg/s400/Red-naped-Ibises-Baland-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9051.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">By
this point, and a dead camera battery later, (following relentless shooting of
wetland birds like <b><span style="color: red;">I</span></b><b><span style="color: red;">ndian Spot-billed
Duck</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">Painted Stork</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">Bar-headed Goose</span></b>, <b style="color: black;">Eurasian Spoonbill</b>, and <b><span style="color: red;">Black-necked Stilt</span></b>), <i style="color: black;">pre-owl hunt</i>, lunch was looming large in
all of our stomachs. Particularly for our driver, who rather belatedly revealed
he had skipped breakfast. India is so bustling with birds, <i style="color: black;">and bird photography opportunities</i>, that the scheduled lunchtime
kept shifting later, not least when a pair of <span style="color: red;"><b>Red-naped Ibis</b> </span>stood calling from a white-washed snag bathed in
gorgeous light for wielders of cameras. The heavy white staining indicating
this was not the first time they had sat there.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFBTt2dreecoHiVo_iOjM74cEF3TJsDoR0S4hD8AS43tjmWMRMbnKtOXBmM9Pe7mMjbGUnB_b8eaYPbwoFtKrqZeLDjsInK0mZ8wXhrAJxaLxvqKVvmZZoLo4HJ5jSWW3NJNEzAFR3b4/s1600/Bar-headed-Goose-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFBTt2dreecoHiVo_iOjM74cEF3TJsDoR0S4hD8AS43tjmWMRMbnKtOXBmM9Pe7mMjbGUnB_b8eaYPbwoFtKrqZeLDjsInK0mZ8wXhrAJxaLxvqKVvmZZoLo4HJ5jSWW3NJNEzAFR3b4/s400/Bar-headed-Goose-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8670.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGP7p7fjTWl3NgTL15fmo10ZOr6pNLp6l2PQKrW7LFalbjkyz_Az1cEla-QYax8tP2DGlU1R_3h44d02tg6ETl4UU5Me_eROGaLWe9mE2MZtA_ugDA4YeH0BtN8vYsHliym5s_EDYmeI/s1600/Indian-Spot-billed-Duck-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGP7p7fjTWl3NgTL15fmo10ZOr6pNLp6l2PQKrW7LFalbjkyz_Az1cEla-QYax8tP2DGlU1R_3h44d02tg6ETl4UU5Me_eROGaLWe9mE2MZtA_ugDA4YeH0BtN8vYsHliym5s_EDYmeI/s400/Indian-Spot-billed-Duck-Dighal-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8562.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">After a tasty local lunch in a worrisome looking
truck stop (‘Delhi belly’ is, after all, a rather too well-used phrase for my liking
in these parts), we were back in the field, and back on the trail of <i style="color: black;">owls</i>. Sanjay, smarting from our earlier
‘dip’ (i.e. miss) of the <i style="color: black;">Indian Eagle-Owl</i>
instructed the driver on a new destination. I dozed in the middle of the day
heat, intermittently waking to see <b><span style="color: red;">I</span></b><b><span style="color: red;">ndian
Rollers</span></b> and other avian brethren adorning dicey looking roadside cablery.
We arrived at <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bhindawas</i></b>, more known for species getting themselves wet than
tree-dwelling birds, but struck out along a bund in pursuit of our pointy-eared
quarry. As we walked the dyke to a given point we passed a party of <b style="color: black;">peacocks</b>, and enjoyed the omnipresent <span style="color: red;"><b>White-throated Kingfisher</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">for about the
dozenth time that day. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDuAM3cw_dZR0yHA2LD65EiD7tly063ys4G8VRyDpvJgDVvlDwJZVvolnOhY0q7SikwkpMbVs97ZTwkp5q5mRaHkHzF51MXpwH4xmU50zaLG4hlfmo0_gNjVKG1tiV-oR9yoA9qysOSs/s1600/White-throated-Kingfisher-Bundawhas-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-SWoods_S9A9379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDuAM3cw_dZR0yHA2LD65EiD7tly063ys4G8VRyDpvJgDVvlDwJZVvolnOhY0q7SikwkpMbVs97ZTwkp5q5mRaHkHzF51MXpwH4xmU50zaLG4hlfmo0_gNjVKG1tiV-oR9yoA9qysOSs/s400/White-throated-Kingfisher-Bundawhas-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-SWoods_S9A9379.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">Having struck out on the bund, we reached the ill-defined
turnaround spot having struck out on the owl too. We swiftly backtracked, with
our minds stridently conscious we had another owl opp. to fit in before the
onset of darkness over Delhi. As I casually soaked in a young <b style="color: black;">Shikra</b> perched in a tall tree, Sanjay
gestured in a very understated fashion to a gnarly tree beside us. On lifting
my binoculars, carefully hidden behind a dark tangle of twigs sat a bird with
two prominent plumed horns on its crown: <b><span style="color: red;">Indian
Eagle-Owl</span></b>. Evidently, we had both walked right past them without us either
noticing them, and a pair of them not flinching at our previous close passage.
However, once cryptic birds know the game is up, following a direct glare in
their eyes; their behaviour changes suddenly, and soon both of them were aloft
in the air on broad, silent wings, and glided their way across the river, but
stopped suddenly, and starkly, in the <i style="color: black;">open</i>.
My new camera battery was tested to the limit in this momentary lapse of bad
fortune with the species.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4l3FCt1jMKnPeKSGguTZyU5nOEJGrH_vUAHPlAzv0Xawv6WWmOcrBA-sWGmajl7_tJNyJnaGBoTaYLn5mypTP8vnST5eeXWvzzRUA925-fQgLqvq4s7OcpCNL4zSRKDxt_50-lrRBOw/s1600/Indian-Roller-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4l3FCt1jMKnPeKSGguTZyU5nOEJGrH_vUAHPlAzv0Xawv6WWmOcrBA-sWGmajl7_tJNyJnaGBoTaYLn5mypTP8vnST5eeXWvzzRUA925-fQgLqvq4s7OcpCNL4zSRKDxt_50-lrRBOw/s400/Indian-Roller-Dighala-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A8448.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">One final, and <i style="color: black;">fourth</i>, <i style="color: black;">owl</i> remained on
our agenda, and for that we needed to return to Sanjay’s home turf, <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sultanpur</i></b>.
The Delhi day was waning, and arguably we were too, but a milky, sweet <i style="color: black;">Masala Chai</i> soon fixed us, and we were
soon bumping our way through the <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sultanpur Flats</i></b>, which are not
perfectly-flat after all. We directed ourselves at one specific tree, but
needed to go neck-deep in a mustard seed field to reach it. We had not even got
in close range of the tree, and were indeed further away than a pair of local
farmers working the crop, when a <b><span style="color: red;">Short-eared
Owl</span></b> lifted out of the dense cover provided by said tree, and flew into
another one bereft of any cover, where it remained for some time. Two
incredibly inconspicuous others remained within the sanctuary of the original
tree until after we left. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMpKJCbaqMdVycb36HN8O8NafC1Vebt8qkW9U-EkHgaRaR9m2X8zqkj_pkOAKLVEl6lmxM8vmcTLqqJCX3-h-0iVA7T7ewsN-MmfR1YoDEoHwr_mUxrljWInP3Zsa7tTbtR6VEVl7Ozk/s1600/Short-eared-Owl-Sultanpur-Flats-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMpKJCbaqMdVycb36HN8O8NafC1Vebt8qkW9U-EkHgaRaR9m2X8zqkj_pkOAKLVEl6lmxM8vmcTLqqJCX3-h-0iVA7T7ewsN-MmfR1YoDEoHwr_mUxrljWInP3Zsa7tTbtR6VEVl7Ozk/s400/Short-eared-Owl-Sultanpur-Flats-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9751.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzyJi6S_GsJEyXU7JwerG6voI6Q5Fi-Fl-CEOgnaYARiCtWIXeTtsWk8SndF9WaB8vZEtSfoLjwgpu2mI8601IbHVyvjm4nLhQv1VmuQJrKBhkcCycUYObdDuxqAH1NREaYnCBaSaUMo/s1600/Yellow-wattled-Lapwing-Sultanour-Flats-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1600" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzyJi6S_GsJEyXU7JwerG6voI6Q5Fi-Fl-CEOgnaYARiCtWIXeTtsWk8SndF9WaB8vZEtSfoLjwgpu2mI8601IbHVyvjm4nLhQv1VmuQJrKBhkcCycUYObdDuxqAH1NREaYnCBaSaUMo/s400/Yellow-wattled-Lapwing-Sultanour-Flats-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9802.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt;">With dusk now imminent, we attempted to leave for the
mega metropolis of <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Delhi</i></b>, conscious of the likely heavy traffic that would try
everything it could to impede our return. However, this country is Hindu
country, where birds are left to roam freely and unhindered, and so they are
there in numbers, and famously tame on this part of the subcontinent, and so we
were also impeded by them in our attempts to bring the curtain down on a
wonderful ‘Delhi Day’; first a party of <span style="color: red;"><b>Yellow-wattled
Lapwings</b> </span>stalked around the car, and then an absurdly confiding <b><span style="color: red;">Hoopoe</span></b> virtually begged us to take its
photo! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xOcVR1_9p7FVjvNCK5zbcgfIbY1-6_VHZZyCuKbPG95AE_QeSD0auGKMbN2hQQnSgC4TgpaRUEy1EpNa1mtPWFsnq988fgPs7HXqmVuBve6-yEb5JoWWhIflvTi5XCpop1_yF9di7LU/s1600/Eurasian-Hoopoe-Sultanpur-Flats-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xOcVR1_9p7FVjvNCK5zbcgfIbY1-6_VHZZyCuKbPG95AE_QeSD0auGKMbN2hQQnSgC4TgpaRUEy1EpNa1mtPWFsnq988fgPs7HXqmVuBve6-yEb5JoWWhIflvTi5XCpop1_yF9di7LU/s400/Eurasian-Hoopoe-Sultanpur-Flats-Haryana-India-9-Feb-2018-Sam-Woods_S9A9833.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>The day had felt like an Indian Summer right in the depth of the country’s winter.</i></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-46266251793194855772017-11-08T06:39:00.000-05:002017-11-08T06:39:01.376-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 7, (18 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Shanks and Saltpans….</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBITgjBLi5oWeXk6Ne3-2VSiMZpfy8xOYNyQhyphenhyphenu2ZVvwUWUxgJcbHkpz0cDhQU0a8Qi4V77pAflYzQBJroRAOYO7BzudRFaXvAcVTnesrj7EqcKA_qaqkAMVbOeZwLC3CyC_sdSFbu0HU/s1600/Bare-shanked-Screech-Owl-El-Establo-Hotel-Costa-Rica-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBITgjBLi5oWeXk6Ne3-2VSiMZpfy8xOYNyQhyphenhyphenu2ZVvwUWUxgJcbHkpz0cDhQU0a8Qi4V77pAflYzQBJroRAOYO7BzudRFaXvAcVTnesrj7EqcKA_qaqkAMVbOeZwLC3CyC_sdSFbu0HU/s400/Bare-shanked-Screech-Owl-El-Establo-Hotel-Costa-Rica-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7344.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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For the penultimate day of the inaugural <b>Costa Rica Bird Challenge</b>, we were still trailing in third
place; <i style="color: black;">just</i>. The first place seemed
won on day one, they were in the dust way ahead of us, the <i style="color: black;">Tucan Ticos</i>, and the <i style="color: black;">Redstart
Wranglers</i>, with whom we had been playing a game of cat-and-mouse all week
long. The race was on, for <i style="color: black;">second</i>
place! This day had potential, like so many of the others, but in a different
way. We knew we were basically spending a day in the dry Pacific Northwest, so
very different from the sweat-inducing humidity we had experienced in Carara,
and subsequently some new birds on the horizon. But, on this day the playing
field could be opened up significantly, by careful scanning of waterbird areas,
where list loading can pay real dividends in a race like this. Every team knew
this, and all had plans shrouded in secrecy. Initially, we merely had to meet
at <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://laensenada.net/">La Ensenada</a></i></b> for a mangrove boat trip
in pursuit of <i style="color: black;">Mangrove Hummingbird</i>,
one of the handful of endemics bound by political boundaries (i.e. only found
in Costa Rica!) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh4iXBwdj4PIWUf4m4GjrTInmiuKg9oSbUfXeRdI13dGR4cVKG5kQhk3i3xbo7IIiEJ2X4T2EXN1KNhBQDPBsNqCwjPDolEBnxdRwJCB2u_Kf8eqPyUwxudU3WrCezD0RtVBbMB89yB4/s1600/R-N-Wren-_S9A7265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTh4iXBwdj4PIWUf4m4GjrTInmiuKg9oSbUfXeRdI13dGR4cVKG5kQhk3i3xbo7IIiEJ2X4T2EXN1KNhBQDPBsNqCwjPDolEBnxdRwJCB2u_Kf8eqPyUwxudU3WrCezD0RtVBbMB89yB4/s400/R-N-Wren-_S9A7265.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Beforehand though, the itinerary was flexible. We headed for
some dry country species along the <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guacimo Road</i></b>, which started out very
promisingly, with a stream of new species of this habitat, like our first <b style="color: black;">Rufous-naped Wrens</b>, <b style="color: black;">Stripe-headed Sparrow</b>, <b style="color: black;">Rose-throated Becard</b>, <b style="color: black;">White-lored Gnatcatcher</b>, <b style="color: black;">Cinnamon Hummingbird</b>, <b style="color: black;">Streak-backed Oriole</b>, and a batch of <b style="color: black;">Black-headed Trogons </b>(our <i style="color: black;">sixth</i> trogon species, with another still
to play for later), as well as another stunning <b style="color: black;">Turquoise-browed Motmot</b>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArCxYNLebSc3cePWhhAwiyVf3YXyGbMI-ftpeHc3zDLHIcGIXKJNRrstvGa-tPBlo54nsrH3TX5MOnNBNCbMBBSNDXaGuM3kggEYY_UKXK-DEw1BjOTGwlXZCw4B9ZAsO-YBM7yUaPXs/s1600/White-throated-Magpie-Jay-Guacima-Road-Costa-Rica-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1249" data-original-width="1600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArCxYNLebSc3cePWhhAwiyVf3YXyGbMI-ftpeHc3zDLHIcGIXKJNRrstvGa-tPBlo54nsrH3TX5MOnNBNCbMBBSNDXaGuM3kggEYY_UKXK-DEw1BjOTGwlXZCw4B9ZAsO-YBM7yUaPXs/s400/White-throated-Magpie-Jay-Guacima-Road-Costa-Rica-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Shortly after setting off in earnest, we
also stopped short to make time for our only <b><span style="color: red;">White-throated Magpie-Jays</span></b> of the challenge, a stunning and
striking species typical of the dry northwest of Costa Rica, where it is positively
abundant in the right habitat. We also stopped to admire some <span style="color: red;"><b>White-fronted Parrots</b></span> framed with a deep blue cerulean sky...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLLISq_WjVvDkwkScEfuth7GjAVf_LFtc2KZSoFt6TLUzwVkyL9yzRoF5pv1rs4af6yqUZX6re8hFOJ6w7gHUyNYdOWV0aUJy4REE9bD8jwmDR6XXTrl7JOo0eirVw3IZR2fNYuULV7g/s1600/White-fronted-Parrot-best-Guacima-Road-Costa-Rica-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1500" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLLISq_WjVvDkwkScEfuth7GjAVf_LFtc2KZSoFt6TLUzwVkyL9yzRoF5pv1rs4af6yqUZX6re8hFOJ6w7gHUyNYdOWV0aUJy4REE9bD8jwmDR6XXTrl7JOo0eirVw3IZR2fNYuULV7g/s400/White-fronted-Parrot-best-Guacima-Road-Costa-Rica-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7229.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">On arrival at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://laensenada.net/en/">La
Ensenada Lodge</a></i></b>, we had some wiggle room before the boat trip to
explore the lodge grounds. First off, a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pacific
Screech-Owl</b> was sitting above the bus on arrival, which you would think we’d
greet with glee. Not so, it was a species we knew we had over the other teams,
and this small advantage had just been wiped away! We set off into the nearby
scrub and quickly found our hoped-for target, the local <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Banded Wren</b>, and also added a calling <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spot-breasted Oriole</b> and a hulking <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Black Hawk</b> too, before our boat trip through the mangroves.
Sadly, no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mangrove Hummingbirds</i> were
evident, and so we docked back and had a wonderful lunch at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La
Ensenada Lodge</i></b>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkRoqC2D0k6xTgR4LX-ZHAeR5vlDqE7ZNDiNPy7eeQTbM8vecgorBIMnuBFOJ9pajC_crPlav9quUqiCM1YpqxbBu20a7c-iumpbDxoNkkKYQ5wZIeXZt91NYkeFAt4PfsdbdztqJR_c/s1600/Royal-FG_S9A7269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkRoqC2D0k6xTgR4LX-ZHAeR5vlDqE7ZNDiNPy7eeQTbM8vecgorBIMnuBFOJ9pajC_crPlav9quUqiCM1YpqxbBu20a7c-iumpbDxoNkkKYQ5wZIeXZt91NYkeFAt4PfsdbdztqJR_c/s400/Royal-FG_S9A7269.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Post-lunch, we had brief walk around the lodge cabins,
and Nik (inevitably) found some bright green <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Orange-fronted Parakeets</b> sitting within a set of bright green
leaves, making them hard to pick out for mere mortals. A <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl</b> tooted nearby, and was also seen. The
afternoon was flexible and a potential gamechanger for the teams and the race.
We all split off and went our different ways in pursuit of waterbirds. We knew
that the nearby Salinas should be good at this hour, with high tide peaking at
the time, and it was in terms of numbers, but the variety disappointed us. In spite
of thousands of waterbirds, only one non-breeding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red Knot</b> was new for us among the throng of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Western Sandpipers</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Semipalmated,
Wilson’s, Black-bellied, and Collared Plovers</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sanderling</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Short-billed
Dowitchers</b>. Of course, on any other day, this would have been a place to
spend hours combing the shorebirds and taking in this awesome sight, which it
was, but with new species the objective, we needed to scan and move on. We
hoped the mangroves would work out better, as I have seen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mangrove Cuckoo, Mangrove Hummingbird, and Northern Scrub Flycatcher</i>
in this set of them before. However, we drew a blank there. Our one respite from
a shameful lack of additions, was a low flying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hook-billed Kite</b> that glided across the pans, and was a stellar
addition to the list. Finally, with feelings of opportunities lost, we had to
start our drive into a very different area indeed, the cloudforests of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monteverde</i></b>.
On arrival at our hotel, the sprawling <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.elestablo.com/">Hotel El
Establo</a></i></b>, we quickly added layers of clothing as the chill of the
mountains hit us sharply, and tried at dusk for </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Bare-shanked Screech-Owl </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">on the grounds, with one being heard,
and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mottled Owl</b> also called from
the same area. After dinner with the other teams, where it was revealed we were
still rooted in third spot, the two other teams went off in search of the
screech-owl. I joined up with the leading team and champions in waiting, the
Tico Tickers, and went off in search of the owl. On reaching the site though,
we found that the Redstart Wranglers had usurped us, and had not only got there
earlier, but had seen the owl well and were already leaving! The pressure was
on. Luckily, a quick burst of playback later, and the same owl returned our
call, and quickly flew onto a mossy branch above us, where it challenged us all
to take photos. We all duly obliged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: orange;"><i>One more morning of the challenge remained to try and rise one place in the standings...a tense night lie ahead, with missing species swirling around in my head!</i></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-43842554283759944322017-10-29T15:15:00.002-05:002017-10-29T15:15:33.271-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 6, (17 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Fiery start to our time in the Pacific…</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HZYas2kvXy7UDhMSiF2vj-XaqbVoCd3ICYElefCAF_sExKCJGjNZzOqkep2or8XFU1WIAvcOX-u48WxEMv9C0WJKzUj806HXaD8l05qHn4HAoQqyKd6cb3lX6EXLoN4xWpN9aCgTHzw/s1600/Fiery-billed-Aracari-Macaw-Lodge-Carara-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1600" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HZYas2kvXy7UDhMSiF2vj-XaqbVoCd3ICYElefCAF_sExKCJGjNZzOqkep2or8XFU1WIAvcOX-u48WxEMv9C0WJKzUj806HXaD8l05qHn4HAoQqyKd6cb3lX6EXLoN4xWpN9aCgTHzw/s400/Fiery-billed-Aracari-Macaw-Lodge-Carara-18-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The annals of birding have oft stated that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara
National Park</i></b>, located on the Central Pacific, is one of the best of
all the birding hotspots in Costa Rica, but why you might ask? While the
Caribbean side of the mountains is rather uniform in regards to avifauna north
to south, the same cannot be said of the Pacific, where the north is
considerably drier than the humid southern belt of that side. Birders tend to
center their attentions more on the southern side of this, as it holds more
specialties, but why can you not have your cake and eat it too?! Well, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara</i></b>
allows just that, sitting in the transition zone where both of these important
biomes collide, it allows a mixed list of species from both zones by locating
yourself at but one lodge, if you so wish. On this challenge/bird race, we
covered both in a flash, starting here in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara</i></b> for a taste of Central and
south Pacific birds, before heading into the north Pacific, if only for a brief
spell, at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Ensenada</i></b>, to give us the best of both avian worlds. We began
with a walk around the immediate property of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Macaw Lodge</i></b>, and while <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">macaws</i> did not feature, the clear
quality of birding available in our brief walk was proven by species like a
male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Baird’s Trogon</b>, a handful of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Charming Hummingbirds</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blue-throated Goldentail</b>. However, the
drive down from the lodge was when things really heated up, when German spotted
an avian ember sitting within a roadside <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cecropia</i>,
the bus was quickly halted, and we were all soon soaking up a fabulous </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Fiery-billed
Aracari</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, a specialty
of the south Pacific, (here at the northern edge of its range). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwj_uVxoNqqP1Vz-cDjFRL577OjRKmlU5Hr5CZv5Th15fcbm6MUhnEQDTcInZpRwnC8QrKm_l8AAQQvMAelU_gQJxKDoduieq2AaTUPumQjcobcmKpamlFXo72dEBUr3E1qtNg_aISiI/s1600/Fiery-billed-Aracari-SURF-Macaw-Lodge-Road-Carara-area-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="900" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwj_uVxoNqqP1Vz-cDjFRL577OjRKmlU5Hr5CZv5Th15fcbm6MUhnEQDTcInZpRwnC8QrKm_l8AAQQvMAelU_gQJxKDoduieq2AaTUPumQjcobcmKpamlFXo72dEBUr3E1qtNg_aISiI/s400/Fiery-billed-Aracari-SURF-Macaw-Lodge-Road-Carara-area-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6974.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">While both other teams headed in earnest for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara
National Park</i></b>, which would only seem natural, we tried something
different, a gamble of sorts. We knew that the tide favored a coastal stop in
the morning, and so we headed to the mouth of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tarcoles River</i></b>, while
others set off into the forest instead. Here, we were hoping for a flood of
waterbirds to pad the list, but also to indulge in some mangrove species, that
may be difficult come by during our later planned boat trip for such birds in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La
Ensenada</i></b>. Some birds are simply easier with feet planted firmly on the
ground. But here, is where one of my slips will haunt me until the end of
days…German was busy with the ‘scope searching through the wetland species for
the correct wetland species, i.e. ones that would plug gaping gaps on our birds
list. He soon homed in on just such a species, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Roseate Spoonbill</i></b>, and
things were looking rosy indeed. But then I made a gaff. Even though I was
closest to German, and therefore could have locked that bird on the list
swiftly (for someone other than our local guide was required to see/hear the
bird for it to be valid), I chose to continue focusing on the trickier mangrove
birds, leaving the spoonbill for Tim, Niklas and Beltran to count. They were,
after all, only a few steps behind. However, that was soon found to be a few
steps too many, as the normally lacsidazical <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Roseate Spoonbill</i> took flight, and never appeared on the bird race
again, and so never made it on to our, or any other bird list. And following
the final, tiny margin of loss, this was to be a grave mistake indeed. Such
things make or break a bird race of this nature, and you could say I learnt
something invaluable that day! Our mangrove time did eventually pay off with both
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Panama Flycatcher</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mangrove Vireo</b>, the latter of which
took its merry time to reveal its presence in the area. We then shot off to a
little-known area in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Orotina</i></b>, where a certain guide
called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alve</i> is getting a growing
reputation for being able to deliver some of the trickier species of the area
in record time. We were visiting to hope to catch up on a daytime <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spectacled Owl</i>, which both other teams
had hanging over us like the Sword of Damocles, as well as other avian stuff
like </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Lesser
Ground-Cuckoo</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Pacific Screech-Owl</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Barn Owl</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, and more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YNsbaxF1Ttwt3oq2i4l6yLrZpD9ZVGmq9n1IGqjAcJEhtx3NssJ1JY8sX3O3fd5PocviL2r2jpaGOD7sSiV5MMhy0DQS4DDCYbIlHOCIB4bOMSa0fprY4czQ7MtpcqUIfFd8_9FC_CY/s1600/Crane-Hawk-Tarcoles-Costa-Rica-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YNsbaxF1Ttwt3oq2i4l6yLrZpD9ZVGmq9n1IGqjAcJEhtx3NssJ1JY8sX3O3fd5PocviL2r2jpaGOD7sSiV5MMhy0DQS4DDCYbIlHOCIB4bOMSa0fprY4czQ7MtpcqUIfFd8_9FC_CY/s400/Crane-Hawk-Tarcoles-Costa-Rica-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji3TvBmC3Li6CMbtEQsmlijpBiBBH8_oDR2cGME22TwMJ53imGPKz_uGvG5ECN2qCa49Sji4MWwznrZ8e-M7tSzpddc_hQbmAcdObBVM9fTT7ZV_nL7Y17SIEq3pewSRf-jMfOLZgCMs/s1600/Spintytail-Iguana-juvenile-Tarcoles-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="977" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiji3TvBmC3Li6CMbtEQsmlijpBiBBH8_oDR2cGME22TwMJ53imGPKz_uGvG5ECN2qCa49Sji4MWwznrZ8e-M7tSzpddc_hQbmAcdObBVM9fTT7ZV_nL7Y17SIEq3pewSRf-jMfOLZgCMs/s400/Spintytail-Iguana-juvenile-Tarcoles-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7058.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">We started off with the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ground-cuckoo</i>, but we knew with limited time this could be the make
or break bird for our time on site, where this was likely to drain time when
least needed. After a nervy time, when the bird remained all but mute, it
suddenly flapped lazily into a thicket, then creeped out into the open, where
it froze for a period! The next search was not quite what we had hoped; in
spite of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spectacled Owl</i> having
been present the previous afternoon, it could not be found anywhere (although <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Long-tailed Manakin</b> was found in its
place), and we had to reluctantly accept defeat on another day roost owl search
for the day (we had also tried for and failed to find <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black-and-white Owl</i> in its traditional haunts around <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tarcoles,</i></b>
but were at least compensated for this with first another skillfully piece of
spotting by Niklas of a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Crane Hawk</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ferruginous Owl </b>too). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu8crUT_iPAseD4RLQnUYzwJbjV2Mo5sARackCZ_py1GuOEaTZeUCZqtqUeIRKn83Js-MS9xcAvoJFGiIF75zSF7P060a0Du3Qprd_FIBvGB3fOyUm9ylbgVBz-I2D4js0zNKVYUN5SA/s1600/L-G-Cuckoo_S9A7101+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfu8crUT_iPAseD4RLQnUYzwJbjV2Mo5sARackCZ_py1GuOEaTZeUCZqtqUeIRKn83Js-MS9xcAvoJFGiIF75zSF7P060a0Du3Qprd_FIBvGB3fOyUm9ylbgVBz-I2D4js0zNKVYUN5SA/s400/L-G-Cuckoo_S9A7101+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Next up, we went off in search of yet another owl, and this one proved simple,
a pair of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Pacific Screech-Owls</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">were seen perched nonchalantly above a
busy roadside. From one owl to the next, we ventured on to the location of an
old rusty barn, the likes of which are vital roosting and nesting sites for the
next bird to join our list, the humble </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Barn Owl</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">. This was followed a short time later with a triple pack
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Double-striped Thick-Knees</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzy4Kh2tLR0ow_tcMTWugNgzsludisybJX2jJyzND9zPF7uYt0zi0s-QdD0H-DMq7ApZE87ep7TOaSJIa2U9r3Whyphenhyphenm29fWjLrKTBzHthbeEoijgAuUOC9nJpdbVaxkyYmi-FGsqTbcHk/s1600/Pacific-Screech-Owl-Orotina-Costa-Rica-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="970" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzy4Kh2tLR0ow_tcMTWugNgzsludisybJX2jJyzND9zPF7uYt0zi0s-QdD0H-DMq7ApZE87ep7TOaSJIa2U9r3Whyphenhyphenm29fWjLrKTBzHthbeEoijgAuUOC9nJpdbVaxkyYmi-FGsqTbcHk/s400/Pacific-Screech-Owl-Orotina-Costa-Rica-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7111.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFNKbpYqMe9ht12Pfo8HNgcBKaYZKbSdGFWCwWKiEd3RrQK4F58N1ZAPAwiUzOgrfZGSxnf-MOd1B9NU-NNdvbRPgHUZYaZhL9n_FtxeFUHHULBJhyphenhyphen3QfT4oBNzdEqWInYIPd__UxLfg/s1600/Barn-Owl-Orotina-Costa-Rica-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1088" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFNKbpYqMe9ht12Pfo8HNgcBKaYZKbSdGFWCwWKiEd3RrQK4F58N1ZAPAwiUzOgrfZGSxnf-MOd1B9NU-NNdvbRPgHUZYaZhL9n_FtxeFUHHULBJhyphenhyphen3QfT4oBNzdEqWInYIPd__UxLfg/s400/Barn-Owl-Orotina-Costa-Rica-17-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A7121.jpg" width="271" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">After meeting for lunch with the other teams, it was hard
to get the lie of the land, due to a little caginess, but it felt like the
morning in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara</i></b> had not been an eventful one, and so we were still
gambling on our afternoon time in the forest. Good natured <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jonathan Meyrav</i>, in the clearly leading team by this point, was
helpful enough to tip us off on a fruitful trail to try though (although it
turned out this was the same trail that our guide was already aiming for).
