Amethyst-throated Hummingbird

The birdathon itself may be over, but the work it sponsors still continues, and so can your financial support of that work. As noted before in this blog, all funds raised in the birdathon benefit the SalvaNATURA bird monitoring program, a monthly bird banding effort in three national parks in El Salvador and one biological reserve in Honduras.

The bird at the top is an Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, a resident highland species found in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. In this photo, the bird is being fed some sugar water, a standard procedure for aiding hummingbirds caught in mist-nets.

This individual was one of the birds we caught last week at the pine-oak banding station in national park Montecristo, El Salvador. By collecting morphological data we can learn more about the life history of these tiny jewels. For example, molt status and age indicators such as percentage of bill striations provide us with clues regarding the timing of breeding. Many hummingbirds time their breeding to coincide with the seasonal flowering of their preferred food resource, which may vary per species. Capture rates provide source data for estimating population trends.

Click on the photo for a wonderfully detailed view of this spectacular bird. Clicking on it again will enlarge the view even more. (And just in case you're wondering: we did not process this bird at night, but early morning in a shady spot. The flash made the surroundings look a lot darker than they really were...)

Here it is again, now ready for take off. A second later, it did indeed take off, ready to resume its daily activities.

The current IUCN conservation status of this species is Least Concern, but with a world population estimated at less than 50,000 individuals, a gradually decreasing trend, and severe fragmentation of its highland range (IUCN 2010), continued monitoring of the Amethyst-throated Hummingbird's population status is key for its conservation.

At least for the Salvadoran part of its range, the SalvaNATURA bird monitoring program is without a doubt the single most important source of information for making these kinds of assessments. Your continued support of our program can help us conserve this and other birds in the region, both residents and wintering visitors.

I would like to ask you to consider a tax-deductible donation to this program, and invite you to sponsor the SalvaNATURA birdathon:

Please visit The Resource Foundation and click on "Donate". This will open a secure (https) connection. You may then select the amount you want to donate, or fill in a different amount of your choice. It's important that you select "El Salvador - SalvaNATURA" in the pull-down menu called "Program Designation". Please also write in the "Dedication" box that your donation benefits the "SalvaNATURA 2010 Birdathon". That's all! When you're done, please send an email to john.vandort AT salvanatura.org to confirm your donation (and the amount).

Thank you very much for your generosity!

From all of us at SalvaNATURA, we wish you a wonderful time with your family and loved ones in these last days of 2010, and a happy, prosperous and bird-rich 2011!

¡327 especies registradas en la Maratón de Aves de SalvaNATURA!

Buteo albonotatus

Bien, es oficial. La Octava Maratón de Aves de SalvaNATURA, realizada el mes pasado en El Salvador, ¡alcanzó un registro total de 327 especies! Cada uno de los 5 equipos observó especies que ninguno de los otros equipos había registrado, así que cada equipo contribuyó a este número impresionante. ¡Felicitamos enormemente a todos los observadores por el trabajo bien hecho en esta actividad!

Este total, 327 especies, no es un nuevo record en la maratón, ya que el año pasado se registró un total de 336 especies. Sin embargo, para esta ocasión, las reglas fueron más estrictas, ya que sólo se aceptó la observación de especies de aves en los días 16 y 17 de octubre, lo que niveló el campo de juego así como estimuló un ambiente de competencia entre los equipos participantes.

No menos de 15 especies de aves se agregaron como nuevas especies en la octava edición de la maratón. ¡Una de ellas representó un nuevo registro para El Salvador! Las nuevas especies para la maratón en este año son Pajuil (Crax rubra), Avetoro Americano (Botaurus lentiginosus), Rascón Cuellirrufo (Aramides axillaris), Gallineta Overa (Rallus maculatus), Agachona de Wilson (Gallinago delicata), Golondrina-boba Café (Anous stolidus), Trepatroncos Barrado (Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae), Hormiguero-cholino Escamoso (Grallaria guatimalensis), Mosquero Penachudo (Mitrephanes phaeocercus), Martín Azul (Progne subis), Trepador Americano (Certhia americana), Pájaro-gato Gris (Dumetella carolinensis), Chipe Corona-naranja (Vermivora celata), Bolsero de Wagler (Icterus wagleri) y Pepitero Encapuchado (Coccothraustes abeillei).

La especie Martín Azul (Progne subis) no había sido reportada para El Salvador, aunque se esperaba que se avistara en el país en pequeños números durante su migración. Tres individuos se observaron volando juntos sobre la sabana fuera de La Hachadura, cerca de la frontera con el país vecino de Guatemala.

