This morning I found a White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) feeding on tiny black berries from a tree almost at our entrance gate. I only wish I could name the tree. Later, I will add a photo of at least the tree and maybe don Luis Poveda will spot it and make the identification. It still has many green berries on it so I’m hoping the vireo will hang around for a few days until I get back from the El Cortijo del Quetzal lodge up at El Tapojo, where I am very lucky to have been invited as a guide.

White-eyed Vireo in Florida, courtesy of Karel Straatman

I’m also hoping that one of our local experts will come with a good camera to verify this sighting, because this species has been sighted very few times in Costa Rica. Although the bird has been in good view at a distance of only two or three metres and for several minutes on at least three occasions, I have not been able to get a shot of it. I originally thought that it was a juvenile bird with a dark iris, but it has now been here for 5 days and I can confirm that the iris is indeed white. All relevant field marks are visible and, as far as I can tell, all other species are precluded.

See my next post for more information and photo(s) of this individual.

The following photo was taken by Wayne Easley on December 30th in my garden:

All the area’s renowned birders are flocking (ha ha) to the house to see this little beauty.