After fueling up on rice, beans, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lizano sauce</i></b>, we were again ready
for the field, and Jonathan’s trail tip soon looked like a winner, when German
spotted a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spot-crowned Euphonia</b>
at the trailhead, and moments after we whistled in a fantastic <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Streak-chested Antpitta</b> that gave looks
I would really appreciate on my next tour of the area please! Forest trail work
is always a little tough, especially within primary forest that was largely
what we were in that afternoon, but slowly but surely, we plucked new species
out of the air, including <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous Piha</b>,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-breasted Wren</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-capped Manakin</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Barred Antshrike</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Shrike-Vireo</b>, and our first <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">look</i> at a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bicolored Antbird</b>.
However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara</i></b> will perhaps best be remembered among the group for
something that slithered across the paved path towards the end of our walk;
boldly patterned with exes along its side, there was no mistaking the region’s
deadliest snake: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Central American Fer-de-Lance</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Cw8b_BryKTkEPaPVugIKXV2q6lA8l_ak4B7A9d5fEr1rW9XCmUlDTDP5WfN9fW8xsS6H6RH_UczXv_7KJIgzPvcqrVBvslhIQbFWN3WFGTZylp4WPjBp_kOtHNEDO_LifPNzWYaeyE/s1600/Fer-de-lance-_S9A7151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4Cw8b_BryKTkEPaPVugIKXV2q6lA8l_ak4B7A9d5fEr1rW9XCmUlDTDP5WfN9fW8xsS6H6RH_UczXv_7KJIgzPvcqrVBvslhIQbFWN3WFGTZylp4WPjBp_kOtHNEDO_LifPNzWYaeyE/s400/Fer-de-lance-_S9A7151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The latter part of the afternoon was
spent scanning from the road up to Cerro Lodge, where we quickly found some of
the hoped-for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stripe-headed Sparrows</b>,
got several <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scarlet Macaws</b> as they
flew lethargically to roost, and also picked up a handful of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-naped Parrots</b> too from our
vantage point. One more look around <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tarcoles</i></b> again failed to find/hear <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black-and-white Owl</i>, and so we had to
accept a handful of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Nighthawks</b>
as a substitute, before impending darkness drew us back to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Macaw Lodge</i></b> for a final
night’s stay…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/visitcostarica?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">visitcostarica</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/costaricabirdchallenge?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">costaricabirdchallenge</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/costaricabirding?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">costaricabirding</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/futuropa?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt; text-decoration: none;">futuropa</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".sfnstext-regular" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #ffc000;">The
next day, the legendary Monteverde area awaited our arrival…<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-15310773850754242892017-10-26T17:19:00.000-05:002017-10-26T17:19:05.940-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 5, (16 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Quetzal Time!</span></b></div>
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This autumn, Costa Rica had lived through a big storm
that actually affected the mountains more than the coast, and so this day had
been rejigged, so we get some of those mountain birds that were now cut off
from us at their more traditional <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Talalamanca Mountain</i></b> haunts (i.e. <i style="color: black;">Savegre</i>). Instead, we traveled to <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraz%C3%BA_Volcano_National_Park">Irazu
National Park</a></i></b>, making our first stop for a tiny hummingbird perched
on a wire that materialized into a gorgeous male <b style="color: black;">Scintillant Hummingbird</b> once we had our ‘nocs on it. A wonderful
opening. This was followed not long later with a highland classic, a group of <b style="color: black;">Long-tailed Silky-Flycatchers</b>, which
brought excitement all round; it’s a bit of a looker! We steadily added
highland species that we knew well today provided our only access too; playing
a <i style="color: black;">Costa Rican Pygmy Owl</i> tape failed
(as usual), with said owl, but did bring in the rather handsome <b style="color: black;">Fiery-throated Hummingbird</b>, my real
intention of playing the call! </div>
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Playing this call also irritated some of the
local <b style="color: black;">Flame-throated Warblers</b>, which
were only too thrilled to see, a powder blue warbler with a glowing ember where
its throat should be! A pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Black-capped
Flycatchers</span> </b>also showed in the same area. As we continued climbing the road
and making short stops, we added some tame <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Sooty-capped Chlorospinguses</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, and then were met with the sight of
the other team buses parked at the side of the road in the fashion that implied
something big had just gone down; and it had. The front driver had spotted the
emerald form of a male </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Resplendent Quetzal</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">and brought traffic to a halt, while
our cameras and brains went into overdrive at seeing one of the World’s most
beautiful bird forms. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrvaevUCAqxe5-A0Sd0DJgOQxN5pr3bgEFtSD9IaULbxA7HJXXyxNaeKUo3s6NN6_n75cIeh0zLzEpfokyC0ooF3twnqq3sx_DJIZdleWVEXuXbcf9mEmZIc0jgTkkzx5XNk3upT8gb4/s1600/Sooty-capped-Chlorospingus-Irazu-NP-area-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrvaevUCAqxe5-A0Sd0DJgOQxN5pr3bgEFtSD9IaULbxA7HJXXyxNaeKUo3s6NN6_n75cIeh0zLzEpfokyC0ooF3twnqq3sx_DJIZdleWVEXuXbcf9mEmZIc0jgTkkzx5XNk3upT8gb4/s400/Sooty-capped-Chlorospingus-Irazu-NP-area-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6903.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">After admiring this scintillating male, with its wispy
emeralds green feathers lifting up gently in the wind behind him for a while,
we set off for the crater at the top, which held two species in particular only
possible there – </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Volcano Junco</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, which was waiting by the parking lot for us to arrive, and a pair of
feisty <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Timberline Wrens</b> bounced around
the thicker scrub surrounding the enormous crater at the apex of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Irazu</span></i></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, which afforded some scenic shots of note, and also led us to another
regional endemic, the strangely named <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Large-footed
Finch</b>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-73mZmL8II3aRnFLEP9TTBPc39cwmR79WQ__A7zbwz92qtzP7mz5FTBH3cKddISvMDfxY1dR2jRzIZxpuxaarHhxWtD3ja9e8glU5gbNSqlOc91ZcRkEnHQw443Ux-v9cqPEu3GjnMWk/s1600/Volcano-Junco-Volcan-Irazu-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1600" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-73mZmL8II3aRnFLEP9TTBPc39cwmR79WQ__A7zbwz92qtzP7mz5FTBH3cKddISvMDfxY1dR2jRzIZxpuxaarHhxWtD3ja9e8glU5gbNSqlOc91ZcRkEnHQw443Ux-v9cqPEu3GjnMWk/s400/Volcano-Junco-Volcan-Irazu-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6830.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">We also tracked down our first <b>Sooty Thrushes </b>there too, and too time out from all things avian (honestly I can do that), to admire the incredible views at the top...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sjONSEsSknqHpJugIMb1dKP_VA-XA-h2MBRMCTUCDuG-v4HwOVVNDRoQfUh0UQloh4JCQmCet2sZdXA930mMAOCkT2jrsQhLAjzmEbLWPZJVteVBHwjON0sGiWDd0huAowTwPd7eLHE/s1600/Tucan-Ticos-Team-Irazu-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sjONSEsSknqHpJugIMb1dKP_VA-XA-h2MBRMCTUCDuG-v4HwOVVNDRoQfUh0UQloh4JCQmCet2sZdXA930mMAOCkT2jrsQhLAjzmEbLWPZJVteVBHwjON0sGiWDd0huAowTwPd7eLHE/s400/Tucan-Ticos-Team-Irazu-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3984.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: red;">(Team Tucan Ticos post-Quetzal and Junco, which I was proud to be part of)</span></i></b></div>
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After a fortuitous meeting with a local birder that German knew, we dropped back down on news of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Costa Rican Pygmy Owl</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">having been not only seen, but
photographed at close range moments earlier. This gentleman (sorry, I do not
know his name), kindly drove us straight to the bridge, where team two, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Redstart Wranglers</i> were already there,
but were not aware of the recent owl sighting. A short period of playback
later, and the rusty colored owl flew in and landed for all to see. Mission
accomplished for one of the highlands more difficult species. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-winged Vireo</b>, some confiding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acorn Woodpeckers</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spot-crowned Woodcreeper</b>, were all also
seen during the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyizKpGq8EGT5wcYgIeIS87riDrraRFlp1j55ErAYIL-GNu5dsahWWdFz30lWxGgmR54D6i16zwIKy2yzFrd4GaCbqJQOwpuXhpEgRU3vaW3lY3aJy5lY9xgGl4oNxgSvaojTydLyxWQ/s1600/Costa-Rican-Pygmy-Owl-Irazu-NP-area-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1200" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiyizKpGq8EGT5wcYgIeIS87riDrraRFlp1j55ErAYIL-GNu5dsahWWdFz30lWxGgmR54D6i16zwIKy2yzFrd4GaCbqJQOwpuXhpEgRU3vaW3lY3aJy5lY9xgGl4oNxgSvaojTydLyxWQ/s400/Costa-Rican-Pygmy-Owl-Irazu-NP-area-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6865.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Following lunch, we had another lengthy drive to
somewhere entirely different, we dropped down onto the other side of the
mountains and then up to a lodge in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific
lowlands</i>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.macawlodge.com/">Macaw Lodge</a></i></b>, as it
lies within the heart of the range of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Scarlet
Macaw</i>. The journey time allowed for few stops on the way, once in the
Pacific lowlands, but we did add <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tawny-winged
Woodcreeper</b>, a glowing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesson’s
Motmot</b> lurking in the understorey, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-hooded
Antshrike</b>, before arriving at the lodge. A post-dinner walk, to look <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for Spectacled and Black-and-white Owls</i>
failed on both fronts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ffc000;">Next stop Carara…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-44606973799635376172017-10-26T01:40:00.000-05:002017-10-26T01:54:21.594-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 4, (15 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Rancho Naturalista to Crested Owl; a day for
the ages…</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDrmcbWrbkIUMYI1RYPNmFkxNQPkIzmA-85vc39MAkhem-jNXOPF_PE5itjdpAixsz-p3JNzAA9ZllIqALHf5hfXJPveDCqbAUEO_u6a8aBuxY5CLa147TzJCw3IO27eTgT7QuYc-CnA/s1600/Crested-Owl-Casa-Turire-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="879" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDrmcbWrbkIUMYI1RYPNmFkxNQPkIzmA-85vc39MAkhem-jNXOPF_PE5itjdpAixsz-p3JNzAA9ZllIqALHf5hfXJPveDCqbAUEO_u6a8aBuxY5CLa147TzJCw3IO27eTgT7QuYc-CnA/s320/Crested-Owl-Casa-Turire-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6605.jpg" width="187" /></a><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">I have to admit having earmarked this day for something pretty
special before arriving in Costa Rica, and I approached it with a little extra
excitement to some of the others, no offence to the other excellent sites
meant. However, “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rancho</i></b>” is a bit of a birding legend. The lodge is run by a
birder, the supreme host of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lisa Erb</i></b>, and has a team of
excellent bird guides right on site. I knew one of them from my brief time here
last February, and was quick to secure the services of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Harry Barnard</i></b> for this
day. His hearing skills, spotting skills and guiding skills are superb. I can
honestly say I have not experienced such accurate descriptions of where a bird
is hidden within a mass of tropical leaves better from anyone else. He carried
no laser pointer, and did not require one either!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDks9RbGNoVEP1mxJ4E5knd-yJDX5lBoq3ip02jYTEsoDRWqxb9ZqTM_dLZVg1sS4kH3XyoeXXWGImIlp_32nbWfNj1_FsHQ1uJhefiNiwCJQxzpXDGp4i6JrS5kq5mDuwTngiXkWm1k/s1600/Green-breasted-Mango-female-Rancho-Naturalista-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDks9RbGNoVEP1mxJ4E5knd-yJDX5lBoq3ip02jYTEsoDRWqxb9ZqTM_dLZVg1sS4kH3XyoeXXWGImIlp_32nbWfNj1_FsHQ1uJhefiNiwCJQxzpXDGp4i6JrS5kq5mDuwTngiXkWm1k/s400/Green-breasted-Mango-female-Rancho-Naturalista-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6556.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The first few hours of the day were spent birding the
grounds close to the lodge, and with the considerable aid of Harry, we had
chalked up <b style="color: black;">120 species</b> or so in a few
hours before we left there, including some special ones indeed: <b style="color: black;">Tawny-chested Flycatcher</b>, <b style="color: black;">Snowcap</b>, <b style="color: black;">Black-crested Coquette</b>, a lonely <b style="color: black;">Green Thorntail</b>, <b><span style="color: red;">White-necked Jacobin</span></b>, <b style="color: black;">Violet-headed
Hummingbird</b>, several <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Green-breasted Mangos</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, great looks at a tubby <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tawny-throated Leaftosser</b> (a bird that simply oozes character in
spite of being largely brown in colour); <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-olive
Woodpecker, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Carmiol’s Tanager</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dull-mantled
Antnbirds</b> were also heard calling from deep down below calling from a wet
gully, while the taunting calls of the always difficult to see <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thicket Antpitta</b> echoed down to us from
the slopes above. A landmark moment also came when we finally nailed down our
first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House Wren</b> of the challenge
(quite belatedly for such a common species!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx_X4gpD3oIky5f6T6qQzVSaroQFK1eREcBjgYc43KRrs-TqrR83oSfmrIrI2yNP6bnk9AfP0_U2dXX2OtB5QfoLpjloy2UiOPDMkvtMeiqu-T1Op4bK_WLspKYmB8Nrrxw9BvYAR0YA/s1600/White-necked-Jacobin-Rancho-Naturalista-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx_X4gpD3oIky5f6T6qQzVSaroQFK1eREcBjgYc43KRrs-TqrR83oSfmrIrI2yNP6bnk9AfP0_U2dXX2OtB5QfoLpjloy2UiOPDMkvtMeiqu-T1Op4bK_WLspKYmB8Nrrxw9BvYAR0YA/s400/White-necked-Jacobin-Rancho-Naturalista-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6517.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
After reluctantly leaving <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://ranchonaturalista.net/">Rancho Naturalista</a></i></b> behind,
(but fortunately not <i style="color: black;">Harry</i> who lent
his ears and eyes to us for the entire day), we set off for the <b><i><span style="color: red;">Tuis
Valley</span></i></b>, with two particular targets in mind, a <b style="color: black;">Sunbittern</b> hiding among the boulders of the river, and the rare <b style="color: black;">Lanceolated Monklet</b> in the riverside
forest, a very tough bird in this country. The first bird proved straightforward;
in spite of the forest seeming deathly quiet, a <b style="color: black;">Sunbittern</b> showed, and due to the tenacity of a fellow team in the
same area, the <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Redstart Wranglers</i></b>, we all got to enjoy long, long looks at the
cute <b style="color: black;">Lanceolated Monklet</b> too, before
we all left for <b style="color: black;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://elcopal.org/">El Copal</a></i></b>, another area of
excellent foothill forest not far from Rancho.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-kAYhOysCiTOUJPT62tmfanHwbcpHRpBXJiGbuLMYOvZp8J2BVuEK_1pIb41N2dklDN0tBYpLwrjvsxMxXrlowb_krTehBfSrGeG6GIY0OuNwlx0oGVJapbwpluf8htXkxyM7mogdIA/s1600/Tuis-Valley-near-Rancho-Costya-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-kAYhOysCiTOUJPT62tmfanHwbcpHRpBXJiGbuLMYOvZp8J2BVuEK_1pIb41N2dklDN0tBYpLwrjvsxMxXrlowb_krTehBfSrGeG6GIY0OuNwlx0oGVJapbwpluf8htXkxyM7mogdIA/s400/Tuis-Valley-near-Rancho-Costya-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3955.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">After narrowly making it up the dirt road to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://elcopal.org/">El Copal</a></i></b>, we quickly ate and launched
off into the forest, knowing that our few hours on site might feel like barely
enough, even in the potentially worst part of the day in the tropics – early afternoon.
However, this trail and this reserve bucked that trend, and we enjoyed a near
constant stream of birds, and ended up virtually having to run back to the bus
to fit in one more site before dark. Flocks were quite active, and we got lots
of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-and-yellow and</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Emerald Tanagers</b> (no exaggeration), got
see well males of both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-ruffed and White-crowned
Manakins</b>, got looks at both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Song
Wren</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bicolored Antbird</b> (but
could not set eyes on the calling <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spotted
Antbirds</b> in the same area unfortunately due to severe time constraints
leading us away), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tawny-capped and White-vented
Euphonias</b>, a glowing male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-winged
Tanager</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-headed Barbet</b>, and
the rare <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-browed Tyrannulet</b>
were all also seen. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-breasted
Wood-Quails </b>however, approached very close and nearly deafened us with
their raucous calls, but never broke cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HQWFtt6T2cW2VO72Y50HyDSm7mgyMyzgYNrx_63sxqHO7K6CbGc-EnWhnXVb1-9Im2IrAon837KJVA0ithuMnsKn932L8RlyI6HJyyuJcVUA2W7k1CtTG1mkx9HmNq_g8jPwCnOu-xQ/s1600/Tropical-Screech-Owl-Casa-Turire-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1600" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HQWFtt6T2cW2VO72Y50HyDSm7mgyMyzgYNrx_63sxqHO7K6CbGc-EnWhnXVb1-9Im2IrAon837KJVA0ithuMnsKn932L8RlyI6HJyyuJcVUA2W7k1CtTG1mkx9HmNq_g8jPwCnOu-xQ/s400/Tropical-Screech-Owl-Casa-Turire-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6571.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The reason we ended up rushing around the trail quicker
that we’d have liked to, was not because we had far to go, or that the birding
was bad, quite the contrary; but because the hotel we were heading for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.hotelcasaturire.com/">Casa Truire</a></i></b> is home to a
large wetland, which could provide some serious list loading of waterbirds that
we may not have time for elsewhere on the bird race. We simply had to make it
there with light to spare. We made it there in the nick of time, avoided
checking in to give us the time needed, and jogged down to the lake edge.
Several <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prothonotary Warblers</b> in the
trees beside the dock were a nice start, as were wild <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Muscovy Ducks</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snail Kites</b>,
the call of our first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-throated
Crake</b>, and news from another group of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Limpkin</b> around the corner, which was soon located along with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Least Grebe</b>, and better still <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Least Bittern</b>. One of the last birds of
daylight was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Russet-naped Wood-Rail</b>
strutting across the lakeside trail, and several <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pauraques</b> lifting off the forest path. However, the day was not
over. Following a rather extravagant dinner, we set out for nightbirds, and
very quickly were being glared at by an unhappy looking </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Tropical
Screech-Owl</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">. We then
ran into the leading team (led by local guide <b><i>Diego Quesada</i></b>), who very kindly showed us a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Crested Owl</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">(adult
and juvenile) they had just found, to round off what was anticipated to be one
of the better days of the tour, and surpassed expectations, with just under 200
species recorded for our team on this day.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPhHLR2TyBPjXaRR2XMFPJxLuO7qkUHCYtXhGLlr6vWDi4QFcuc1ctQ9L4w-8yfpsABebyXWNw45tJ3Z_NvdKddScgqFu_LwK0npjNIkcILBjYd2eh5vA_UJ5osih73HopL36ZyoYAo4/s1600/Crested-Owl-juvenile-Casa-Truire-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1214" data-original-width="1500" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPhHLR2TyBPjXaRR2XMFPJxLuO7qkUHCYtXhGLlr6vWDi4QFcuc1ctQ9L4w-8yfpsABebyXWNw45tJ3Z_NvdKddScgqFu_LwK0npjNIkcILBjYd2eh5vA_UJ5osih73HopL36ZyoYAo4/s400/Crested-Owl-juvenile-Casa-Truire-Costa-Rica-15-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6608.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ffc000;">The next day was to be very different
indeed, with a visit to the endemic rich highlands to start, and ending on the
other, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pacific</i>, side of the mountains.
Just outside <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Carara National Park</i>…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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-->Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-76023591236335882182017-10-25T22:26:00.001-05:002017-10-25T22:26:13.853-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 3, (14 Oct 2017)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Raptors Galore, and Owl provides opening gambit
at Rancho…</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-soEQw-qaMrJ4g70YnFWvlE3EHex_AfcbZIh3h7kg58OC1J-27F8UmaGM-7258HBIvoZh0D0sZWod6aJZHwPywaiseYfOr-sn9Fb4t1VN9njcbLhxrHvBSyUjzRVlmq9aYxBB3T15zo/s1600/Double-toothed-Kite-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-soEQw-qaMrJ4g70YnFWvlE3EHex_AfcbZIh3h7kg58OC1J-27F8UmaGM-7258HBIvoZh0D0sZWod6aJZHwPywaiseYfOr-sn9Fb4t1VN9njcbLhxrHvBSyUjzRVlmq9aYxBB3T15zo/s320/Double-toothed-Kite-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6373.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Today, we continued the challenge by staying within the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Caribbean lowlands and foothills</i>.