De las 327 especies observadas para esta maratón, 17 habían sido registradas una tan sola vez en las ediciones anteriores, y, por lo tanto, se consideran raras, inusuales o precisamente muy locales o difíciles de encontrar en El Salvador. Éstas incluyen a Paíño Negro (Oceanodroma melania), Gavilán Blanco (Leucopternis albicollis), Rascón Cuelligris (Aramides cajanea), Alcaraván Americana (Burhinus bistriatus), Chorlito Tildío (Charadrius vociferus), Playero Pectoral (Calidris melanotus), Costurero Piquilargo (Limnodromus scolopaceus), Falarapo de Wilson (Phalaropus tricolor), Salteador Pomarino (Stercorarius pomarinus), Perico Gorjirrojo (Aratinga rubritorquis), Cuco Piquiamarillo (Coccyzus americanus), Guitio Pechirrufo (Synallaxis erythrothorax), Cabezón Cuelligris (Pachyramphus major), Golondrina Pueblera (Petrochelidon fulva, que es más común en noviembre y diciembre), Saltapared Roquero (Salpinctes obsoletus), Zorzalito Maculado (Hylocichla mustelina) y Gorrión Cejiblanco (Spizella passerina).      

Al hacer un recuento de todas las maratones de aves que SalvaNATURA ha realizado a lo largo de 8 años, se obtiene un total de 430 especies registradas hasta el momento, faltando menos de 125 especies para completar la lista para El Salvador. No está mal ¿verdad?

Con los resultados finales de 2010, y la resolución de los desafíos de identificación de algunas especies para la maratón de este año, este es un excelente momento para recalcar, una vez más, el propósito de la maratón de SalvaNATURA: ¡Recaudar fondos para el Programa de Monitoreo de Aves en 3 parques nacionales y una reserva biológica en Honduras!

Colectando datos de un colibrí

Al igual que la Maratón de Aves, el proyecto  Monitoreo de Aves de SalvaNATURA inició en 2003, y desde entonces ha colectado una gran cantidad de datos sobre aves residentes y migratorias en la región. En muchos casos, la información más básica sobre historiales de vida de especies residentes tropicales es escasa, y para varias  de ellas, este proyecto está comenzando a recopilar datos suficientes para llenar ese vacío de conocimiento.

Roselvy Juárez colectando datos de un Myadestes occidentalis

Otro objetivo importante del proyecto es monitorear las tendencias poblacionales. Después de todo, no podemos proteger lo que no sabemos. La conservación siempre depende de los datos confiables, que este proyecto, apoyado por un equipo de biólogos locales dedicados, está recogiendo en el campo cada mes.

Un residente y un visitante: Parula superciliosa y Helmitheros vermivorum

Así que si usted le preocupa la conservación de aves y cree que el monitoreo de aves en América Central es una buena causa, entonces por favor considere apoyar la Maratón de Aves de SalvaNATURA con una donación deducible de impuestos.

Transferencia bancaria
Puede transferir su donación al número de cuenta bancaria de SalvaNATURA, que es:
BANCO AGRICOLA, cuenta #: 510-009836-4.
Por favor, no olvide mencionar que su donación es para apoyar la maratón de aves. También, envíe un correo al coordinador de la maratón de aves (john.vandort AT salvanatura.org) confirmando su donación.

Donación en línea
1) ir al sitio web The Resource Foundation;
2) haga clic en "Donate" en la parte derecha de la pantalla, lo que abre una conexión segura (https);
3) seleccione la cantidad que desea donar;
4) seleccione si desea hacer una donación única o una donación recurrente;

5) seleccione "El Salvador - SalvaNATURA" en el menú desplegable llamado "Program Designation";
6) indique en “Dedication” que su donación beneficia a "SalvaNATURA 2010 Birdathon”;
7) por favor, envíe un correo al coordinador de la maratón de aves (john.vandort AT salvanatura.org) confirmando su donación.
The Resource Foundation es una organización americana sin fines de lucro que ayuda a los donantes  apoyando efectivamente  los programas de desarrollo local en América Latina y el Caribe. Su donación a través de ellos es deducible de impuestos.


¡Gracias por su generosidad!

Birdathon results!

Zone-tailed Hawk

Well, it's official. The 8th SalvaNATURA Birdathon, held last month in El Salvador, reached a combined total of 327 species! Each of the five teams had birds that none of the other teams observed, so each team contributed to this impressive number. A big thank you to all observers - well done!

No, 327 is not a new birdathon record, for last year 336 species were recorded. However, the rules were a little stricter this year, with only species observed during the weekend of 16 and 17 October being accepted, leveling the playing field as a way to stimulate competition among the teams.

No fewer than 15 species were added as "first timers" for the 8th edition of the birdathon, one of them even a new country record!

New to the list in 2010 are Great Curassow, American Bittern, Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Spotted Rail, Wilson's Snipe, Brown Noddy, Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Scaled Antpitta, Tufted Flycatcher, Purple Martin, Brown Creeper, Gray Catbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-vented Oriole, and Hooded Grosbeak.

Purple Martin had not been reported for El Salvador previously, although it was expected to occur there in small numbers during migration. Three individuals were seen flying together over the savannah just outside of La Hachadura, near the border with Guatemala.

