Cotinga 14 Neotropical Notebook

Neotropical Notebook contains for Cuba. In the afternoon of 7 white on its wingtips, and was three sections. The first consists of April 1999, SMW saw a Franklin’s identified according to the short papers documenting records. moulting into second following features: wings more Photos and descriptions are alternate plumage on the rocky rounded than , published where appropriate. The shore with several Laughing which are longer and more second section summarises atricilla at Playa El Chivo, pointed; general coloration paler, records published elsewhere, near the entrance to the Havana not as dark-mantled as Laughing following the format established Tunnel, in eastern Havana City. It Gull. Its dorsal surface was seen in previous issues of Cotinga, and was watched, at 200–260 m, with several times as it flew quite high the third lists unpublished and binoculars for c. 90 minutes and over the water, and the wing-tip undocumented records. Please was seen again there for pattern was very distinct, indicate, with submissions, in approximately the same period appearing paler than Laughing which section you wish your next day. A week later, on 14 April, Gull due to the obvious black and records to appear. another was observed at Playa white bands, the broad outer edge Larga, a tourist resort on the Bay was white with a black subtermi­ SHORT NOTES of Pigs (Matanzas Province), 162 nal band, bordered on the inner km south-east of Havana city. At side by a white band, which was 10h30, AK, PB and 15 other also very conspicuous. Franklin’s F ra n k lin ’s G u ll Larus pipixcan birdwatchers located a Franklin’s Gull breeds in central North and Mississippi Kite Ictin ia Gull among a tight flock of 10 America and winters primarily mississippiensis new to Cuba Laughing Gulls flying south-west, along the Pacific coast of South Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan and in direct comparison could America, south to southern Chile has previously been reported in observe the distinctly smaller (also Galápagos). It is less several West Indian islands: body and wings than Laughing common at this season north to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, St. Gull. It was apparently an adult Mexico and rare on high Andean Barthelemy and Guadeloupe3. in definitive alternate plumage, lakes in and , and Here, we report the first records with a complete black hood and occasionally reaches north to

