MRJ discovers the Neotropics

[MRJ]

Day 6 - Transfer Boquete to Panama City

Before departing we did a little more bird watching around the cottages. I picked up the manakins that Graeme had seen earlier, while we missed the wood-quails that were obviously right out the front of our cottage.

It took about eight hours including stops to drive from Boquete to the Panama City airport where we had to drop off our rental car. The most difficult part was driving through Panama City itself, which has a complex series of freeways with signage that appears to have no connection to reality.

At one point the freeway sweeps along the foreshore with fantastic views of the tidal mudflats, which were loaded with seabirds. Unfortunately there was no stopping so we only managed to identify a couple of the larger species.

From the airport we got a taxi to our hotel, where we will be picked up tomorrow for our transfer to the Canopy Tower.

Cottages

H. Spotted wood-quail Odontophorus guttatus
203. Lance-tailed manakin Chiroxiphia lanceolata (new Family)

Panama City mudflats

204. Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
205. Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum brasilianum

 

[MRJ]

Further to our discussion regarding hummingbird feeders, I have just arrived at the Canopy Tower for the second part of our tour. As the photo below shows, they have recently installed a feeding platform for hummingbirds. The difference is that their business is from bird and nature tourists who book direct, and bird tour companies, and would not involve themselves in the general tourism market at all.

 

[MRJ]

Day 7

After a night in a city hotel, with the luxuries that entails, we were picked up exactly on time at 11.15am. Right on 12 we were driving into the Canopy Tower compound.

For those not familiar with the Canopy Tower, it is a repurposed US Cold War era radar tower located on the top of Semaphore Hill, the highest peak in the area. It is surrounded by a national park rainforest. it has been converted into an eco-lodge, and is especially loved by birders. The Canopy organization now also has a lodge in the hills to the west, and a camp in the Darion. The Tower is staffed by a number of professional guides as well as support staff. Overall it is an impressive business.



The bottom floor of the lodge is used for an office, shop and staff area. The next two levels are accommodation for guests, then the next floor is a dining and lounge area. On top is the observation deck, which encircles the old radar dome.

After checking in we went to lunch which was followed by the chance to meet staff and our guide. We had most of the afternoon free. Birding was not great, as afternoons are always slow, and I saw a number of species I had already seen.

A bit of time was spent at the hummingbird feeders, but as I did not have a book with me, I was not able to identify any more than the most obvious two species. I did see the fist mammal for the tower, a thee-toed sloth climbing a dead tree, only to climb down again when it realized there was nothing there for it. Otherwise I just caught up on some work.

However we did go out for our first night tour after dinner, and this was more fruitful.

Mammals
10. Derby's wooly opossum Caluromys derbianus (new Order and Family)
11. Seba's short-tailed bat Carollia perspicillata
12. Western lowland oringa Bassaricyon medius
13. Nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus (new Order and Family)
14. Brown-throated three-toed sloth Bradypus variegatus (new Order and Family)
15. Hoffman's two-toed sloth Choloepus hoffmanni (new Family)

Birds
206. Band-rumped swift Chaeura spinicaudus
207. White-necked jacobin Florisuga mellivora
208. Long-billed hermit Phaethornis longirostris
209. Palm tanager Thraupis palmarum
210. Cliff swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

 

[MRJ]

Day 8.

I told you I would fall behind.

Semaphore Road and Ammo Ponds

At dawn our group met on the roof-top observation deck for coffee, a bit of get to know you, and for some bird watching. After breakfast we went down to the hummingbird deck, and filled out the hummingbird list. However the white-necked Jacobin, with it's stunning white fan tail remains my favourate.

Following this we walked the Semaphore Road itself. It is quite steep and used by the local military training base to install the right stuff in their recruits. The advantage for us is that we could walk down, and be picked up at the bottom by a Canopy Towers truck for the ride back.

In the afternoon we visited the Ammo Dump ponds. The main pond was dry, and only produced a smooth-beaked ani, however the marshy grassy area across the road proved very productive. Highlights included excellent views of the Rufescent tiger-heron, and a crake.

We then birded the forest immediately behind, which was also the start for the Pipeline Road.