Initially, we walked around the property of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.selvabananito.com/home/">Selva Bananito Lodge</a></i></b>,
with a 4am start for night birds. Unfortunately, all this produced was the same
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Potoo</b> we had crossed two
rivers for, and sweated for the night before, now propping itself just above
the lodge, and calling regularly ensuring every team had it by breakfast! A
calling <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Central American Pygmy-Owl</b>,
a curiously difficult bird throughout it wide range, was what we were really
hoping for, and, in spite of the bird tooting away above us at close range, we
simply could not see it in the half light of dawn. Still, a heard counted, and
it made it on to the challenge list. The brevity of the walk around the
property, unsurprisingly provided little new (as we did not have timer to reach
the richer primary forest), aside from a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-winged
Becard</b>, and the tragic news that another team had photographed a lifebird
for me in a tree we had staked out for it too to add to the anguish: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Red-fronted Parrotlet</i>, for which this
must be one of the best sites in the country.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM0zaLn9F_Qq-DqN7oTP9bYmLENVXv91zNz1Le3ggWbIb-kkrbHVyB1G_QYZvnVv2XCGsfkEQ40OoEuclzIZcBjYgFDlCHrm94q0hxURR47UCXu5lUeKFpqIQje7qlIjtRaD9-V9M4ko/s1600/Kekoldi+Hawk+Watch+Costa+Rica+14+Oct+2017+Sam+WoodsIMG_3936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM0zaLn9F_Qq-DqN7oTP9bYmLENVXv91zNz1Le3ggWbIb-kkrbHVyB1G_QYZvnVv2XCGsfkEQ40OoEuclzIZcBjYgFDlCHrm94q0hxURR47UCXu5lUeKFpqIQje7qlIjtRaD9-V9M4ko/s400/Kekoldi+Hawk+Watch+Costa+Rica+14+Oct+2017+Sam+WoodsIMG_3936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Next stop was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kekoldi-Hawkwatch/185954384758350">Kekoldi
Hawk Watch</a></i></b>, which was superb. From the tower, we observed thousands
of raptors making their way south for thee, mostly <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Broad-winged Hawks</b>, but also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mississippi
Kites, Merlins, Peregrines</b>, a single <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-tailed
Hawk</b>, a handful of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Swainson’s Hawks</b>
too, and even a few late moving <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Swallow-tailed
Kites</b>, one of the most elegant of all the American raptors. We also got <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-billed Cuckoo</b>, and several migrant
warblers from there too, while standing above the level of the surrounding
rainforest. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2qA2jieY1nelyLieoMUZ1Cosr10qoW5jN5wtRsRnQtBpys-JrBoSmx5kF4WDNHaEQmpuTe7psuypQamBbtZ-uBmhcgniWzTuYc9sN6RkFcw1Fzn9QA3goZ1mognJNdLtWkL6mYNz9tw/s1600/Double-toothed-Kite-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2qA2jieY1nelyLieoMUZ1Cosr10qoW5jN5wtRsRnQtBpys-JrBoSmx5kF4WDNHaEQmpuTe7psuypQamBbtZ-uBmhcgniWzTuYc9sN6RkFcw1Fzn9QA3goZ1mognJNdLtWkL6mYNz9tw/s400/Double-toothed-Kite-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6363.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J6tx4dZJOrV-Ej-MSvRg3_FjAa83Kn9Uio9hCjg0DdMgmcUoGlg7t_AP90Cjth2AZH9YkhOuylRrpS_F_JSx-bPcATCjLlzUXPr24Es2XwS_Mo4ZHZyJU8bryb8_IxqadN8dV3AA_bo/s1600/Double-toothed-Kite-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J6tx4dZJOrV-Ej-MSvRg3_FjAa83Kn9Uio9hCjg0DdMgmcUoGlg7t_AP90Cjth2AZH9YkhOuylRrpS_F_JSx-bPcATCjLlzUXPr24Es2XwS_Mo4ZHZyJU8bryb8_IxqadN8dV3AA_bo/s400/Double-toothed-Kite-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6349.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">We headed down from the tower, snaking our way down through the
rainforest and cocoa plantations as we did so, picking up an absurdly tame </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Double-toothed Kite</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, a boisterous group of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Purple-throated
Fruicrows</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-whiskered Puffbird</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Checker-throated Antwren</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-striped Woodcreeper</b>. The next
stop was a treat, and involved no birds whatsoever, as we were treated to a
lunch in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Viejo_de_Talamanca">Puerto
Viejo</a></i></b>, with a Kalypso band playing excellent Caribbean music all
the while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPQPuLYb7fVNJULbHxxMPEj0jBVPGsjiZlMiKg33rU_VpqbyKFlTCPv5TItShJ_RdNuT9cOow0-Y9okhklCq0YQU8uRLAEV5VZE8uw9KjrfDMe1xgsCMbE-y6jzNwVeWvxFt2IT2dxt4/s1600/Purple-throated-Fruitcrow-male-with-flared-throat-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1500" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPQPuLYb7fVNJULbHxxMPEj0jBVPGsjiZlMiKg33rU_VpqbyKFlTCPv5TItShJ_RdNuT9cOow0-Y9okhklCq0YQU8uRLAEV5VZE8uw9KjrfDMe1xgsCMbE-y6jzNwVeWvxFt2IT2dxt4/s320/Purple-throated-Fruitcrow-male-with-flared-throat-Kekoldi-Hawk-Watch-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuMAYsMGJSPNdf_FMr-05NiLOS1yNDVn8_MH6nikKTQjgIOGJUc56PPlYR7USaAzZtkG3ZZEXasH-jtBP983aWPdoks-EYDQt5XVd3xXJOQL2fAshyqBZPtPMpHu59aHDaRNXrnKpSmk/s1600/Kalypso-Band-Puerto-Viejo-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuMAYsMGJSPNdf_FMr-05NiLOS1yNDVn8_MH6nikKTQjgIOGJUc56PPlYR7USaAzZtkG3ZZEXasH-jtBP983aWPdoks-EYDQt5XVd3xXJOQL2fAshyqBZPtPMpHu59aHDaRNXrnKpSmk/s320/Kalypso-Band-Puerto-Viejo-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3946.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Following this, we skirted the coast, seeing more
shorebirds, like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Greater Yellowlegs</b>,
Black-bellied and Wilson’s Plovers, and also found a small number of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brown Noddy</b> <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">feeding
close inshore, normally a scarce bird along the Caribbean coast. On the way to
our next venue, the highly touted <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://ranchonaturalista.net/">Rancho
Naturalista</a></i></b>, we spotted a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Grey-lined Hawk</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, a species that has only recently
been recorded in this area. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPzUFkrDwy-LjP5iuBGS2abKTuYlZvXdGo6AiAmj9-4CG35zAmRFAT5LYUwoJXZ4Y-2sstRRTK1GQhkcz11VqvRKYMLJst4q1Ov_W21jtlPPKjIbBIOOGmoJ5_rEz70GxdKvBb8At2FA/s1600/Gray-lined-Hawk-Puerto-Viejo-area-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPzUFkrDwy-LjP5iuBGS2abKTuYlZvXdGo6AiAmj9-4CG35zAmRFAT5LYUwoJXZ4Y-2sstRRTK1GQhkcz11VqvRKYMLJst4q1Ov_W21jtlPPKjIbBIOOGmoJ5_rEz70GxdKvBb8At2FA/s400/Gray-lined-Hawk-Puerto-Viejo-area-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Our arrival at Rancho was greeted with cocktails,
but also a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Mottled Owl</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">, which brought dinner to a sudden halt as it posed right beside the
lodge, and a late nightwalk led our team to hear a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Common Potoo</b> several times, before we retired to bed with fresh
images of raptors moving in vast kettles over the rainforest in our minds…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04gz0cRo7dRpobpJ_n8cBlGqPt9l8q13m_wqcLCuEDcLNxTv-2CH8G2xuTzxIIFCTvNd29BRkgh5jRlX7VMsS_j6VpsBPw5j7x9KU1snRtP6Vv4eIJIv8bsdSxzQVgw9gqPN6Sfe5lxk/s1600/Mottled-Owl-Rancho-Naturalista-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi04gz0cRo7dRpobpJ_n8cBlGqPt9l8q13m_wqcLCuEDcLNxTv-2CH8G2xuTzxIIFCTvNd29BRkgh5jRlX7VMsS_j6VpsBPw5j7x9KU1snRtP6Vv4eIJIv8bsdSxzQVgw9gqPN6Sfe5lxk/s400/Mottled-Owl-Rancho-Naturalista-Costa-Rica-14-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6467.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: orange;">The revered <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://ranchonaturalista.net/">Rancho
Naturalista</a> </i></b>was to provide the avian entertainment for the next
day; I could not wait! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/visitcostarica?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">visitcostarica</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".SFNSText-Regular",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/costaricabirdchallenge?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular";">costaricabirdchallenge</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".SFNSText-Regular",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/costaricabirding?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">costaricabirding</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular";"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/futuropa?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">futuropa</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".SFNSText-Regular",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ict?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ict</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: ".SFNSText-Regular",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/birdwatchingrepublic?source=feed_text&story_id=10155910187191518"><span style="background: white; color: #4267b2; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">#</span><span style="background: white; color: #365899; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "\.SFNSText-Regular"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">birdwatchingrepublic</span></a> #ranchonaturalista <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-13676642294615022042017-10-23T22:08:00.002-05:002017-10-23T22:08:22.107-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 2, (13 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Snow White Joins the Party…</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCtL-pnwfUVizLm_ZBPWlCNVYNTu1c_NvkYSMOMhXWcM6gbArMkY-U6TdmXoQJnl0PebAbwQOW7yANfW-3_6NGjPvffHbLDOwoTVmCY63t9C3QqUtaUFH_0OSgMIBWgHINNYR4Mpj8qU/s1600/Ringed-Kingfisher-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1600" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCtL-pnwfUVizLm_ZBPWlCNVYNTu1c_NvkYSMOMhXWcM6gbArMkY-U6TdmXoQJnl0PebAbwQOW7yANfW-3_6NGjPvffHbLDOwoTVmCY63t9C3QqUtaUFH_0OSgMIBWgHINNYR4Mpj8qU/s400/Ringed-Kingfisher-Costa-Rica-16-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6201.jpg" width="400" /></a><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
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On this day of the “challenge”,
or bird race, the day was spent in the Caribbean lowlands and foothills. That
is not to say that we hung about much; we had a frantic schedule, and packed in
as much as we could in the small space of daylight available (i.e. all 2 hours
of it!) We started out by leaving <a href="http://www.selvaverde.com/">Selva
Verde Lodge</a> under cover of darkness, in order to reach one of the most
iconic sites in all of Costa Rican birding, (and indeed in all of Central
America): <a href="http://www.tropicalstudies.org/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">OTS
La Selva Biological Station</span></a>, a huge stretch of lowland forest, which
excels in providing nothing but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">excellent
birding;</i> (supported very strongly with other wildlife of note too). You
never, hear anyone say “it was a bit slow” today at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Selva</i></b>, this simply
does not happen. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-winged
Woodpecker</b> fell early on, as if to prove the point, one of the regional
endemics of the area. We also got in a few other goodies before breakfast, like
a low flying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Ibis</b>, and even a
pair of gargantuan <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great Green Macaws</b>
overflew us with their deep croaky voices bringing them to our attention.
Breakfast was a blur, as we could literally hear the forest calling us from the
restaurant, a cacophony of bird noises to tempt our avian-dominated taste buds.
We soon met with our local guide, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Joel</i>,
an expert guide in the true sense, with whom I have toured <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Selva</i></b> with a number of
times before; I was stoked to have him again. Birds came thick and fast in our limited
time there – we had from dawn to 9am and no more; exhilarating but also tantalizing;
normal tours stay at least 2 nights at this research facility, and uber birding
hotspot. We sighted, by pure chance 3 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pied
Puffbirds</b> sitting idly in an open treetop, got multiple encounters with
some raucous <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-tailed Jacamars</b>,
enjoyed the tufted <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chestnut-colored
Woodpecker</b>, along with six species of parrots in barely 3 hours, were
greatly surprised at the ease of finding a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Royal
Flycatcher</b>, (a much more difficult bird in the Caribbean than on the
Pacific side of the mountains), got at least a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-throated Ant-Tanagers</b>, a showy brace of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Band-tailed Barbthroats</b>, and a handful of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrens</i> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-breasted Wood,
Black-throated, and Band-backed Wrens</b>). The regular firecracker sound of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-collared Manakins</b> were heard in
the forest, and one passed by the restaurant too. The high-pitched far-carrying
whistles of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Semiplumbeous Hawk</b>
were counted on the checklist well before we saw it, but we couldn’t resist
going in to see this smart raptor too. As we had gathered from the afternoon
before that the pace of raptor migration in Costa Rica was picking up – where some
of the largest numbers of birds-of-prey in the Neotropics pass through in the autumn
each year - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and this day was no
different with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Broad-winged Hawks </b>an
almost constant sight on the wing in the skies above (an estimated 1500 were
seen in those brief hours on site). However, the star bird our brief hours at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La
Selva</i></b>, was one of the first that came after breakfast, and was sighted
from right beside the restaurant, a spotless, clean white male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snowy Cotinga</b> that exposed itself for a
short time in a bare treetop that it shared with a slumbering <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green Iguana</b>. We left <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La
Selva</i></b> with at least <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">89 species</b>
already chalked on our day list…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpAo0DPgpN9JoCmYYdVsSeJzJzn_kgdPQDQLV-GIf-gHkb-wjr4HDG8BqVinm-DZ9QZ8jqT2GuopTpspKFGXhUxtgv2rR_XxbpGeewEec0_hB1uUwFQNvYMCDZafy6mjj6cPd5b6xOts/s1600/Aerial-Tram-forest-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpAo0DPgpN9JoCmYYdVsSeJzJzn_kgdPQDQLV-GIf-gHkb-wjr4HDG8BqVinm-DZ9QZ8jqT2GuopTpspKFGXhUxtgv2rR_XxbpGeewEec0_hB1uUwFQNvYMCDZafy6mjj6cPd5b6xOts/s400/Aerial-Tram-forest-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3890.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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Our reason for cutting short our
time at this iconic site was to visit, of course, another hotspot, the <a href="http://www.rainforestadventure.com/costa-rica-atlantic/aerial-tram/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Aerial Tram</span></a> in the Caribbean foothills of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Braulio
Carrillo National Park</i></b>, at an elevation of around 500m. Once there (by
mid-morning), we were soon in a dangling gondola admiring towering rainforest
trees at eye level. It was a wonderful experience with nature, but sadly lacking
in birds for the most part, until the majestic form of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">King Vulture</b> glided into view above us. For sure, an earlier visit
in the day would have yielded more than at this hot and sunny hour, which often
prompts the death knell for bird activity in the tropics. We finished with time
to spare before lunch on site, so visited the hummingbird feeders, where
Snowcap was a conspicuous absentee, but did bring us views of a red-legged <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer</b> plundering
the rich nectar resource of lilac verbena flowers. We tried to put some oomph
into our time there with a walk in the rainforest, which again was largely
silent. But, then, just before lunchtime we hit a flock, a BIG flock, and out
of this we pulled several stunning <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-and-yellow
Tanagers,</b> (think Prothonotary Warbler, dressed in the body of a tanager), glowing
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Emerald Tanagers</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Speckled Tanager</b> too. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Gw1f0qV7-yyc8cxAZVfXl1uDvG6wVgTx0ytIDRwv4-3mkxUtKNZ2pfXbSwG8bJ4iYhB0IQgSyFmzce2EvOyNtlEdD1ne3u4Nx_-A28lInqcawHZABuGewARAOaZ4Qe8QoeJVl6hWEUM/s1600/Butterfly-Aerial-Tram-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1440" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Gw1f0qV7-yyc8cxAZVfXl1uDvG6wVgTx0ytIDRwv4-3mkxUtKNZ2pfXbSwG8bJ4iYhB0IQgSyFmzce2EvOyNtlEdD1ne3u4Nx_-A28lInqcawHZABuGewARAOaZ4Qe8QoeJVl6hWEUM/s400/Butterfly-Aerial-Tram-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3907.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We rushed to
lunch, for by then were a little tardy having been transfixed by the male <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black-and-yellow Tanager</i>, which is the definition
of shocking yellow. Following lunch, we had a long drive into a remote lodge
within the Caribbean lowlands (<a href="http://www.selvabananito.com/home/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Selva Bananito Lodge</span></a>), connected to the
bi-national <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">La Amistad National Park</i></b> that spreads all the across the Panama
border. The lengthy drive was delayed a little to collect the late arriving Jim
Lawrence, who due to some incredibly unfortunate timing in Miami, only narrowly
missed the flight to be part of the trip from the start. Jim’s first main
contribution was to give us our first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House
Sparrow</b> of the tour, even though he was already committed to another bird
group (who were ahead of us), an act of high treason surely! The journey
produced an absurdly confiding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Ringed Kingfisher</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>that
unleashed our cameras, by virtue of its lack of timidity, and the fact that it
was sat there with a rather large <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">catfish</i>
clasped in its beak. After the long delay in actually getting to Costa Rica,
the enthusiastic photographer Jim was feeling much happier following the first
proper action for his lens in the tropics. A burst of new birds came along the
coast, near the port of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Puerto Viejo</i></b>, where we found <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Western and Semipalmated Sandpipers</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wilson’s and Semipalmated Plovers</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brown Booby</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black Tern</b>. By the time we reached the meeting point for our
vehicles to transfer us through several rivers to the lodge it was dark, but
somehow, this did not stop an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">American
Pygmy-Kingfisher </b>and<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron </b>from being seen by people in the front of the vehicle, in the
car headlights as we made one of these crossings!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNwjmdQPMTTZMKmhtd7Doqwtk-kEZ9SNNBcRCHP4KBPqFvZ4lr8Oh1paAob7rPolYbthXNL8AGNxV9XaZ4CVv10D6jEmxbvPQUrthOZvXddt59I-hJ4Gb6H2PEbK-WhdEj4mloquWbR0/s1600/Great-Potoo-Selva-Bananito-Lodge-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1500" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNwjmdQPMTTZMKmhtd7Doqwtk-kEZ9SNNBcRCHP4KBPqFvZ4lr8Oh1paAob7rPolYbthXNL8AGNxV9XaZ4CVv10D6jEmxbvPQUrthOZvXddt59I-hJ4Gb6H2PEbK-WhdEj4mloquWbR0/s400/Great-Potoo-Selva-Bananito-Lodge-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHf71osF8kmymlGnuUeB9sWi4trWa3uGo15NrWlD0H2Qk1fFELk6NxvGO2r090KVSEpJ34qX-w4xStPOM3JTNbdHdKKPj-_AIxh8RUboGeHJhFdtu3ZDhe8J-RnSvjEkizObDjcfFbe4/s1600/Pauraque-Selva-Bananito-Lodge-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIHf71osF8kmymlGnuUeB9sWi4trWa3uGo15NrWlD0H2Qk1fFELk6NxvGO2r090KVSEpJ34qX-w4xStPOM3JTNbdHdKKPj-_AIxh8RUboGeHJhFdtu3ZDhe8J-RnSvjEkizObDjcfFbe4/s400/Pauraque-Selva-Bananito-Lodge-Costa-Rica-13-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A6224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After dinner, and heavy rains in
this, the dry season in the Caribbean, the number of people willing to go
owling had whittled itself to just 2 of the team, and our constant local guide
German; we were joined by one of the lodge staff, who walked us straight to a
site for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Great
Potoo</span></b>, where one was soon heard, but was devilishly difficult to
see. For a time it was merely a pair oif large red eyes shining bvack at the
torch from a distant forest canopy, but finally German tracked it down for
cracking, long looks. On the way back we also added <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Common Pauraque</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>to the list, as it sat in the road ahead of us. We
retired very tired, but very happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</style>Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-85722831229482165082017-10-22T23:00:00.002-05:002017-10-22T23:04:25.947-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 1, part II (12 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Toucans, Tanagers,
and TREEFROGS take over…</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvz_Z_xtNGr4k6_wcV-KIu3uNytHYHUKybEmaC5qjTrujs2HK7YxLgtCyhEkxb1qFTa9wllqggSW-XrqrmjJ-6AnZGwNzURCYx3WNRmulcHN3DGEZgtG0HlfWbwDkyot2FvPMaKigRSU/s1600/Red-eyed-Treefrog-Selva-Verde-Lodge-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvz_Z_xtNGr4k6_wcV-KIu3uNytHYHUKybEmaC5qjTrujs2HK7YxLgtCyhEkxb1qFTa9wllqggSW-XrqrmjJ-6AnZGwNzURCYx3WNRmulcHN3DGEZgtG0HlfWbwDkyot2FvPMaKigRSU/s400/Red-eyed-Treefrog-Selva-Verde-Lodge-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3832.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Having spent the morning in the
foothills of the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Central Cordillera</i></b>, our arrival at <a href="http://www.selvaverde.com/">Selva Verde Lodge</a> also announced our
arrival in an extremely bird rich part of the country, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Caribbean lowlands</i></b>.