Field sketches by Peter Burke

101 Cotinga 14 Neotropical Notebook central coastal California and The nest of the Snowy Cotinga es el primer registro de Florida1. Carpodectes nitidus in C o s ta parasitismo de M. bonariensis en Our record of Mississippi Kite R ica el genero Cistothorus3. Ictinia mississippiensis represents The breeding biology of the Snowy El Cucarachero de Pantano es the first for Cuba and the West Cotinga Carpodectes nitidus is un ave endémica de las elevaciones Indies. The only kite that almost unknown1. In April 1999, altas (2400–4000 msnm) de los regularly migrates through Cuba near the village of Canalete, on departamentos de Cundinamarca y is Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides the Atlantic slope of the Cordillera Boyacá ()1,2 y amenazada forficatus. This observation was de Guanacaste, in north-west de extinción por la acelerada made 17 April 1999, when three Costa Rica near the border with destrucción de su hábitat, individuals were seen by PB and Nicaragua, we found a nest of the conformado por la vegetación 15 participants of a commercial . It was situated in a emergente de humedales y por birding tour at Boca de Jaruco, 1 leafless tree (known locally as bosques adyacentes de aliso Alnus km west of Rio Jaruco, Havana cabillo or cabejo) in a largely acuminata1. Aunque la presencia province. All three were in first deforested area near a dirt road. de M. bonariensis en los alternate plumage with banded The adjacent tree, apparently of departamentos mencionados no es tails (not all-dark as in adults); the same species, was in a full reciente (J. Hernández com. pers.), pale whitish heads; dull grey leaf, despite it being the dry es posible que sus hábitos underparts; pale, whitish panel on season. The nest was 10–12 m reproductivos sean bastante secondaries; and long, square- above ground and was placed, negativos sobre las poblaciones del tipped tail. They were observed unobtrusively, in a three-pronged Cucarachero de Pantano, como ya soaring and foraging within the tree fork. It appeared unusually se ha documentado para varias smoke from a brush fire beside the small for the size of the , and especies en el caribe6. Dado el highway for 30 minutes (see would have gone unnoticed but for tiempo de la observación se sketches). Mississippi Kite breeds the arrival of the female, which descarta la posibilidad de que el in the south-east USA and largely was feeding at least one nestling pichón estuviera siendo winters in central South America, (seen peering from the nest). Air alimentado simultáneamente por where it is principally recorded in temperatures at midday, during varios hospederos, como ha sido Paraguay and northern Argentina; the dry season, are 37–38° , reportado para Molothrus ater1. scattered sight reports exist in making the bird’s choice of an Dado el delicado estado de winter north to south Texas and unshaded location in which to nest conservación del Cucarachero de Florida, but the vast majority lack appear rather unusual. Pantano, es necesario considerar documentation1. al Chamón Maicero como una R e fe re n c e probable amenaza para sus R eferen ces 1. Stiles, F. G. & Skutch, A. F. poblaciones como también para las 1. American Ornithologists’ (1989) A guide to the of de otras especies endémicas que Union (AOU) (1998) Check­ Costa Rica. Ithaca, NY: habitan los humedales como la list of North American birds. Cornell University Press. monjita Agelaius icterocephalus Seventh edition. Lawrence, bogotensis5 y que este factor se Kansas: American Ornitholo­ Gerald Klebauskas and Amalia debe tener en cuenta en el gists’ Union. Pacheco momento al emprender proyectos 2. Raffaele, H., Wiley, J., Garrido, c/o R.R.2, Box 2821, Factoryville, de investigativos y/o O., Keith, A. & Raffaele, J. PA 18419, USA. conservacionistas en la región. (1998) Birds of the West Indies. London, UK: A. & C. Agradecimientos Black. Prim er registro de parasitismo Al grupo de Ornitología de la reproductivo en el Universidad Nacional junto a Peter Burke Cucarachero de Pantano quienes se visitó el humedal La 13 McKenzie Avenue, London, ON, Cistothorus apolinari p o r el Conejera. A F. Gary Stiles y Jorge N6C 1V1, Canada. Chamón Maicero M o lo th ru s Botero por la revisión del bonariensis manuscrito. Arturo Kirkconnell A principios de marzo de 1999 Museo Nacional de Historia durante 30 minutos una pareja del Referencias Natural, Obispo 61, Plaza de Cucarachero de Pantano 1. Collar, N. J, Gonzaga, L. P., Armas, Habana Vieja, Cuba. Cistothorus apolinari alimentando Krabbe N., Madroño Nieto A., un pichón del Chamón Maicero Naranjo, L. G., Parker, T. A. & Steve M. Whitehouse Molothrus bonariensis en la Wege D. C. (1992) Threatened 6 Skipton Crescent, Berkeley vegetación emergente del humedal birds of the Americas: the Pendlesham, Worcester WR4 0LG, La Conejera, Santafé de Bogotá, ICBP/ IUCN Red Data Book. UK. Colombia a 2600 msnm. Este Cambridge, UK: Interna­ registro coincide con la época tional Council for Bird reproductiva de ambas especies1 y Preservation.

102 C otin ga 14 Neotropical Notebook

Figures 1–2. Adult Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus, San Cristobal, Galápagos, 9 August 1978 (H. Lee Jones)

