MEXICO 
(MC, DS). Black Catbird is distributed 
throughout the state of Yucatan but is ex- 
tremely local, so it is always of interest to 
know where they are seen. One was reported 
near Buctzotz in n.-cen. Yucatan 15 Oct (DB, 
GT); 6 were seen between Sudzal Chico and 
Tigre Grande in s. Yucatan 15 Nov (GH, MX); 
and 2 more were found in the mangroves at 
Celestun the same day (AD). A European 
Starling was seen at Celestun 15 Nov, almost 
the same date as when 5 were observed there 
in 2006 (HD, SM). 
A male first-generation-type Brewster’s 
Warbler was seen at the Cozumel Country 
Club, Q. Roo 15 Oct (MC, DS). This consti- 
tutes only the 3rd report of this hybrid on the 
peninsula. Two Orange-crowned Warblers 
were well described on road between Tzalam 
and Chumbec e. of Izamal 15 Oct (DB, GT). 
Single Black-throated Blue Warblers, an ad. 
female at Rio Lagartos Village 21 Oct and a 
first-fall female at Celestun the next day, are 
of interest, as they are rarely reported on the 
Gulf coast (MC, DS). Two male Cerulean 
Warblers, another rare transient through the 
subregion, were seen 7 Sep in Progreso (AM, 
AG). A rarely reported Kentucky Warbler was 
seen near Kankabchen on the road to 
Chichen Itza 15 Oct (DB, GT), and another 
was at Dos Lagunas in s. Yucatan 15 Nov 
(GH, MX). Hooded Warblers were still mi- 
grating through 1 Nov, as 10-12 were heard or 
seen at Santa Elena in s. Yucatan 1 Nov (BM, 
RM, AM, RP), and the same number was re- 
ported at Coba the next day (DB, GT). A Wil- 
son’s Warbler was reported near Kankabchen 
on road to Chichen Itza 15 Oct (DB, GT). 
A Gray-headed Tanager was reported from 
the forested area between Sudzal Chico and 
Tigre Grande in s. Yucatan 15 Nov (GH, MT), 
along with a Rose-throated Tanager (GH, 
MT). These two humid forest birds to date 
have only been found in the state of Yucatan 
s. of Uxmal and se. of El Cuyo. A female 
Black-throated Shrike-Tanager was feeding 
down low at Santa Rosa Xtampak 2 km ne. of 
Hopelchm, Camp. 29 Nov, n. of its known 
distribution range (BM). A pair of endemic 
Rose-throated Tanagers turned up in an area 
far from their known distribution, 3 km s. of 
Chumbec, e. of Izamal 15 Oct (DB, GT). In 
Acuaparque, Mmda, Yuc., 2 Blue-gray Tan- 
agers were seen 10 Nov (BM); another was 
seen at Santa Elena s. of Uxmal 16 Nov (HD, 
SM); 2 were observed feeding at a fruiting fig 
tree at Hacienda Chichen, Chichen Itza 22 
Oct; and 2 were at a flowering Cecropia at Ux- 
mal 24 Oct (MC, DS). A Clay-colored Spar- 
row, an uncommon migrant in the subregion, 
was reported at Rancho San Salvador, Ria La- 
gartos Biosphere Reserve, Yuc. 22 Nov (GH). 
Contributors (subregional editor in bold- 
face): David Bacab, Michael Carmody, Fran- 
cisco Cutz, Alexander Dzib, Henry Dzib, Gre- 
gory Homel, Luis Ku, Ramiro Lara, Barbara 
MacKinnon, Stennie Meadours, Alberto 
Mezquita, Rodrigo Migoya, Ana Morales, Ri- 
cardo Pasos, David Salas, Waldemar Santa- 
maria, Beverly Scott, Melgar Tabasco, 
Guilmer Tun, Sally Wechsler. © 
Hictor Gomez de SiSwa 
Xola 314-E, 03100 Mexico, D.F., Mexico 
(hector.gomezciesilva@gmail.com) 
Central America | 
Oliver Komar 
W e still know remarkably little 
about the distribution, seasonality, 
and numbers of seabirds off both 
coasts of Central America, but with each pass- 
ing season, we are making incremental 
strides, especially on the Pacific side. Last 
spring, we reported on Bruce Mactavish’s 
month-long expedition off the Pacific coast of 
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. This fall, we high- 
light Ricardo Ibarra’s and Luis Pineda’s expe- 
ditions off western El Salvador, which began 
in October 2007. Although most of the 
species they are reporting will undoubtedly 
someday be considered routine, even com- 
monplace occurrences, others may stand the 
test of time as the rare exceptions. 
The ever-changing nature of Central Amer- 
ica’s avian landscape becomes more apparent 
with each passing season. Open-country and 
non-native species are on the march: Yellow- 
headed Caracara is continuing its expansion 
onto the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, while 
Large-billed Seed-Finch, first reported in 
North America just over a year ago near the 
Colombian border, has already moved 130 
kilometers northwestward into Panama 
Province. In the other direction. Grayish 
Saltator continues its march into western 
Panama from Costa Rica. So far, the predicted 
invasion of Eurasian Collared-Dove into Cen- 
tral America has not materialized, but a report 
from Liberia near the Pacific coast of Costa 
Rica may foretell an “occupation” not unlike 
the remarkable spread of this species across 
North America. And then there’s the rice-lov- 
ing Tricolored Munia, which continues its ex- 
pansion southeastward through the Pacific 
lowlands of Costa Rica, albeit not as rapidly 
as some had predicted. 
Fall migration, like no other time of year, 
brings a heightened expectation of the unex- 
pected. In Central America, still very much the 
“frontier” of birding in North America, this of- 
ten means a country first. We report on no 
fewer than six country firsts this season: Black- 
vented Shearwater in both El Salvador and 
Costa Rica, Yellow-breasted Crake in Hon- 
duras, Curlew Sandpiper in Panama, Northern 
Wheatear in Panama (a Central American 
first), and Bay-headed Tanager in Honduras. 
Add to these the second Ruby-topaz Hum- 
mingbird for Panama (and for North America), 
El Salvador’s second White-eyed Vireo, and Be- 
lize’s second Golden-cheeked Warbler — and 
you get an idea of how many gems are out 
there, if only fleetingly, awaiting discovery. 
Abbreviations: M.P.R. (Mountain Pine 
Ridge); R.A.A.N. (North Atlantic Autono- 
mous Region) 
SHEARWATERS THROUGH RAILS 
Establishing a first confirmed record for El 
Salvador were 19 Black-vented Shearwaters 
seen offshore of Acajutla (Los Cobanos), Son- 
sonate on 21 Oct (ph. Rl, SH). Costa Rica’s 
first Black-vented Shearwater observed fol- 
lowing a shrimp trawler off the Osa Peninsula 
between Drake’s Bay and Cano I. 17 Nov (ph. 
BS, GG). Interestingly, several individuals 
photographed in El Salvador and the Costa 
Rica bird exhibited pale, blotchy head and 
nape patterns, a feature (of wear?) that is ap- 
parently not well documented. Other species 
of note seen by RI, LP, and SH off Acajutla on 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 1 
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