Presence of Absence does not Indicate Absence of Presence

Various vehicular and hotel absurdities have not kept us from the mission at hand: to inventory to the best of our abilities the avian and other diversity of this 1,000 acre plantation, which by the way, has been appropriately named Plantacion del Eden.  There is a charming finca casa with an outdoor kitchen and dining area, wifi, a cook, and lunch and dinner provided, set amidst coffee trees, bananas, cacao, and floral wonder.  Highly unfortunate is that we cannot sleep here; we make a nightly trek to a poor hotel 10 miles to the west.  The closer, more comfortable and curiously named Edificio Springfield unfortunately houses an all night discotheque which we endured for one night only before relocation.A taste of our schedule:Leave hotel at 5 am. Drive 2 blocks to the old woman who sells 2 oz. Dixie cups of espresso for 10 cents each. Drive with one headlight 10 miles to drop off 4 ornithologists at starting point at bottom of the mountain, turn around, go back to pick up the other 4, and repeat, except kick in the 4WD and drop the second set off at the top of the mountain.  We all meet up around noon, drive to the casa, and have an enormous and delicious almuerza prepared by kitchen magician named Elena.  In the late afternoon we head to a different part of the finca for more inventory work, then conclude the day with a light supper, a powwow, and Presidente beer.Now, for some data.  At the moment we have recorded approximately 55 species. Not yet whAt we have hoped, but one group is still out and there are 3 days left.  We have identified common birds as expected, a few endemics, a few surprises. Gray catbird, white necked crow, Hispaniola Pewee, Worm Eating Warbler, Hispaniolan Emerald Hummingbird, both Flat billed and Narrow billed Todies.  Still hoping for a Trogan, Potoo, and of course, our Holy Grail: Bicknell's Thrush.  Tomorrow is our best chance to find Bicknell's.  Will keep you posted. Remember, presence of absence does not mean absence of presence.