Costa Rica - Cano Palma - Surveys Galore!

Since my last post I have taken part in morning turtle and Otter surveys with Anna and an afternoon mammal survey at the back of the base where a Jaguar print was found by Manuel. The Otter survey involves Kayaking down the canal looking for Otter scat (faeces!) which is used by the otters to mark out territories and various data is recorded as we each progress along opposite banks of the transect. We did not get to see any otters but this is common.

Today it was a Macaw survey from the watch point at the front of the boat dock. This is a covered area therefore protection from both ends of the ever changeable weather is naturally provided. Point counts are the survey method used with varying degrees of Macaw activity. Scarlet Macaw activity was slightly higher in the morning with fourteen birds and ten in the afternoon. No Green Macaws were seen despite both species favouring the same fruits.

I finally secured shots of a male Slaty-tailed Trogon which is usually seen with its back facing the lens. This is one family that I never tire of seeing. A Chestnut Colored Woodpecker was another addition to the growing life list.

I am beginning to get to grips with some of the more regular species in particular the Parrots which can be tricky to identify without good flight views. Mealy and Red Lored were both recorded today.

A Grey-capped Flycatcher posed on the wire across the canal late on in the day.

There were signs of migration with Hirundines including Bank and Barn Swallow, Eastern Kingbird and a pair of Prothonotary Warbler and a female Yellow Warbler.