This was immediately evident, when, following a lunch of traditional rice and
beans with more than a splash of Costa Rica’s signature <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salsa_Lizano">Salsa<span style="font-style: normal;"> </span>Lizano</a></i>, we ran into two different species
of <i>trogon</i> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Slaty-tailed and Gartered Trogons</b>), a <b><span style="color: red;">Black-cowled Oriole</span></b>, and then walked up to a fruiting tree packed with birds, and a constant hive of
activity as birds pulled at the fruits and flew in and out of the tree. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfSGf5gcHTTz6hIdZI9uxm_rrsAZanJ0kRipSlAqE6l6DhNOriAhO-mlRDDrRGvcZxKnZ7lJj06kfMHu4OcXXLY3XF6USeidxIrGfJ58wUh2_JZvNOrXhzICN6jrgNhN-IP9dMdOSXZA/s1600/Black-cowled-Oriole-Selva-Verde-Lodge-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1350" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfSGf5gcHTTz6hIdZI9uxm_rrsAZanJ0kRipSlAqE6l6DhNOriAhO-mlRDDrRGvcZxKnZ7lJj06kfMHu4OcXXLY3XF6USeidxIrGfJ58wUh2_JZvNOrXhzICN6jrgNhN-IP9dMdOSXZA/s400/Black-cowled-Oriole-Selva-Verde-Lodge-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5914.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This
was addictive stuff, and we absorbed this feast of birds for a while, which
included all three toucan species in the area (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Keel-billed and Yellow-throated Toucans</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Collared Aracari</b>), and also held a variety of tanagers, including <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scarlet-thighed and Blue Dacnis</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green and Shining Honeycreepers</b>. Other
distractions included <b>Strawberry ("Blue Jeans") and </b><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Green-and-black</span> <span style="color: red;">Poison Dart Frogs</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> on the
grounds, and another </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;">two-toed sloth</b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> (<i>plus baby slothlet this time</i>), for the day.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRPuc2kAAi9z1E8K-CsVGD-Oiv4sVLgaz9g5g63NBw4VpmD4pNQWatPz2xFBTkPzLZAsUl8Dhc1ovUz_Zmf8B00sr8mS8EsxW979krnTtu05pz7w4ZY9yEh7PMVYFCn_LQ_2i0ixTKkk/s1600/Black-and-green-Poison-Frog-Selva-Verde-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5934+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRPuc2kAAi9z1E8K-CsVGD-Oiv4sVLgaz9g5g63NBw4VpmD4pNQWatPz2xFBTkPzLZAsUl8Dhc1ovUz_Zmf8B00sr8mS8EsxW979krnTtu05pz7w4ZY9yEh7PMVYFCn_LQ_2i0ixTKkk/s400/Black-and-green-Poison-Frog-Selva-Verde-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5934+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We also got our first real
experience of the vast raptor migration that streams through Central America at
this time, as impressive kettles of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Broad-winged
Hawks</b> overhead held the odd <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mississippi
Kite</b> among them too too. Our search at the site for one of the lodge’s
celebrity birds, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sunbittern</i>, came
up short though, and so we tried another spot later, but again failing to find
that, but adding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-hooded Tanager</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey-headed
Chachalaca</b>, and also got to watch the acrobatics of some extremely agile <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Mantled Howler</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>monkeys in the area. The close of the afternoon, not
far from the lodge, though, will perhaps best be remembered for a hummingbird
fight we witnessed, when a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Purple-crowned
Fairy</b> seemed to take particular offence to a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Long-billed Starthroat</b> calming sitting in a tree overhead. We
watched on as the lovely and gentle looking fairy, belied its appearance, by aggressively
and repeatedly dive bombing the poor <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">starthroat</i>,
which stood firm for a while, before flying off for an easier life!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8tV5vpEoDiPwPr2KQPb4trsjp2DjMNILJwx2gyVfawQRRs50LaurYaO3-ezqOni9b8vnn3yqnb5t26-7tfQBGzHpCaO8kE84dqZ6S7FK8tPI79aI0zd1F0-rEfwfKkQshjR3nuR8M-4/s1600/Mantled-Howler-Sarapiqui-Costa-Rica-Sam-Woods_S9A5968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1147" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8tV5vpEoDiPwPr2KQPb4trsjp2DjMNILJwx2gyVfawQRRs50LaurYaO3-ezqOni9b8vnn3yqnb5t26-7tfQBGzHpCaO8kE84dqZ6S7FK8tPI79aI0zd1F0-rEfwfKkQshjR3nuR8M-4/s400/Mantled-Howler-Sarapiqui-Costa-Rica-Sam-Woods_S9A5968.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzcnyshe-o9G0yhle3ZHLuM_hc2HpuRT-v8nUNBD6zJ3KfIA6v2PLp2kifWq2tCMMEJQRgwhtr3Q_3QvumxItLMyo-t7By74fa_47G9IW4xHbh4Ffa1xCBAKDEVIKOxAnDaanKRXtkeA/s1600/Mantled-Howler-eating-upside-down-Sarapiqui-area-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-S9A5973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1194" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzcnyshe-o9G0yhle3ZHLuM_hc2HpuRT-v8nUNBD6zJ3KfIA6v2PLp2kifWq2tCMMEJQRgwhtr3Q_3QvumxItLMyo-t7By74fa_47G9IW4xHbh4Ffa1xCBAKDEVIKOxAnDaanKRXtkeA/s400/Mantled-Howler-eating-upside-down-Sarapiqui-area-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-S9A5973.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">At night, we searched the lodge
property for owls, hearing and seeing none, but being more than rewarded by the
sighting of Costa Rica’s most iconic frog species, the </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Red-eyed Treefrog</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, which adorns so
many book covers, posters and awnings countrywide. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">The team ended the day with 155 bird species, which was not to be our
strongest day of the competition that would come later! I should mention that I had some esteemed company within the team, our local guide was German Rojas, and the other team members were Tim Appleton (the man behind the <a href="http://birdfair.org.uk/" target="_blank">British Birdfair</a>), Niklas (journalist for Birdlife Sweden's magazine), and Beltran Ceballos Vazquez (a man synonymous with conservation and the famous Cota Donana National Park in Spain).</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBSz4vik3VSwlAT2nuQrR7bQj65XEeCMx0mf_OkqCdUqVQRT0ozQWKLLWpmL1a4KJSCYUiM1jt0NvauVtazoth1zbpiwuzsv99aRpTg3Rxy6dILOxBxYBq4O-QR0dn0eVmi7umm7UCbI/s1600/Red-eyed-Treefrog-Selva-Verde-Lodge-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1080" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBSz4vik3VSwlAT2nuQrR7bQj65XEeCMx0mf_OkqCdUqVQRT0ozQWKLLWpmL1a4KJSCYUiM1jt0NvauVtazoth1zbpiwuzsv99aRpTg3Rxy6dILOxBxYBq4O-QR0dn0eVmi7umm7UCbI/s400/Red-eyed-Treefrog-Selva-Verde-Lodge-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2SDoCbCYH45hj5r78XP4RsAle0Td1azm-2CxmPPLGQO1ZIUCnftQqSrNY5mwRc3oTh0p3Y9dD-0fDXDlGlwTLj6M85Fp8geuo70Zuz9X5c5DT6S5WVNGb9NKElmq7pYKeowtKTPGCtI/s1600/Puente-Malo-Sarapiqui-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2SDoCbCYH45hj5r78XP4RsAle0Td1azm-2CxmPPLGQO1ZIUCnftQqSrNY5mwRc3oTh0p3Y9dD-0fDXDlGlwTLj6M85Fp8geuo70Zuz9X5c5DT6S5WVNGb9NKElmq7pYKeowtKTPGCtI/s400/Puente-Malo-Sarapiqui-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3808.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdnA2_FdyIMGCOvUrktUsRxfGxtMUIBTF4JU9tZBuWKNijveMnuGwo__hbgEunzYi2qRjiOyp8G5o3pvwwOACid6j3JaVeQAPBXuZoO7VN1txvgYQQcv4Sskc_oj7Sfkb_wrMSvcmA5o/s1600/End-of-the-day-at-Sarapiqui-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdnA2_FdyIMGCOvUrktUsRxfGxtMUIBTF4JU9tZBuWKNijveMnuGwo__hbgEunzYi2qRjiOyp8G5o3pvwwOACid6j3JaVeQAPBXuZoO7VN1txvgYQQcv4Sskc_oj7Sfkb_wrMSvcmA5o/s400/End-of-the-day-at-Sarapiqui-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0070c0;">The
next day was set up to a biggie, starting out at the legendary <a href="http://www.tropicalstudies.org/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">OTS La Selva
Biological Station</span></a>, and then moving on to the <a href="http://www.rainforestadventure.com/costa-rica-atlantic/aerial-tram/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Aerial Tram</span></a> in the foothills of the Caribbean
in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braulio_Carrillo_National_Park"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Braulio Carrillo NP</span></a></i></b>, before departing
for another more remote site, <a href="http://www.selvabananito.com/home/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Selva Bananito Lodge</span></a>, located within <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Amistad_International_Park"><span style="color: #0070c0;">La Amistad NP</span></a></i></b>, which stretches all the
way into Panama!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com17 kms de Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (Chilamate, S.), Costa Rica10.4503694 -84.0692659-20.4517476 -125.3778599 41.352486400000004 -42.760671900000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-24777570812813956502017-10-22T12:22:00.005-05:002017-10-22T12:24:03.534-05:00Costa Rica Bird Challenge: Day 1, part I (12 Oct 2017)<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="color: red;">Raptors and
Hummingbirds Shine in an Explosive Opening…</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKAnfDWU3zWhrR2wPUCOursGkWqDiu8nFoYu7v4ZCfaDe3HeXrUKORGlqDdRDfyCBH1xhC3NnRei-XetCT6If7kuoDSGtalOaCojdbUctMFJpTfTFnp5F8TVzbPymJEZMi0b3J5y1JBA/s1600/Violet-Sabrewing-male-Cinchona-Ciosta-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKAnfDWU3zWhrR2wPUCOursGkWqDiu8nFoYu7v4ZCfaDe3HeXrUKORGlqDdRDfyCBH1xhC3NnRei-XetCT6If7kuoDSGtalOaCojdbUctMFJpTfTFnp5F8TVzbPymJEZMi0b3J5y1JBA/s400/Violet-Sabrewing-male-Cinchona-Ciosta-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5778.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Following a brief 5am tea (no coffee
for this traditional Englishman) and cookie, we hit the road from downtown <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">San
Jose</i></b> (from the <a href="http://www.aurolahotels.com/">Hotel Aurola
Holiday Inn</a>) and headed up into the mountains on the edge of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poas
Volcano</i></b>. Once in the shadow of the volcano, we got straight into some
montane species right off the bat, with a fleeting stop at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Restaurante-Freddo-Fresas-200027556698595/about/?section=hours&tab=page_info">Freddo
Fresas, Poasito</a></i></b>. The hummingbirds were the main attraction here,
with a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Volcano Hummingbird</b>
appearing right on cue, competing for our attention with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesser Violetears </b>(formerly known as Green, before this was spliced
into two species recently), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Purple-throated
Mountain-Gems</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Green-crowned
Brilliant</b>. A glowing male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Flame-colored
Tanager</b> also lent some colour to proceedings. Another short search of some cloudforest led us to a perfectly positioned <b><span style="color: red;">Hoffman's Two-toed Sloth</span></b>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNhLxtiPV4VFwP6t_UEeGzPdr2jSbrDcw5nyvLIdlMpi8n7Nm_EHmukaD4U1BDeEtiZ0WC6bQfUtj_iRDGup50Kkj8GaNBoHJHVOEKj_15H207lSoabsEOeysf60w3pLSeC6VVC0I5Bw/s1600/Hoffman%2527s-Two-toed-Sloth-Poas-Volcano-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNhLxtiPV4VFwP6t_UEeGzPdr2jSbrDcw5nyvLIdlMpi8n7Nm_EHmukaD4U1BDeEtiZ0WC6bQfUtj_iRDGup50Kkj8GaNBoHJHVOEKj_15H207lSoabsEOeysf60w3pLSeC6VVC0I5Bw/s400/Hoffman%2527s-Two-toed-Sloth-Poas-Volcano-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another stop beside a
stunning, thundering waterfall near the volcano brought us a rush of new species,
with some stellar ones among them, such as local specialties like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-bellied Flycatcher</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sooty-faced Finch</b> proving remarkably
easy at this scenic spot. Better was yet to come though, as, after scoring a
very tame <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Torrent Tyrannulet</b>, an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ornate Hawk-Eagle</b> circled above us in
the blue skies overhead. An unexpected, and striking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pre-breakfast</i> bird, which made us forget our hunger for just a
little while, before this majestic eagle drifted effortlessly out of view.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqAZ-PA6oRM7nkqsDjONccd8cHoxFO1yRlDEHolIeRUdbT1KLoeBwvK-D0ec7YDeNnX831J66C80aLwhFqb6kJDgIM6ECiUPDB4VkIzWBUJ8C-mU_IYoNTHEVFCVgZDniEMphXu4ylWU/s1600/Poas-Volcano-area-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1221" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqAZ-PA6oRM7nkqsDjONccd8cHoxFO1yRlDEHolIeRUdbT1KLoeBwvK-D0ec7YDeNnX831J66C80aLwhFqb6kJDgIM6ECiUPDB4VkIzWBUJ8C-mU_IYoNTHEVFCVgZDniEMphXu4ylWU/s400/Poas-Volcano-area-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3788.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The next stop was also hummingbird related, but food-related too, as we tucked into a hearty breakfast of traditional </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallo_pinto">Gallo Pinto</a></i></b><span style="text-align: justify;">, while surrounded by birds-mainly hummingbirds at the feeders that included the </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Coppery-headed Emerald</span></b><span style="text-align: justify;">, a country endemic (of which there are only six), and a regional endemic following a visit from one of the local </span><b style="text-align: justify;">White-bellied Mountain-Gems</b><span style="text-align: justify;">, a bird that made its lone appearance on this bird race during this breakfast at </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><i>Cinchona</i></b><span style="text-align: justify;">, a bit of a legend amongst birders, and especially bird photographers. It was impossible not to also appreciate the conspicuous beauty of the visiting male </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Violet Sabrewings</span></b><span style="text-align: justify;">, a bold and delightfully common montane hummingbird species in Costa Rica. </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Silver-throated Tanagers</span></b><span style="color: red; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">also appeared at the fruit feeders, as did Costa Rica’s shamefully dowdy national bird, </span><b style="text-align: justify;">Clay-colored Thrush</b><span style="text-align: justify;">, an appalling choice (considering all the colour on offer among the avian community), in this megadiverse tropical country for this prestigious title.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFupHpsQMT2By70zgRZl4paxJInukWv-gnW7EQbkIbI3L86z1BV-MCXctCN1yF3AEzyjhAHzWUPvlPjfZLknKoTYrFYyHJcJ80n5SqPAgWO4rYHtpWNy_ABGLyuey-Unx7Ju_KqeSOEU/s1600/Coppery-headed-Emerald-male-Cinchona-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1500" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFupHpsQMT2By70zgRZl4paxJInukWv-gnW7EQbkIbI3L86z1BV-MCXctCN1yF3AEzyjhAHzWUPvlPjfZLknKoTYrFYyHJcJ80n5SqPAgWO4rYHtpWNy_ABGLyuey-Unx7Ju_KqeSOEU/s400/Coppery-headed-Emerald-male-Cinchona-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5764.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTx_l3wnmlIm8gPIKWQW-ycZu5gzJ4VqN-8uBxpr5YpnC1nNjJn0cGEzRJrCDkULBU-1RWTdclhIgrqgZG7N_8KzGp3QNAOzOU2Zal-wJH0TYrTyCj5qkANVCjTC5vY7zUCrVUtWJfcQ/s1600/Violet-Sabrewing-female-Cinchona-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTx_l3wnmlIm8gPIKWQW-ycZu5gzJ4VqN-8uBxpr5YpnC1nNjJn0cGEzRJrCDkULBU-1RWTdclhIgrqgZG7N_8KzGp3QNAOzOU2Zal-wJH0TYrTyCj5qkANVCjTC5vY7zUCrVUtWJfcQ/s400/Violet-Sabrewing-female-Cinchona-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5848.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTM5TxKMsTI5d8fAztaJtRn3GHnY0dHA37sr1nU_5q_sWEJWn9TlPgSZDra4nNSuJ1rD6Bb7ZX0PBC8VO4pR3tqzjFf5iEvJydeeHU_Kkr1jxXKYUnGr2PHCuqqa0vALE-0734emXHvQ/s1600/Silver-throated-Tanager-Cinchona-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1500" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTM5TxKMsTI5d8fAztaJtRn3GHnY0dHA37sr1nU_5q_sWEJWn9TlPgSZDra4nNSuJ1rD6Bb7ZX0PBC8VO4pR3tqzjFf5iEvJydeeHU_Kkr1jxXKYUnGr2PHCuqqa0vALE-0734emXHvQ/s400/Silver-throated-Tanager-Cinchona-Costa-Rica-12-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5819.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Following an opening that largely
centered around hummingbirds and feeders, we switched to some “real” birding
with a visit to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Virgen del Socorro</i></b>, where its most emblematic species, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White Hawk</b> appeared early and calmed
nerves quickly. The deserted dirt road allowed us to walk both down and up the
valley, steadily adding to our bird list for the day, which included species
like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bay-headed Tanager</b>, a couple of
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrants</b>, a dinky
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher</b>, (akin
to a dink frog with its incessant calling nature), a smashing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Crimson-collared Tanager</b>, and a steady
stream of migratory <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">American warblers</i>
(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-and-white, Tennessee,
Blackburnian, Yellow, Canada, Wilson’s, and Chestnut-sided</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Warblers</b>), showing that they had made
it safely through a particularly challenging storm and hurricane season this
year, to reach their normal wintering/migratory stopovers in country. </div>
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While not
the rarest bird there, a very confiding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Lineated Woodpecker</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>found
by team member <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tim.appleton2">Tim Appleton</a></b> was my
favourite bird of the site, and the photos probably show why…Remarkably, we had
only reached the end of the morning at this point! A busy bird afternoon
followed our arrival at our next staging point: <a href="http://www.selvaverde.com/">Selva Verde Lodge</a>.<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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NOTE: This challenge was helped
and supported by the tourism board of Costa Rica, and <a href="https://travelcostarica.cr/">Futuropa</a>, among many other contributors,
and so I am including the hashtags here to help connect with these organisations:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-32649714312571519362017-10-11T13:11:00.000-05:002017-10-11T13:11:00.399-05:00A Taste of Tandayapa (Ecuador)...4 Oct 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu23IoFkRzKf9AL1gZKdeC7UKes9SjuVpBUVbilDnLa1fd9bK06cPwg01N4vbUfXDBs4YBlGt0cni0nZRNO6PQ3zK9xYLzcRMjQEPNW1VWUxWQdUD1Cxa8_UDnpNjpNjfh-fLX6sYH3Fk/s1600/Rufous-Motmot-Tandayapa-Bird-Lodge-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1210" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu23IoFkRzKf9AL1gZKdeC7UKes9SjuVpBUVbilDnLa1fd9bK06cPwg01N4vbUfXDBs4YBlGt0cni0nZRNO6PQ3zK9xYLzcRMjQEPNW1VWUxWQdUD1Cxa8_UDnpNjpNjfh-fLX6sYH3Fk/s400/Rufous-Motmot-Tandayapa-Bird-Lodge-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5042.jpg" width="302" /></a></div>
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When a journalist come to visit, they rarely have time to stop for too long, so my objective for the day was to give him a taste, a big, bursting mouthful of a taste, of the joys of birding both the lower and upper <b><i>Tandayapa Valley </i></b>(which are quite different in the nature of birds found there)...<br /></div>
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We started out in darkness, and with headlamps lit, walked into the forest surrounding <a href="http://tandayapabirdlodge.com/?page_id=64" target="_blank">Tandayapa Bird Lodge</a>, to see what would come into the purpose built forest blind, best visited at the crack of dawn. We might have arrived a little before the crack, but with some patience the birds started showing up. The first one to creep into view was a <b>Streak-capped Treehunter</b>, furtively approaching then dropping down right in front of the hide to pick off some of the moths attracted by the nightlight alongside. The the jangling sound of warblers approacgung could be heard, with <b>Russet-crowned and Three-striped Warblers</b> being typically confiding, if hyper active (think American warblers on speed). Then, one of the other blind regulars turned up, and were as confiding as ever, a pair of <b>Zeledon's Antbirds</b> (formerly known as <i>Immaculate Antbirds</i> before taxonomists spliced that species in two); which appear rather like they are wearing blue eye shadow, as with many antbirds their eyes are surrounded by bare skin (in this case sky blue in colour). <b>Slaty Antwren </b>also betrayed its presence by calling to let us know it was coming, and a female was seen, and then a pair of <b>Uniform Anthshrikes</b> followed the same routine. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zriUaOYm2g0gwJhjtWRbe4UzKegDKknvFaciW7QiPqDeHvwcMJj85n7eicKkSUjWdi-vzx1w0wQoNFb-VGaHg38JSZ4ZCM4VrFhp6SBpO1EDvmy6HTaOhng7XIh4-8hAMr97k7JPYHg/s1600/Tanager-Finch-Upper-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1600" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zriUaOYm2g0gwJhjtWRbe4UzKegDKknvFaciW7QiPqDeHvwcMJj85n7eicKkSUjWdi-vzx1w0wQoNFb-VGaHg38JSZ4ZCM4VrFhp6SBpO1EDvmy6HTaOhng7XIh4-8hAMr97k7JPYHg/s400/Tanager-Finch-Upper-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5056.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Within 40 minutes of dawn, activity was waning and stomachs were rumbling, so we returned to the lodge for breakfast. Breakfast is not always an easy affair at Tandayapa though, as this is also the peak time for birds to come around the lodge picking off the various insects forms that have come to sit on the lodge and moth sheet during the night. On this day, the procession opened with the star species, a pair of <b>Toucan Barbets</b>, and also included the normally timid <b><span style="color: red;">Rufous Motmot</span></b>, giving the performance of a lifetime. <b>Chestnut-capped and White-winged Brushfinches</b>, were also seen on the fringes of the feeding areas. Somehow, in the midst of all of this avian activity, we squeezed in a breakfast, and then set off for the higher cloudforests in the upper <b><i>Tandayapa Valley</i></b>. We opened at a traditional spot for the rare Tanager Finch, and less predictably opened our visit there with a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Tanager Finches</span></b>, which were rather easier than usual, and were a mighty first bird on site! The sublime really did turn into the ridiculous, when we next focused on an <b>Ocellated Tapaculo </b>that screamed at us (as they do), from the nearby hillside. I noticed, that rather fortuitously an indistinct trail snaked its way right towards the loud sound of the bird. This bird is very easy to hear (you would need to be near totally deaf to be able to miss the call of this bird within sight of you!), but can be exasperatingly difficult to put binoculars on. And that is exactly how it played out initially with mere glimpses of its polka-dotted form. But then we stepped off trail just a fraction, and the bird was there in full glory for all to see. Our second bird of the morning at this site; we were walking on water!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuWXtUGxQ0lQoo16gCoov67vlS4c1EWGV6WwciJo8XPFT2e0GIgsacWBYJQgQj-KXmFrFC71ceogdSy6gIwQqp5GY4PBIdkzTzduCP1ZObJaHnSuUpUTjQANNmgl9lXxmWB1tMD5K990/s1600/Plate-billed-Mountain-Toucan-Upper-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1600" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuWXtUGxQ0lQoo16gCoov67vlS4c1EWGV6WwciJo8XPFT2e0GIgsacWBYJQgQj-KXmFrFC71ceogdSy6gIwQqp5GY4PBIdkzTzduCP1ZObJaHnSuUpUTjQANNmgl9lXxmWB1tMD5K990/s400/Plate-billed-Mountain-Toucan-Upper-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5132.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The rest of the morning up there was understandably not so outstanding, but with some effort, we finally tracked down one of its most famous residents, the endemic <span style="color: red;"><b>Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan</b></span>, which is daubed in so many colours it could have been designed for a clown (one of the non scary ones). Other finds included<b> Streak-headed Antbird</b>, <b>Turquoise Jay</b>, <b>Masked Trogon</b>, <b>Green-and-black Fruiteater</b>, and 4 more <b>Toucan Barbets</b> in the middle of all this. Finally, lunch beckoned, and we headed down the forested valley in readiness to eat, but were abruptly stopped in our tracks, when we noticed an impressive <b><span style="color: red;">Barred Hawk </span></b>staring down at us from above the car, where it lingered for longer than a sharp-eyed raptor would be expected to do...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YjNVqiMz2oPAiLSBLTsnFEJRkhPXMMNa3eHrstE7lbos3xvRUm79sV7i-2zj0eRF7d5arS7U08HDQz9kjIYMcm4br7hV7yBlL2w7sYJ4VOFdQuyGTKIgTgllwzVTEzvjPx7Kh6JGpGU/s1600/Barred-Hawk-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1500" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YjNVqiMz2oPAiLSBLTsnFEJRkhPXMMNa3eHrstE7lbos3xvRUm79sV7i-2zj0eRF7d5arS7U08HDQz9kjIYMcm4br7hV7yBlL2w7sYJ4VOFdQuyGTKIgTgllwzVTEzvjPx7Kh6JGpGU/s400/Barred-Hawk-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaf9XkUwnYj5O4_wCCvE8R76599cywEc99s7rKM_xeoBlJIdb33hkEKYkiJ8oQb7LEXQaLkF1EXjH8P6Qv2VdCW_xiFWOTJBDz1O9rLJ5rJm6WkGlYxUC7fl-oNHtij1-vVAtYbdCrGA/s1600/Barred-Hawk-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaf9XkUwnYj5O4_wCCvE8R76599cywEc99s7rKM_xeoBlJIdb33hkEKYkiJ8oQb7LEXQaLkF1EXjH8P6Qv2VdCW_xiFWOTJBDz1O9rLJ5rJm6WkGlYxUC7fl-oNHtij1-vVAtYbdCrGA/s400/Barred-Hawk-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-4-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A5172.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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With rain coming in with force in the afternoon, and having admired the hummingbird feeders at Tandayapa Lodge, we opted for birding undercover elsewhere, at the nearby <i><b>San Tadeo feeders</b></i>, which were buzzing with activity, and highlights included <b>Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager,</b> <b>Flame-rumped, Black-capped, Golden-naped and Golden Tanagers</b>. Meanwhile, a study of the hummingbird feeders brought regular interactions with <b>Velvet-purple Coronets</b>, <b>Empress Brilliants</b>, and even led us to a treetop <b>Yellow-throated Toucan</b>, yelping its heart out in the afternoon rain. <b><i>A taste of Tandayapa</i></b> finally came to a regretful close.</div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-33489615952196128492017-10-08T21:17:00.003-05:002017-10-11T12:35:04.955-05:00Owling by Daylight...(Ecuador) 3 Oct 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3Yu3NnTwMjha3LPmOF0YTBe1Bo6Y67izwWOF455H1dOZfIPpyjbG0Y9F7cv3n-7oogyhUQSQYff3BvHh57i49IisGN8wjob3xWOysHayy3hwvS-40___8HFLY177ILmaPL51vc8Jzbw/s1600/White-throated-Screech-Owl-Yanacocha-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3Yu3NnTwMjha3LPmOF0YTBe1Bo6Y67izwWOF455H1dOZfIPpyjbG0Y9F7cv3n-7oogyhUQSQYff3BvHh57i49IisGN8wjob3xWOysHayy3hwvS-40___8HFLY177ILmaPL51vc8Jzbw/s400/White-throated-Screech-Owl-Yanacocha-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4854.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So, a journalist from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildlifemagazine/" target="_blank">BBC Wildlife magazine</a> wanted to sample some of the best birds and sites of northwest Ecuador, and I was fortunate to be nominated for the guide for this one. We started out from <i><b>Quito</b></i>, admiring the views of the city below us and the volcano of <b><i>Cayambe</i></b> in the background as we made our way to <b><i><a href="http://www.worldlandtrust.org/projects/ecuador/jocotoco-reserves/yanacocha" target="_blank">Yanacocha</a></i></b> reserve, a 90-minute drive away. The journey there was uneventful, but on site, we saw <b>Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager</b> chomping at the fruit on the feeders, while the various hummingbird feeders that are studded along the trail yielded the living cartoon, <b>Sword-billed Hummingbird</b>, <b>Sapphire-vented and </b><span style="color: red;"><b>Golden-breasted Pufflegs</b></span>, feisty burnt-orange <b>Shining Sunbeams</b>, the ginormous <b><span style="color: red;">Great Sapphirewing</span></b>, and the conspicuous <b>Buff-winged Starfrontlet</b>. </div>
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Meanwhile, these feeders were regularly raided by Glossy and <b><span style="color: red;">Masked Flowerpiercers</span></b> too. Other notable finds along the trail were a rusty <b>Rufous Antpitta</b>, <b>Grey-browed Brush-Finch</b> (formerly known as <i>Stripe-headed Brush-Finch</i> before a five way split of that species), and a trailside <b><span style="color: red;">Green-tailed Trainbearer</span></b>, which remained faithful to one flowering tree. However, our time at <i><b>Yanacocha</b></i> will remain remembered for a daytime encounter with a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">White-throated Screech-Owls</span></b>, a first for me there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7SqhcVD_Pyr_exuuae0eKaoCB9XcEd0X9pvmJCrj1mTXtjUhRRmVfEDy18mZ0jrzqQqHG1m9FsHZxfNlLFsfc0YQZlHN4JxhD7He1a1fIb_qaIZXnEfGKg0V5PKmYZ3PTgpvi3wZT9w/s1600/Masked-Flowerpiercer-Yanacocha-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7SqhcVD_Pyr_exuuae0eKaoCB9XcEd0X9pvmJCrj1mTXtjUhRRmVfEDy18mZ0jrzqQqHG1m9FsHZxfNlLFsfc0YQZlHN4JxhD7He1a1fIb_qaIZXnEfGKg0V5PKmYZ3PTgpvi3wZT9w/s400/Masked-Flowerpiercer-Yanacocha-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4826.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_yvTSC7w3yC9OXQfFBogGxncG-bEWwkyuRlrIGyYy_vei1NA1whmxy20N_S3Vkkipp76sjszBg4tOAt_4hxIGbXD1dZYl2rH_lP4lWUKVvfTUCPAfGtTSnykaZTNhgnDk9vWZLrI0_U/s1600/Green-tailed-Trainbearer-male-Yanacocha-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_yvTSC7w3yC9OXQfFBogGxncG-bEWwkyuRlrIGyYy_vei1NA1whmxy20N_S3Vkkipp76sjszBg4tOAt_4hxIGbXD1dZYl2rH_lP4lWUKVvfTUCPAfGtTSnykaZTNhgnDk9vWZLrI0_U/s400/Green-tailed-Trainbearer-male-Yanacocha-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4755.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the afternoon, after enjoying some excellent local food prepared on site at the reserve by the <b><a href="http://www.fjocotoco.org/home.html" target="_blank">Jocotoco Foundation</a></b> workers, we headed for <b><i>Tandayapa</i></b>, picking up a peaceful (rare for a lapwing) <b><span style="color: red;">Andean Lapwing</span></b> standing in a field. We also scoured the <b><i>Old Nono-Mindo Road</i></b> for birds along the way, which came in the form of a bobbing <b><span style="color: red;">White-capped Dipper</span></b>, and a squawking gathering of scarlet male <b>Andean Cock-of-the-rocks</b> at a traditional display site, before we reached <b><i><a href="http://tandayapabirdlodge.com/?page_id=64" target="_blank">Tandayapa Bird Lodge</a></i></b> in the late afternoon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbgAaINqBgww0Q8zvZN0X1VdUbqG8lVyA9Lulu93zFdurNUd4uAswfdKHNCDvy0n8BK2MlGry9IgT-Ja7lpAnCyIlQ170EzV-wVa4kccRvn_C80egzWAqXpdM_WnxZalGxF9AqbPSqxY/s1600/White-capped-Dipper-Old-Nono-Mindo-Road-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbgAaINqBgww0Q8zvZN0X1VdUbqG8lVyA9Lulu93zFdurNUd4uAswfdKHNCDvy0n8BK2MlGry9IgT-Ja7lpAnCyIlQ170EzV-wVa4kccRvn_C80egzWAqXpdM_WnxZalGxF9AqbPSqxY/s400/White-capped-Dipper-Old-Nono-Mindo-Road-Ecuador-3-Oct-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>More to come from Tandayapa soon...</b></span>Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-40153944025354486452017-09-30T22:28:00.001-05:002017-09-30T22:34:27.222-05:00Amazon to Andes; Topaz to Sunbeam (Ecuador): 18 Sept 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNHX8UczftC8YyrGgN0_TJovNQc2k4VS9yyWRxuwPGzzs8Iz8xCsrCCcr3yr-2v43v5fHTdUNIvqQnDrYRQMYkpqfrZ5XHGl5t94dZQfpFK0KUHGBrO2j1hL0KsvoQR8EoGG6iWfHccM/s1600/Shining-Sunbeam-Tambo-Condor-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNHX8UczftC8YyrGgN0_TJovNQc2k4VS9yyWRxuwPGzzs8Iz8xCsrCCcr3yr-2v43v5fHTdUNIvqQnDrYRQMYkpqfrZ5XHGl5t94dZQfpFK0KUHGBrO2j1hL0KsvoQR8EoGG6iWfHccM/s400/Shining-Sunbeam-Tambo-Condor-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One
of the great advantages of birding in a country as small as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ecuador</i></b>
(similar in size to US state of Colorado, smaller than Italy), which also has a
decent road network, is that you can move from one sort of birding area to
another rather swiftly. That is exactly what we did on this day, beginning our
day with some dawn time birding at 300m/980ft in a hilly part of the humid
Amazon jungle, but ending the day in the high Andes, in the positively cold
Antisana area (in view of some distant snow cones), at nearly 11,600ft/3550m.