Morning

Mammals
16. Mantled howler monkey Alouatta palliata (new Family) VU
17. Geoffroy's tamarin Saguinus geoffroyi (new Family) NT
18. Central American aguti Dasyprocta punctata (new Family)
19. White-nosed coati Nasua narica
20. Northern tamandua Tamandua mexicana (new Family)

Birds

211. Black-throated mango Anthracothorax nigricollis
212. Violet-bellied hummingbird Chlorestes julie
213. Blue-chested hummingbird Polyerata amabilis
214. Choco screech owl Megascops centralis
215. Black-and-white owl Strix nigrolineata
216. Northern black-throated trogon Trogon tenellus
217, Keel-billed toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus

218. Whooping motmot Momotus subrufescens (new Family)
219. Red-lored parrot Amazona autumnalis
220. Southern mealy parrot Amazona farinosa
221. Blue cotinga Cotinga nattererii
222. Golden-crowned spadebill Platyrinchus coronatus (new
Family)
223. Social flycatcher Myiozetetes similis
224. Common tody-flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum
225. Dusky antbird Cercomacroides tyrannina (new Family)
226. Black-crowned (western slaty) antshrike Thamnophilus atrinucha
227. Black-striped sparrow Arremonops conirostris
228. Shining honeycreeper Cyanerpes lucidus
229. Blue dacnis Dacnis cayana
230. Buff-breasted wren Cantorchilus leucotis
231. White-browed gnatcatcher Polioptila bilineata

Afternoon

Birds
232. Smooth-billed ani Crotophaga ani
233. Greater ani Crotophaga major
234. White-throated crake Laterallus albigularis
235. Striated heron Butorides striata
236. Rufescent tiger-heron Tigrisoma lineatum
237. Wattled jacana Jacana jacana
238.Black-breasted puffbird Notharchus pectoralis (new Family)
239. Crimson-crested woodpecker Campephilus melanoleucos
240. Cinnamon woodpecker Celeus loricatus
241. Lineated woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus
242. Collared aracari Pteroglossus torquatu
243. Yellow-throated toucan Ramphastos ambiguus
244. Masked tityra Tityra semifasciata (new Family)
245. Rusty margined flycatcher Myiozetetes cayanensis
246. Lesser kiskadee Philohydor lictor
247. Cocoa woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus susurrans
248. Scrub greenlet Hylophilus flavipes
249. Yellow-throated vireo Vireo flavifrons
250. Fulvous-vented euphonia Euphonia fulvicrissa
251. Northern waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
252. Green honeycreeper Chlorophanes spiza
253. Golden-hooded tanager Stilpnia larvata
254. Plain-headed tanager Tangara inornata
255. Blue-back grassquit Volatinia jacarina
256. Grey-breasted martin Progne chalybea
257. Southern rough-winged swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis
259. Mangrove swallow Tachycineta albilinea
260. White-breasted wood-wren Henicorhina leucosticta

Evening at Tower

Mammal
21. Kinkajou Potos flavus

Missed from the Cloud Forest

261. Bay-headed tanager Tangara gyrola

 

[MRJ]

Day 9.

Morning: Pipeline Road
Afternoon: Summit Park and Summit Ponds

Graeme is of the opinion that this day was our biggest ever on any overseas trip, with 83 bird species observed. If so, this is largely because we birded the legendary Pipeline Road. This road was constructed during the Second World War to support the construction of a petroleum pipeline that was never built. It runs up into the jungle to stop about 16km in the middle of the forest. Today we birded the first bit up to the Rainforest Discovery Centre entry building, where we sheltered for about an hour because of heavy rain, and then on past the gate for a couple of hours. Despite the total only about half the birds observed were new.

After lunch we visited the Summit Park, a municipal park with is part recreation park, part botanic gardens and part zoo. The zoo holds only animals native to Panama, including jaguars. We only visited the harpy eagle aviary, which was probably the highlight of the zoo anyway. However, from what I could see, the zoo was well maintained and had spacious enclosures. Outside the aviary we saw a small colony of tent-making bats.

The Summit Ponds form part of a training facility for the Panamanian Border Defense force, located on the other side of the road to the park. They offered our first duck and first kingfishers, as well a nice assortment of other waterbirds.