Seventeen species found this year had only been recorded once before in the preceding seven editions of the birdathon, and are thus considered rare, unusual or just very local or hard to find in El Salvador. These include Black Storm-Petrel, White Hawk, Gray-necked Wood-Rail, Double-striped Thick-knee, Killdeer, Pectoral Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Green (Red-throated) Parakeet, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Gray-collared Becard, Cave Swallow (more common later in the season), Rock Wren, Wood Thrush, and Chipping Sparrow.

Looking at all eight editions of the SalvaNATURA birdathon combined, a total of 430 species has been recorded thus far, i.e. less than 125 shy of the country list for El Salvador. Not bad, eh?

With the 2010 results in, and the few identification challenges worked out, this is an excellent moment to highlight once again the purpose of the SalvaNATURA birdathon: to raise funds for bird monitoring in three national parks in El Salvador and one biological reserve in Honduras!

Collecting data on a hummingbird

Like the birdathon, the SalvaNATURA bird monitoring project started in 2003, and has since then collected a wealth of data on resident and migratory bird species in the region. In many cases, even basic life history information of tropical resident species is sparse, and for a number of species this program is starting to collect sufficient data to fill that knowledge gap.

Roselvy Juárez processing a Brown-backed Solitaire

Another important objective of the program is to monitor population trends; after all, we cannot protect what we don't know. Conservation always depends on hard data, which this program, supported by a team of dedicated Salvadoran biologists, is collecting in the field every month.

A resident and a visitor: Crescent-chested Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler

So if you care about bird conservation and believe that bird monitoring in Central America is a worthy cause, then please consider sponsoring the SalvaNATURA birdathon with a tax-deductible donation. Please visit The Resource Foundation and click on "Donate". This will open a secure (https) connection. You may then select the amount you want to donate, or fill in a different amount of your choice. It's important that you select "El Salvador - SalvaNATURA" in the pull-down menu called "Program Designation". Please also write in the "Dedication" box that your donation benefits the "SalvaNATURA 2010 Birdathon". That's all! When you're done, please send an email to john.vandort AT salvanatura.org, to confirm your donation (and the amount).

Thank you very much for your generosity!

Reporte de equipo Néstor Herrera

Texto y fotos por Néstor Herrera

Participantes

Néstor Herrera, Lya Samayoa y Jorge Herrera

Total 168 especies

Observaciones sobresalientes en el conteo

Rostrhamus sociabilis (tres ejemplares en Lago de Güija)

Pardirallus maculatus (un ejemplar visto en pantano zona agrícola, primera vez que aparece en un Maraton de Aves)

Zenaida macroura (bandada de 200 ejemplares migrando)

Bolborhynchus lineola (dos bandadas escuchadas al interior del bosque nuboso)

Tilmatura dupontii (una hembra vista en Los Planes)

Atthis ellioti (un ejemplar comiendo en flores de durazno)

Pharomachrus mocinno (un ejemplar escuchado al atardecer en bosque nuboso)

Notiochelidon pileata (una pareja vista volar sobre bosque pino-roble a 1700 msnm)

Dendroica chrysoparia (tres ejemplares, dos machos, una hembra, entre 1800 a 1400 msnm)

16 de octubre

Parque Nacional Montecristo

Iniciamos el conteo a las 6 am siguiendo la calle que desde Los Planes conduce hasta el punto Trifinio, caminando ocho kilómetros en los ecosistemas de bosque pino-roble, plantaciones de ciprés y bosque nuboso, desde 1850 msnm hasta 2418 msnm. Regresamos a las 6:20 pm, de tal manera que el recorrido nos tomo 12 horas, pero logramos estar a tempranas horas en el bosque nuboso y hasta casi el anochecer, esto nos permitió la detectabilidad de las siguientes especies:

Lamprolaima rhami

Aves Bosque Nuboso (19 spp)

1.     Penelopina nigra (heces, canto)

2.     Geotrygon albifacies (una pareja en calle bosque nuboso, otra pareja en claro del bosque)

3.     Bolborhynchus lineola (dos grupos pasando sobre nosotros, a 200 m sobre la estación de MOSI SalvaNATURA, el sonido como de pericos australianos, volando, subiendo y bajando sobre el dosel)

4.     Hylocharis leucotis (comiendo en punto Trifinio)

5.     Lampornis viridipallens (visto)

6.     Lampornis amethystinus (visto)

7.     Lamprolaima rhami (visto, fotografiado)

8.     Pharomachrus mocinno (escuchado en la tarde, 5:30 pm antes del desvío para sendero de turismo bosque nuboso, hizo dos llamadas en un intervalo de 5 minutos)

9.     Rhynchocyclus brevirostris (cuatro ejemplares, visto y escuchado)

10.  Henicorhina leucophrys (cuatro parejas, una de ellas muy territorial)

11.  Myadestes unicolor (escuchado)

12.  Catharus frantzii (visto, tres ejemplares)

13.  Catharus dryas (visto, junto con bandada de Clorospingus)

14.  Turdus infuscatus (visto)

15.  Turdus plebejus (visto)

16.  Turdus rufitorques (visto)

17.  Turdus asimilis (visto) voló a baja altura, dorso café, pecho y vientre gris, región anal blancuzca, cabeza café muy oscura.

