Still in eastern El Salvador, looking for Pearl Kites and Burrowing Owls, but so far without success. Tomorrow I'm planning to go back to nearby southern Honduras, where - theoretically, at least - my chances ought to be higher for Pearl Kite. The volcano at the top is Volcano Chaparrastique, which towers over San Miguel and its surroundings. San Miguel is a hot and dirty town choked with traffic, best left alone by travelers. Yesterday I spent all day birding Playa El Icacal, a 45 minute drive from here, where in March of last year I photographed an immature Pearl Kite. I was there briefly a month ago, but back then Kashmir and I didn't have the opportunity to do a thorough search. Yesterday I did, but struck out again. Raptors I did find there were Common Black-Hawk, Roadside Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, and an immature tundrius Peregrine Falcon. I got to 59 bird species altogether, without really trying for a big list - I was mostly scanning wires and fence posts for Pearl Kites.
Among the more interesting birds was this Red-throated Parakeet, feeding on a mango. There were at least three more individuals at the site, as well as more numerous Orange-chinned Parakeets, a smaller and more common species.
The other photos I'm posting today are all of common species in this part of El Salvador. Some are winter visitors, like this Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, while others are residents.
This is a White-lored Gnatcatcher, a common resident of arid and semi-arid scrub and thorn forest.
Groove-billed Ani's (above) and Stripe-headed Sparrows (below) are common just about anywhere in cattle pastures.
I saw and heard a pair of Zone-tailed Hawks over what seemed like a potential Burrowing Owl location. I didn't see the owls.
This is a female Zone-tailed Hawk, with three tail bands.
And this is the male, with only two tail bands.
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