Trip to the mountains in Costa Rica-Dec 23rd

Green Violetear, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Fiery throated Hummingbird, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Collared Redstart, Paraiso Quetzal Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Volcano Junco, Parque nacional Los Quetzales, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Sooty capped Chlorospingus, Savegre Mountain Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Slaty Flowerpiercer, Savegre Mountain Lodge, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

View from the high point-Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

Flame colored Tanager, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica, Dec 23, 2013

On December 23^rd I joined bird guide Johan Fernandez for a trip to the top of the Cerro de la Muerta and the nearby San Gerardo de Dota valley.  This all day trip produced 15 life birds including the Volcano Juncos that we missed finding last December up in the same area.  Among the 15 life birds found on that day was the 800^th species for my life list, a Timberline Wren.  Although I got some brief, but great looks at it, I was unable to get a photo but managed lots of photos of species #801…the Volcano Junco.  The guide was great and would recommend him for anyone planning a birding trip to Costa Rica.  Just let me know if anyone needs contact information for either guide…I would be happy to provide it.

Winsor Dam (somewhere out there is a Gadwall!), Quabbin Park, Jan 11, 2014

Meanwhile back here in the great white north we had to contend with a little freezing rain overnight into this morning which turned to just plain rain as the temperatures rose into the 50's.  The rain and fog made viewing difficult at times and I never made it over to Winsor Dam until after 7:30 (late for me!).  Despite the on and off heavy rain I managed to get out a little and find some birds.  The best by far was an odd in January male Gadwall at Winsor Dam.  The bird was fairly far out and the photos I got are too blurry to even post.  I also hit Hank's Meadow and the only species of waterfowl was a single Mallard.  Overall quite quiet but I was very happy to find a Gadwall.  A few other stops at Winsor Dam only produced a single Common Merganser.