Waking up at <a href="http://www.garenolodge-huao.com/">Gareno Lodge</a>,
having already visited their centrepiece attraction, the currently nesting
<i>Harpy Eagles</i>, we did some local birding around their garden to start with. Once
again, this yielded <b>Fiery Topaz</b>, a
single male hovering overhead repeatedly, but typically refusing to land
somewhere he could be photographed; (i.e. always in the near pitch-black forest
understory. <b>Grey-breasted Sabrewing</b>
was also visiting some flowers in the garden. With little else happening, we set off for an area near <i><b>Tena</b></i>, in the hope of a <i>Sungrebe</i>, on a lagoon there. En-route, a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Laughing Falcons</span></b> were clearly worth stopping for...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxQ1BNcpxc37kIEh8fQNLgOzFn-qrru0g3p_MebkYHSSmL-q2vIUL5nkY4gsc7whjm_h32Ecq8G5AeG7d0TpE7CbA0oZ2Vbr7EyX3dLptTd5D9UVvBE2kXkvf57pi2L7t-VYa95oFxrE/s1600/Laughing-Falcon-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxQ1BNcpxc37kIEh8fQNLgOzFn-qrru0g3p_MebkYHSSmL-q2vIUL5nkY4gsc7whjm_h32Ecq8G5AeG7d0TpE7CbA0oZ2Vbr7EyX3dLptTd5D9UVvBE2kXkvf57pi2L7t-VYa95oFxrE/s400/Laughing-Falcon-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3927.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While the day had opened without rain, this changed as we arrived on site, when the skies emptied above us. We sheltered for a while, waited for the rain to ease and then set off by boat for the <i>Sungrebe</i>. Unfortunately, during this rainy boat ride, we did not find that Amazonian wraith, but did see a feisty <b><span style="color: red;">Poeppig’s Woolly Monkey</span></b>, which seemed to take particular objection to us...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cREtBxwtTH2oSmjKavHsh_xEcLo3L39M89VluBGaRP1rnddmjLF9xp8cgMNBr_SSA38fx0S6tVwTRfbX7q8w4pesE4C_1aCm_Ae7pgENOKlPQ7BXvV4FpDiq75rhWPfAnx745TRMIHQ/s1600/Poeppig%2527s+Woolly-Monkey-Lake-Paikawe-near-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cREtBxwtTH2oSmjKavHsh_xEcLo3L39M89VluBGaRP1rnddmjLF9xp8cgMNBr_SSA38fx0S6tVwTRfbX7q8w4pesE4C_1aCm_Ae7pgENOKlPQ7BXvV4FpDiq75rhWPfAnx745TRMIHQ/s400/Poeppig%2527s+Woolly-Monkey-Lake-Paikawe-near-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4092.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j-Ir8mydnlycoMbf9vxqRp5-4o_JoaeRxcxEEYqetdHjTiH6VCwykZc2WWWVVo0W_uyV2eQPOfcfsr6gDtXg_hRzxOwK3q7FdNCzxwvDIWYsledTFq6AXOuG8Ym8H5XtTEwzPthX67w/s1600/Poeppig%2527s-Woolly-Monkey-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="1500" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j-Ir8mydnlycoMbf9vxqRp5-4o_JoaeRxcxEEYqetdHjTiH6VCwykZc2WWWVVo0W_uyV2eQPOfcfsr6gDtXg_hRzxOwK3q7FdNCzxwvDIWYsledTFq6AXOuG8Ym8H5XtTEwzPthX67w/s400/Poeppig%2527s-Woolly-Monkey-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4114.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, an acrobatic <b>White-bellied Spider-Monkey</b>,
doing gymnastics style movements overheads that US Olympic champion <a href="https://www.google.com.ec/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nbcolympics.com/sites/default/files/field_gallery_photos/29March2016/Simone-Biles_NUP_171788_3775.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news/who-simone-biles&h=844&w=1500&tbnid=IAnejQBGgXh-uM:&">Simone Biles</a>
would be proud of. Nearby, a <b>Graells's (Napo) Tamarin</b> hugged the trunk of a tree tight, before suddenly launching into the jungle, and evaporating into thin air!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEQ754f3OFF420mXKj5CAsv0w4LrC1tLXSgkDdilk2yBw-5jSTlO-xXNTrvrYgxL6VrqD9KOBX990kUFLjiMF7ew9MuOIvn8dyW1v-xgnpfs-IElK8_6PpPuzu0UqrTza15lwJATGsDQ/s1600/White-bellied-Spider-Monkey-sitting-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods-_S9A4167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEQ754f3OFF420mXKj5CAsv0w4LrC1tLXSgkDdilk2yBw-5jSTlO-xXNTrvrYgxL6VrqD9KOBX990kUFLjiMF7ew9MuOIvn8dyW1v-xgnpfs-IElK8_6PpPuzu0UqrTza15lwJATGsDQ/s400/White-bellied-Spider-Monkey-sitting-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods-_S9A4167.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While nothing out of the ordinary was seen, any boat ride in
the Amazon is exciting and magnetic, and we enjoyed some “Jurassic birds”, in
the form of the many hissing <b><span style="color: red;">Hoatzins</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>that
lumbered around the <i>cecropias</i> lining
the banks of the lagoon, and a <b><span style="color: red;">White-necked Puffbird</span></b> sitting typically high on an open branch, with all the horrific backlight that goes with that; (the constant foe of nature photographers). If you have not seen a <i>Hoatzin</i>, this species/monotypic family is well worth
observing, they simply feel like they are a species that existed while T Rex
wandered the Earth, and has refused to evolve ever since! I mean this as a
compliment by the way, I love Hoatzins, as they are unique, bizarre, and
emblematic of the Amazon, a place that every keen birder should adore, as I do. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis2f2iJro7pzSQNUgoQvRCXYf9GTMZhq0MEq8OVXxAUeE89PQLpOnIzeHTG1hshmWW9pVC_9OFvDiw7IOkG0FjJMuSsUwLnUpfE4DBY_6-cDMGWZodFmPMRDSC8cDGP25NO3zjRdzc0o/s1600/Hoatzin-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiis2f2iJro7pzSQNUgoQvRCXYf9GTMZhq0MEq8OVXxAUeE89PQLpOnIzeHTG1hshmWW9pVC_9OFvDiw7IOkG0FjJMuSsUwLnUpfE4DBY_6-cDMGWZodFmPMRDSC8cDGP25NO3zjRdzc0o/s400/Hoatzin-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An
excellent traditional meal was taken for lunch (<i>Maito de tilapia</i>), prepared by our guide Pedro. This took the form
of fish wrapped tightly within the leaves of a particular tree species, and
cooked over hot coals, making it incredibly flavoursome</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, and combined with yucca
and hot red chiles. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqujaPuSq2tZXFcf5zcI5qxtmUkvfHB2X2TVsYHmQ2Zgkd9L7RFOoILuhkLSnbgLK_zR7g-lM8B1TfubIZN9aPgLC9be-hm1Hh-Rf5dmq5SVqGdXp3TbO66e3PKFhwnW18THI7nh2Zp8/s1600/White-necked-Puffbird-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1500" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqujaPuSq2tZXFcf5zcI5qxtmUkvfHB2X2TVsYHmQ2Zgkd9L7RFOoILuhkLSnbgLK_zR7g-lM8B1TfubIZN9aPgLC9be-hm1Hh-Rf5dmq5SVqGdXp3TbO66e3PKFhwnW18THI7nh2Zp8/s400/White-necked-Puffbird-Lake-Paikawe-Tena-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4282.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With
one of the party flying out of Quito that night, we had decisions to make; with
limited time remaining, do we retry for the sungrebes at this new site (stated
as normally reliable), or head straight for the high Andes and another target,
the largest hummingbird on Earth, the Scarlet Tanager-sized, <i>Giant Hummingbird</i>? The odds were quickly
weighed up, and with the hummingbird being nearly guaranteed, it was decided
that we should in the direction of the 5700m (18,715ft)-high <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Antisana</i></b>
volcano, and a certain café that sits within its shadow. As we traveled there
from our position in Amazonian Tena, the time to get there ended up being a
little longer than expected, making it a little tense in terms of bagging a
last big bird for the tour participant. However, we arrived at <b><i>Tambo Condor</i></b>
restaurant in time, with 45 minutes of light still remaining in the day.
Immediately, the stark change in climate was palpable, and we were scrambling
for extra layers, in spite of a slim time limit left to find that Goliath among
hummers. Before, we had even started to look for that though, we admired
Ecuador’s national bird on the wing overhead – <b>Andean Condor</b>, another giant of
the bird world, with a wingspan that can reach 10ft/3m, or to put it another
way, considerably wider (nearly 3feet more than), the height of <i>NBA player Shaquille
O’Neal, (think about that)</i>! We admired its grace, and lack of need to take a single wingbeat, as it
cruised the entire length of the valley effortlessly. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKKmtqORlLS7xDHyC5kJABROcAv6uFdAhSkBkEwTfB_x7G24Pknl2IiM2CZv4Oktqix5J0j5Q2t42P5r0fEOTgso71MNNb6VopYyJh6PPRGKpUITWmYQBHW5zHakonc2p7CCcxQTrmZw/s1600/Shining-Sunbeam-wings-spread-Tambo-Condor-Antisana-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKKmtqORlLS7xDHyC5kJABROcAv6uFdAhSkBkEwTfB_x7G24Pknl2IiM2CZv4Oktqix5J0j5Q2t42P5r0fEOTgso71MNNb6VopYyJh6PPRGKpUITWmYQBHW5zHakonc2p7CCcxQTrmZw/s400/Shining-Sunbeam-wings-spread-Tambo-Condor-Antisana-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4469.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We then moved to a small
set of hummingbird feeders at <a href="http://tambocondor.com/">Tambo Condor</a>,
where even in the frigid temperatures creeping into the late afternoon,
hummingbirds were bustling, chasing their final feeds of the day. The first we
were to see were a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Shining Sunbeams</span></b>, both revealing their metallic coloured rumps that give rise to its extravagant name. Then, just around
the corner sat the object of our quest, a <b><span style="color: red;">Giant Hummingbird</span></b> sitting there like he owned the
joint, and dwarfing the sunbeams at their nearby feeder. While sunbeams may
take the trophy for looks, <i>Giant
Hummingbird </i>is impressive for its girth, it is one big hummingbird. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGX9opNTjez2DwIsjJoFqCJplq75SkdJcseAzS3dffChuoXZWBRwCgZjuvyTFsa_7KFJxBKcUdepUswHbKmda2qJ9mW43ohsBVZyytUIkZqAjuJEu0K5rohAa5_Gt_cB920kKhOHXK1o/s1600/Giant-Hummingbird-best-El-Tambo-Condor-Antisana-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGX9opNTjez2DwIsjJoFqCJplq75SkdJcseAzS3dffChuoXZWBRwCgZjuvyTFsa_7KFJxBKcUdepUswHbKmda2qJ9mW43ohsBVZyytUIkZqAjuJEu0K5rohAa5_Gt_cB920kKhOHXK1o/s400/Giant-Hummingbird-best-El-Tambo-Condor-Antisana-Ecuador-18-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A4654.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A great
end to a day that started with us watching <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fiery
Topaz</b> hovering in the humid air of the Amazon, and finished with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shining Sunbeams</b> rushing around within
the icy air of the high Andes, where <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">condors</i>
still circled overhead…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b><span style="color: orange; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It had been a very memorable 3 days of birding, which were
never meant to be for me, were it not for a delayed bag on American Airlines that
opened the way for me to travel to the Amazon with said bag, (and bins and camera!). The rest is now part of my own
personal avian history.</span></b></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-10913420625731114802017-09-25T22:30:00.004-05:002017-09-25T22:34:11.847-05:00Hail Harpy! (Ecuador): 17 Sept 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczmS5KBcNWacKaZBOT2anpa3PVJoOY5TsjNQu3enc4F6qF04YcOnzBvcnLNz2_OJVXm6P6uX9I6NUgl9O8h22UIRWdduGjkHojDLlh7GllOlNnmuXZHwqbtqvlFYKG_KzUcdFZCawJzo/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-Wings-Spread-Gareno-Lodge-17-Seopt-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczmS5KBcNWacKaZBOT2anpa3PVJoOY5TsjNQu3enc4F6qF04YcOnzBvcnLNz2_OJVXm6P6uX9I6NUgl9O8h22UIRWdduGjkHojDLlh7GllOlNnmuXZHwqbtqvlFYKG_KzUcdFZCawJzo/s400/Harpy-Eagle-Wings-Spread-Gareno-Lodge-17-Seopt-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3365.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">There
are some bird species that seem to come from a higher plane of existence to all
others around them; these absorb bird people in some way that often borders on
the obsessive. These superior species are perhaps comparable to pieces of plumed
art, which <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> agree are unique and
special, and open to no objections to their senior status. These are nature’s avian
icons. This can often be a very subjective choice, but with the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Harpy Eagle</span></b>,
the word “iconic”, I am sure, would not be disputed by anyone with an interest
in the feathered form. It is not just that it literally stands tall as disputably
the largest eagle on Earth, it is also that it lives in remote regions of the
mighty, and imposing Amazon jungle, where it’s range seems to stretch far and
wide, but yet they still remain rarely seen, and always just out of reach. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unless there is a known nest at play</i>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpbVUxCTNbOTt0ENRyaJtJv3unpofnGU5Do80zdAUdQMT9tU1uYDSyUzqXa7oLwW9Oq-5uiuzlYhKp5KCwDYW89aQcLZAx27q_RK8aHNDTbBFQYSxdWJGHHgVi8DgTe5kIlIiixyZxlU/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-juvenile-head-bob-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Samn-Woods_S9A2966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1189" data-original-width="1600" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpbVUxCTNbOTt0ENRyaJtJv3unpofnGU5Do80zdAUdQMT9tU1uYDSyUzqXa7oLwW9Oq-5uiuzlYhKp5KCwDYW89aQcLZAx27q_RK8aHNDTbBFQYSxdWJGHHgVi8DgTe5kIlIiixyZxlU/s400/Harpy-Eagle-juvenile-head-bob-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Samn-Woods_S9A2966.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In
my personal opinion, staked-out nests seem to be at an all-time low, due to
politics (Venezuela), and abandonment (some of the recent Brazilian nests, for
example). It is probably a fair reflection also that this lover of remote
areas, away from the prying eyes of people, are finding a smaller world in
which to live too. And so, demand for the eagle with the talons of a bear has
risen exponentially in recent times. It was to this icon that we returned on
this day…We had the nest, we just did not have the adult in our sights, just
yet…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZPZXRjYuZ7u22e9ZLY7xh65PGuEBqWvASfvYJ9LSSEoZhFF3Ht0UC5w7mJqlmqqqTcXgszi_kBmpzPtiCGbjybWfeHm8BZzVs-yKJbrcUgbnCFOUiWa3nkXrAbnYlC50rIgaYOBBSuc/s1600/Adult-Harpy-Eagle-at-nest-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="1500" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZPZXRjYuZ7u22e9ZLY7xh65PGuEBqWvASfvYJ9LSSEoZhFF3Ht0UC5w7mJqlmqqqTcXgszi_kBmpzPtiCGbjybWfeHm8BZzVs-yKJbrcUgbnCFOUiWa3nkXrAbnYlC50rIgaYOBBSuc/s400/Adult-Harpy-Eagle-at-nest-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3315.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38HtCHdQajfvV2a3ecjOnwSqWC7N6F11cljK_CxafXGL2aPxEKSTJKei2D3uyAKQHGY7oxppKT9t4FaLcQIeInUx4XwerIwtHi0rBCFKBIwuloNghTKVxpa0c6YIzlhGeA4_Jlcvp04I/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-adult-coming-in-to-land-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1500" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38HtCHdQajfvV2a3ecjOnwSqWC7N6F11cljK_CxafXGL2aPxEKSTJKei2D3uyAKQHGY7oxppKT9t4FaLcQIeInUx4XwerIwtHi0rBCFKBIwuloNghTKVxpa0c6YIzlhGeA4_Jlcvp04I/s400/Harpy-Eagle-adult-coming-in-to-land-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3362.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Following
an enjoyable day in the company of a buffy juvenile <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Harpy Eagle</b>, being the greedy birders that we are, we could not
resist returning for another throw of the dice at finding the striking form of
an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">adult</i></b>
Harpy. We awoke to a lack of rain, a good start, and enhanced our mood as we
faced what we had by then nicknamed “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mount
Gareno</i>”, once more, (the steep hike to the secluded nest of the eagle). We
set off as light quickly arose around us, and stopped little getting to the
nest, with the local knowledge in hand that the female was said to remain
roosting in the nesting tree only up until around 8-9am. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzhvcA59RXmRhJvAbXw1SwK0s2vwsn61XMuT6yTgtqQH0HsYrf7Ud336DOsABPynzJanep4GHniFO8wyucb475ceRzzpeSWZTgLRNKKZseLRNIbbj5z04NDRmeVW5qDM96Y4eDagM3kI/s1600/Walking-over-Gareno-Lodge-bridge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="939" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzhvcA59RXmRhJvAbXw1SwK0s2vwsn61XMuT6yTgtqQH0HsYrf7Ud336DOsABPynzJanep4GHniFO8wyucb475ceRzzpeSWZTgLRNKKZseLRNIbbj5z04NDRmeVW5qDM96Y4eDagM3kI/s400/Walking-over-Gareno-Lodge-bridge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3526.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbiR14Gs_ZEZCrAGwGakL8xrQL1QUVl55Sj59CI9ilvQMzLpC1uVinYWG2EcHpNBUv8HdaeUXHVf2hdpdnDJ4u8dQHi58HCp_z9x63aFbNjbdEA1vtK7X3ZQauScJsir8gwicucZSkXQ/s1600/Gareno-Lodge-jungle-river-scene-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="1440" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbiR14Gs_ZEZCrAGwGakL8xrQL1QUVl55Sj59CI9ilvQMzLpC1uVinYWG2EcHpNBUv8HdaeUXHVf2hdpdnDJ4u8dQHi58HCp_z9x63aFbNjbdEA1vtK7X3ZQauScJsir8gwicucZSkXQ/s400/Gareno-Lodge-jungle-river-scene-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods-IMG_3535.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We arrived at 8am, and
after a quick scan were clear that on this day, she had not decided to remain
until 9am after all; we could only see the hidden buffy form of the youngster
sitting low in the nest, and not begging for food, indicating that perhaps the
chance of an adult was rather unlikely in a while. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And, to be clear, a while in
“eagle land” may not be minutes, or even hours, but a day or more! Our mood
sunk a little as we </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">theorised</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> this in our minds and spoke about it out loud. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp-N6cgljhfDNvwZY0gP3CSfhRO8xq3lBrmvXQbvPzsPN7m-NErfnlze5oCBILZPmHS1F3DUzdtVWeUeWTvF8QRumxOduR9ICTMj9vfezu-0fDMhr8VqnIf7jgi_WjiNY7Bb-gKq5XNM/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-adult-calling-alone-on-branch-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1500" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp-N6cgljhfDNvwZY0gP3CSfhRO8xq3lBrmvXQbvPzsPN7m-NErfnlze5oCBILZPmHS1F3DUzdtVWeUeWTvF8QRumxOduR9ICTMj9vfezu-0fDMhr8VqnIf7jgi_WjiNY7Bb-gKq5XNM/s400/Harpy-Eagle-adult-calling-alone-on-branch-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3588.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVLKJgfV0albRWX7QL5IX0U9Art3OAvS3L8po_cLULxfXBnuFUo4sqhbywY58yhCRiMwuk57mpFvCCwfqcSWWC-7l5lqCIfDQs0aFDuOIwF08UxK0GYaFZF4w75D-8amSXLh71pj-79M/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-adult-calling-with-juvenile-at-nest-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="1500" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVLKJgfV0albRWX7QL5IX0U9Art3OAvS3L8po_cLULxfXBnuFUo4sqhbywY58yhCRiMwuk57mpFvCCwfqcSWWC-7l5lqCIfDQs0aFDuOIwF08UxK0GYaFZF4w75D-8amSXLh71pj-79M/s400/Harpy-Eagle-adult-calling-with-juvenile-at-nest-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONeYKvDWOmiOnktaQicpRW3cftAac7AvQNPetiR8fjuYAkOvbbj_N1SX0XVrGt6FZzlmWh54XrBwK69bFK1aoFxLLPYh8mgk1CPtHyPnI2OSTqGxMk2GKUDjasY_S7NIZ_2vTV5hPU_g/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sepot-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1500" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONeYKvDWOmiOnktaQicpRW3cftAac7AvQNPetiR8fjuYAkOvbbj_N1SX0XVrGt6FZzlmWh54XrBwK69bFK1aoFxLLPYh8mgk1CPtHyPnI2OSTqGxMk2GKUDjasY_S7NIZ_2vTV5hPU_g/s400/Harpy-Eagle-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sepot-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3423.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Then, out of the corner of our eyes a massive shape emerged silently from the forest canopy and glided effortlessly down on to the nest. Literally, </span><b style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The Eagle had Landed</b><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">. This beautiful adult specimen stood in profile on the nest, and flew off soon after, when we realised the juvenile was ripping at a carcass in the nest, Which the adult must have dropped in with, but did so, so swiftly, we had missed this in the considerable adrenalin rush of being in the presence of one of the World’s most impressive avian predators. It took off sooner than we hoped, but then returned again, and sat on a branch alongside the nest calling enthusiastically, as we watched enthralled. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Then it lifted off silently and vanished back into the forest, and the lair of its prey, </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">monkeys</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> and </span><i style="font-size: 14pt;">sloths</i><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfVdfIEncB2z-8LPqJXUDzIs4VAG49Uqqo1RFdWKampSpMCHI2Ns5kIJWe-DunqLgMfZkzthCE8bjjEMxWLLSM5bHLsrKaAzYPirFU933aD3_76s4jqy9z0Eg0RmvVUyw5p7mv4mIRaM/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-facing-in-flight-not-great-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfVdfIEncB2z-8LPqJXUDzIs4VAG49Uqqo1RFdWKampSpMCHI2Ns5kIJWe-DunqLgMfZkzthCE8bjjEMxWLLSM5bHLsrKaAzYPirFU933aD3_76s4jqy9z0Eg0RmvVUyw5p7mv4mIRaM/s400/Harpy-Eagle-facing-in-flight-not-great-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3458.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocQC9_kpS5SGwGP2ha976HnMn8xUXDtPrspOIPXe9uP4XWV81VMVd6xvqzDeGKeF-QNVNtmi_8RHv9dkRTelTYaCw5H2PnuGrCH_gz1BDWox8dEizRsOFCNlEM-9r1c78-Lh-MNTQO9g/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-coming-in-to-land-best-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocQC9_kpS5SGwGP2ha976HnMn8xUXDtPrspOIPXe9uP4XWV81VMVd6xvqzDeGKeF-QNVNtmi_8RHv9dkRTelTYaCw5H2PnuGrCH_gz1BDWox8dEizRsOFCNlEM-9r1c78-Lh-MNTQO9g/s400/Harpy-Eagle-coming-in-to-land-best-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3363.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">However, the arrival of another birding group with Marcelo Andy perked us up,
until American politics came up in conversation. However, an extremely cooperative
</span><b style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: red;">Pavonine Quetzal</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">soon drew us out of the political world and back into
the natural world, as this scarlet and emerald gem sat above us calling. Then
the high whistles of a </span><b style="font-size: 14pt;">Lanceolated
Monklet</b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, from the cute end of the puffbird family, peaked our interest, and
we were soon watching one of a pair in full view of the juvenile Harpy Eagle.
Life was not so bad after all…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64hJEN1FLq-szTmfQqZSLMaPbEosvz9lpmKnXckibi82ieBGcVdaaMOVlxZoA3o4x3Di6aO9DlQl4eAvxestbRSRnVDZKQnGwiHviH9ksfzTYy9HUYYNSJLh3EYBy_SfrmLj_KtnNztU/s1600/Pavonine-Quetzal-best-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1200" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64hJEN1FLq-szTmfQqZSLMaPbEosvz9lpmKnXckibi82ieBGcVdaaMOVlxZoA3o4x3Di6aO9DlQl4eAvxestbRSRnVDZKQnGwiHviH9ksfzTYy9HUYYNSJLh3EYBy_SfrmLj_KtnNztU/s400/Pavonine-Quetzal-best-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The chick was transformed from
its previous lethargic self, and vigorously attacked at the prey that had been
left for it, while we desperately tried to identify it, but most of the time it
was out of sight below the rim of the massive stick nest (the consensus seemed
to veer towards squirrel monkey in the end). As it struggled with its fleshy meal
it constantly called for help, but the adult showed no further sign of
assistance, leaving its offspring to learn how to do this for itself. It may
have </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">laboured</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> at this, but bits and pieces of monkey were digested over time.