2. Hilty, S. L. & Brown, W. L. among a migrating flock of c.50 feet, and bill deep red; eye yellow; (1986) A guide to the birds of Plumbeous Ictinia plumbea and dusky underwing. Colombia. Princeton: 80 Swallow-tailed Kites Elanoides As the species was not included Princeton University Press. forficatus, 20 km north of El Vigía, in Harris3, I assumed that this 3. Friedmann, H. & Kiff, L. F. south-west Mérida. The light was could represent the first (1985) The parasitic cowbirds from behind us, and the birds Galápagos record, but that it and their hosts. Proc. West. moved slowly over a small hill would turn up in the future, Found. Vertebr. Zool. 4. close to the road we were standing perhaps regularly, as more birders 4. Klein, N. K. & Rosenberg, K. V. on. The Mississippi Kite had a visited this archipelago. When (1986) Feeding of the Brown­ solid black tail and lacked rufous Castro & Phillips2 was published headed Cowbird (Molothrus wing patches, as did the adjacent in 1996, I was surprised to learn ater) fledglings by more than Plumbeous Kites. I have seen that L. cirrocephalus was still one ‘host’ species. Auk 103: many 100s of these species, with unrecorded in the islands. The 213–214. my field experience of species is ‘recorded very 5. Naranjo, L. G. (1995) Patrones mississippiensis commencing in frequently’ in coastal Ecuador1 de reproducción en dos 1948 and plumbea in 1960. and is ‘fairly common’ in coastal poblaciones aisladas de Peru1. It also is found discontinu- Agelaius icterocephalus (Aves: Richard Ryan ously in eastern South America, Icteridae). Caldasia 86: 89– Neotropic Bird Tours, 38 Brookside along much of the Atlantic coast, 100. Avenue, Livingston, NJ 07039- and in the interior along the 6. Wiley, J. W. (1985) Shiny 4030, USA. Amazon River and its tributaries. Cowbird parasitism in two avian communities in Puerto R eferen ces Rico. Condor 87: 165–176. First record in the Galápagos 1. Butler, Y. (1979) The birds of Islands of Grey-headed Gull and the Galápagos J. I. Velásquez-Tibatá, Aquiles Larus cirrocephalus archipelago. Portsmouth, NH: Gutiérrez y Esteban Carillo On 9 August 1978, while visiting Ramphastos Agency. Departamento de Biología, San Cristobal in the Galápagos, I 2. Castro, I. & Phillips, A. (1996) A Universidad Nacional de photographed an adult Grey­ guide to the birds of the Colombia, Diag. 145a #31-10 headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus Galápagos Islands. Princeton, Santafé de Bogotá, Colombia. E- in alternate plumage. It was first NJ: Princeton University Press. mail: [email protected]. seen on the beach and subse­ 3. Harris, M. P. (1974) The quently in flight. The following Collins field guide to the description is from my field notes: birds of Galápagos. Mississippi Kite Ic tin ia Similar in appearance to Black­ Lexington: The Stephen mississippiensis in headed Gull Larus ridibundus; thin Greene Press. Very few records of Mississippi bill; body size slightly smaller, 4. Parker, T. A., Parker, S. A. & Kite Ictinia mississippiensis are slimmer than Lava Gull L. Plenge, M. A. (1982) An available from northern South fuliginosus with it. White body, pale annotated checklist of America, although the species has (‘ghost’) grey head extending only to Peruvian birds. Vermillion: long been known to winter in the hind crown as in ridibundus; grey Buteo Books. southern part of the continent and mantle (between Ring-billed L. migrate through Central America. delawarensis and L. H. Lee Jones On 12 September 1999, along with californicus in shade); base of outer 6108 Wildwood Road, Lake Wally and Lois Goldfrank, I primaries white; black wing tips Isa bella, California 93240, USA. observed an adult of this species with white subterminal spots; legs,