18.  Basileuterus belli (visto, tres parejas en bosque nuboso denso)

19.  Chlorospingus ophthalmicus (más de 50 ejemplares, bandadas mixtas con Catharus y grupos solitarios)

20.  Coccothraustes abeillei (escuchado)

Buteo platypterus

Aves Plantaciones de Ciprés (9 spp)

1.     Buteo platypterus (fotografiado en plantación)

2.     Ciccaba virgata (escuchado noche del sábado en cancha de futbol)

3.     Aulacorhynchus prasinus (pareja depredando nido?)

4.     Dendrocincla homochroa (comiendo en árboles de ciprés, pasamos más de 20 minutos observando, al principio por la luz y la contraluz no veíamos los detalles, el ave se alimentaba en unos árboles maduros de ciprés sobre la calle, el color rojizo y la ausencia de manchas en inconfundible, el ave era más pequeño que un Xiphorynchus, pero más grande que un Lepidocolaptes, regordete, hice fotos, pero no salieron bien.

5.     Empidonax hammondii (escuchado, visto, foto)

6.     Parula americana (bandada mixta con D. graciae, D. townsendi): vimos un macho, presentaba un anillo ocular interrumpido, cabeza gris azulada, espalda de color verde oliva, barbilla, garganta y pecho amarillo con una faja o mancha negra, abdomen blanco. No presentaba ceja y la mancha negra en el pecho era amplia de extremo a extremo, no era una mancha pequeña. Con D. occidentalis sucedió lo mismo en 2003, se creía que no era tan común como se ha demostrado últimamente.

7.     Cyclarhis gujanensis (escuchado y visto en Jardín 100 años)

8.     Dendroica graciae (abundante en plantaciones, bandadas mixtas)

9.     Dendroica townsendi (abundante en plantaciones, bandadas mixtas)

10.  Atlapetes albinucha (abundante en áreas abiertas de los planes y caminos en bosque de ciprés, foto)

11.  Buarremon brunneinucha (visto en el atardecer, dos parejas)

Dendroica virens

Aves Pino-Roble (12 spp)

1.     Chordeiles acutipennis (visto en calle de acceso al parque, 7:30 pm)

2.     Aspatha gularis (escuchado a las 6:20 pm en Los Planes y visto en pino roble cerca de estación mosi)

3.     Melanotis hypoleucus (escuchado a las 6:20 pm en Los Planes)

4.     Peucedramus taeniatus (visto en bandada mixta de Dendroicas)

5.     Dendroica magnolia (vistos, bandadas mixtas)

6.     D. virens (vistos, bandadas mixtas, mas de 50 ejemplares)

7.     D. townsendi (vistos, bandadas mixtas)

8.     D. occidentalis (vistos, bandadas mixtas, mas de 25 ejemplares)

9.     Mniotilta varia (vistos, bandadas mixtas, principalmente hembras)

10.  Setophaga ruticilla (vistos, bandadas mixtas)

11.  Myioborus pictus (vistos, bandadas mixtas)

12.  Myioborus miniatus (visto)

Empidonax minimus

17 de octubre

Iniciamos a las 6 am, dedicando dos horas a buscar aves en Los Planes, incluyendo Jardín de Los Cien Años y áreas de uso público del parque (áreas abiertas, plantación de ciprés). De 8 a 2 pm, buscamos aves en el bosque pino-roble, desde 1800 msnm (estación de monitoreo de aves de SalvaNATURA) hasta 1400 msnm en la torre de control de incendios (bosque pino-roble). Dedicamos una hora en bosque seco en el Parque Montecristo y luego nos trasladamos al lago de Güija, en Punta Las Yeguas y Bosque La Barra, además de la laguna El Queshque en sector Las Conchas, siempre en el lago, de tal manera que desde las 4 hasta las 6 se hicieron observaciones en el lago. Cerramos el conteo a las 6:20 pm y regresamos a San Salvador. Las aves encontradas por ecosistema fueron:

Bosque Pino-Roble (59 spp)