Once the monkey was mostly consumed, and activity died, we set off back for the
lodge, with a spring in our step. I have seen Harpy on a number of occasions,
but only once so well, and so splendidly, ironically at this very same site
some 11 years previously. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDQKyNdPZSdTP8LClQ8akltIHbk07bzAJ85R2hdVpV8ggvXqzSGBQYQwGD1S0xZu4nZeUPmJReWi0SDlMAuuTYxlEy0XdyTnFp8An01TLsPSz2LDltQA44veppqLCWcoauLaUP62bUGY/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-juvenile-with-monkey-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1350" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDQKyNdPZSdTP8LClQ8akltIHbk07bzAJ85R2hdVpV8ggvXqzSGBQYQwGD1S0xZu4nZeUPmJReWi0SDlMAuuTYxlEy0XdyTnFp8An01TLsPSz2LDltQA44veppqLCWcoauLaUP62bUGY/s400/Harpy-Eagle-juvenile-with-monkey-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3664.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Our
walk back was more than just filled with pleasant satisfaction at the eagle
sighting, as we also saw a handsome <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Banded
Antbird</b> whistling to us from a fallen log, while just across the trail a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rusty-belted Tapaculo</b> wandered within
spitting distance (we did not spit at it though, to be clear!) Better still
came with another Amazon Avian Classic: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-plumed
Antbird</b>, a species that seems to be better designed for cartoons than the
rainforest, with its bizarre, immaculately trimmed ermine-toned plume. A few
further <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-browed Antbirds</b> were
no less appreciated than they were the day before, and we also caught sight of
a lekking <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Great-billed Hermit</b>, by
picking up the constant bobbing of the tail in timer with its incessant call.
Once back at the lodge, we checked in on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fiery Topazes</b> in the lodge garden, which had returned for another afternoon
performance, just before the curtain closed on an amazing day in the Amazon…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wfqGfaowGFHKMptEOz2wB-y3dvsX4asgCGryZ5qN2TZHNOEFon4qo8fg8CPewvD-7xonb_2UVgu3YTH5eJm0Z1CxJWFdFvDnaIQQNxuL5UCIgaEQ3Qtd8jBr1iiIMcRm9M2PhzrvUBg/s1600/Amazon-red-leaves-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1600" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wfqGfaowGFHKMptEOz2wB-y3dvsX4asgCGryZ5qN2TZHNOEFon4qo8fg8CPewvD-7xonb_2UVgu3YTH5eJm0Z1CxJWFdFvDnaIQQNxuL5UCIgaEQ3Qtd8jBr1iiIMcRm9M2PhzrvUBg/s400/Amazon-red-leaves-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3811.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #ffc000;">One more insane day followed, when </span></b><b><span style="color: #ffc000;">we birded from </span></b></span></div>
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amazon to
High Andes…</span></b><br />
<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39249991?share=true" target="_blank">eBird List from this day</a></span></span>Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-74101924094478651672017-09-24T15:00:00.001-05:002017-09-24T15:20:31.375-05:00Into the Heart of Darkness (Ecuador): 16th Sept. 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQUKuvmmTmnQ5mP89NVtpGg34wKM5CU1B1v6z1gcrOasymcN57LYOZmCLcmrLgzetWRY6YyaL4krCJgT7unFq2PbkrXfP_DlZi_i45fGJJcTG1LEhJBV7T5z0e7sb4ea73yS_V90ug1w/s1600/Rufous-Potoo-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1069" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQUKuvmmTmnQ5mP89NVtpGg34wKM5CU1B1v6z1gcrOasymcN57LYOZmCLcmrLgzetWRY6YyaL4krCJgT7unFq2PbkrXfP_DlZi_i45fGJJcTG1LEhJBV7T5z0e7sb4ea73yS_V90ug1w/s400/Rufous-Potoo-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3060.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
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So, there I was, minding my own
business, and planning an unspectacular weekend of going to gym, watching
Premier League football (US=Soccer), and catching up on my eBird data for
Borneo from this year’s tour. Not birding, but nothing to blog about; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">then I got THE call…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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One of <a href="http://www.tropicalbirding.com/">Tropical Birding’s</a> clients was
stranded in the Amazon without his luggage, which had come in a day late (thanks
to American Airlines), and needed to be taken to him. The flight with his
luggage arrived at midnight, and the drive to the Amazon was a 5-hour
undertaking. A key element in all of this equation, was that the person was
there at that time, for one very specific, and crucial objective, to photograph
the pair of nesting Harpy Eagles. And so, after some extremely rapid preparation
and reorganisation of the weekend, (e.g. loading Eastern Ecuador bird
recordings on to I-Pods that were still holding bird calls from my most recent
tour in Indonesia, of no use whatsoever to where I was heading, desperately charging
batteries, knowing I was heading to a remote corner of Amazonian where
electricity is virtually nil etc.), there I was meeting a driver and some
luggage in the dark of night in Quito, and then heading even deeper into a darker
night still in the Amazon, where streetlights gave way to stars, and population
of people thinned to almost nothing but a few scattered shacks in the darkness.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hjlY8H0BbPaWcPDrPcPfRnm49ttdxtolYPCVtr00b5qlYSWg_dc9RMMpusq-3GHJO3hkNlMZXlW4ri197FxygbyIyPm1RVkND1jYW6gh6sjyp43xoFLkWfcpx1-alDecnuLx95pf6-8/s1600/Harpy-Eagle-juvenile-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A2963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1500" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hjlY8H0BbPaWcPDrPcPfRnm49ttdxtolYPCVtr00b5qlYSWg_dc9RMMpusq-3GHJO3hkNlMZXlW4ri197FxygbyIyPm1RVkND1jYW6gh6sjyp43xoFLkWfcpx1-alDecnuLx95pf6-8/s400/Harpy-Eagle-juvenile-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-17-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A2963.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We arrived, to find we had narrowly
missed fellow Tropical Birding guide <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://www.tropicalbirding.com/meet-your-guides/">Jose Illanes</a></i></b>
and his luggage-less tour participant heading off for the Harpy Eagle nest for
the day. The local manager of the lodge, (Pedro Aguinda) – <a href="http://www.garenolodge-huao.com/">Gareno Lodge</a> – made matters only
more perturbing, when he casually informed me that it was imperative that if I
wanted to see an adult Harpy that we head off for the nest as soon as possible,
as the adult at that time tended to head out for most of the day by 9am. It was
now 7am and I had a gruelling <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">6km (3.7 miles)</i>
walk ahead of me, or to put it another way, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a
minimum 2-hour trek</i>. Now, if you have visited some of the Napo Lodges in
Ecuador (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">e.g. Sacha, Sani, Napo Wildlife
Center</i>), you probably have an image of an Amazon jungle that is wonderfully
flat, if muddy and slippery, to walk among. That image does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> apply to Gareno. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hilly</i> is a much more appropriate word,
making this much more of a trudge than a casual walk or light hike. To make
matters worse still, a short way into the walk the rainforest lived up to its
name, and brought its rain<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, lots and lots
of it</i>. However, I finally connected with Jose and Gerold, bundled up
against the inclement weather, during this, the alleged dry season for the area,
while the forest around us remained dark, like dawn had not yet fully shed its
skin. Finally, we made it up to the top of the slick and slippery hill, which
overlooked the nest of this giant forest eagle, (that vies with the Asian <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Philippine Monkey-eating Eagle</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Steller’s Sea-Eagles</i> for title of world’s
largest).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Whilst I caught my breath,
following the final exhausting climb to the viewpoint, Jose was just ahead and
confirmed the adult was standing alongside the cream-coloured chick at the
nest. However, by the time Gerold and I had returned to “birdable state” (i.e. caught
our breath back), the adult had departed, leaving the soggy and forlorn chick
behind. We spent a good deal of the day there photographing this still
impressive bird, starting to look in size similar to an adult at this time, and
waiting impatiently for a more strikingly patterned adult to silently reappear
from the depths of the surrounding forest. However, after a 9am-2:30pm vigil,
and still soaked through from the both the morning’s foul weather and demanding
slog through the humid jungle, we decided to return to the lodge, and return to
the quest the following day instead. It had been an enchanting time with the
young <b><span style="color: red;">Harpy Eagle</span></b>, (that even shared the tree with a couple of inquisitive <b>Bare-nacked Fruitcrows</b> at one point) but we yearned for an adult to satisfy our greedy desires. As we
strolled our way back through a dripping jungle, (but at least now not raining),
we picked up a few classic Amazonian species, including cracking looks at both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-headed and Blue-backed Manakins</b>,
and the always appealing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-browed
Antbird</b>, which is much more abundant here than some of the more familiar
Amazonian lodges in the country. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cinereous
Mourner</b> was also another piece of good work by Jose, but got less plaudits
than the others, its overall drabness letting down its status of scarcity. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5ACa-RmKEVltRkysp6aBch2SiS3hUt_QzOv7QNcRAr9N0jyAee4GNfuxAOA1DXHA1ERRX_Xm8XPeT5oXhVOLJSdMz_8PodcvA6dwPSznDzAYhO7JjyO45or-6iaNp7Drq1EuoedWDEw/s1600/Butterfly-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1500" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5ACa-RmKEVltRkysp6aBch2SiS3hUt_QzOv7QNcRAr9N0jyAee4GNfuxAOA1DXHA1ERRX_Xm8XPeT5oXhVOLJSdMz_8PodcvA6dwPSznDzAYhO7JjyO45or-6iaNp7Drq1EuoedWDEw/s400/Butterfly-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3039.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once back at the lodge, we got news
from hawk-eyed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pedro</i> that neither the
usual <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crested Owl</i> or “reliable”
roosting <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rufous Potoos</i> were reliable
anymore, and were absent from their usual sleeping abodes. A plan was hatched
to try to see the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">potoo</i> by night,
usually a much more challenging feat to achieve. However, the late afternoon
brought us one of the highlights of the entire day (even with a Harpy involved,
yes!); when a pair of dueling male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fiery
Topaz</b> hummingbirds were watched from the lodge cabins at length, as they
danced and swirled in the shadows, gleaming iridescent crimson and jade in doing
so. Gerold could not have put it better, and so I will quote him <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This
MUST be one of the best birds in the World”,</i></b> and after seeing them like
this, I am in no position to disagree: exquisite, simply stunning, and my best
looks ever. There are simply not enough superlatives in the English language
for this species in the right light conditions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photos, however, were prevented by the dark
conditions of the regular perches of these rare forest hummingbirds.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikZhMLqZa23XdIrFXRCKkBmqIzBWExPfmqB91fPBbzL0V0UFVj2A_z9z2B4fa5rSb4etv-_FzYwhaUfw5CTF8NsnsInx7TCvl208jAMOXEhNTGhBIqdZqE75LB2hXw1oi5wuhTjufyzg/s1600/Bumble-bee-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1350" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikZhMLqZa23XdIrFXRCKkBmqIzBWExPfmqB91fPBbzL0V0UFVj2A_z9z2B4fa5rSb4etv-_FzYwhaUfw5CTF8NsnsInx7TCvl208jAMOXEhNTGhBIqdZqE75LB2hXw1oi5wuhTjufyzg/s400/Bumble-bee-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You would think this was enough
for one day, but the night held more, and so into the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heart of Darkness</i> we went once more. By the evening, I was on my
last legs, having had a sleepless night getting into the Amazon through the
night, combined with the arduous hike, I was truly spent. But, birds have a way
of injecting energy into me that comes out of little else, (rather like
following a full and substantial meal, there is always a sliver left in you for
an irresistible desert to squeeze inside). We could tell that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rufous Potoo</i> was niggling Pedro, as he
prided himself on finding this for every single birding group that visits Gareno
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">during the daytime</i>, which he, (until
then) held a 100% record with. We set off just prior to full darkness, and
entered the forest interior once more after darkness had fallen, with Pedro
displaying that particular focus that comes with birding your own special patch
of birding land. Soon after the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">potoo</i>
call was played a distant reply came back to us, but it gave no inclination of
coming in any closer, and remained frustratingly down slope from us, and the incline
was considerable. Pedro, with his trademark cowboy boots (apparently dating
back to a past fashion decades ago in the Amazon), stepped downhill like it was
nothing, and soon after announced he had the bird! We slipped, slided, and
cursed our way down to him, and stared right into the eyes of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Rufous Potoo</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>standing sentry on a dead snag in the forest
understorey, which remained there until we left some time later.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgEgv3ZESMeJqbZmZxHaGVElqRLr7o1puIuqK9oayNxQ5WUPjVYVw6leII30dZ14C7QQ-M5J_eLk7BD4r-z6s5mryA65gt0X1bP2F8EvJtyseSK1ye7tGhmGjgLAYteQYk-mBh74czK8/s1600/Nocturnal-Curassow-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1200" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgEgv3ZESMeJqbZmZxHaGVElqRLr7o1puIuqK9oayNxQ5WUPjVYVw6leII30dZ14C7QQ-M5J_eLk7BD4r-z6s5mryA65gt0X1bP2F8EvJtyseSK1ye7tGhmGjgLAYteQYk-mBh74czK8/s400/Nocturnal-Curassow-Gareno-Lodge-Ecuador-16-Sept-2017-Sam-Woods_S9A3080.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Supper was calling, and soon we
ate and headed for retirement, after a long, exciting, yet punishing day. However,
the night chorus held a bird’s voice within it that peaked my interest: </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Nocturnal Curassow</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, one of the Amazon’s true
wraiths. Its deep sounds can be readily heard at certain chosen locales only, although
even there catching sight of this species has always been something of a contest,
comparable to birding Olympics. However, I had one important weapon on my side,
</span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Jose Illanes</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, an Amazonian with a
legendary ability to see something out of nothing, by night or day, (and
perhaps even blindfolded!) The bird did indeed, prove a considerable battle to
find, drawing us well inside the forest, with no trail in sight, and onto yet another
precipitous slope, and that is where Jose found a window into the canopy of the
trees, and spotted the rufous form of a </span><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: red;">Nocturnal Curassow</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">sitting
quietly above us. A magical end to a day that only the Amazon can provide, and
in the company of some truly great Amazonians!</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
(I apologize for the extremely poor
quality of the photo of the curassow, but merely seeing this bird was
incredible, and I needed to post the photo to make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">myself</i> believe that I actually did see one!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ffc000;">More to come from the Amazon soon. Our
Adventure did not end there, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">far from it…</i></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ffc000;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></b>
<b>eBird lists: </b><br />
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39249994?share=true" target="_blank">eBird List 1 Gareno Lodge Ecuador 16 Sept 2017 </a><br />
<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S39249994?share=true">eBird List 2 Gareno Lodge Ecuador 16 Sept 2017</a></div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0Tena, Ecuador-0.9962972000000001 -77.8136035-1.0280497000000002 -77.853944 -0.96454470000000014 -77.773263tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-26518684303499679572016-11-04T18:05:00.000-05:002016-11-04T18:05:01.684-05:00Stag Do…YELLOWSTONE, USA (13 Oct)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">This trip to Yellowstone had held two objectives for me; to see a swathe of North American mammals, many of which I had not yet seen, and to try and find a Great Grey Owl. On both fronts the trip had been an unquestionable success. I had thought there was a good chance we could <i>miss</i> the owl – the Internet is flooded with people who</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">d experienced this as a foreboding warning, and so I was well aware that was not a given. However, we had accomplished arguably our most challenging task, and I had seen almost all of the mammals in the park that I had not yet seen before (i.e. Black and Grizzly Bears, and Bison). However, there was one glaring omission on our mammal list, and one that Yellowstone is especially famed for: <i>Wolf</i>. In spite of travel to various continents, I was still wolfless, (I have never managed to catch up with the Tibetan one on my travels to the Far East). Seeing Wolves in Yellowstone is said to be not that difficult with the aid of a good </span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">‘</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">scope (check, I had my trusty Swarovski along for this reason), and being observant of <i>human behavior</i>. For in the park there is a pack of people, let</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s call them </span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Wolfers</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> or the </span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Wolf Pack</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, who have dedicated their time to tracking the wolves, and know the individual groups and animals. By observing the wolfers, you have a good chance of finding the wolves themselves. The known park hotspots for the wolves are the <i>Lamar Valley</i> and the <i>Hayden Valley</i>. The day before we had arrived at the Lamar a little tardy – we fancied a hot breakfast after all – only to find out a wolf pack had crossed the road shortly before our arrival! Thus, on this day we skipped breakfast and were in the Lamar Valley early. However, we were not alone, the Wolfers and their followers were out in force too, and this could only be good news. If the Wolfers are absent, the chances are, so are the Wolves, as this subgroup of animal watchers are connected by high tech radio, and are rarely far from their mammalian muse. Like us, they came armed with top end scopes for the job, and they were clearly trained on something as we arrived. Soon enough, we were able to watch a pack of 8 <b>Wolves</b> lolling about on the hillside. They were a quarter of a mile away, but fantastic to see howling with the scope trained on them. The group consisted of 5 black animals and 3 grey ones. I would dearly loved to have photographed them, but all the same, I had my wolf.</span><br />
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Having put another mammal to bed, the day was more relaxed from then on. We tried to track down a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moose</i>, but in spite of checking known hotspots, which even included the yard of a small town church, this beast proved elusive, in spite of its considerable size. In the afternoon, as our time in Yellowstone was slowly drawing to a close, we finally came upon a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Pronghorn</span></b>, which did not display its usual speedy prowess, and calmly foraged by the road, making for a great chance to photograph a lone male. I lingered a little longer than was probably healthy with this animal, and was made to pay, when we re-met with Jim Chagares, who had just seen a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black Bear</i> moments before. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuojDdMpElqKUD9f6NfMlhfzGTCPjTtDWDHJDnIroYpse0x6TmAcsslRLGqZhoK3ZKEK4oR70xJ1Wi7Us9tnr7-rWE72NQRWlaDfAUbZiXa_2VABk2XRHuC3BRLUZzS3ZawfXj2tOmM8/s1600/Bighorn-Sheep-food-in-mouth-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuojDdMpElqKUD9f6NfMlhfzGTCPjTtDWDHJDnIroYpse0x6TmAcsslRLGqZhoK3ZKEK4oR70xJ1Wi7Us9tnr7-rWE72NQRWlaDfAUbZiXa_2VABk2XRHuC3BRLUZzS3ZawfXj2tOmM8/s400/Bighorn-Sheep-food-in-mouth-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1788.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Our check of this area, did yield the same ram <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Bighorn Sheep</span></b> from a few days before (photos were taken then), but no <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Black Bear</i>, which appeared to be undergoing a particularly elusive spell during our time in Yellowstone. When leaving a place that has left indelible memories and brought great times, (like this <b><span style="color: red;">Coyote</span></b> from a few days before there), you always wish for a finale, a curtain call, something to leave you heading home with a feeling of ultimate fulfillment. And so it was with Yellowstone; as we neared leaving the park, there on the road verge was a magnificent male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Elk</span></b>, with the widest load available. Its rack must have measured six feet across, which made it in the upper realms for the species. This was the end we craved, and we left soon after, knowing full well we had left somewhere very special behind us. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqT8M2GMTbIIMaDF_w-qfDJZPQHNoFhXdn_MuOj5rOZCacYmx1tRucs-VKeNJOI4gCLHnfdWaq7N6ldOcrIVO5cT_gkroxD4r7g_-aPcxp43pjxvDSLLO7RBz2EHPU69_mldYJwl_t48/s1600/Coyote-close-up-Mount-Washburn-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-12-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqT8M2GMTbIIMaDF_w-qfDJZPQHNoFhXdn_MuOj5rOZCacYmx1tRucs-VKeNJOI4gCLHnfdWaq7N6ldOcrIVO5cT_gkroxD4r7g_-aPcxp43pjxvDSLLO7RBz2EHPU69_mldYJwl_t48/s400/Coyote-close-up-Mount-Washburn-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-12-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3965.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ3AtF6_vm6VETggbHqLdozlq20cxqIEXeNAlOO7qyLa_aqy6_yPj4R_oB68WXPeKAp3ijJwISZqflrOiVBp4aAkv7S6DlJNOdTkma4CICXsxVT3xIQlLc4XBvl7Jxat7DrDbDgeoODo/s1600/Coyote-walking-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ3AtF6_vm6VETggbHqLdozlq20cxqIEXeNAlOO7qyLa_aqy6_yPj4R_oB68WXPeKAp3ijJwISZqflrOiVBp4aAkv7S6DlJNOdTkma4CICXsxVT3xIQlLc4XBvl7Jxat7DrDbDgeoODo/s400/Coyote-walking-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3978.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we left Gardiner, Montana, the next day for Bozeman airport, we stopped in on the local </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Grizzly Bear </b></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">cubs, which were not feeding as close to the road as they had been a few days before, when this photo was taken...</span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-74291115127755942422016-10-29T14:36:00.000-05:002016-10-29T14:36:01.831-05:00Grey Day…YELLOWSTONE, USA (11 Oct.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM8ubGUvuFiWXh9KQRzb4U0lG2h0nDl5XZVLVe5Ag_VW_nTYSW0_fV0xi5pdDSy7rI9eB13ZB82P04zqcq_VMEMulw7NfAziUrPqaZBIEePoRP8Dc4u6Iel2HFdKBLCw7vQuWklth_u4/s1600/Gray-Jay-Nez-Perce-Ford-Campground-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKM8ubGUvuFiWXh9KQRzb4U0lG2h0nDl5XZVLVe5Ag_VW_nTYSW0_fV0xi5pdDSy7rI9eB13ZB82P04zqcq_VMEMulw7NfAziUrPqaZBIEePoRP8Dc4u6Iel2HFdKBLCw7vQuWklth_u4/s400/Gray-Jay-Nez-Perce-Ford-Campground-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3656.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">The colour of this day in </span><b style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Yellowstone</i></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> was undoubtedly </span><i style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">grey</i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, but that is not to say it was dull; far from it. Having spent considerable time unsuccessfully probing sites from </span><i style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Canyon</i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">to Bridge Bay</i><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> for </span><b style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;">Great Grey Owl</span></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> the day before, this then became our raison d’etre for this day. While we were unreservedly grateful for having seen one a few days before, and the views had been unquestionably good, they were cut short when the owl took off earlier than we’d hoped, leaving us yearning deeply for more. We set off in chilly conditions back to the forest meadows near </span><b style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Canyon</i></b><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">. Having found no sign of the “Grey Ghost” at the first meadow, we walked deeper into the woods, hoping to find it perched inside instead, and a known hangout for the species. This method failed too, and so Nick Athanas and I worked our way along the road to the next set of meadows. This constituted two meadows dissected by the road that runs through the park. I took one side of the road, while Nick took the other. I had barely worked my way down into “my” </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">meadow,</span><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> when I heard Nick’s raised voice summoning me from the other side. I hurried across the road and was quickly by Nick’s side, staring at an impressive grey shape perched on a precarious snag, which appeared barely capable of bearing the weight of this large beast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Great Grey Owls </i>are reputed to be fearless, something that was not evident from our previous sighting, but became apparent over the next two hours when we watched it showing absolutely no signs of anxiety from the comings and goings of various people reacting to a small crowd gathered in a roadside meadow, and then reacting more lucidly to the owl itself. As we viewed this magnificent owl within clear view of </span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">passers by</span><span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, it did not take long for a small crowd to gather in its wake, which enjoyed watching it while snow fell gently around it, making it a sight to behold. However, once the owl moved into the woods behind, the throng soon disbanded, and after finding it sitting imperially within the forest, we had it all to ourselves for as long as we wanted it. This was the view I had craved, and I was thoroughly satiated. Forgive my fixation with this bird, but it stands head and shoulder above anything else I have seen this year, and ranks up there within my all-time top ten birds, so I am going to milk it, while I can!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The weather on this day was topsy-turvy, snow accompanying parts, while other parts were bathed in sunshine, with cerulean skies! In the middle of the day, within the higher reaches of the park, a sudden and particularly heavy snowfall, left some <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">American</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Bison</span></b> carrying a soft white burden on their hides, making for a magical scene. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGtno71AiHX5c7czBEXTzgom6mvpoUmS8AMo4mIsa08FAtccOv-KsQVANqExnON1oqQ-cm1WDQ_l3Ufdyr4zUlxDY-m7VQe9zfhnz-P2yJI6p-CpHAQmpvwOrLAMzyKqYPYERCdgdbyE/s1600/American-Bison-in-the-snow-black-and-white-version-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGtno71AiHX5c7czBEXTzgom6mvpoUmS8AMo4mIsa08FAtccOv-KsQVANqExnON1oqQ-cm1WDQ_l3Ufdyr4zUlxDY-m7VQe9zfhnz-P2yJI6p-CpHAQmpvwOrLAMzyKqYPYERCdgdbyE/s400/American-Bison-in-the-snow-black-and-white-version-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3726.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpARMtpXlRy49ZIrz6EvhAMvAFxxOGBDNw2JLBSykKfkVgAg7fNwzhvdpxxISQ38W6C0Muhf6CV-H3yBs8DW7KVnf59aS60OqklqrFSBJdeG1gGuuC9_SADjyrBNAt38aT2W-6L4U6PBs/s1600/Baby-American-Bison-covered-in-snow-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpARMtpXlRy49ZIrz6EvhAMvAFxxOGBDNw2JLBSykKfkVgAg7fNwzhvdpxxISQ38W6C0Muhf6CV-H3yBs8DW7KVnf59aS60OqklqrFSBJdeG1gGuuC9_SADjyrBNAt38aT2W-6L4U6PBs/s400/Baby-American-Bison-covered-in-snow-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3736.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Adobe Caslon Pro"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At lunchtime we left the snow largely behind, but still experienced bone-chilling temperatures. Not what we desired for an open air picnic lunch in a campsite! We had not even managed to make our first sandwiches, when one of the local camp raiders – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Grey Jays</span></b> – swooped in and gobbled up some of our unintended crumbs. I had heard tales of this species being commonly referred to as “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Camp Robbers</i>”, due to their larcenous nature, but this was my first direct experience of it, which made for a great, impromptu, photo shoot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsFp_USI_kE42WwPQdPhtxsyBQjr-FQdLc8i3K4-for-rkG71wXB0Ftx_eN58dJCX_5ZTfxbwfBYDFDODH2M-tZ98D0NlqlWxcJV_jIKo9QVVMSAzExHuGRSY-l60-mKDiQeZmWU8ch8/s1600/Grey-Jay-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsFp_USI_kE42WwPQdPhtxsyBQjr-FQdLc8i3K4-for-rkG71wXB0Ftx_eN58dJCX_5ZTfxbwfBYDFDODH2M-tZ98D0NlqlWxcJV_jIKo9QVVMSAzExHuGRSY-l60-mKDiQeZmWU8ch8/s400/Grey-Jay-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-11-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A3604.