Another New Bird

But...  another bad photo...

White-lored Gnatcatcher

We'd been seeing this little guy (4") flit around high in the trees just outside our condo.  It's kind of funny how a person draws on their memories to identify a critter.  Bill immediately thought ... "blue-gray gnatcatcher".  Color's not quite right, but mannerisms are similar.  Then we have to remember where we're at...  so we haul out our trusty field guide...

While we have several bird books of Costa Rica, Mexico and Central America, this is the only one we brought with us.

Found that the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher isn't in Costa Rica...  but, the White-lored and the Tropical Gnatcatchers are both here.  A close look at the drawing in the field guide shows that the White-lored has an entirely black head...  while the Tropical has a white area above its eye.  Then, of course, since plumage changes in some birds during breeding season, that has to be checked out as well.

It's always fun to see a "new" bird.  Often, long before we arrive at our new destination, we'll have pored over the field guides just to try to become familiar with what we might see.  Even with our travels across the USA, we have to remember that many birds we see in Maine will never be seen in the Utah desert.  

Of course there's always the exceptions....  one year about a dozen American Avocets flew into the little lake down the road from where I lived in SE Ohio.  They caused a HUGE sensation among birders...  seems some storm blew them off course and there they were.

But...  back to the White-lored Gnatcatcher...  I hope I get another chance to get a decent photo of it.  You can bet I'll be out there trying.

That's All For Today!