1.     Buteo nitidus (escuchado)

2.     B. brachyurus (visto)

3.     B. albonotatus (visto, con presa en calle a torre control de incendios

4.     Accipiter chionogaster (A. striatus según lista, visto)

5.     Patagioenas fasciata (visto en calle)

6.     Glaucidium brasilianum (escuchado)

7.     Colibri thalassinus (visto comiendo flores)

8.     Chlorostilbon canivetii (visto comiendo flores)

9.     Amazilia beryllina (comiendo en flores)

10.  Amazilia rutila (comiendo en flores)

11.  Eugenes fulgens (comiendo en flores)

12.  Tilmatura dupontii (una hembra vista en Los Planes)

13.  Archilochus colubris (comiendo en flores)

14.  Atthis ellioti (comiendo en flores)

15.  Trogon calligatus (escuchado)

16.  T. collaris (visto y escuchado)

17.  Momotus momota (escuchado)

18.  Melanerpes formicivorus (escuchado)

19.  M. aurifrons (visto y escuchado)

20.  Picoides villosus (visto, fotografiado)

21.  Colaptes rubiginosus (escuchado)

22.  Dryocopus lineatus (escuchado)

23.  Xiphorhynchus flavigaster (visto y escuchado)

24.  Lepidocolaptes affinis (escuchado)

25.  Elaenia frantzii (escuchado)

26.  Mionectes oleagineus (escuchado)

27.  Contopus virens (visto)

28.  Empidonax flaviventris (visto)

29.  E. minimus (visto)

30.  Empidonax hammondi

31.  Myiarchus tuberculifer (escuchado)

32.  Megarynchus pitangua (visto)

33.  Pachyramphus major (visto). Lo vimos en bosque de latifoliadas en orilla de quebrada con predominio de robles, un macho. 

34.  Vireo solitarius (visto) un individuo, volando en vegetación alta.

35.  Cyanocorax melanocyaneus (visto)

36.  Notiochelidon pileata (visto)

37.  Thryothorus maculipectus (escuchado)

38.  T. pleurostictus (escuchado): confirmado, una pareja arriba de Majaditas, un poco menos de 1200 msnm, es pino roble, pero hay incidencia de especies latifoliadas e incluso los robles acá son deciduos.

39.  T. modestus (escuchado)

40.  Troglodytes aedon (escuchado)

41.  Polioptila caerulea (visto en dosel de bosque de roble)

42.  Myadestes occidentalis (escuchado)

43.  Catharus aurantiirostris (escuchado)

44.  Catharus ustulatus (visto)

45.  Vermivora peregrina (visto)

46.  V. celata (visto, dos ejemplares, uno a 1800 msnm y otro en 1400 msnm)

Hicimos dos avistamientos de esta especie, estamos 100% seguros, nosotros nunca la vimos antes, ejemplares de cabeza gris, ceja blanca, verde oliva y amarillo en pecho y vientre, con tono gris  en la espalda y la coronilla, presentaban un anillo ocular amarillo suave, cejas no muy bien definidas pico pequeño y fino, cola mediana, pecho y vientre amarillo, región cloacal amarilla. Uno de los ejemplares lo vimos en el ecotono de bosque nuboso/cipresal, cerca del parqueo, donde hay una formación de bosque nuboso secundario, una bandada mixta, arriba de 1850 msnm. El otro ejemplar también lo vimos en una bandada mixta, debajo de 1700 msnm a la orilla de la calle en bosque latifoliado.

47.  Parula superciliosa (visto)

48.  Dendroica petechia (visto)

49.  Dendroica chrysoparia (tres ejemplares, dos machos, una hembra)

50.  Mniotilta varia (visto)

51.  Setophaga ruticilla (visto)

52.  Wilsonia pusilla (visto)

53.  Euthlypis lachrymosa (visto, entre plantas de Heliconia ¡¡¡)

54.  Icteria virens (visto y escuchado, en bandada mixta) 

55.  Icterus wagleri (vista)

56.  Icterus maculialatus (pareja vista a 1500 msnm)

57.  Icterus chrysater (bandada mixta de Dendroicas)

59.  Amblycercus holosericeus (escuchado)

60.  Loxia curvirostra (visto, dos ejemplares en copas de pinos)

Bosque Seco (13 spp)

1.     Leptotila verreauxi (escuchado)

2.     Piaya cayana (escuchado)

3.     Campylopterus hemileucurus (visto/fotografiado)

4.     Hylocharis eliciae (visto)

5.     Eumomota superciliosa (escuchado)

6.     Chloroceryle americana (visto)

7.     Tolmomyias sulphurescens (escuchado)

8.     Contopus cinereus (escuchado)

9.     Empidonax traillii (escuchado)

10.  Campylorhynchus rufinucha (escuchado)

11.  Turdus grayi (escuchado)

12.  Basileuterus rufifrons (escuchado)

13.  Dives dives (visto, escuchado)

Áreas Abiertas incluye áreas urbanas, bosque seco, pino-roble (37 spp)