Mammals
22. Panamanian white-faced capuchin Cebus imitator VU (new Family)
23. Tent-making bat Micronycteris microtis

Birds
263. Muscovy duck Cairina moschata
265. Pale-vented pigeon Patagioenas cayennensis
266. Common potoo Nyctibius griseus
267. Short-tailed swift Chaetura brachyura
268. Lesser swallow-tailed swift Panyptila cayennensis
269. Green heron Butorides virescens
270. Boat-billed heron Cochlearius cochlearius
271. Little blue heron Egretta caerulea
272. Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
273. Western osprey Pandion haliaetus
274. Mississippi kite Ictinia mississippiensis
275. Gartered trogon Trogon caligatus
276. Slaty-tailed trogon Trogon massena
277. White-whiskered puffbird Malacoptila panamensis
278. White-necked puffbird Notharchus hyperrynchus
279. Green kingfisher Chloroceryle americana
280. Ringed kingfisher Megaceryle torquata
281. Yellow-headed caracara Milvago chimachima
282. Orange-chinned parrakeet Brotogeris jugularis
283. Blue-headed parrot Pionus menstruus
284. Red-capped manakin Ceratopipra mentalis
285. Golden-collared manakin Manacus vitellinus
286. Purple-throated fruitcrow Querula purpurata
287. Southern beardless-tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum
288. Piratic flycatcher Legatus leucophaius
289. Streaked flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus
290. Southern bentbill Oncostoma olivaceum
291. Lesser kiskadee Philohydor lictor
292. Western olivaceus flatbill Rhynchocyclus olivaceus
293. Eastern kingbirds Tyrannus tyrannus
294. Fasciated antshrike Cymbilaimus lineatus
295. Checker-throated stipplethroat Epinecrophylla fulviventris
296. Dot-winged antwren Microrhopias quixensis
297. Streak-chested antpitta Hylopezus perspicillatus (new Family)
298. Plain zenops Xenops minutus
299. Black-crested jay Cyanocorax affinis
300. Golden-crowned euphonia Euphonia luteicapilla
301. Bay-breasted warbler Setophaga castanea
302. Yellow-tailed oriole Icterus mesomelas
303. Blue-black grosbeak Cyanoloxia cyanoides
304. Red-legged honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus
305. Variable seedeater Sporophila corvina
306. Yellow-bellied seedeater Sporophila nigricollis

 

[MRJ]

Day 10.

All day excursion to San Lorenzo National Park, which is on the Caribbean coast.

This trip was meant to yield a bucket-load of new species, as the birds of the Caribbean coast are often different to the birds of the Pacific side, even though they are only an hour and a half apart. However in the end we only had a fairly small haul.

The day started with torrential rain as we crossed the divide. Road closures and traffic snarls in Colon. delayed us further. Once we got to the National Park rain further restricted us on the first trail, however the birding was still reasonable. I managed to see a ruddy quail-dove, which I took as some achievement as I had previously been told quail-doves inhabit thick thickets and are often heard but never seen.

The second trail was located within the former US Fort Sherman, and it was interesting to drive by the abandoned beachfront houses I assume were used by officers and their families. Most of the base was used for jungle warfare training so the forest is intact.

Unfortunately, by the time we went for our walk it was already 11.30 and the rain had dampened bird activity further, so there were few birds to be seen. So imagine our surprise near the end of the walk when we came across a small flock of crested guans near the end of the walk. Our guide said it had been five years since he had seen this species. Clearly one of the highlights of the entire trip.

We then went to Castillo San Lorenzo, the ruins of a Spanish colonial fortification, for lunch. While this may seem like a tourism stop, we still managed to pick up a trogon and the last puffbird of the four that were possible. Imagine watching a trogon with the Caribbean Sea in the background!

After a late lunch we returned to the tower.

Birds
306. Crested guan Penelope purpurascens
307. Ruddy quail-dove Geotrygon montana
308. White-tailed trogon Trogon chionurus
309. Black-tailed trogon Trogon melanurus
310. Pied puffbird Notharchus tectus
311. Rufous motmot Baryphthengus martii
312. Yellow-bellied elaenia Elaenia flavogaster
313. Dusky-capped (olivaceous) flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
314. Black-headed tody-flycatcher Todirostrum nigriceps
315. Golden-fronted greenlet Pachysylvia aurantiifrons
316. Lesser greenlet Pachysylvia decurtata
317. Red-breasted meadowlark Leistes militaris
318. Crested oropendola Psarocolius decumanus
319. White-shouldered tanager Loriotus luctuosus
320. Bay wren Cantorchilus nigricapillus

 

[birdsandbats]

It's really interesting that Crested Guan are considered so rare in Panama, considering they were extremely common in Costa Rica. Is there more hunting pressure in Panama?

 

[MRJ]

It's really interesting that Crested Guan are considered so rare in Panama, considering they were extremely common in Costa Rica. Is there more hunting pressure in Panama?

No idea, just the guides comments. We however were thrilled to see both species of guan, Graeme in particular as he has a special fondness for "gamebirds". They were unexpected, difficult to see, and spectacular birds.

