This was my first sighting, albeit fleeting, of a Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) in our area. Its flight silhouette is unmistakable, even from a distance, but I was quite surprised to see this single bird overhead as today I checked out swallows and ground-doves at the old ingenio, just below Villa Florencia. As usual, I was without a decent camera and so am indebted, as on many, many occasions, to friend Karel Straatman for his excellent photograph of this species.

Wood Stork on the ground, this one in Florida.

In addition, I can also report that the female American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) remains observant on the posts lining the road to Villa Florencia. The only other surprise was a lovely male Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) perched in the hedgerow opposite the sugar-mill.

Here’s a pic of a female in nearby San Rafael, courtesy of Sue Magree. Those unfamiliar with Costa Rican hummingbirds should note that on the male the dark stripe down the breast is against a green background.

Female Green-breasted Mango at the feeder