103 C otinga 14 Neotropical Notebook

Rediscovery of the Royal R e fere n c e s On 16 June 1997, SKH observed C in clo d e s aricomae 1. Collar, N. J., Gonzaga, L. P., two Roraiman Flycatchers in B o liv ia Krabbe, N., Madroño Nieto, L. roraimae within the On a trip, organised by EcoBolivia G., Naranjo, L. G., Parker, T. understorey of humid montane and Wildlife Conservation Society, A. & Wege D. C. (1992) forest, at 1,050 m, at Cerro Asunta to the recently created Madidi Threatened Birds of the Pata, dpto. La Paz (15°03'S National Park, in November 1997, Americas: the ICBP/IUCN 68°29'W). Single individuals were colleagues and myself followed an Red Data Book. Cambridge, relocated in the same area, by both old mule trail from Pelechuco to UK: International Council for authors, later the same day and Apolo through the Cordillera Bird Preservation. the following morning. They were Apolobamba, The trail ascends 2. Fjeldså, J. & Krabbe, N. (1990) seen well for several minutes at through passes above 4700 m. On Birds of the high Andes. eye level and close range and the stretch between Ucañani and Copenhagen: University of identified by the typical upright shortly after Puina, just before the Copenhagen Zool. Mus. & Myiophobus posture, warm brown descent to the lowlands, several Svendborg: Apollo Books. upperparts and paler olive-grey patches of forest that underparts, combined with two had escaped logging and fires Thomas Valqui broad cinnamon-rufous wingbars were noticed, almost hidden by Ap. Postal 18-930. Lima 18, Peru. and conspicuous orange crown- rocky ridges at locations distant E-mail: stripe (highly visible in two from the trail. The largest patches [email protected]. territorial individuals). The single were just above Chullu, at seen in the afternoon of 16 June Ucañani but were inaccessible. was perched at c. 1 m, by a small At one place, c. 3 hours beyond First records of Barred creek within the forest, preening Puina, it was possible to access a P a ra k e e t Bolborhynchus lineola after bathing. Although a slight small isolated patch of Polylepis and Roraiman Flycatcher southerly range extension, the (c. 1 ha). A single Royal Cinclodes M yiophobus roraimae in Bolivia presence of Myiophobus roraimae Cinclodes aricomae was observed During recent fieldwork in in the northern Bolivian Andes is over a period of 20 minutes, Bolivia we observed two species not unexpected as it is known from disappearing into the dense forest not previously reported in the dpto. Puno, south-east Peru7. on three occasions. It flicked country1,6. On 24 June 1996 a However, it appears to be rare and pieces of moss from the ground flock of c. 12 Barred Parakeets local in the Asunta Pata area, beneath Polylepis trees, leaving Bolborhynchus lineola flew