1.     Bubulcus ibis (visto junto al Ganado)

2.     Coragyps atratus (visto, PNM)

3.     Cathartes aura (visto PNM)

4.     Elanus leucurus (visto, orilla del lago)

5.     Buteo magnirostris (visto, escuchado)

6.     Caracara cheriway (visto volando en orilla del lago)

7.     Herpetotheres cachinnans (escuchado)

8.     Falco sparverius (visto en cables carretera y al atardecer)

9.     Amazona albifrons (tres parejas volando al atardecer)

10.  Columba livia (en ciudad de Metapán)

11.  Patagioenas flavirostris (vista)

12.  Zenaida asiatica (vista en ciudad de Metapán)

13.  Zenaida macroura (más de 200 migrando en cultivos/ganadería cerca de CESSA)

14.  Columbina inca (visto)

15.  C. passerina (una pareja en calle a La Barra)

16.  C. talpacoti (vista)

17.  Crotophaga sulcirostris ( en zonas ganaderas)

18.  Pitangus sulphuratus (visto)

19.  Myiozetetes similis (visto)

20.  Tyrannus melancholicus (visto)

21.  T. verticalis (visto)

22.  T. forficatus (visto, mas de 50 ejemplares )

23.  Pachyramphus aglaiae (visto)

24.  Vireo gilvus (visto en árboles de Curatella)

25.  Calocitta formosa (vistas)

26.  Progne chalybea (vistas)

27.  Stelgidopteryx serripennis (vistas en vuelo conjunto con H. rustica)

28.  Hirundo rustica (vistas)

29.  Volatinia jacarina (vista en PNM Los Planes, área de cultivo de flores)

30.  Sporophila torqueola (vistas)

31.  Quiscalus mexicanus (vistas)

32.  Molothrus aeneus (vistas)

33.  Icterus spurius (vistas)

34.  Icterus pustulatus (vistas)

35.  Icterus gularis (vistas)

36.  Icterus galbula (vistas)

37.  Passer domesticus (en gasolinera Metapán)

Cuerpos de agua (22 spp)

1.     Dendrocygna autumnalis (unos 100 ejemplares, adultos con crías)

2.     D. bicolor (vistas)

3.     Podilymbus podiceps (un ejemplar en El Queishque)

4.     Phalacrocorax brasilianus (vistas)

5.     Ardea herodias (vistas)

6.     A. alba (vistas)

7.     Egretta thula (vistas)

8.     E. caerulea (vistas)

9.     E. tricolor (vistas)

10.  Butorides virescens (vistas)

11.  Nycticorax nycticorax (vistas)

12.  Pandion haliaetus (vistas)

13.  Rostrhamus sociabilis (vistas)

14.  Buteogallus anthracinus (un ejemplar visto en el ocaso, durmiendo en bosque PN San Diego-La Barra)

15.  Pardirallus maculatus (un ejemplar en pantano zona ganadera, primera vez que aparece en Maratón de Aves), el ave salto entre el pantano, asustado por unos Dendrocygnas no fue posible fotografiarlo.

16.  Fulica americana (vistas)

17.  Aramus guarauna (escuchado y dos ejemplares vistos)

18.  Himantopus mexicanus (una bandada de 20 ejemplares)

19.  Jacana spinosa (vistas)

20.  Actitis macularia (vistas)

21.  Tachycineta albilinea (vistas)

22.  Geothlypis trichas (vistas)

The best birdathon in 8 years!

Magnificent Frigatebird and Brown Pelican

By Oliver Komar (photos John van Dort)

Por versión español, haga click aqui

Friends, here is a quick summary of my team’s experience during the eighth birdathon in El Salvador, this past 16-17 October 2010. The weather was perfect for birding, and our luck was running very high, so much that our team identified 206 species during the two days in the south of Ahuachapán. We passed by far our previous team record of 192 species, made last year. This year, Roselvy Juárez, Benjamín Rivera, John van Dort and myself formed the team. The breezes were calm and comfortable, temperatures were not too high, and just a few rain drops fell during lunch on Sunday, all in all perfect conditions. In fact, birds were notably active. Even resident birds as well as some migrants were singing! Considering that the breeding season is well over, this was an unexpected bonus. Even the birds seemed to be happy and excited last weekend.

Double-striped Thick-knee

Day 1 

From our base at the El Imposible Ecolodge, we began Saturday at the La Hachadura Savannah, arriving there at 6:00 am. This site is very close to the Guatemala border, on the coastal plain. We walked and observed along a couple of kilometers of the road that runs to Garita Palmera from the town of La Hachadura (Municipality of San Francisco Menéndez). Although we missed two target species (Plain-breasted Ground-Dove and Eastern Meadowlark), we were rewarded with 17 Double-striped Thick-knees, 4 Wilson’s Snipe, 4 Solitary Sandpipers, 1 Killdeer, 1 Amazon Kingfisher (!) flying over towards Guatemala, 1 Crested Caracara, several species of swallows and in particular, 3 Purple Martins. Purple Martin has never before been reported in El Salvador! We saw two males together with one female. New species for our list appeared by the minute, and we had difficulty tearing ourselves away from this site. But at 7:45 am, we drove off towards Barra de Santiago, a trip that would take nearly an hour. 

