Datascope, a medical devices manufacturer, will pay a special dividend of $1.100 on Oct 15th if you own the stock at market opening on Thursday, September 27. That’s 3.2% of the share price of $34.420. $1/share is a special dividend, with the remaining 10c/share being the company\’s regular quarterly dividend. The amount of the special dividend approximates the net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Company\’s investment in Masimo Corporation following that company\’s initial public offering in August 2007.

Newcastle Investment, a diversified REIT, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.720 on Oct 30th to holders as of Thursday, September 27. That’s 3.6% of the share price of $19.810, or a 15% annual yield.

Chicago-based Corus Bankshares will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.250 on 10/9 if you own the stock at market opening on 9/24. In spite of weaker Q2 results and overall loan quality, Corus is still well capitalized. The holding company’s stock price has plummeted along with condominium loan quality (Stock trades 14% below its 50 days moving average and 21% below its 200 days moving average).

There may be some longer term buying opportunity here as the quarterly dividend does not seem under threat. I’d would still edge with an October Put around strike price in case the slide continues before ex-div. Corus also paid a 5 percent special dividend in August, and is considering more special cash dividends before December 2010, when tax rates on dividends will rise from their current 15 percent level.

Capital Trust will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.800 on Oct 15th if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, September 26. That’s 2.2% of the share price of $36.63, or a 9% annual yield.

Iowa Telecommunications Services, a Telecom provider, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.405 on Oct 15th if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, September 26. That’s 2% of the share price of $21.30, or a 8% annual yield.

Gramercy Capital, a commercial mortgage REIT, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.630 on Oct 15th to holders as of Wednesday, September 26. That’s 2.3% of the share price of $27.270, or a 9% annual yield. GKK managed to maintain its dividend this quarter, but watch out for weakening fundamentals. Play the cool down.

JER Investors Trust, a mortgage REIT, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.450 on Oct 31st if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, September 26. That’s 3.3% of the share price of $13.460, or a 13% annual yield.

Fairpoint Communications, a provider of phone, Internet and broadband services to rural areas, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.397 on Oct 16th if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, September 26 (taxed as earning dividend). That’s 2.1% of the share price of $19.350, or a 8% annual yield.

National Health Investors, a health care financial REIT, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.500 on Nov 9th if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, September 26.

RAIT Investment Trust, a commercial REIT, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.460 on Oct 12th to holders as of Wednesday, September 19. That’s 5.5% of the share price of $8.320, or a 22% annual yield. RAIT has been hammered by the mortgage meltdown, but strong fundamentals, high dividend yield and some insider buying should help in the long term.

Recreational vehicle maker Thor Industries will pay a special dividend of $2.000 on Oct 8th to holders as of Tuesday, September 25. That’s 4.6% of the share price of $43.150. Thor already paid a $1 special dividend last September. Thor just reported a weak quarter with Sales down 7 percent year over year. Recreational vehicle makers have yet to overcome the easy credit and oversupply conditions of the late ’90s, and until gas prices ease, RV-land will likely continue to spin its wheels, too. But increased backlog and the special dividend helped the stock nevertheless. Possibly use Puts to edge your bet when playing the run up.

Strattec Security, a manufacturer of locks, will pay a special dividend of $1.150 on Oct 1st if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, September 12. That’s 2.4% of the share price of $48.290. This includes a first-time quarterly cash dividend of $0.15, plus a special one-time cash dividend of $1.00 per share. Watch out for the low liquidity. The stock has been on a downward trend since announcing disappointing Q2 sales in July.

Primedia, a publisher of free consumer guides, will pay a special dividend of $2.150 on Sep 7th to holders as of Thursday, August 30. That’s 13.2% of the share price of $16.300. The company delivered lukewarm results this month. With 76 percent of (advertising) revenue coming from Rentals.com, this stock is tied to the real estate market to a certain extend. So be careful here even if the stock has been quite stables over the years.

Dominion Resources Black Warrior Trust, a natural gas trust, will pay a regular quarterly dividend of $0.735 on Sep 7th to holders as of Monday, August 27. That’s 3.3% of the share price of $22.600, or a 13% annual yield.

British Telecom will pay a regular semi-annual dividend of $2.020 on Sep 17th if you own the stock at market opening on Wednesday, August 22. That’s 3.3% of the share price of $61.400, equivalent to a 7% yearly yield (the exact amount may vary slightly depending on the currency rate for the British Pound on Pay date). I’ll play it with covered calls. Small div, and stock has been trading sideway for a while.