Chiriqui Yellowthroat on a trip to Costa Rica (plus lots of other stuff)

Chiriqui Yellowthroat, San Vito Airport marshes, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Just back from another productive trip (Jan 15-25) down to Costa Rica with lots of good sightings plus a few good photos.  The highlight was finding a new warbler species, Chiriqui Yellowthroat, down near the Panama border near the town of San Vito...a species I have wanted to get down there and finally succeeded in finding.  Chiriqui Yellowthroat is considered a separate species by some sources (including myself) while others consider it a subspecies of Masked Yellowthroat.

Collared Redstart, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Collared Redstart, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Golden winged Warbler, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Black throated Green Warbler, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Wilson's Warbler, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Wilson's Warbler, Savegre Lodge, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Before going down to find the yellowthroat I spent a day in the mountains near the Savegre Lodge in San Gerardo de Dota where I had a number of warbler species including resident species as well as migrants spending the winter.  After a morning in the mountains it was time to make it down to Rio Magnolia Lodge for the remainder of the trip where more warblers awaited.

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 17, 2018

Chestnut sided Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 23, 2018

Mourning Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 23, 2018

Mourning Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Golden winged Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 23, 2018

Buff rumped Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 20, 2018

Gray crowned Yellowthroat, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 21, 2018

Yellow Warbler, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 16, 2018

Rio Magnolia Lodge was productive as always with a total of ten species of warbler including a new one for me in Costa Rica when I found a Worm eating Warbler in a mixed species flock.  The most numerous warbler species was about a tie between Tennessee Warbler and Chestnut sided Warbler (nice to see larger than typical numbers of Tennessee Warblers which corresponds nicely with the above normal numbers seen around here during the fall migration).  I also had a number of Mourning Warblers, Golden winged Warblers, Gray crowned Yellowthroat and Buff rumped Warblers as well as a few Black and White Warblers, Yellow Warblers and a Wilson's Warbler.

Chiriqui Yellowthroat, San Vito Airport marshes, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Common Yellowthroat, San Vito Airport marshes, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Chiriqui Yellowthroat habitat, San Vito Airport marshes, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Rufous capped Warbler, Casa Botanica, San Vito, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Slate throated Redstart, Casa Botanica, San Vito, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Black and White Warbler, Casa Botanica, San Vito, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

Blackburnian Warbler, Casa Botanica, San Vito, Costa Rica, Jan 18, 2018

On Thursday the 18th I met up with Andres very early for a trip down toward the Panama border near the town of San Vito. Early meant a very early wake up call to be out the door by 3:30 to meet Andres in San Isidro at 4:30 for a two hour plus ride down to San Vito. The main target of this trip was to find the Chiriqui Yellowthroat which is only found in a small portion of Costa Rica and nearby Panama. We made it to San Vito around six with our first stop being Casa Botanica (a small lodge with some trails) where we found a number of warbler species.  After a few hours we tried a few other spots but had no luck finding the yellowthroat so headed over to the small marshes near the airport in search of my main target.  We arrived at marshes past the small airport and noticed some great habitat for the yellowthroat but initially had some difficulty finding access until we came across a local family that had access to the marshes. Once we arrived at the marsh we quickly heard and saw at least three individuals which were quite vocal but would only pop into view briefly. Nonetheless I got a few shots of a male and looks at both males and females.  I also managed to get some recordings of some calls as the birds chased each other around.  I was very happy to finally catch up with this bird! They were also joined by a male Common Yellowthroat for part of the time too.

Sunset over the Pacific, Rio Magnolia Lodge, Costa Rica, Jan 21, 2018

Overall warbler numbers for the trip totaled 20 species with one being a life bird and two being new for Costa Rica for me (the Chiriqui Yellowthoat and the Worm eating Warbler). The number of warbler species now seen in Costa Rica stands at 30 overall.  My total number of warbler species is now at least 69 species (plus Wrenthrush and Yellow breasted Chat..both of which may or may not be warblers)

Yellow rumped Warbler at Arcadia on January 2nd in below zero weather

Not what I was expecting to find on a morning that started off at a bone chilling -14 degrees but it was a nice surprise.  I initially heard the bird calling near the parking lot at Arcadia from an area near the house there.  The bird then flew and continued to call as it disappeared to the south.  I tried to relocate in the area I last heard it but I could not turn it back up until I was heading back to my car and heard it once again in flight and tried desperately to get my phone out to get a recording but I was not quick enough to capture it.  I will try to find it on another day in the near future.  Amazing that this bird is still around despite our record setting cold spell.