At the entrance to the Barra, where the road crosses a small stream just before reaching the mangroves, we made a stop and walked among the shrubbery that lines the stream. In just 10 minutes, we added several species that we would not encounter again, including Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Common Ground-Dove, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Grayish Saltator. We arrived at the office of AMBAS (The Barra de Santiago Women for Community Development Association) at 9:00 am. We had arranged previously with them for two park wardens, Alcides Pérez and Adonai, to accompany us by boat during the morning. While they finished preparing the boat, we grabbed a hot breakfast in the restaurant run by Rosa, the president of AMBAS. From the deck, we added Belted Kingfisher to the list.

Barra de Santiago

The tide was at its highest, and we easily crossed the estuary and made our way deep into the mangroves by 9:30 am. In these channels of the protected area, we managed to find most of the target species, including Mangrove Vireo, both wood-rail species, Boat-billed Heron, and Streak-headed Woodcreeper. Also the Lineated Woodpecker. Nonetheless, we missed two targets, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron and American Pygmy Kingfisher. One surprise was a flock of migrant warblers that included three Black-and-white Warblers in full song! We left the channels a bit late, around 11:30 am, and 15 minutes later we arrived at the extensive sandflats in the mouth of the estuary. The tide was ebbing, and the great flats were just beginning to be uncovered. For us, it was perfect timing, because the nearly thousand shorebirds, terns, gulls and pelicans were concentrated in the upper flats, facilitating for us a rapid review of all of the birds.

Short-billed Dowitchers

We left the boat and walked barefoot across the sand and mud during just 45 minutes, but we added more than 20 species to the list. In addition to the common and expected species (like Short-billed Dowitcher), we were rewarded with 3 American Oystercatchers, a pair of Collared Plovers, and one Snowy Plover. We found only one Elegant Tern among the hundred-plus Royal Terns. When all of the shorebirds and terns took flight, frightened, a scan of the sky revealed a passing Merlin. But time was short, and we ran back to the boat to return as fast as possible to the AMBAS restaurant. Our original plan was to lunch there at 12:30, but we called ahead by cell phone to have lunch prepared for 1:00 pm.

We lunched with more than 100 species already listed, and there we added Blue-gray Tanager. We abandoned our plan to leave the Barra for Los Cóbanos, because we were already running 45 minutes behind schedule and then we lost more time changing a flat tire on my Pathfinder. Improvising, we asked if a local fisherman might be able to take us out to sea from the Barra (that was our reason for going to Los Cobanos). Within 15 minutes, Antonio, the chief warden, had found a boat and driver on the beach in front of the AMBAS office. He lent us life vests, and at 2:30 pm we were on the water, fighting the large waves to find a way out to sea.

Red-necked Phalaropes

The boat driver, known as Ricardo or by his nickname “El Tiburón” (the shark), agreed to take us out for 3 hours. First we visited three shrimp boats that were trawling the bottom just 2 km off the coast. We hoped to find boobies perched on the shrimp boats, but all we saw were Brown Pelicans, some gulls and terns, and Magnificent Frigatebirds. The next strategy was to cruise straight south, away from the coast and towards the open sea. Our first find was five Red-necked Phalaropes, and then we started to add pelagic species such as Pomarine Jaeger, Brown Noddy, Black Tern, and Black Storm-Petrel. We also saw several Green Sea Turtles. We got to about 15 km out and then turned around. We were pleased with the sea trip, and teased by several birds that got away, but looked to be very interesting species. At 5:30 pm, we had reached shore, and were admiring how the boatman found just the right moment to bring the boat to the beach, riding the back of an enormous wave.

With the last half hour of light, we rushed to the boardwalk at “El Picacho”, a part of the mangrove swamp at Barra de Santiago where herons nest. Although last year we found active nests of Anhinga during the birdathon, this time we did not see any Anhinga or heron nests. Nonetheless, we found many herons sleeping by the platform at the end of the boardwalk, and in the dusk we added to our list Black-crowned Night-Heron, Chuck-Will’s-Widow, Laughing Falcon, and Collared Forest-Falcon. We also saw more Boat-billed Herons, and we returned to the car with the flashlights on. 

Worried about arriving late for dinner, we decided to limit the evening stops to the tire repair workshop and the supermarket at Cara Sucia, without doing any owling. After all, we still had Sunday night. The tire repair workshops were already closed, so we decided to drive up the rough 14 km road to El Imposible with special care (read this as especially slowly). We dined somewhat late, around 8:00 pm. The list already had 123 species. It may sound like a lot, but it was less than we had last year by Saturday night. I thought we would have a tough time reaching last year’s record.

