Birding Hacienda Jacana: Mar/Apr

Last week we returned to the ever peaceful, ever appealing Hacienda Jacana for another sojourn away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the uncivilized civilization. Nature is cultured and rich as always, even in the height of the tropical dry season. Rivers have withered away, and only the deepest ponds retain water. Nevertheless, greenery always ensures that the forest is at least a couple degrees cooler than the concrete jungle we’re accustomed to.

Getting there in the darkness of night, I was up before dawn to the fleeting faraway calls of Red-bellied Macaws and the soothing warbling of a family of House Wrens. Stumbling outside in the blue twilight, I made out the forms of a few small psittacines flying past – Blue-headed Parrots. Common Pauraques also called in the distance. As light gradually infiltrated the understory, I fired off my first image.

 

 

 

 

 

Also instrumental in the dawn chorus is the large-and-in-charge Crested Oropendola. It’s nesting season for many birds currently, and male oropendolas never let a moment (or a female) slip by without fluffing their feathers and crackling away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Voice is extremely important in identifying birds, what confuffles the brain further is the variations in vocalizations. Some birds have their regular calls that we’re all familiar with, and then at certain times of day (for example at dawn) it’s a completely different story. Intonation is key though, and what sounded kinda like a Golden-olive Woodpecker almost drove me up a wall – until I located the source of the call – yes, a Golden-olive Woodpecker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The funny thing about woodpeckers is that oftentimes they don’t vocalize at all. A soft tap, tap, tap from a nearby tree was an instant indicator of another woodpecker. After a couple seconds of looking, a hurried flapping followed by the crashing of a dead branch to the ground gave away the location of a Lineated Woodpecker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had better views this time of the uncommonly seen Grey-fronted Dove, albeit still in the shadow of the rising sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to take a stroll down to the ponds as it was still early, as it was the best chance of getting a good view of the resident Grey-cowled Wood-rails. A Striated Heron hunted, gently lit by the first few rays of light. The stillness of this bird has always amazed me, but after downloading these images to the pc I have a new respect for them. Take a good look at those mosquitoes on its eyes – how steady would you be under those conditions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noisy as always, the resident family of Wattled Jacanas took offense to any intruder – even another member of the same species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The folks at Hacienda regularly put fruit out at a feeder close to the forest edge, and the usually secretive rails venture out into the open, gobbling up any fallen morsels. It took many years before I was able to get a half-decent view of these gorgeous birds (that were formerly known as Grey-necked Wood-rails – split into Grey-cowled and Russet-naped) but Hacienda Jacana is undoubtedly the best place in the country to see them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before long, the unrelenting sun encouraged me to head back to the cabin for a drink of water, and I figured I’d record some hummingbird species while there. Surprisingly though, there wasn’t much activity at the feeders. A pair of White-chested Emeralds still maintained their “ownership” of the feeders, and immediately went to war with the occasional White-necked Jacobin that stopped by.

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, however, there was no shortage of hummingbirds. Flowering trees and shrubs kept them very busy, which in turn kept me busy looking for them! Vervine bush is a good way to start, where I recorded Tufted Coquette, Blue-chinned Sapphire as well as this young male Black-throated Mango.

 

 

 

 

 

Perched high up in the canopy, a Long-billed Starthroat surveyed the goings-on at the cottage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grounds were rife with common birds, both Spectacled and Cocoa Thrushes along with various tanager species. Blue-grey, Silver-beaked, White-lined and Palm Tanagers were busy all day, providing lots of photographic opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just after lunch, I went outside to stretch – and saw what looked like another White-lined Tanager, except something seemed a little odd. Before I could return with my camera, it flew off, accompanied by its mate. Her greyish-olive coloration could only mean one thing – a pair of White-shouldered Tanagers!

I must admit with the dried forest and brutal daylight hours, we didn’t expect much in terms of avian activity. But we were pleasantly surprised, even if the species present were all listed as “common”.

Common in grasslands, uncommon in the forest, a male Blue-black Grassquit showed us how he got his name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ever-familiar Great Kiskadee was busy at its nest (in background).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most reliably separated by its call, the very similar Boat-billed Flycatcher repeatedly dove in the water – initially I thought it was hunting, but it could easily be just a means of cooling off!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Rough-winged Swallows gathered in their numbers to also make repeated dives in the pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The resident Green Kingfisher was notably absent, however she was seen on one occasion – just flying through as if to keep an eye on her pond. Before long, it was nighttime again, and a pair of Ferruginous Pygmy-owls called from either side of my vantage point. I was on the lookout for a particular species of owl – and was not to be disappointed. Although it never came close, hearing the distinctive wailing of a Mottled Owl always sends chills down my spine.

The following morning, I was up from an hour before dawn, with a third owl species in my sights. After a half hour walking in the darkness, I finally heard a single Tropical Screech-owl.