End of year wrap up

Bahama Warbler, Pine lands east, Grand Bahama, Feb 9, 2017

Olive capped Warbler, Owl Hole Rd, Grand Bahama, Feb 9, 2017

Arrowhead Warbler, Ecclesdown Road, Jamaica, Mar 10, 2017

Golden cheeked Warbler, Balcones Canyonlands NWR, TX, Apr 8, 2017

Colima Warbler, Big Bend NP, TX, Apr 10, 2017  

Time once again for a year end wrap up of the warblers seen this year.  I managed to find a total of 50 species overall with six new species including Olive capped Warbler, Bahama Warbler, Bahama Yellowthroat on Grand Bahama in February, Arrowhead Warbler in Jamaica in March and Golden cheeked Warbler and Colima Warbler in Texas in April.  I have now seen 69 total warbler species ever (sadly I cannot count Yellow breasted Chat any longer)

MacGillivray's Warbler, Honey Pot, Hadley, MA, Nov 13, 2017

As far as within Hampshire County I had my best year ever with a total of 33 species of warblers plus a variety of hybrids including both Brewster's and Lawrence's Warblers.  The highlight by far was a MacGillivray's Warbler that showed up in Hadley in November and stayed for a few days.  It is only the second county record and the best documented sighting by far.  The MacGillivary's Warbler brings my warbler total in Hampshire County up to 35 again (after the Yellow breasted Chat was demoted from a warbler to a non warbler).  Other unusual species included a Golden winged Warbler and a Hooded Warbler plus well above normal counts of Connecticut Warbler and Mourning Warblers as well as others (Detailed look at various warbler species in above normal numbers).

A full photo review of the warblers this year can be found here: Photo review

Below are few tables of warblers seen overall for the year, warblers per month and warblers seen in Hampshire County by month.

Warblers (running tally for year)

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
0          20        24         33        41          41      43       44        44        44        44        44


Warblers overall per month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
0          20        15         25        30          23      24       24        26        17        4          7


Hampshire County warblers by month

Jan       Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun     Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov     Dec
0          0          0           17         30         23      18       24        26        17        4         2

Photographic summary of warblers seen this year

Bahama Warbler, Pine lands east, Grand Bahama, Feb 9, 2017

Olive capped Warbler, Owl Hole Rd, Grand Bahama, Feb 9, 2017

Arrowhead Warbler, Ecclesdown Road, Jamaica, Mar 10, 2017

Golden cheeked Warbler, Balcones Canyonlands NWR, TX, Apr 8, 2017

Colima Warbler, Big Bend NP, TX, Apr 10, 2017  

Townsend's Warbler, Big Bend NP, TX, Apr 10, 2017

 Painted Redstart, Big Bend NP, TX, Apr 10, 2017

 Yellow rumped Warbler (Audubon's Warbler), Big Bend NP, TX, Apr 10, 2017

Yellow throated Warbler, Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Feb 6, 2017

MacGillivray's Warbler, River Rush Ranch, Odell, OR, July 18, 2017

Wilson's Warbler, Cape Lookout SP, OR, July 19, 2017

Orange crowned Warbler, Cape Lookout SP, OR, July 20, 2017

Hermit Warbler, Lost Lake, Mt Hood NF, OR, July 17, 2017

Tennessee Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 17, 2017

Cape May Warbler, Amherst, MA, Sep 11, 2017

Bay breasted Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Sep 12, 2017

Connecticut Warbler, Arcadia, Northampton, MA, Sep 10, 2017

Hooded Warbler, Mt Tom State Reservation, Easthampton, MA, Jun 12, 2017

Golden winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 31, 2017

Mourning Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Cerulean Warbler, Skinner SP, Hadley, MA, May 4, 2017

Worm eating Warbler, Bare Mountain, Hadley, MA, Jun 15, 2017

Blue winged Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2017

Ovenbird, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2017

Louisiana Waterthrush, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 20, 2017

Northern Waterthrush, UMASS, Amherst, MA, May 3, 2017

Black and White Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Nashville Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 17, 2017

Common Yellowthroat, Quabbin Park, MA, May 16, 2017

American Redstart, Quabbin Park, MA, May 2, 2017

Northern Parula, Quabbin Park, MA, May 3, 2017

Magnolia Warbler, Quabbin Gate 12, Pelham, MA, May 21, 2017

Blackburnian Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2017

Yellow Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 11, 2017

Chestnut sided Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2017

Blackpoll Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 23, 2017

Black throated Blue Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 4, 2017

Palm Warbler, rail trail, Amherst, MA, Apr 20, 2017

Pine Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 20, 2017

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Myrtle', Home, Belchertown, MA, Apr 28, 2017

Prairie Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2017

Black throated Green Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 10, 2017

Canada Warbler, Mitch's Way, Hadley, MA, May 17, 2017

Among the total of fifty species of warblers I saw this year I managed to get photos of almost all (missing just Bahama Yellowthroat and Black throated Gray Warbler).

Yellow Warbler (Martinique subspecies), Reserve Naturelle de La Caravelle, Martinique, Dec 13, 2017

Yellow Warbler (Barbados subspecies), Grahme Hall Nature Sanctuary, Barbados, Dec 14, 2017

Just back from a cruise from San Juan which made stops at a variety of islands in the Caribbean I also had a couple of Yellow Warbler subspecies on a trip down to the Caribbean that may eventually be considered full species.

Lawrence's Warbler, Mineral Hills Conservation Area, Northampton, MA, May 13, 2017

Brewster's Warbler, Quabbin Park, MA, May 13, 2017

Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler hybrid, Quabbin Park, MA, May 9, 2017

I also had a number of hybrid warbler this year including a Lawrence's Warbler, multiple Brewster's Warblers and another Blue winged x Golden winged Warbler cross that didn't fit into either above mentioned group.

Yellow breasted Chat, South Llano River SP, Junction, TX, Apr 9, 2017

The Yellow breasted Chat has officially lost warbler status following the latest decision from the AOU.  I include it here as the demotion took place during the year so the chat was still considered a warbler at the beginning of the year.  I still think of it as an honorary warbler.