low where two previous expeditions obvious marks. An inspection of over humid montane forest, at (Parker & Bailey5 and S. Cardiff the area revealed many fresh 2950 m, along the abandoned and J. V. Remsen in litt.) failed to marks within an undergrowth-free road from Aguirre to El Palmar record the species. Contrary to area of c. 150 m2. The overall size (Serranía de Callejas), Carrasco Ridgely & Tudor7, it was not found of the woodland suggests that the National Park, dpto. Cochabamba in an area with impoverished soil, bird was also using other patches (17°10'S 65°35'W). Subsequently, but in rather tall forest on clayey of forest, although no such areas SKH made tape-recordings of an soil. were visible in the vicinity. unidentified parakeet on the Royal Cinclodes was previously same road on 27 June (3300 m), R efere n c e s known in Bolivia from a specimen 3 July (2550 m) and 13 July 1996 1. Arribas, M. A., Jammes, L. & taken at Tilo Tilo, La Paz depart­ (2000 m), later identified by N. Sagot, F. (1995) A bird list of ment in 1876. Subsequently, it was Krabbe (in litt.) as Bolborhynchus Bolivia. Santa Cruz: collected at a locality in Puno, Peru, lineola. Prior to this, F. Sagot Armonía. in 1931 and rediscovered elsewhere (pers. comm.) obtained a tape­ 2. Collar, N. J. (1997) Family in the same country in the 1980s1. It recording of the species, on 4 Psittacidae. In del Hoyo, J., is best known from the area around April 1996, at Abra la Cruz, Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (eds.) Abra Malaga in Cuzco. Considered Amboró National Park, dpto. Handbook of the birds of the highly threatened, due to Polylepis Santa Cruz (17°51'S 64°21'W, in world, 4. Barcelona: Lynx deforestation, its population has humid montane forest at 2100– Edicions. been estimated to be as low as 100– 2450 m). Although no bird was 3. Fjeldså, J. & Krabbe, N. (1990) 1502. The species’ rediscovery in seen, the recording is identical to Birds of the high Andes. Bolivia offers the hope that it may those from Carrasco. SKH’s Copenhagen: University of also be located in other areas. recording of 27 June, as well as Copenhagen Zool. Mus. & Nonetheless, the population in the that of Sagot, is included in Svendborg: Apollo Books. Puina area, may be the only such Mayer4. These records represent a 4. Mayer, S. (2000) Birds of within an officially protected area. significant southern range Bolivia 2.0 (CD-ROM). Furthermore, the protection of these extension for this patchily Westernieland: Bird Songs Polylepis forest cannot be taken for distributed species, which was International. granted; on the contrary, they previously only known from as 5. Parker, T. A. & Bailey, B. remain highly threatened. far south as Cuzco, Peru2,3. (1991) A biological assess-