By the time the sun popped into the sky, I had located a tree that was already buzzing with activity. Easily distracted as always, I couldn’t resist this Plain-brown Woodcreeper in the golden light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning quickly to the hub of activity, it was exciting to observe the various frugivores gorging. We had entire families of Golden-headed Manakins, Green and Purple Honeycreepers, Streaked and Piratic Flycatchers, Blue Dacnis, Channel-billed Toucans, as well as the hordes of thrushes and tanagers all feeding on this one tree. Here are some of the culprits, all photographed in the same tree:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perhaps the highlight of the morning was having five (or six) Channel-billed Toucans calling from all around me, they had me completely surrounded! I didn’t know what to do, but I figured I should try to photograph them. They are absolutely beautiful birds, their raucous calls travelling for miles across the canopy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also calling incessantly for almost all the daylight hours was a Grey-lined Hawk. It was exciting being able to finally see this small raptor, although I’m not too sure if it was just as thrilled to see me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Care must be taken when identifying birds by their vocalizations, especially when known mimics are present. Violaceous Euphonias were everywhere, and they sometimes (very frustratingly) imitate the calls of the similar and extremely uncommon Trinidad Euphonia. We only recorded the latter species when a number of birds flew in and started calling – and it wasn’t just one mischievous Violaceous Euphonia. To get a visual was even better, although they stayed in the canopy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the cottage, another uncommonly seen bird presented itself. Streak-headed Woodcreepers are miniature versions of the more common Cocoa Woodcreepers, but there is a definite delicate beauty about them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just as the woodcreeper hunted insects along the branches, a pair of Black-tailed Tityras passed through, doing the exact same thing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we sat in our porch, collating the list, a movement caught my eye. Although it was on the list already, having a pair of Purple Honeycreepers look at you while you sip your coffee is a quick-fire way to spill your drink. Interestingly enough, these birds were also carefully scouring each branch for any sort of morsel (I assume – could also be spiderweb for nesting material)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The frenetic twittering of a small group of Turquoise Tanagers alerted me to a couple of these jewels following the path of the Purple Honeycreepers, also hopping along with eagle eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprisingly rich for the dry, harsh time of year, our final tally stood at 95 species.

1. Little Tinamou
2. Magnificent Frigatebird
3. Striated Heron
4. Turkey Vulture
5. Black Vulture
6. Grey-headed Kite
7. Plumbeous Kite
8. Grey-lined Hawk
9. Short-tailed Hawk
10. Zone-tailed Hawk
11. Grey-cowled Wood-rail
12. Purple Gallinule
13. Wattled Jacana
14. Rock Pigeon
15. White-tipped Dove
16. Grey-fronted Dove
17. Ruddy Ground Dove
18. Smooth-billed Ani
19. Squirrel Cuckoo
20. Tropical Screech-Owl
21. Mottled Owl
22. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
23. Common Pauraque
24. Grey-rumped Swift
25. Short-tailed Swift
26. White-necked Jacobin
27. Rufous-breasted Hermit
28. Little Hermit
29. Ruby-topaz Hummingbird
30. Black-throated Mango
31. Tufted Coquette
32. Long-billed Starthroat
33. Blue-chinned Sapphire
34. White-chested Emerald
35. Copper-rumped Hummingbird
36. Green-backed Trogon
37. Guianan Trogon
38. Green Kingfisher
39. Rufous-tailed Jacamar
40. Channel-billed Toucan
41. Golden-olive Woodpecker
42. Lineated Woodpecker
43. Blue-headed Parrot
44. Orange-winged Parrot
45. Green-rumped Parrotlet
46. Red-bellied Macaw
47. Black-crested Antshrike
48. Barred Antshrike
49. Plain-brown Woodcreeper
50. Cocoa Woodcreeper
51. Streak-headed Woodcreeper
52. Pale-breasted Spinetail
53. Forest Elaenia
54. Yellow-bellied Elaenia
55. Yellow-breasted Flycatcher
56. Tropical Pewee
57. Piratic Flycatcher
58. Great Kiskadee
59. Streaked Flycatcher
60. Boat-billed Flycatcher
61. Tropical Kingbird
62. Dusky-capped Flycatcher
63. White-bearded Manakin
64. Golden-headed Manakin
65. Black-tailed Tityra
66. Rufous-browed Peppershrike
67. Golden-fronted Greenlet
68. Southern Rough-winged Swallow
69. Grey-breasted Martin
70. White-winged Swallow
71. House Wren
72. Rufous-breasted Wren
73. Long-billed Gnatwren
74. Cocoa Thrush
75. Spectacled Thrush
76. Tropical Mockingbird
77. White-shouldered Tanager
78. White-lined Tanager
79. Silver-beaked Tanager
80. Blue-grey Tanager
81. Palm Tanager
82. Turquoise Tanager
83. Blue Dacnis
84. Purple Honeycreeper
85. Green Honeycreeper
86. Greyish Saltator
87. Blue-black Grassquit
88. Bananaquit
89. Northern Waterthrush
90. Crested Oropendola
91. Yellow-rumped Cacique
92. Yellow Oriole
93. Shiny Cowbird
94. Trinidad Euphonia
95. Violaceous Euphonia

See the report and list for January/February here.