Costa Rica - An afternoon in San Francisco!

I took a walk into San Francisco which is a small village and where I would be gathering some bird species data. There is one main concrete path through the village with a school and soccer field at the top end. There are several side paths that have houses right down to the waterfront.

The gardens offered good opportunities for passerines with pairs of seedeaters and Seed-Finches moving around. Bird of the afternoon and a personal favourite of mine was the magnificent Scarlet Macaw. A couple of birds were feeding in a tree next to the soccer field giving glorious views before both took to the skies.

I joined Charlotte who was in the midst of a Macaw survey noting a couple of Great Greens during this period.

A Yellow Warbler of the migratory Northern race was noted in the gardens. Mangrove Swallow was fairly regular along the canal flying low almost skimming the surface of the water as they fed.

The seedeaters are tricky to identify the female being the easiest to distinguish between species.

Thick billed Seed–Finch (top) are one such similar species to the Variable Seedeater (above) both of

which are found in the gardens in the area.

Blue-Grey Tanagers are far easier to identify usually heard before they are seen but obvious once located.

Groove Billed Ani and Great tailed Grackles are also common in the area. I am sure there will be more to find in the weeks to come.

Next up shorebird surveys! Woo Hoo!