Today we went with the Wilson Ornithological Society to STA 5/6. My boyfriend and I went there last year, but for a very brief “run-through” tagging along during the CBC. We made the unwise decision to not participate in the full day, and learned when we arrived that it’s a place worth spending the whole day. I was 1st intrigued browsing the area checklist given to us by our guide. Such rarities as…
- white-faced whistling duck
- white-cheeked pintail
- American flamingo
- Cassin’s kingbird
- gray kingbird
- cave swallow
…have been spotted within the bounds of the property. (I put gray kingbird in bold because there’s one “currently” being seen there, but we didn’t see it.)
![](http://avianecologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/85899A67-66B6-4D14-BD23-AF26DF41F001-300x171.jpg)
So, funny story about the featured bird in this photo: I thought it was a lifer until Morgan Tingley, after I mentioned my trip to Costa Rica for spring break in 2012, asked how it was possible I didn’t see one there. Still convinced I hadn’t (but now with a seed of doubt), I double-checked my trip log, and sure enough, it was one of the first birds I ID’ed while there! I apparently saw one near the parking lot shortly after we arrived at Monteverde lodge (oops).