My first lifer of the trip was a RUFOUS-COLLARED SPARROW at the car rental in San Jose. We flew into San Jose on an early morning flight from Orlando, picked up a rental car and drove about 3.5 hours west to the Pacific coast (my step-dad did all the driving, thankfully, as the driving is a little adventurous in Costa Rica). We stayed in a really nice vacation rental condo about 5 miles away from the beach town of Tamarindo. While there I picked up several lifers around the condo complex. Every morning at dawn we had several BLACK-HEADED TROGONS singing a dawn chorus in the small group of trees outside our building. We also had both STREAK-BACKED and SPOT-BREASTED ORIOLES, and RUFOUS-NAPED WREN that were regulars in the bushes outside our condo. WHITE-THROATED MAGPIE-JAYS, and both ORANGE-CHINNED and ORANGE-FRONTED PARAKEETS were regulars around and flying over the condo. On a walk around the complex we found Howler Monkeys, Iguanas, House Geckos and other fun wildlife, and CINNAMON HUMMINGBIRDS, ROSE-THROATED BECARD, HOFFMAN'S WOODPECKERS and GROOVE-BILLED ANIS. GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES and WHITE-WINGED DOVES were common most places we went. While staying outside Tamarindo, we went on a catamaran boat tour around the coast and saw several MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRDS, lots of vultures (BLACK and TURKEY), GREAT KISKADEE, and TROPICAL KINGBIRDS. We also took a boat tour up the estuary from Tamarindo into Las Baulas National Marine Park which is filled with mangroves and saw several American Crocodiles and Spiny-tailed Iguanas. Other highlights included BARE-THROATED TIGER HERON, MANGROVE SWALLOW, COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER, TROPICAL GNATCATCHER, lots of other herons/egrets (LITTLE BLUE, SNOWY, YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT, TRICOLORED, GREAT BLUE and GREEN), and both RINGED and GREEN KINGFISHERS.

After spending 3 nights in Tamarindo, we took off and headed inland to Arenal Observatory Lodge which is at the base of the Arenal Volcano outside of the little town of La Fortuna. The drive there was amazingly beautiful around Lake Arenal, and the views from the lodge are amazing. I had a couple of different people tell me I absolutely needed to stay there, and they weren't kidding. The accomodations were comfortable and affordable, and included a really fantastic morning buffet, the property included miles and miles of trails, they offered a free guided naturalist walk daily, additional tours (including private birding guides) for a small fee, and populations of howler monkeys and coatimundi that both wandered through the area daily. Between the trails at Arenal, Arenal National Park which was about 3 miles down the road, and the sloth reserve down in La Fortuna (Sendaro Bogarin) I picked up 88 lifers. Had we been there another day I probably would have hired a private guide for a few hours and seen half again as many species. I don't have room to list them all off but my favorites were probably the MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA because of the weird noises they made and how crazy they looked, all of the tanagers (we

saw BLUE-GRAY, SCARLET RUMPED, GOLDEN-HOODED, EMERALD, CARMIOL'S, BAY-HEADED, and SILVER-THROATED TANAGERS), the BROAD-BILLED MOTMOTS, the hummingbirds with all their crazy names: STRIPE-THROATED HERMIT, PURPLE-CROWNED FAIRY, LONG-BILLED STARTHROAT, VIOLET-HEADED HUMMINGBIRD, SCALY-BREASTED HUMMINGBIRD, BRONZE-TAILED PLUMELETEER, CROWNED WOODNYMPH, RUFOUS-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD, and the crowning glory, the BLACK-CRESTED COQUETTE. It was really unreal seeing the YELLOW-THROATED TOUCANS, and the COLLARED ARACARI in the wild as well.

Black-cheeked Woodpecker at Arenal Observatory Lodge
 

Pacific Screech-owls at Arenal NP

Crested Guan at Arenal
 

Rufous-tailed Jacamar

Back in San Jose the night before our flight home I was a few species away from 700. At the Hotel Bougainvillea gardens Terri spotted us a pair of lifer FERRUGINOUS PYGMY-OWLS just as it was getting dark. The next morning in the woods next to the Alajuela Walmart next to our hotel (there's at least one Walmart in Costa Rica and Great-tailed Grackles hang out there too) Terri spotted my 700th species: LESSON'S MOTMOT. Next to our Marriot we got my 701st species: TROPICAL MOCKINBIRD.

It was an amazing trip full of fun memories, like having a guide drive us for a couple hours in the dark down a terribly bumpy dirt road to see baby sea turtles hatching and heading into the ocean. There were a few misses, like not making it to Monte Verde to see the Resplendant Quetzal, but overall the food was great, the people were great, the birds were beyond great and I have a feeling I'll be going back for more in the future.

If you've made it this far, I just wanted to say as well that I've just finished serving my 7th year as president of the Utah County Birders, and I'm hoping to pass the torch soon and hand off the presidency to someone else. I plan on sticking around and helping with the club in some capacity for awhile yet. I've really enjoyed getting to know so many of you and share your passion for birds and birding and I hope to see many of you out at a Christmas Bird Count the next few weeks. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Happy Birding!

Keeli Marvel

There are two genetically-determined morphs, bright and dull, named for the white or tan stripes on the head. Both forms have black crown stripes, a black eye stripe, yellow lores, a thin black malar stripe, and white throats that contrast sharply with a grayish, lightly-striped or splotched breast. The back and wings are a dull reddish-brown. The two morphs persist, because each form prefers to mate with the other form; this behavior appears to be unique among birds. Whether male or female, the bright morph tends to defend territory and the tan morph tends to prefer nesting duties.

The song of the White-throated Sparrow is an easily-recognizable thin, high-pitched whistle, described as “oh-sweet-Canada.” An alert signal is a sharp chip note, often given by a bird on a conspicuous perch. The bird often responds to pishing sounds.

The White-throated Sparrow is a forest dweller and a ground forager. It readily comes to feeders or to scavenge beneath them. Though not closely related, it is often found in company with Dark-eyed Juncos, with whom it sometimes produces intermediate hybrids. Nests are usually on the ground, but sometimes are found in conifers several feet above ground, probably to avoid predators.

Field Trip Reports
 

23 Nov 2019

Eastlawn Memorial Cemetery

We stopped to see my Dad the biggest Turkey of all and shared some more cookies. Best birds up there were Red-tailed Hawk, Black-capped Chickadees at Dennis's home and Scrub Jays at moms.

On with the trot to Payson Canyon. In the meadow we found 3 flocks totaling 103!!! Our running total is 269!! We also saw Black-capped chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch and more Stellar's Jay's and Townsend's Solitaires, some American Robin's, a Northern Harrier and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Carol Jean and Machelle had a belly full of Turkey and decided to head home. The 5 of us trotted on to Santaquin Canyon. We successfully found 4 turkeys, tallying 273 Wild Turkeys!!!

I noticed James had sent me a email saying he had 9 Turkeys in his yard. GRAND TOTAL 282!!!! Look at all them turkeys! 7 hours 44 minutes and 188.3 miles! A fun day had by all! We are thankful to all who joined or helped in any way to a successful Turkey Trot.