104 C otin ga 14 Neotropical Notebook

ment of the Alto Madidi the winter providing the first Chondestes grammacus at region and adjacent areas of record for the West Indies and Southside on 25 September the northwest Bolivia. RAP second in the Western Hemi­ fourth Bermudan record; all of Working Papers 1. Washing­ sphere, while three Grey Herons have been in the 1990s. A Pine ton DC: Conservation A. cinerea also wintered in this Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator at International. area from 11 October onwards. A Fort Scaur on 14 November was 6. Remsen, J. V. & Traylor, M. A. Southern Lapwing Vanellus the fifth record for Bermuda and (1989) An annotated list of chilensis, at Fosters, St. Lucy, on the first for 22 years. An the birds of Bolivia. Vermil­ 28 July, was the first West Indian Seiurus aurocapilla , lion, South Dakota: Buteo record. Single Wood Sandpipers on 22 June2,3,6 was an unusual Books. Tringa glareola were also on the summer record. 7. Ridgely, R. S. & Tudor, G. island on 25 April and during late (1994) The birds of South November to 14 December 1998, Cuba America, 2. Oxford: Oxford and three Ruff Philomachus Wallace et al.8 report interesting University Press. pugnax also overwintered in records from Cayo Coco, Barbados. On 5 March an Arctic Archipielago de Sabana- Sebastian K. Herzog Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Camagüey (ASC), in 1995–1997. Institut für Vogelforschung, was observed from land. A Little Of principal note were the first Vogelwarte Helgoland, An der Gull Larus minutus, last noted on West Indian record of Black- Vogelwarte 21, 26386 27 December, was possibly also throated Grey Warbler Wilhelmshaven, Germany; and the first West Indies record, while Dendroica nigrescens (photo­ Casilla 632, Cochabamba, Bolivia. a Great Black-backed Gull L. graphed on 17 October 1997) and E-mail: marinus on 13 December was the first Cuban occurrence of Hermit [email protected]. sixth island record. Finally a Thrush Catharus guttatus Canada Warbler Wilsonia (immature trapped on 25 Michael Kessler canadensis trapped on 31 October December 1995). Other significant A.-v.-Haller-Institut für was the first island and third Cuban records included: the Pflanzenwissenschaften, Untere Lesser Antilles record5. fourth record of Audubon’s Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen, Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri Germany. Bermuda (found dead on 27 February 1996), All records refer to 1999. A the eighth record of Hooded Common Teal Anas crecca of the Merganser Mergus cucullatus PUBLISHED RECORDS Eurasian race was at Marsh Lane (two females on 29 November to FROM THE LITERATURE on 20 April, and a Gull-billed early December 1996), the largest Tern nilotica, at numbers of Piping Plover CARIBBEAN Warwick Pond on 8 March was an Charadrius melodus thus far exceptional spring record. A reported in Cuba, the tenth record Bahamas Virginia Rail Rallus limicola on of American Oystercatcher An immature Black-headed Gull Long Island on 6 June was the Haematopus palliatus (one Larus ridibundus at Cable Beach, first summer record in Bermuda. photographed on 7 June 1995), the New Providence on 20–21 January An American Robin Turdus 10–11th records of Whimbrel 1999 was the third record for the migratorius, at Jenningsland on Numenius phaeopus, three reports island group. A Great Black- 17 July–6 August, was also an of Red Knot Calidris canutus, all backed Gull L. marinus on New exceptional record for summer. A involving flocks of 15–49 birds Providence on 2–6 March 1998 was probable Black-necked Grebe (five previous records in Cuba), the fifth record for the Bahamas. Podiceps nigricollis was seen at the sixth record of Dunlin C. Rarer was a Red-bellied Spittal Pond on 7 November; this alpina (four photographed on 20 Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus species has only been recorded January 1997), the 8–9th record of at West End, Grand Bahama, on 15 once previously. A probable Pomarine Skua Stercorarius February 1999, the first record for Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope pomarinus (juvenile on 17 the West Indies5. A Chuck-will’s- was on Nonsuch Island on 10 January 1997), the ninth record of widow Caprimulgus carolinensis November. Two Curlew Great Crested Flycatcher discovered incubating two eggs, on Sandpipers Calidris ferruginea Myiarchus crinitus (one on 10 Grand Bahama, on 1 June 1999 is (the 6–7th records) were present November 1995), the sixth record the first breeding record for the on 17 September–1 October. A of Wood Thrush Hylocichla West Indies6. Ruff Philomachus pugnax arrived mustelina (one trapped and Barbados in early September and was observed on 8–10 February 1997), present until at least 26 the third record of Orange- All reports refer to 1998. A crowned Warbler Vermivora Purple Heron Ardea purpurea, September. An American celata (one trapped on 29 initially located at Graeme Hall Woodcock Scolopax minor was flushed at Southampton on 28 November 1995), a total of 77 swamp in autumn, remained for October. A Lark Sparrow individuals of Swainson’s

