Banded Peregrine Falcon
Here is a recent flashback story for everyone on this lovely Friday. October is always a terrific month to find all sorts of raptors making their way south for a prolonged migration or dispersing from their nesting area to find acceptable wintering grounds. Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) continue to rebound from their demise due to pesticides in our region in the last century, taking up breeding sites on skyscrapers in major cities, under bridges on interstates, and even nest box platforms at locations like Dunkirk’s power plant on Lake Erie in our own Chautauqua County. Some of...
Read MoreBlack-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae)
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser was recently going through some photos for a project and he found this one from last year in Costa Rica. This Black-crested Coquette (Lophornis helenae) was not amused by him in the slightest. It was his first time observing this species, let alone capturing it during mist netting to study hummingbirds, and it’s clearly one he loves. He says it is still probably his favorite capture – an amazing bird with such intricate plumage!
Read MoreGolden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
Here’s another close-up of the Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) that RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser caught a couple weeks ago in his nets in Costa Rica. This is a bird he never imagined being able to capture at Rara Avis.
Read MoreScale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus)
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser says that his favorite resident bird netted in this past trip to Costa Rica was the Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus). It seems that not much is known about this species. They sure are charismatic with a small crest and tenacious attitude to match. This individual bounced around in some vegetation before taking off.
Read MoreGolden-winged Warbler
RTPI President Twan Leenders and RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser, among other friends and colleagues, are back from a very productive and thrilling trip to Costa Rica. They saw or netted a tremendous variety of species, and Sean thinks the most amazing was catch was a neotropical migrant bird – this Golden-winged Warbler. He waited a long time to see a Golden-winged Warbler, his favorite warbler in North America, ironically finally netting one in Costa Rica. Spectacular bird!
Read More