Day 2

We started Sunday morning at 4:45 am. We added Mottled Owl to the list before we left the Ecolodge. We left the car at El Imposible National Park’s visitor’s center, and found ourselves immersed in the forest, on our way down to the Izcanal River, by the beginning of the dawn chorus at 5:20 am. Playing tapes for Black-and-white Owl had been ineffective. During the next two hours we were surprised by the amount of birds we heard singing, since normally in mid-October few birds are vocalizing. The absence of wind perhaps helped. We heard songs of Northern Barred Woodcreeper, Bright-rumped Attila, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Long-billed Gnatwren, Paltry Tyrannulet, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, and many more species that are common in this forest. As with the previous day, we heard the migratory Black-and-white Warbler singing. As we expected, a Louisiana Waterthrush coursed the river. Before 6:00 am, we saw several migrating raptors crossing the valley, boding well for a good migration day.

Pale-billed Woodpecker

On the other side of the river (600 meters above sea level), we began the long climb up to Cerro El Leon (at 1100 meters), and it was well worthwhile. On this trail, we found Pale-billed Woodpecker (thanks to Roselvy), Crested Guan, the regionally endemic Bar-winged Oriole, and several flocks of migrants. Unexpected was a Red-eyed Vireo and an Eye-ringed Flatbill. There were so many birds, that we got behind schedule again. I had wanted to reach the peak by 9:00 am in order to watch for hawks until 11:00. But we did not arrive until after 11:00. Near the peak, John photographed a Great Currassow, an impressive species that is so shy that we have never seen it before on a birdathon. 

Great Curassow

Although we spent only about 30 minutes on top of Cerro El Leon, we saw practically all we hoped to find there. The King Vulture and White Hawk graciously posed in trees and then flew out over the valleys that surround the peak. The White Hawk was found thanks to the keen eyes of Benjamin; it was barely visible by the naked eye where it was perched more than a kilometer across the valley. Black Hawk-Eagles whistled from below and above the peak. We saw distant streams of migrating hawks, distinguishing a couple of new species for our list. John picked out a distant Peregrine Falcon, and we never saw another one. We had planned to lunch at 1:00 pm at the Comedor de la Niña Hilda, at the park entrance, so we briskly hiked the ridge trail back to the visitor´s center, hoping to gain time. We stopped just a few times, but it was worthwhile. Roselvy brought our attention to a pair of Blue Seedeaters along the trail, and we saw Elegant Trogon. At El Mulo lookout, we added Short-tailed Hawk and Barred Antshrike. Back at the Visitor’s Center we added Eastern Wood-Pewee, Blue-throated Goldentail, and Brown-crested Flycatcher, as well as witnessing an impressive flight of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Turkey Vultures and Swainson’s Hawks just over our heads and under the accumulating clouds that threatened rain. Over lunch we celebrated our new record, 193 species. It was 2:00 pm.

A stop at the El Imposible Ecolodge, to gather our bags, produced Lesser Ground-Cuckoo for the list. A stop further down the road, in El Refugio as we drove down towards the coast, produced Least Flycatcher, Rufous-collared Swift, White-browed Gnatcatcher, and Western Wood-Pewee, and in Cara Sucia John spotted a Red-billed Pigeon. We arrived at Santa Rita forest with 199 species. It was 4:30 pm, and we still had 90 minutes of light. We were surprised and disappointed to find, however, that the road that crosses this protected area was turned into a highway, with a constant stream of cars, trucks and buses. One of the September storms had washed out a bridge on the paved road that runs from Cara Sucia to Garita Palmera, and now most vehicles were detoured to this road. We walked along it, but the forest was strangely quiet. One of the birds that was most common here last year, the Rose-throated Becard, was nowhere to be seen (or heard) and we missed it for the birdathon. Nonetheless, we added Crested Bobwhite and White-bellied Chachalaca at the forest entrance, and inside the forest, Great Crested Flycatcher, Turqoise-browed Motmot, White-fronted Parrot and a late Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, that should have already departed for South America. The last species added was Lesser Nighthawk, as several overflew the observation tower around 5:45 pm.

We stayed at Santa Rita until nearly 6:30, listening for Spectacled Owl with no luck. With 206 species already recorded, and nearly 3 hours travel to San Salvador awaiting us, we decided to leave any more owling for another year. The weekend had been excellent for birding. We saw most of the target species and some surprises too. The sea trip was new for us, as we had never tried one on previous birdathons. It was worthwhile. We always miss a few common species, and this year was no exception. We never found Red-tailed Hawk, Gray Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Red-winged Blackbird or Blue-black Grassquit. But we recorded almost all of the El Imposible specialties (such as Crested Guan, Great Curassow, White Hawk, Blue Seedeater, and many more). Will it be possible to break our new record in the future?

our team on the beach at Barra de Santiago

We did the birdathon in part for the fun, but more so to support SalvaNATURA’s bird monitoring program. If you have not made your donation yet, please follow the instructions that appeared previously in the 2010 Birdathon blog, or write an email to John (john.vandort AT gmail.com) and he will send you instructions for donating on-line. If you have donated, thank you very much!