105 C otinga 14 Neotropical Notebook

Warbler Limnothlypis swainsoni, OTHER RECORDS 12 November 1997, and two 2–3 Kentucky Warblers RECEIVED American Redstarts Setophaga Oporornis formosus during 20 ruticilla, at Putre, Tarapacá December 1995 to 23 February Belize province, on 22 November 1997 1996, the seventh record of LJ and JA closely observed a male (MF). Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria Hermit Warbler Dendroica virens (one trapped on 22 occidentalis, in alternate plumage, Cuba November 1995), and the fourth at Hidden Valley Falls, Mountain A number of interesting records record of Chipping Sparrow Pine Ridge, Cayo District, on 23 were made during 1999 and early Spizella Passerina (one on 20 March 2000. This is only the 2000 (all AK, GMK et al. unless November 1996). second Belize record. otherwise stated). Dates refer to 1999 unless otherwise stated. A Dominican Republic Bolivia Giant Kingbird Tyrannus The second record of Dunlin MH informs us of the following. A cubensis was at Hacienda La Vega, Calidris alpina involved two at Green-backed Becard west of Trinidad, on 30 October, Las Salinas, Bahia de Las Pachyramphus viridis at Trinidad the first record in Sancti Spiritus Calderas, on 28 December 19985. on 19 September 1998 is the first province for several decades. record in Beni Department, and a Other reports involve the Jamaica Rusty-necked Piculet Picumnus following scarce migrants: single A Spotted Rail Pardirallus fuscus at Cutal Lodge, Beni, on 18 Blue-winged Warblers maculatus, heard at Caymanas September 1998 appears to Vermivora pinus at Pálpite, Ponds west of Kingston in January represent a small range extension. Zapata, on 15 February and near 1999, was apparently only the Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant Bermejas, Zapata, on 9 February second island record this decade5. Anairetes alpinus is still present 2000, singles of Swainson’s in the Choquetanga Valley; in Thrush Catharus ustulatus and CENTRAL AMERICA 1998, up to two were seen on 13 Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia and 15 September. Additional pusilla in Parque Ahnendares, La Belize records of Mississippi Kite Habana on 25 October (GMK, A Long-billed Starthroat Ictinia mississippiensis in the RPM, JP), single Hooded Heliomaster longirostris seen 0.5 country involved c. 200 between Warblers W. citrina at El Cenote, mile south of Mile 40 on the Santa Rosa de La Roca to San Zapata, on 13–14 February and on Western Highway, on private Javier, Santa Cruz, in mid-October Cayo Coco, on 6 April 2000 (GMK, property, probably in November, 1999, and 2000 in the southern FR), a Kentucky Warbler was well described and appears to part of Noel Kempff Mercado Oporornis formosus near Playa be the first country record of this National Park, 25 km north of Girón, Zapata, on 26 October, a species1. Santa Rosa de La Roca, on 8 Scarlet Tanager Piranga November 1999 (DR). olivacea in the same area on 27 Costa Rica October, and a Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, Eastern The second country record of Common Teal Anas crecca Two additional reports (about the Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus, Prothonotary Warbler involved a male at Finca Las fourth and fifth country records) Concavas (between Cartago and of Mississippi Kite Ictinia Protonotaria citrea and Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius, on Cayo Paraiso), on 4 January 2000. mississippiensis from the Three Southern Lapwings Pantanal are as follows: c. 20 over Paredón Grande, on 1 November. Vanellus chilensis were reported the Transpantaneira, between Records in 2000 included the 13th Cuban record of Bananaquit in the San Isidro area on 13 Poconé and the rio Pixiam on 12 March 2000, one of the very few October 1999 and a total of 63 at Coereba flaveola, present on the last-named cay on 14 February. A records in Costa Rica4. Chapada dos Guimarães on 14 October 1999 (PO). Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus was on Cayo SOUTH AMERICA Romano, from 5 April to at least Chile mid-month (AJ, AK et al.; video­ Brazil A breeding-plumaged Hooded taped), several Whimbrels Three Great Blue Herons Ardea Grebe Podiceps gallardoi was Numenius phaeopus on Cayo herodias on the Anavilhanas observed c. 10 km east of Porvenir, Guillermo, during 26 March to 6 Archipelago, on 20 October 1997, Region XII, on 30 October 1997. April (AG et a l., GMK, FR), two were the first country record7. There is only one previous Upland Sandpipers Bartramia published report from the country longicauda at Bermejas, on 24 (see Cotinga 11: 100). Other March (GMK et al.), with another interesting reports include two in the Sierra de Cubitas, Ciego de Bank Swallows Riparia riparia Ávila, on 25 March, and a Black­ at Laguna El Peral, Valparaiso, on

