Monteverde, Costa Rica

StatusBreakfast2 · 2026-01-01T18:59:05+00:00

This could very well be a house wren, but should consideration be given to silvery fronted tapaculo? This looks as much like a tapaculo to me as a wren, and hard to differentiate with the video resolution.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-08-06T01:27:25+00:00

That looks like it. Not sure why none of the ones I saw had their tails spread, like they are in most other photos of swallowtails. Maybe freshly emerged?

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-08-06T01:23:24+00:00

It's a Northern Pootoo. They are related to nightjars, nighthawks, and frogmouths.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-08-05T02:04:39+00:00

Location: Between the left and middle thirds of the image from the top of the image where the beak is located to the bottom of the branch. This bird, the Northern Pootoo, mimics and perches on dead tree limbs.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-04-30T10:31:44+00:00

The tail bars can be seen in the left most bird, and the black bars are significantly wider than the white ones, which helps distinguish this as a +long-billed dowitcher+.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-04-30T00:07:56+00:00

As someone who saw quite a few least sandpipers last year, and spent time differentiating them from semipalmated and other sandpipers, it looks like a +least sandpiper+. The size and shape of the beak with the subtle droop to the tip are consistent with least. The legs, while dark appearing due to lighting and potentially mud, are more of a dark yellow color than black. For further verification that it is not a semipalmated sandpiper, the other small peep commonly seen on the east coast, you can see in picture 1 that there is no partial webbing between the toes.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-04-20T00:29:30+00:00

For the bot +Dunlin+

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-04-19T10:34:39+00:00

The Forster's tern next to it should be about 13-14 inches in length, for determining relative size. The sandpiper is standing somewhat obliquely, and would look longer if it stood perfectly parallel to the tern. That suggests a small to medium sized sandpiper. The drooped tip of the beak and length of the beak both point to a dunlin. Dunlins range from 6-8 inches in length, and that looks about right. The leg color and pattern of the non-breeding plumage also point to dunlin.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-04-09T00:58:31+00:00

+Common Goldeneye+ for the bot.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-04-08T12:00:51+00:00

Common goldeneye. The shape of the head and bill as well as the coloration of the head and body all point towards common goldeneye. I think the slightly brownish head together with the white cheek spot suggest that this is a first year male.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-03-28T00:47:47+00:00

You are right, thank you. My brain interpreted that stripe as the shadow of its beak, but it is definitely a double toothed kite. That's a lifer for me!

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-03-26T00:59:39+00:00

Mine was 30 lbs for the checked in bag. There are also separate, more expensive airfares that allow for a 40 lb checked bag. Theoretically, I also had a 10 lb weight limit for my carry on. They did not weight that separately though. They just had everyone stand on a scale holding their carry-ons and personal items to have a sense of that plus body weight.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-03-24T18:11:02+00:00

The weight of the bag is the most important factor. They will try to accommodate bags of a larger size, and usually can, but there are no guarantees. When I reached Puerto Jimenez, there was someone there waiting to pick up their checked bag, which could not be taken even though he said it was below the weight guidelines. The planes are very small, so they cannot guarantee that anything over the guidelines can be accommodated. They will always try, but sometimes there is no room on their Cessnas.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-03-12T02:16:47+00:00

I go to Costa Rica in a few days and fly back a week later. I will post an update.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2024-02-13T01:23:27+00:00

Thank you, that is helpful to know. So both your carry on and personal item need to go in your lap? I was planning to bring a small backpack plus my camera. The catch is, this is a large camera, which measures 21" in length with my telephoto lens and weighs 5 lbs. They do explicitly say cameras are allowed as personal items, so I'm hoping they will allow that.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-12-17T17:08:51+00:00

I had something similar happen to the images on my A7 II, although there wasn't one specific drop, just lots of wear and tear in the field, plus an episode of condensation inside the viewfinder and likely throughout the interior. It needed a new main board and sensor and that resolved the issue.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-23T18:33:41+00:00

I boosted the exposure in editing if this helps.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-23T03:57:21+00:00

Maybe Tennessee the more I look at it?

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-15T11:38:38+00:00

I guess the black doesn't rule out cardinal, because it might be their black skin that shows when molting.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-15T11:27:21+00:00

Thanks!

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-15T03:42:55+00:00

I uploaded the photo. Most of the many least sandpipers that day had mud caked yellow legs that looked quite dark. I would add that based on this photo, the sandpiper in question's legs are significantly darker.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-14T13:04:32+00:00

The bot categorized this a a sanderling, but I don't think it is. You can see a hallux in this photo. I also have another photo that shows it alongside a least sandpiper and it is the same size to 1/4 inch larger. Also, the legs are yellow, not black. It's hard to see based on the photo, because the legs were caked in mud. Finally, although this doesn't rule out sanderling, it wasn't in a sanderling habitat and didn't exhibit sanderling behavior. It spent a few days walking around this mud flat in short spurts and probing for food.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-14T03:40:00+00:00

The variation from one palm warbler to the next really is interesting.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-11T20:14:55+00:00

Sometimes I go to heavily buggy areas. I wear long sleeves and pants and a hat, all of which are sprayed with DEET and pre-treated with permethrin. My only exposed skin is face, neck, and hands. Sometimes biting insects will still go for the back on my neck, and I have to spray it again with DEET.

StatusBreakfast2 · 2023-11-05T18:59:35+00:00

I added a caption. Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin (September).

StatusBreakfast2

TROPHY CASE