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-alt:"Optima ExtraBlack"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-alt:"Optima ExtraBlack"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman"; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:auto; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Adobe Caslon Pro"; panose-1:2 5 5 2 5 5 10 2 4 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:7 1 0 0 147 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:"Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page WordSection1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style>Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-35019880735692318722016-10-27T13:42:00.003-05:002016-10-27T13:44:24.584-05:00Bear Necessities…YELLOWSTONE USA (10 Oct)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h52UfCgf8eMQwhap6p3G75WfUaeDfzofFeSo1M5rWSf84UcyBJNhd571wgmtZXpGIgM7gbT7QwGbmGN4OlB97XAUPHgJ5t-6rR1_ddsXjBwGZ7Yj6ppAUyPUmqbjaBbdyhg5fT-0DHg/s1600/Grizzly-cub-near-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h52UfCgf8eMQwhap6p3G75WfUaeDfzofFeSo1M5rWSf84UcyBJNhd571wgmtZXpGIgM7gbT7QwGbmGN4OlB97XAUPHgJ5t-6rR1_ddsXjBwGZ7Yj6ppAUyPUmqbjaBbdyhg5fT-0DHg/s400/Grizzly-cub-near-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">As all good </span>wildlife<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> people know it pays to be out early (and late), as that is often when animals or birds are most active in a place like </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Yellowstone National Park</i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">. And so, we left the hotel in the dark and pulled up at the picturesque spot of </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">Swan Lake</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> as the sky was blushed pink, signifying the arrival of dawn. It was a beautiful and tranquil scene; all was calm, save for a few ripples on the lake caused by the early morning movements of a pair of </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Trumpeter Swans</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> disturbing the glassy surface of the water. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kj7am6KQ3cnuXVhTKv7_O2UjAB5zcUFsnNIREByi0GGd0bRfBUC0hYeyuGtbwKbn0F0U7lijLA6cHNfV-o-vc4IIJ5is5J5bgiIsZtgyKXnZukuuZBSpMHetTaxIHFXJPjulJNMn2_E/s1600/Swan-Lake-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods-IMG_5236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kj7am6KQ3cnuXVhTKv7_O2UjAB5zcUFsnNIREByi0GGd0bRfBUC0hYeyuGtbwKbn0F0U7lijLA6cHNfV-o-vc4IIJ5is5J5bgiIsZtgyKXnZukuuZBSpMHetTaxIHFXJPjulJNMn2_E/s400/Swan-Lake-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods-IMG_5236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Few other animals were in evidence though, so, once dawn had made way for daytime, we continued on to a must-see site within the park</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">…</span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Old Faithful</i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, the largest cone geyser in the World, which can reach over 130 feet on occasions. However, our progress to this explosive spot was halted when a classic Yellowstone sight blocked our way, and peaked our interest: a huddle of cars was stopped untidily on the roadside. In Yellowstone, this is often the easiest path to seeing wildlife; drive slowly, scouring the roads for human indications of other animals. This particular jam had been caused by a sow <b><span style="color: red;">Grizzly Bear</span></b> that had brought her cub up to the roadside to forage. Bears are busy at this time fattening up for the onset of winter, when they go into hibernation for the hardiest months. The car huddle was soon tidied up by a zealous park ranger (sadly they are often a little <i>overzealous</i> there), and we watched as the pair of bears slowly made their way out of sight of the road.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-obR0PCrXfhOe8n5xdjcld1WcQOzikKIlLc7_GzQCTl00Ccr6DRu4SP3JWDnAUXYZHGCewpcubuOQfvGJg_UnlFBS_dISDNjSkPwXeHUiJnyP0fZBN9IwBrNRWwDVEeWlmqm0hlOpxyc/s1600/Grizzly-Bear-Swan-Lake-to-Faithful-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-obR0PCrXfhOe8n5xdjcld1WcQOzikKIlLc7_GzQCTl00Ccr6DRu4SP3JWDnAUXYZHGCewpcubuOQfvGJg_UnlFBS_dISDNjSkPwXeHUiJnyP0fZBN9IwBrNRWwDVEeWlmqm0hlOpxyc/s400/Grizzly-Bear-Swan-Lake-to-Faithful-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJz5gE3FJUkIACQtZ9eg9sBnSVuljjYFqvgKLrncKWXHvm1hUP5rqqTQXa1Z0Nwo0ObpPSyoA48ch2-Pck-GI3DcBFnZfzYy1dL_GQes4Dw9a8BA_fmzOU6XRL-oKoWTD-Urbnn67umg4/s1600/Grizzly-Bear-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJz5gE3FJUkIACQtZ9eg9sBnSVuljjYFqvgKLrncKWXHvm1hUP5rqqTQXa1Z0Nwo0ObpPSyoA48ch2-Pck-GI3DcBFnZfzYy1dL_GQes4Dw9a8BA_fmzOU6XRL-oKoWTD-Urbnn67umg4/s400/Grizzly-Bear-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Arriving at <b><i><span style="color: red;">Old Faithful</span></i></b>, we found a series of seats (a permanent fixture) had been set up, not unlike a sporting event, for witnessing the geyser</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s famously regular eruptions. We also found TV screens predicting when the next </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">performance</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> would be: 12:10pm. The geyser erupts every 70 minutes or so through the day, and while not quite as faithful as it used to be, it still remains predictable enough. On arriving at the site, well before the next spurt, we found the seating to be largely empty, but come midday, they were packed with hundreds of people; an expectant crowd, committed to the time that the screens had informed them of. This was proven to be pretty accurate, when Old Faithful went off within a few minutes of the scheduled time, an impressive sight greeted with all the delight of a sporting crowd, if a little quieter. No Mexican Waves were observed, but plenty of celebration ensued. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh536rsUXeRmvaHXWT_QC0VRCNUXG7GeQU_epzhix-WTE1lB9lA0WMvuZ7k4rpNI-cvX0jSfpHudXlYfFH1ybxuBlRrvcom7i_ZWYJXU97K3xATm1BBDLO7CJBYaBWZVXNVFH_bChizqh8/s1600/Old-Faithfull-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods-Edited-IMG_5415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh536rsUXeRmvaHXWT_QC0VRCNUXG7GeQU_epzhix-WTE1lB9lA0WMvuZ7k4rpNI-cvX0jSfpHudXlYfFH1ybxuBlRrvcom7i_ZWYJXU97K3xATm1BBDLO7CJBYaBWZVXNVFH_bChizqh8/s400/Old-Faithfull-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods-Edited-IMG_5415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">For lunch, we stopped off at a campsite, hoping for a <i>Gray Jay</i> or one of the park</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s plentiful <i>Clark</i></span><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">’</span></i><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s Nutcrackers</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> to come in and investigate our picnic spread, but instead just getting a murder of <i>crows</i>. Or more specifically, a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Common Ravens</span></b>, seemingly one of the most abundant species in the park at this time, when many of the breeding species have vacated Yellowstone for the winter.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEMrXc0bba8H4wevF3FWzs5M9jgeHlPi0jHlQ27xNpqtsWTL2dGugGI6iSdK-mUNaW59VWbk0Fl-cR36IvKGqPZwgYZQ30WurLonoldgbIiHKHMghq7eZDq3Pyjici6JfKljj9Ei17ZE/s1600/Common-Raven-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEMrXc0bba8H4wevF3FWzs5M9jgeHlPi0jHlQ27xNpqtsWTL2dGugGI6iSdK-mUNaW59VWbk0Fl-cR36IvKGqPZwgYZQ30WurLonoldgbIiHKHMghq7eZDq3Pyjici6JfKljj9Ei17ZE/s400/Common-Raven-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2071.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Much of the rest of our day was spent fruitlessly searching for another <i>Great Grey Owl</i>, at other hallowed spots in the park, with no reward. As we perused the park though we came upon the regular, quintessential scenes of mighty Bison grazing on the road verges, and kept our eyes out for other animals. We stopped in on a regular pair of <b>Grizzly Bears</b> at another spot, which had become so reliable, they have come to name the mother bear (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Strawberry</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">), although for some reason, the cub she was with bore no name. We ended the day outside the park, and in another state, for on leaving the park each day, we crossed out of Wyoming and back into Montana. Near the town of Gardiner, where we were staying, we checked in on a local pair of wild, orphaned <b><span style="color: red;">Grizzly Bear</span></b> cubs, which were fortunately feeding close to the road, as the day began to wane. On the way back to <b><i>Gardiner</i></b>, a recent roadside deer kill was being attended by America</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s largest raptor, a <b>Golden Eagle</b> to close the day.</span></span></div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-86368974812157277942016-10-27T13:42:00.002-05:002016-10-27T13:43:48.211-05:00Bear Necessities…YELLOWSTONE USA (10 Oct)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h52UfCgf8eMQwhap6p3G75WfUaeDfzofFeSo1M5rWSf84UcyBJNhd571wgmtZXpGIgM7gbT7QwGbmGN4OlB97XAUPHgJ5t-6rR1_ddsXjBwGZ7Yj6ppAUyPUmqbjaBbdyhg5fT-0DHg/s1600/Grizzly-cub-near-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4h52UfCgf8eMQwhap6p3G75WfUaeDfzofFeSo1M5rWSf84UcyBJNhd571wgmtZXpGIgM7gbT7QwGbmGN4OlB97XAUPHgJ5t-6rR1_ddsXjBwGZ7Yj6ppAUyPUmqbjaBbdyhg5fT-0DHg/s400/Grizzly-cub-near-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A2100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">As all good </span>wildlife<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> people know it pays to be out early (and late), as that is often when animals or birds are most active in a place like </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Yellowstone National Park</i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">. And so, we left the hotel in the dark and pulled up at the picturesque spot of </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: red;">Swan Lake</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> as the sky was blushed pink, signifying the arrival of dawn. It was a beautiful and tranquil scene; all was calm, save for a few ripples on the lake caused by the early morning movements of a pair of </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Trumpeter Swans</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> disturbing the glassy surface of the water. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kj7am6KQ3cnuXVhTKv7_O2UjAB5zcUFsnNIREByi0GGd0bRfBUC0hYeyuGtbwKbn0F0U7lijLA6cHNfV-o-vc4IIJ5is5J5bgiIsZtgyKXnZukuuZBSpMHetTaxIHFXJPjulJNMn2_E/s1600/Swan-Lake-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods-IMG_5236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kj7am6KQ3cnuXVhTKv7_O2UjAB5zcUFsnNIREByi0GGd0bRfBUC0hYeyuGtbwKbn0F0U7lijLA6cHNfV-o-vc4IIJ5is5J5bgiIsZtgyKXnZukuuZBSpMHetTaxIHFXJPjulJNMn2_E/s400/Swan-Lake-Yellowstone-NP-Wyoming-USA-10-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods-IMG_5236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Few other animals were in evidence though, so, once dawn had made way for daytime, we continued on to a must-see site within the park</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">…</span><b style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><i>Old Faithful</i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">, the largest cone geyser in the World, which can reach over 130 feet on occasions. However, our progress to this explosive spot was halted when a classic Yellowstone sight blocked our way, and peaked our interest: a huddle of cars was stopped untidily on the roadside. In Yellowstone, this is often the easiest path to seeing wildlife; drive slowly, scouring the roads for human indications of other animals. This particular jam had been caused by a sow <b><span style="color: red;">Grizzly Bear</span></b> that had brought her cub up to the roadside to forage. Bears are busy at this time fattening up for the onset of winter, when they go into hibernation for the hardiest months. The car huddle was soon tidied up by a zealous park ranger (sadly they are often a little <i>overzealous</i> there), and we watched as the pair of bears slowly made their way out of sight of the road.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Arriving at <b><i><span style="color: red;">Old Faithful</span></i></b>, we found a series of seats (a permanent fixture) had been set up, not unlike a sporting event, for witnessing the geyser</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s famously regular eruptions. We also found TV screens predicting when the next </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">performance</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> would be: 12:10pm. The geyser erupts every 70 minutes or so through the day, and while not quite as faithful as it used to be, it still remains predictable enough. On arriving at the site, well before the next spurt, we found the seating to be largely empty, but come midday, they were packed with hundreds of people; an expectant crowd, committed to the time that the screens had informed them of. This was proven to be pretty accurate, when Old Faithful went off within a few minutes of the scheduled time, an impressive sight greeted with all the delight of a sporting crowd, if a little quieter. No Mexican Waves were observed, but plenty of celebration ensued. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">For lunch, we stopped off at a campsite, hoping for a <i>Gray Jay</i> or one of the park</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s plentiful <i>Clark</i></span><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">’</span></i><i style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s Nutcrackers</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;"> to come in and investigate our picnic spread, but instead just getting a murder of <i>crows</i>. Or more specifically, a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Common Ravens</span></b>, seemingly one of the most abundant species in the park at this time, when many of the breeding species have vacated Yellowstone for the winter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Much of the rest of our day was spent fruitlessly searching for another <i>Great Grey Owl</i>, at other hallowed spots in the park, with no reward. As we perused the park though we came upon the regular, quintessential scenes of mighty Bison grazing on the road verges, and kept our eyes out for other animals. We stopped in on a regular pair of <b>Grizzly Bears</b> at another spot, which had become so reliable, they have come to name the mother bear (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Strawberry</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">), although for some reason, the cub she was with bore no name. We ended the day outside the park, and in another state, for on leaving the park each day, we crossed out of Wyoming and back into Montana. Near the town of Gardiner, where we were staying, we checked in on a local pair of wild, orphaned <b><span style="color: red;">Grizzly Bear</span></b> cubs, which were fortunately feeding close to the road, as the day began to wane. On the way back to <b><i>Gardiner</i></b>, a recent roadside deer kill was being attended by America</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">s largest raptor, a <b>Golden Eagle</b> to close the day.</span></span></div>
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-->Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-79353586888086967642016-10-24T19:06:00.002-05:002016-10-24T19:06:33.544-05:00A Ghost No More…YELLOWSTONE USA (9 Oct)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I have been a birder for more than thirty years, and for much of that time I have held <i>Owls</i> to a higher plane than most other birds. Like many who came before me, this group grabs my attention like no other. While all owls create a buzz amongst addicts like me, big owls have an altogether greater lure to them. The largest owl in North America is the <b><span style="color: red;">Great Grey Owl</span></b>. This has a distribution that spreads into Europe too, but in spite of me being from that continent, I have never been in a position to try for one. For the past 11 years I have heard </span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="text-align: justify;">gripping</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> tales of the classic 2005 North American invasion, where people have informed me they were able to see <i>dozens</i> in a single day, and others even boasted of triple figures! All I needed was just one. I vowed that I would sit and wait for the next invasion, and then I would make my move. Eleven years of impatiently waiting later, and plentiful torment from these legendary tales that have become entrenched within birding folklore, my patience had worn out. As soon as Iain Campbell suggested a fall trip to Yellowstone National Park, I had only one thing in my crosshairs. In the run-up to the trip, I had plowed through eBird to try and work out our best strategy for getting this ashen beast, and put out requests for information on Facebook. The initial news was good - a Great Grey has been regular at Bridge Bay in Yellowstone for much of early autumn and was looking good for us, but then tragedy struck, and this rather cooperative individual turned up deceased, having been accidentally hit by a car. Research going back over the years, revealed regular spots, like Canyon, inside the park, but they were often accompanied by phrases such as </span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="text-align: justify;">they</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="text-align: justify;">re always there, just hard to find</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="text-align: justify;">, and other less encouraging statements, which illustrated that in all likelihood we would leave Yellowstone without one. This was echoed by Greg Miller</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="text-align: justify;">s experience in the acclaimed book The Big Year, where he only narrowed scored this Phantom of the North in the last leg of his mammoth year. While I tried to prepare myself mentally for not getting one, I could not stop images of this dramatic owl from dominating my thoughts in the run up to the trip. This was only intensified, when we ran into Jim Chagares the evening before, who scrolled through a series of spectacular photos of the recently deceased individual. However, he had better news in that he</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="text-align: justify;">d seen another the evening before, in none other than Canyon, where so many had previously mentioned to try for it. We met at a chilling dawn and drove straight to the spruce-fringed meadow, where he</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="text-align: justify;">d laid eyes on it only the evening before. A quick sweep of the meadow revealed nothing more than a meadow; devoid of prominently perched owls, and devoid of birds in general, save for the odd raven on the wing, passing overhead. We drove between spots, giving them seemingly cursory glances, and turning up nothing. Then Jim swung his car swiftly into a layby, and tensions were heightened; there off in the distance was a large grey shape sitting on a small spruce, which appeared as if it should be straining under the weight of this huge owl. Jim was calm; I was not. He informed me it would sit there, as they often do, even when confronted by a long line of staring admirers, as can happen in a busy place like Yellowstone. Jim was aware of this, but the owl was seemingly unaware of this, as it promptly took off, and nose-dived into the nearest woods, soon becoming invisible to us. This sent shivers of terror down my spine, for I had not even glared into its eyes by this point, something that is necessary for any bird, but especially alluring with owls that hold a stare like no other group of birds. My nerves were shredded, as the glory that had been expected at my first sighting of a long-awaited owl was completely absent, replaced instead with complete dissatisfaction and disappointment. We walked into the meadow and nearby woods hoping to relocate the fiend, but came up empty. Jim showed surprise at this abnormal behavior, and I was racked with horror. We needed to split up, and soon did. Several times, following the split, a large grey shape emerged from the trees and then buried itself out of sight. The size of the bird in flight was impressive, but its eyes, and that remarkable stare remained frustratingly elusive. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The curious thing was it appeared not to be reacting to us, and taking flight as a result of any of our actions, but seemed to be looking for a place where it was happy to hunt, and so far that was not in sight of us. Finally, after several more snatches of the bird in the air, it drifted across the road and seemed to drop into a narrow forest gully. Nick Athanas and I hurried to the spot, and were stopped cold, when we found it staring right back at us, perched in a pine, and looking every bit as impressive as it always promised to be in my inner thoughts. We spent a memorable 20 minutes or so with the bird, which at one point pounced with menace into the grass, emerging with nothing obvious. Soon after it took off, and in spite of us feeling we might refind it again, did not manage to relocate it after all. Up until this point in time if you</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="text-align: justify;">d asked me for my personal </span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">“</span><span style="text-align: justify;">Bird of the Year</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">”</span><span style="text-align: justify;">, my immediate answer would be the <i>Northern Saw-whet Owl,</i> which I watched at 4am on crisp April morning on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; however, now its title was in serious jeopardy. If I</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">’</span><span style="text-align: justify;">d had just a tad more time with the Grey Ghost the title would have been a shoe-in, but I felt it left me greedily yearning for more, and we vowed to search again for it in our coming days in Yellowstone</span><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif; text-align: justify;">…</span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-67005864056452781552016-10-22T14:27:00.001-05:002016-10-22T14:27:08.496-05:00Yellowstone…USA (8 Oct)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">…</span>The word <b><i>Yellowstone</i></b> is widely revered amongst nature photographers. It has been called many things, among them the Serengeti of North America. Nowhere else on the continent can offer so many large mammals in a short time. Bison speckled with snow, the steely glare from a wolf pack, and the enormous headdress of a stag Elk in rutting season are commonplace images associated with America<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">’</span>s oldest park. And that, was the reason for our visit. Having not seen <i>Black or Brown Bears</i>, <i>Wolf</i>, <i>Bison</i>, or <i>Bighorn Sheep</i>, I had plentiful mammalian reasons for being there. On top of that was my primary target for the trip, the so-called <span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">“</span>Grey Ghost<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">”</span>, or <span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">“</span>Phantom of the North<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">”</span>; North America<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">’</span>s largest owl, the <i>Great Grey</i>. The Gandalf of Owl species<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">…</span></div>
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We flew into <b><i>Bozeman</i></b>, in the state of <i><b>Montana</b></i>, but soon after drove into neighboring Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park, which spans three different US states (<i>Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho</i>). Our arrival in Bozeman was spectacular in itself, as we looked down on the jagged contours of the Rockies as we descended by plane, and were further impressed by the wall of mountains dominating the horizon, as we walked out of the airport. A few hours later, we entered the park itself through the Roosevelt Arch, (near Gardiner), the final stones of which were laid down by the US president of the same name in 1903.</div>
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Just past the infamous arch, we began to see some of the abundant wildlife that Yellowstone is justifiably famous for: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pronghorns and Mule Sheep</b> grazed nonchalantly nearby. Moving swiftly, and deeper into the park, we came upon a Yellowstone tradition - a gridlock of vehicles proclaiming the sighting of something special. We raced out of the car and were soon glassing a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black Bear</b> snuffling through the pine-sullied understory. This was my first, and I somewhat arrogantly, thought this was the opening of the proverbial floodgates for the species for me. However, this ended up being the solitary sighting of our time there. A glance at a straw-coloured mountain meadow revealed some massive brown <span style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">“</span>stains<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">”</span> within it, which proved themselves to be our first gigantic Bison of the trip, an impressive and imposing beast that was to go on to feature daily.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Our day ended with a very fortuitous reunion with a very skilled nature photographer from Indiana (Jim Chagares), whom we had got to know through our many visits to Magee Marsh in Ohio. This was especially lucky, as Jim was already honed in on some key species of the park, after some four weeks on site, (and many years covering it before that). In particular, he floored me with jaw-dropping photos of a recently observed <b><i>Great Grey Owl</i></b>, which had my pulse racing and my complete attention! The photo came with a caveat though; the individual so dramatically portrayed within his photos had come to a sad end only days before, when it was hit by a passing car. We had heard this tragic news before we had arrived, and so were somewhat prepared for this unfortunate headline. Jim had better news though, as he<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">’</span>d managed to home in on another ghost just that very evening, in a different spot, and quickly suggested hunting together for it the next day<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">…</span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-33096225018095028532016-10-20T20:14:00.001-05:002016-10-20T20:16:07.027-05:00Fighting Cocks….ECUADOR (5 Oct)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">In 2005 a young farmer in Mindo named Angel Paz found a display ground of the extraordinary Andean Cock-of-the-rock on his land, and so proceeded to build a trail to it. The rest that followed is something of a birding legend</span><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif; text-align: justify;">…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD9aKwK6yIyRiQp1vj9bHP8Av2Y2OP3UKtb_oHfYkR4jBva90-mBxNoZELWAEbxEsze5LX0x8KzTnZKhLcRB6yMMWrvqWIshjR7BX10gKA92TSam0727nMORmE17QsnWnazNM5WycxE0/s1600/Flame-faced-Tanager-Paz-de-Laz-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikD9aKwK6yIyRiQp1vj9bHP8Av2Y2OP3UKtb_oHfYkR4jBva90-mBxNoZELWAEbxEsze5LX0x8KzTnZKhLcRB6yMMWrvqWIshjR7BX10gKA92TSam0727nMORmE17QsnWnazNM5WycxE0/s400/Flame-faced-Tanager-Paz-de-Laz-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1327.jpg" width="400" /></a>While doing the backbreaking work of digging a trail through the steep cloudforest, Angel noticed a large brown ball of a bird following him through the newly turned earth. He thought little of it, but was endeared to his new forest friend, not knowing the true gravity of this sighting. He noticed that it would forage for worms on a recently cut path, and so took to feeding the bird its chosen food. Not long after, Angel was ready to present his newly built trail, and blind, to the birding world, so they could marvel too at the displays of the Andean Cock-of-the-rock, one of the most beautiful forest birds in the Andes, and one famed for drawing crowds of avian-loving onlookers. The first groups came, and were suitably impressed with the <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">“</span>fighting cocks<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">”</span>, and were then, somewhat nonchalantly, made aware of his other habituated bird, which hopped out on the trail, and was then named quickly by people with considerably more bird knowledge in the visiting group, as none other than the rare, and highly desirable <i>Giant Antpitta</i>, a species that had eluded most from the birding fraternity, even those who called Ecuador home. Word spread like wild fire, a <i>gettable</i> <i>Giant Antpitta</i> was red hot news, and within just a few weeks, this new reserve <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">“</span><b><i>Paz de as Aves</i></b><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">”</span>, was quickly entered on the regular birding circuit, and has remained there to this day. While <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">“</span>Maria<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">”</span>, the <i>Giant Antpitta</i> brought fame to this locale, Angel and his determined brother Rodrigo swiftly studied their birds, and learned them well, quickly developing into the top quality guides they have become today. Now they boast not only a <i>Giant Antpitta</i> or two, but a whole series of scarce forest birds that not only call their reserve home, but also regularly show for visiting birders at close quarters. More than a decade on, the list of birds that the Paz Brothers have managed to habituate has grown long: <i>5 species of antpittas</i> – normally shy forest birds that only the most determined birders can claim to have seen – <i>Chestnut-crowned, Yellow-breasted, Ochre-breasted and Moustached</i> having all joined the list with the original species; <i>Rufous-breasted Antthrush</i>; <i>Dark-breasted Wood-Quail</i>; <i>Sickle-winged Guan</i>; <i>Ocellated Tapaculo</i>; <i>Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan</i>, <i>Crimson-rumped Toucanet</i>, <i>Olivaceous Piha</i>, <i>Black-chinned Mountain-Tanager</i>, and <i>Toucan Barbet</i> have also all been involved at various times, although some of these have gone just as suddenly as they came. Simply put, this reserve has become a fixture on almost every tour to the area, and for good reason, as nowhere offers these species so easily, or so often. Since it <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">“</span>opened its doors<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">”</span> in 2005, the taming of antpittas in this way has been learned by others and spread not only to other reserves in Ecuador, but also across the northern part of the continent; antpitta feeding stations have now been initiated in the forests of <i>Peru, Colombia, and Brazil</i>, making many species of antpitta more available than ever been before!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhg8ezvALk-LJlfrROEUp1SWeJpEVe2kWMcs-FpzwMuQSY8ECJ-v2_m6hx8n-YkXpijDvh9EuKUopfRIf8fzs4jHsbP0Kx3kfDGe-AYEQ-Ao7gMTmMEYjPKaRVQCMvXXNgPUKMx-lp6cc/s1600/Flame-faced-Tanager-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhg8ezvALk-LJlfrROEUp1SWeJpEVe2kWMcs-FpzwMuQSY8ECJ-v2_m6hx8n-YkXpijDvh9EuKUopfRIf8fzs4jHsbP0Kx3kfDGe-AYEQ-Ao7gMTmMEYjPKaRVQCMvXXNgPUKMx-lp6cc/s400/Flame-faced-Tanager-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1329.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>