106 C otin ga 14 Neotropical Notebook

billed Cuckoo Coccyzus from Mindo include a Collared References erythropthalmus (the third Cuban Plover Charadrius collaris, on 11 1. Anon. (1999) Long-billed record) on Cayo Coco, on 27 March March 1995, and an adult male Starthroat (Heliomaster (per AG). Five Sand Martins Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica longirostris) reported by Riparia riparia migrated past striata, on 10 March 1995 (MF). Philip Balderamos. Belize Miramar, La Habana, on 31 March Audubon Soc. Newsletter 31 (GMK). Another Orchard Oriole Guatemala (3): 10. was at La Güira National Park, WWP reports and describes, the 2. Dobson, A. (1999) Spring and Pinar del Rio, on 16 April (AJ, AK first Bonaparte’s Gull Larus summer bird report. Ber­ et al.). Philadelphia for the country, at muda Audubon Soc. Newslet­ Livingston, on the Caribbean ter 10(2): 2. Ecuador coast, on 30 December 1999. 3. Dobson, A. (1999) Fall Bird The following records from 1999, Report (Sept. to Nov.). by PA and OJ, are of species new Mexico Bermuda Audubon Soc. for the Podocarpus National Park TLE reports a Ross’s Goose Anser Newsletter 10 (3): 2. bird list: a male Black-throated rossii at La Pesca, Tamaulipas in 4. Garrigues, R. (2000) The Gone Brilliant Heliodoxa schreibersii November 1999. At Puerto Birding Newsletter 1 (1). between río Bombuscaro and Peñasco, Sonora on 22–23 5. Norton, R. (1999) West Indies Zamora, on 5–6 October; two November 1999 there was a region. North Amer. Birds 53: White-tailed Hillstar Urochroa Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus 214–215. bougueri c. 5 km upstream from at Shrimp Pond, a flock of 20 6. Norton, R. (1999) West Indies the park headquarters on 15 Hooded Mergansers Mergus region. North Amer. Birds 53: October; a Mouse-colored cucullatus at the sewage pond and 436–437. Tyrannulet Phaeomyias murina three Oldsquaws Clangula 7. Parkes, K. C. (1998) First at La Fragrancia, on the Loja– hyemalis at Pelican Point (all SG). record of the Great Blue Zamora road, c. 10 km from Heron for Brazil. Colonial Zamora, at c. 1100 m, on 12 St Lucia Waterbirds 21: 89–90. October; a male Scarlet-breasted A male Scarlet Tanager Piranga 8. Wallace, G. E., Wallace, E. A. Fruiteater Pipreola frontalis olivacea, the sixth island record, H., Froehlich, D. R., near the park headquarters on 15 was reported on 18 April 2000 Kirkconnell, A., Torres, E. S., October; an Andean Slaty (JG). Carlisle, H. & Machell, E. Thrush Turdus nigriceps near río (1999) Hermit Thrush and Bombuscaro headquarters on 16 Acknowledgements Black-throated Gray Warbler, October (OJ only); and several Thanks are due to the following new for Cuba, and other records of Guira Tanager who forwarded or commented on significant bird records from Hemithraupis guira in the río records: John Abbott (JA), Pablo Cayo Coco and vicinity, Ciego Bombuscaro and La Fragrancia Andrade (PA), Dalcio Dacol, de Avila province, Cuba, areas. In addition, a female Little Andrew Dobson, Ted Eubanks 1995–1997. Florida Field Woodstar Acestura bombus was (TLE), Martin Flack (MF), Juan Nat. 27: 37–51. seen at flowering Inga trees on 5– Fernando Freile (JFF), Steve 6 October and records of six other Ganley (SG), Jeff Gerbracht (JG), species were apparently new for Alan Greensmith (AG), Mike the río Bombuscaro section of the Hunter (MH), Ottavio Janni (OJ), park. A Rufous-browed Alvaro Jaramillo (AJ), Lee Jones Tyrannulet Phylloscartes (LJ), Arturo Kirkconnell (AK), superciliaris was reported with a Guy M. Kirwan (GMK), Bruce W. mixed-species flock at Miller, Rod Martins (RPM), Bombuscaro, on 23 March 1995 Patricia O’Neill (PO), W. W. Plomp (MF). (WWP), J. Price (JP), Firdous Raja On 2 September 1997 a Cliff (FR), David Ricalde (DR) and Swallow Hirundo pyrrhonota was Barry Wright. collected by H. Oñate and JFF in Mindo town (00°05'S 78°46'W, at Neotropical Notebook: compiled c. 1300 m) and deposited in the by Juan Mazar Barnett and QCAZ Zoology Museum of the Guy M. Kirwan. Pontifi cia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (QCAZ 1489). This is a new altitudinal record for this boreal migrant, previously known largely from tropical areas below 1000 m. Other interesting records

107