November is the transition between autumn and winter, the time of lead-grey skies, gull flocks and hints of snow. At Niagara, look at the cold waves laughing on the lake and you will see a great white owl flying from the north. Continue to watch hundreds of ducks on the move, you may see an eider, is likely to test the numb level of the limit of your hands. But trying to freeze might be worth it, you might see something truly crazy (like an incredible Short-tailed Shearwater apparently!).
The August migrants are long gone in the north but I can tell you where they went. I know where the Baltimore Orioles live, where the Wilson’s Warbler is chipping and the Prothonotary’s is holding a swing. We see a lot in Costa Rica, here’s some other news for November, maybe even for the upcoming high season as well:
American Avocet
The avocet has landed! We don’t get very many of these extremely elegant birds, not in Costa Rica. One comes often but the event is not annual. Like most previous sightings, the 2023 avocet appeared on the Pacific Coast. Local birders hail it as one of the better spots for shorebirds; Ensenada Refuge.
I hope it lasts longer so we can see it too. Heck, I hope it lasts all winter. If you see one, even if it doesn’t look too exciting, please eBird it, local birders will send a thank you.
Lost Warblers
Other birds not known in Costa Rica are the Palm Warbler, Prairie Warbler, and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Recently, all three species have been seen, hopefully they will stay as well. We don’t get much of this trio of Caribbean wintering birds, it’s nice to catch up.
In all likelihood, there must be more of these and other rare wintering warblers in Costa Rica. The problem is they can be anywhere, a “place” where we don’t have people birding. One can only pish so much. How to find those birds? All you have to do is get out birding, keep birding, be quick with the bino draw, and go with the birding flow.
Corso has been Good
I have had the pleasure of stopping at Corso Farm on several recent occasions. Each visit was quite productive, yielding several hummingbirds. The best are the Scintillant Hummingbird and Magenta-throated Woodstar. The woodstar comes and goes but the Scintillants are usually there.
Their minute dimensions can keep them hidden from other hummingbirds but keep watching, eventually they will emerge.
Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo and Pocosol…
This mega is always on that site but can you see it? Of course that is the constant and most important question in birding. Recently, one was spotted with a child, right next to the station! I think that is a good sign that they are close.
If you visit, give yourself enough time to find the ants. They will be many other birds to look too! Check out my birding site guide for Costa Rica to learn more about this amazing site and hundreds of other great birding spots in Costa Rica.
Lots of Rain this Month- Be Prepared
Last but not least, there was a lot of rain going on. That’s expected for November but it’s still worth mentioning. You see, these rains can cause landslides and they always cause local flooding.
They will probably be gone within a month but if Costa Rica is temporarily frozen, keep an eye on weather conditions, limit time on Route 32, and be extra careful around Parrita, Ciudad Neily, and most areas in the Pacific Coast.
I guess that’s about it for now. I might also mention that there are amazing flocks of tanagers, calling antbirds, soaring Ornate Hawk-Eagles, and more but newsworthy, when birding Costa Rica, those and the road -hundreds of other birds are really regular. Prepare for your trip with the Costa Rica Birds Field Guide app, I hope to see you here!