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So, as you can imagine, we approached the site with some excitement. I have been there on numerous previous occasions, but my enthusiasm for the site, and respect for the achievements of the extraordinary Paz Brothers remains undiminished. Angel met us, and others (for this is a place that you rarely experience alone, due to its widespread birding fame), and led us down into the deep and dark rainforest, to a moss-encrusted blind, where even before we got stepped inside had revealed its subject; the raucous, ugly, and pig-like squeals of waking <b><span style="color: red;">Andean Cock-of-the-rocks</span></b> were heard as we descended the trail, and announced the coming of another dawn time display by these birds, a daily ritual since time immemorial. While the birds will never be revered as great songsters, they more than makeup for this in their gorgeous appearance; the males are retinal-burning, bright scarlet, with a permanently raised crest that hides its bill completely, below a tuft of red feathers. The bird is bright red pretty much from head to toe, save for black-and-silvery-grey wings. You are extremely unlikely to mistake this species for any other, as it is utterly unique. On arrival at the blind, the noises of the excited birds were conspicuous, but the birds were not. In spite of their dazzling colouration, these striking <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">“</span>cocks<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">”</span> used the abundant rainforest tangles well, using the multitude of hanging vines as an effective screen from our eager, prying eyes. Our cameras remained dormant, and the gathered group grew frustrated. However, Angel watched calmly by; he knew these birds well, and saw no cause for alarm. Dawn came and went, and the birds continued their excited wing flapping, which only the most generous observer could label as a display <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">“</span>dance<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">”</span>, and loudly proclaimed their abilities as a worthy male, and mate. Meanwhile, the people assembled eyed them with considerable yearning, an open branch lying conspicuously empty of birds in front of the blind. Then, once dawn was already well into the rearview mirror, one of the Cock-of-the-rocks finally obliged, and dropped onto to this perfect perch. If there had been any doubt that there were plentiful cameras among the assembled group, the sound of shutters working away furiously soon dispelled this myth! The cock-of-the-rock<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">’</span>s displays grew ever more frenzied, and the birder<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">’</span>s excitement quickly seemed to equal that of the birds themselves. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, they shot off into the forest, with a blurred burst of vivid red; their raucous call notes trailing behind them. They were likely gone for the day, until the next day, and the next dawn, when this immortalized ritual will no doubt start all over again once more.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BDEBxmSQLZ8Id2TXdJYkenUR672DduEQyZtv-n3ccUgW68_hNtZLGErtswo7nIwOKtINIU26L8ngXQrv5gZBgNbBAUAsnZ_Z1pKPZIsPDJG0On__m98N99fDf5oq6sPctGS3R5BERCM/s1600/Toucan-Barbet-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BDEBxmSQLZ8Id2TXdJYkenUR672DduEQyZtv-n3ccUgW68_hNtZLGErtswo7nIwOKtINIU26L8ngXQrv5gZBgNbBAUAsnZ_Z1pKPZIsPDJG0On__m98N99fDf5oq6sPctGS3R5BERCM/s400/Toucan-Barbet-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1362.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A visit to Paz de las Aves is an odd birding experience, as you are shuffled from one great bird to another, as if every individual bird has been booked for a prompt appointment. So, next up, was a covey of <b>Dark-backed Wood-Quails</b>, a species that is rare and local in South America, being confined to the Choco bioregion of western Colombia and northwest Ecuador. Even where it occurs, it is scarce, and rarely seen without considerable effort, and a drop of good fortune. This applies everywhere, <i>except Paz de las Aves</i>. Just moments after the peak of the performance from the cock-of-the-rocks, we turned to see the wood-quail excitedly gathered around Angel<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">’</span>s feet as he tossed juicy chunks of banana on to the forest floor! Not long after we were herded onto another near forest trail, where this time the subject was rarer still – <b>Giant Antpitta</b>. Like the wood-quail, it never gave itself away as a rare and shy forest species that birders had longed for, for many years before the birds here became so readily available. On this occasion, a young bird hopped into the open, rejecting the words of both shy and difficult as it did so! Not long after, a second group of half a dozen <b>Dark-backed Wood-Quail</b> appeared to, appearing more like pets than the wild birds they actually were, as they swarmed around the feeder!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLik67fDAf-3jwqoJ_lNMknwy_ZKliYxl4VfiCrCtuXhK1sCsS-O1f-qdcIdKXzF91m8HE_Q7VgUogSaEQiKbB7y88ADMU6_3yqDUJ1DGNd0pA4lsXVJn4J8FHOtPJydmH7MQaZ3OMps/s1600/Golden-naped-Tanager-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLik67fDAf-3jwqoJ_lNMknwy_ZKliYxl4VfiCrCtuXhK1sCsS-O1f-qdcIdKXzF91m8HE_Q7VgUogSaEQiKbB7y88ADMU6_3yqDUJ1DGNd0pA4lsXVJn4J8FHOtPJydmH7MQaZ3OMps/s400/Golden-naped-Tanager-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A1315.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
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We then took a short walk down to a nearby rushing mountain river, stopping for Angel to gesture at a cryptic shape lurking deep within the dark shadows of an overhang, which showed itself to be a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lyre-tailed Nightjar</b>. Once at the river our focus narrowed, and we waited while both Angel and his brother Rodrigo worked tirelessly to get the attention of the local <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-breasted Antpitta</b>, by whistling it to them with a flawless imitation of the bird<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">’</span>s call. This is often one of the most reliable of the local antpittas to see, although on this day at least, it gave us a little scare, making us wait for a while, until it finally emerged out of the forest gloom. It was now only an hour or so after dawn and we had already seen some very special birds: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Andean Cock-of-the-rock, Dark-backed Wood-Quail, Giant and Yellow-breasted Antpittas, and Lyre-tailed Nightjar</i>. However, we did not stop there. Unlike the previous species, the next one required us to be patient, and to work for it, relatively speaking, as we were required to climb up to the top of a short, though near-vertical, cloud forest trail. Waiting for us at the top, we hoped, would be a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rufous-breasted Antthrush</i>. It was not actually <span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">“</span>waiting<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">”</span>, although several loud whistles from Angel later, and the bird scurried along a fallen tree right in front of us to pick off the worms laid down there for it. This was the species that was marketed as the least reliable of the regular birds on site, so we left feeling pretty happy with ourselves, as we headed further up to the road to another forest trail. This penultimate, penultimate stop was to try for a further brace of antpittas: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ochre-breasted and Moustached Antpittas</i>. The former proved elusive and unresponsive, never appearing, while the latter took a little time to show, though eventually hopped alongside the trail, where we needed to squeeze up tight to all be able to see it, taking our turns patiently to take a position with a view to it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidju7bEXgNNgkVycpb29b1OFWLv3XprZZO5RYRlsGuSjs8x36_hF3YpbtPgtPyPzkof5T5MxB9P3wF1FYf8L7phZhKA2VXczn5R3w8XdPjYArwGUUi-AYAZFu2frZ6OFnaHOsc58NevU/s1600/Crimson-rumped-Toucanet-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidju7bEXgNNgkVycpb29b1OFWLv3XprZZO5RYRlsGuSjs8x36_hF3YpbtPgtPyPzkof5T5MxB9P3wF1FYf8L7phZhKA2VXczn5R3w8XdPjYArwGUUi-AYAZFu2frZ6OFnaHOsc58NevU/s400/Crimson-rumped-Toucanet-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-5-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0917.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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It was then time for a long-standing tradition at this site; a tasty brunch of <i>bolones</i> and <i>empanadas</i>, cooked by the women of the Paz clan. Their small Café overlooks both hummingbird feeders and some fruit feeders too, allowing us to take in such avian treats as <b>Velvet-purple Coronet</b>, <b><span style="color: red;">Empress Brilliant</span></b>, and <b><span style="color: red;">Flame-faced and Golden-naped Tanagers </span></b>while we ate. Late on, some of the local <span style="color: red;"><b>Crimson-rumped Toucanets</b></span> and <b><span style="color: red;">Toucan Barbets</span></b> also appeared, before we departed for <i>one-more-antpitta</i><span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfGIusE3bVfhdne-mFyPKUsoo1NxWjqfCq8G7cWWX17jixdyWbAML6HI037ffTMOspbHBfjLL9mtZbU2i3Ki8le5vaNxyugxHc-9qwwBWeGswlXUK5pEpB725ovaXXNnwgL56gTteUuI/s1600/Empress-Brilliant-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfGIusE3bVfhdne-mFyPKUsoo1NxWjqfCq8G7cWWX17jixdyWbAML6HI037ffTMOspbHBfjLL9mtZbU2i3Ki8le5vaNxyugxHc-9qwwBWeGswlXUK5pEpB725ovaXXNnwgL56gTteUuI/s400/Empress-Brilliant-Paz-de-las-Aves-Ecuador-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0846.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
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The last one required us to walk 20 metres into the forest, but this was no great burden for a <b><span style="color: red;">Chestnut-crowned Antpitta</span></b>, which was arguably the best looking of all the antpittas seen that morning. After returning to Tandayapa for lunch again, and to check out, we regrettably, needed to head back into the Metropolis of <i>Quito</i>, leaving the cloudforest, and many, memorable avian moments behind<span style="font-family: "ms 明朝" , serif;">…</span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-32270693060184976682016-10-18T19:15:00.003-05:002016-10-18T19:15:25.187-05:00Hooked on Silanche…ECUADOR (4 Oct)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: justify;"><i>Rio Silanche</i></b><span style="text-align: justify;"> has always been one of my favourite places to guide in northwest Ecuador, and this day illustrated very well why. Simply put, it is very birdy, every time you go there, making it a joy to guide. This was not actually where we had planned to go on this day at all, as we were originally planning to visit <b><i>Milpe</i></b>, which was nearer our base in <b><i>Tandayapa Bird Lodge</i></b>. However, on arrival there we were confronted with low cloud hanging ominously over the site, which would render any birds seen mere black shapes in the mist. A quick decision was made to continue on instead to the lower altitude (500m) site of Silanche, in the hope that as we descended we would move below the continuous cloud layer rendering Milpe basically unbirdable. This worked well; straight after arrival at the entrance road to Silanche conditions were visibly better, the cloud was there, but high, and only minimal rain was experienced the entire day. The reason for my love of Silanche is simple, it is literally oozing with birds, and it is always hard to get to the main reserve (only 7km on), as the road in is typically loaded with birds; and so it proved, once again</span><span style="text-align: justify;">…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Soon after alighting from the van we hit our first birds at 7am - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gray-and-gold Tanager</b> – and there was pretty much a constant stream until we left at around 3pm. The tanager was quickly followed by a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-tailed Oriole</b>, and we slowly made our way along the road, stopping at the remaining forest patches as we went. Not long after another stop had us examining a strange looking tree stump, which on closer inspection through the telescope was found to be strange-looking, as there was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Common Potoo</b> (a night bird) sleeping on top of it! The same area also brought us our first toucans of the day, a mob of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pale-mandibled Aracaris</b>, before we moved on to our next spot. Next up was a perched <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blue-headed Parrot</b>, before we sidled up the road once more. After picking up a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pacific Antwrens</b> and a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-olive Woodpecker</b> at the following stop, we got a real surprise at the next one, where a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth</b> was found with arms raised aloft at the apex of a palm tree! While watching this very unexpected mammal, we heard the wolf whistles of one of the area</span>’<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s scarcer birds, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Barred Puffbird</b>, which took an age to make its way towards us, but eventually plopped itself in the tree above us, shortly before a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-tailed Jacamar</b> was also added to our burgeoning day list. Moving on to the reserve itself (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rio Silanche</i></b>), we found a flock immediately after arriving, which held several <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Scarlet-browed Tanagers</b> within it. By this time, late morning, following a long series of bird-after-bird, we were little frazzled and opted for an early lunch on the canopy tower. Before we had even tucked into our lunch, we were distracted, however, as a male <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Red-capped Manakin</b> suddenly appeared right beside the tower and hurt me deeply for leaving my camera back in the van! The same area also brought our toucan count to three for the day, with both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-throated and Choco Toucans </b>found around the tower, and brought our toucan count to five species in two days. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-hooded Tanager</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yellow-tufted Dacnis</b> added further colour to the day, and after lunch, we proceeded to walk one of the short forest trails in the area. This was looking like a dodgy decision, when a fine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">White-whiskered Puffbird</b> put us out of our misery, and drew us out of an add blank spell for birds during the early afternoon (traditionally the quietest time of day). Having been pretty much constantly at it since 6:30am, and now being near 3pm, we opted to head back towards <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tandayapa</i></b>, but were stopped again on the way out from the reserve, just a few kilometres into our journey, when a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Hook-billed Kite</span></b> was noticed perched alongside the road, which quickly changed perch and landed near its presumed mate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One final, and very memorable, stop was made on the way back. We took a side road to the lodge passing by the tiny town of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">San Tadeo</i></b> (a mere handful of houses by the roadside), and climbing up into verdant, wet cloud forest. We had been here the day before, but had left empty-handed, and irked by the lack of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tanager Finch</i> at a known spot for it. Not so on this day, when a short burst of playback brought a rustle in the undergrowth nearby, and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tanager Finch</b> almost landed just a metre from us; a fantastic finish to marvelous day. And to think we still had one final day left (this was a short, 3-day tour), and one to visit one of the area</span>’<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s foremost birding sites, the revered <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Paz de las Aves</i></b> reserve, where rare and shy forest birds are usually the order of the day</span>…<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-12700138233982564792016-10-16T15:57:00.004-05:002016-10-16T15:57:46.785-05:00A Handsome Redhead….ECUADOR (3rd Oct.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtt2RMx0pKL0R-UzD3HMHBUTqMn-SUCdD1MUciy7VqqYaRvTcRE19EahUtXHZY3z7-ICDfVcp4lsvGdwap1cALqIjtO2l38EJQdCPa_Sj5GEn8TBKe0Yiur6p1trMuksAlKFsBXTKnDs/s1600/Red-headed-Barbet-male-San-Tadeo-Birding-Ecuador-3-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtt2RMx0pKL0R-UzD3HMHBUTqMn-SUCdD1MUciy7VqqYaRvTcRE19EahUtXHZY3z7-ICDfVcp4lsvGdwap1cALqIjtO2l38EJQdCPa_Sj5GEn8TBKe0Yiur6p1trMuksAlKFsBXTKnDs/s400/Red-headed-Barbet-male-San-Tadeo-Birding-Ecuador-3-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0925.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After recently finishing with some Scottish-based birders in Eastern Ecuador, I had a quick turnaround, and was soon at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tandayapa Bird Lodge</i></b>, over on the opposite, western, slope of the Andes; this time to guide a South African family for three days. Our first day opened with a dawntime meeting, and a visit to a local forest blind/hide. There were plenty of birds calling in the area, like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Toucan Barbet, Cloud-forest Pygmy-Owl, Golden-headed Quetzal, and Andean Cock-of-the-rock</i>, although those striking species remained unseen. The forest blind overlooks a compost pile, and also possesses a powerful light that attracts insects through the night, and therefore birds the following dawn. The first to appear was a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch</b> hopping through the gloom, and was followed by a clearer view of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spotted Barbtail</b> creeping up a mossy trunk; and it was not long before the reliable pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Zeledon</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">’</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s Antbirds</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> also appeared, hopping around on the floor and low branches, with their characteristic tail wagging behavior being observed at length. The same trunk that hosted the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">barbtail</i>, hosted another from the same family of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers</i>, when a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Strong-billed Woodcreeper</b> appeared suddenly there too. These birds were followed by regular visits by both <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Three-striped and Russet-crowned Warblers</b>, a pair of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Slaty Antwrens</b>, and a lone female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uniform Antshrike</b>. We returned to the lodge for breakfast at around 7am, noting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-crowned Flycatcher</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Streak-capped Treehunter</b> right around the lodge itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W_TYRMXswXHtoRzsVsMqiQQFh1GavF5rC6XkHS3LckVrjQleZTRFqevuasLz-EEnm4-RN-jdjsoFkV0i2zV_BLg1cDfBqUc8x2Q8nxsR8GFJ8Ql4LSlVg3Rzbi_LKKpdxNXh-Kx1w2E/s1600/Tandayapa-Valley-Sam-Woods-IMG_5169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W_TYRMXswXHtoRzsVsMqiQQFh1GavF5rC6XkHS3LckVrjQleZTRFqevuasLz-EEnm4-RN-jdjsoFkV0i2zV_BLg1cDfBqUc8x2Q8nxsR8GFJ8Ql4LSlVg3Rzbi_LKKpdxNXh-Kx1w2E/s400/Tandayapa-Valley-Sam-Woods-IMG_5169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhrnSLlpz_NW9eMnc39TAxk9s7JzwCSawLzbZvh4eWbBhcF72Y84DUQhrLW2l3Mw4nU5tYO2fZF2vbfFEUO7Ww9a2l93hQbVlh0J1V6jUr0l2tdMTwGkXw8UYJ7NFbRQJELoE-oeZDio/s1600/Grass-green-Tanager-Upper-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-3-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhrnSLlpz_NW9eMnc39TAxk9s7JzwCSawLzbZvh4eWbBhcF72Y84DUQhrLW2l3Mw4nU5tYO2fZF2vbfFEUO7Ww9a2l93hQbVlh0J1V6jUr0l2tdMTwGkXw8UYJ7NFbRQJELoE-oeZDio/s400/Grass-green-Tanager-Upper-Tandayapa-Valley-Ecuador-3-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0756.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a>The remainder of the morning was spent in the <b><i>Upper Tandayapa Valley</i></b>, which quickly brought success, with a pair of <b>Plate-billed Mountain-Toucans</b>, a species from a group that is confined to the Andes of South America, and a species only shared with <i>Colombia</i>. The morning was fairly slow going outside of this, but we did get another cracker, in the form of a <b><span style="color: red;">Grass-green Tanager</span></b> moving through with one of those dizzying feeding flocks that the Andes is famed for.</div>
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After lunch back at the lodge, we took a trip out to <b><i>San Tadeo</i></b> in the afternoon, where we were hooked on a series of feeders; the fruit feeders were busy with birds, like <b><span style="color: red;">Red-headed Barbets</span></b> (both male and female), 1 confiding <b>Toucan Barbet</b>, several <b><span style="color: red;">Black-capped Tanagers</span></b>, a pair of <b><span style="color: red;">Black-chinned Mountain-Tanagers</span></b>, and both <b>Flame-faced and Golden-naped Tanagers </b>too.</div>
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We had been hoping for the <i>Metallic-green Tanager</i> too; a rare species to find at feeders, and so hard to photograph, although strangely the species did not visit, in spite of the landowner<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">’</span>s insistence it is usually both regular and reliable! Down at the hummingbird feeders, we were graced with visits from regional specialties like <b>Brown Inca</b>, <b><span style="color: red;">Velvet-purple Coronet</span></b>, and <b>Empress Brilliant</b> among others. At dusk our try for <i>Lyre-tailed Nightjar</i> in the lower <b><i>Tandayapa Valley</i></b> failed completely with nothing heard, but we were still excited by the prospect of our upcoming visit to the foothills of the Andes, and the Milpe Bird Sanctuary, the next day<span style="font-family: "MS 明朝", serif;">…</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnB8z4u4GRnHaicq812n69qFl8U_mgU-2dwctYuUNtNexjpyQAirEDj35EfN53-yhUJuEXKvv3oYmx9Lr9Xdl3ULHVwR8YI0UaEX_VNj90SWp2DCLp5Zs_BCM6TCdEPGN97DvW7IxdmrM/s1600/Velvet-purple-Coronet-San-Tadeo-Birding-Ecuador-3-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnB8z4u4GRnHaicq812n69qFl8U_mgU-2dwctYuUNtNexjpyQAirEDj35EfN53-yhUJuEXKvv3oYmx9Lr9Xdl3ULHVwR8YI0UaEX_VNj90SWp2DCLp5Zs_BCM6TCdEPGN97DvW7IxdmrM/s400/Velvet-purple-Coronet-San-Tadeo-Birding-Ecuador-3-Oct-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0886.jpg" width="346" /></a></div>
Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035360191939188374.post-89380364610102124032016-10-15T13:46:00.001-05:002016-10-15T13:46:09.258-05:00Build it, and they will come…ECUADOR (29-30 Sept)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWUBK-GjSwQjGmwW0UdGoT1iTKJyJj1D1YZdaJGZlTkVuD8sL3kk1SyK6HMXJg6mu4h7D-phEUM3RfcDCXvlkkovWtRItYS-QG2ZWwxB4iHSCaGTjNPh9PiGmDDpwj4_FsEx6aVTP05E/s1600/Wire-crested-Thorntail-female-WildSumaco-Lodge-Ecuador-29-Sept-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWUBK-GjSwQjGmwW0UdGoT1iTKJyJj1D1YZdaJGZlTkVuD8sL3kk1SyK6HMXJg6mu4h7D-phEUM3RfcDCXvlkkovWtRItYS-QG2ZWwxB4iHSCaGTjNPh9PiGmDDpwj4_FsEx6aVTP05E/s400/Wire-crested-Thorntail-female-WildSumaco-Lodge-Ecuador-29-Sept-2016-Sam-Woods_S9A0418.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Never has a quote been better applied than for a place like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">WildSumaco Lodge</i></b>. They built it, and we (birders) came, and then came again for more! We spent three nights at this wonderfully located lodge, set within the eastern foothills of the Andes, overlooking both Volcan Antisana, and Volcan Sumaco, the latter of which sticks up conspicuously out of the Amazon Basin, appearing quite out of sync from the sweaty lowlands completely surrounding it. The lodge has been built in an area with both precious few reserves, and no other lodging available. Therefore, it was only natural that when they built it, birders would come. And since it has opened, it has become known as a place for rare and scarce species that were formerly inaccessible in the area. In our two full days on site we found it tough work tracking some of these down, but this was aided somewhat by their in-forest feeding station, where worms attracted repeated visits from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spotted Nightingale-Thrush</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Plain-backed and Ochre-breasted Antpittas.</b> Alongside the feeder we also got perhaps the best looks I have ever had of a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tapaculo</i>, when a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Northern White-crowned Tapaculo</b> emerged on to an open stem to sing right in front of our noses, revelaling hos namesake white crown in doing so! Either side of this we spent considerable time on the many trails that crisscross the reserve try to glean some of the rarer species out of the forest interior, where they belong. Like always with such tricky birds, we had success with some, and not with others. Our successes came with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-breasted Piculet</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wing-banded Wren</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ecuadorian Tyrannulet</b>, and Mark even put me onto an in-flock <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brown-billed Scythebill</b>, a rarity for the site. A female <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Collared Trogon</b> posed along the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Manakin Trail</i>, which held a less long-staying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grey-tailed Piha</b>. The start of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">F.A.C.E. Trail</i> afforded the best view of the cone of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Volcan Sumaco</span></b>, peeking above the forest; an area that also gave us two low-flying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Military Macaws</b> to add to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chestnut-fronted Macaws</b> also seen in the area. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQDVxcth9yEfENllkyUs5-3csle25k_2qnWQwmeM14vydL29YJt1OY6PQdOo2jgNwl4VEAD6WDg_B5EdOqOtjhGMh1F5iKQm3EiJvicgGqGUfvAIeSRsViKM0fQaOr4eHcdQdOxj42sA/s1600/View-of-Volcan-Sumaco-29-Sept-2016-Sam-Woods-IMG_5152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQDVxcth9yEfENllkyUs5-3csle25k_2qnWQwmeM14vydL29YJt1OY6PQdOo2jgNwl4VEAD6WDg_B5EdOqOtjhGMh1F5iKQm3EiJvicgGqGUfvAIeSRsViKM0fQaOr4eHcdQdOxj42sA/s400/View-of-Volcan-Sumaco-29-Sept-2016-Sam-Woods-IMG_5152.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Deeper in the forest we found a pair of smart <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chestnut-crowned Gnateaters</b> on the far end of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Piha Trail</i> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Buff-throated Tody-Tyrant</b> on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">F.A.C.E. Trail</i>. The lodge itself was quite active during our stay, as the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cecropias</i> surrounding the lodge veranda were bearing fruit, and drew in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Golden-collared Toucanet, Yellow-throated Toucan, Gilded and Red-headed Barbets, Paradise and Blue-browed Tanagers, and Golden-collared Honeycreeper</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saffron-crowned and Blue-and-black Tanagers</b> were also seen there, higher altitude aliens that were unusual for this spot. Sumaco has been rightly revered as a hotspot for eastern hummingbirds, and this was illustrated well during our visit, where their two hummingbird feeder sites produced scarce species like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Wire-crested Thorntail</span></b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ecuadorian Piedtail</b> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">forest feeders only</i>), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gould</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "MS 明朝","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">’</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s Jewelfront </span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">both lodge and forest feeders</i>), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Napo Sabrewing </b>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">forest feeders only</i>), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Black-throated Brilliant</b> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">forest feeders only</i>), and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rufous-vented Whitetip</b> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">lodge feeder only</i>). Boreal migrants desperately need forest in this area during the boreal winter, and we saw some of these, in the form of a few <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canada Warblers</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cerulean Warblers</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My personal favourites though were the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">owls</i>. There are three principal species known from the area, and all of them are entirely missable! The easiest of these is typically the larger species, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Band-bellied Owl</b>. But try as we might, we could not find it at its usual trailside roosting spot along the F.A.C.E. Trail, or at night, when it taunted us regularly from deep cover. And so it was truly odd that the first owl we set our eyes on was the considerably rarer, and notoriously difficult <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Foothill Screech-Owl</b>, along the start of the F.A.C.E. Trail. This species is currently lumped with the wider Vermiculated Screech-Owl complex, which may be divided into multiple species in the future. Now I have seen this one, I sincerely hope so! Next up was the one we had expected to see first, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Band-bellied Owl</b>, although it took the help of the on-site guide, Byron, to get us to see it, for it required some off-trail capers to get it. Finally, on my final night, I set out to find the final one of the trio, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">Rufescent Screech-Owl</span></b>, which after the rigors of the previous night's exploits, I was glad to say was relatively straightforward!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Sam Woodshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567720431759647053noreply@blogger.com0