 

[MRJ]

Herps, a summary.

I'm on my way back from Panama now, so a good time to consider the herps I've seen, as I have largely ignored them up to date. I also have to attend to invertebrates, but they are likely to be a week or so away.

Reptiles
4. American crocodile Crocodylus acutus
While it was nice to see this crocodile I would have preferred to have seen the spectacled caiman. We saw two on the Gatun Lake cruise (yet to be described) one reasonably large (but nowhere near saltwater croc size) and a small one.
5. Yellow-headed gecko Gonatodes albogularis
This species used to be the house gecko of Panama, but was pushed out by the gecko below. I saw this one on the Pipeline Road.
6. Tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia In.
A recent arrival in Panama. Be aware there are a couple of species of house gecko, and the one in your room in Bali may not be the same species as the one in your room in Africa.
7. Turnip-tailed gecko Thecadactylus rapicauda
Interesting gecko observed wedged into a crack in a tree on the Pipeline Road.
8. Common basilisk Basiliscus basiliscus (new Family)
Often called the Jesus Christ lizard due to it's ability to get up on it's back legs and run across water. We saw a number of small ones on a pond in the Metropolitan National Park, where they were being fed by children, and where we saw their "walking over water" behavior. A lager single individual was seen sunning itself on a rock in the stream.
9. Black spiny-tailed iguana Ctenosaura similis
Reputedly quite common, I only saw two at the Ammo Ponds.
... Green iguana Iguana iguana
The first reptile we saw, on day one at the resort,It was seen at a number of locations, less commonly at higher elavations. Most individuals seen were older, bigger lizards, and quite grey in colour. However I dd see a young one in the treetops through a window at the Canopy Tower. It was a beautiful light green, with white marking similar to many of the Fijian iguanas. I was sure I had seen a new species and rushed off to find out which it was.
10. Four-lined whiptail Holcosus quadrilineatus
A couple were seen at the Castillo San Lorenzo.
11. South American slider Trachemys callirostris
Quite a large specimen seen at the Summit Ponds.
12. Pond slider Trachemys scripta In.
Seen at the Metropolitan National Park pond mentioned above.

Amphibians
A disappointment as I had at least hoped to see poison dart frogs. The lack of frogs was due to a drought caused by an extremely dry dry season, We did not even hear anything in the way of calls until some rain fell a couple of days into our stay at the Canopy Tower. Both species seen at the Canopy Lodge.
1. Giant toad Rhinella horribilis
Recently split from the cane toad, which allows me to claim it as a new species. However I am not sure about its name, as I have seen bigger toads in the French Alps. (the scientific name, however, is accurate)
2. Savage's thin-toed frog Leptodactylus savagei (new Family)

Fish
5. Blue-point flag cichlid Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus
Seen in a stream along the Pipeline Trail. The guide called it the black-and-white Oscar, which I presume might be an aquarium name. Quite distinctive, and seen on two days.

 

[birdsandbats]

Herps, a summary.

I'm on my way back from Panama now, so a good time to consider the herps I've seen, as I have largely ignored them up to date. I also have to attend to invertebrates, but they are likely to be a week or so away.

Reptiles
4. American crocodile Crocodylus acutus
While it was nice to see this crocodile I would have preferred to have seen the spectacled caiman. We saw two on the Gatun Lake cruise (yet to be described) one reasonably large (but nowhere near saltwater croc size) and a small one.
5. Yellow-headed gecko Gonatodes albogularis
This species used to be the house gecko of Panama, but was pushed out by the gecko below. I saw this one on the Pipeline Road.
6. Tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia In.
A recent arrival in Panama. Be aware there are a couple of species of house gecko, and the one in your room in Bali may not be the same species as the one in your room in Africa.
7. Turnip-tailed gecko Thecadactylus rapicauda
Interesting gecko observed wedged into a crack in a tree on the Pipeline Road.
8. Common basilisk Basiliscus basiliscus (new Family)
Often called the Jesus Christ lizard due to it's ability to get up on it's back legs and run across water. We saw a number of small ones on a pond in the Metropolitan National Park, where they were being fed by children, and where we saw their "walking over water" behavior. A lager single individual was seen sunning itself on a rock in the stream.
9. Black spiny-tailed iguana Ctenosaura similis
Reputedly quite common, I only saw two at the Ammo Ponds.
... Green iguana Iguana iguana
The first reptile we saw, on day one at the resort,It was seen at a number of locations, less commonly at higher elavations. Most individuals seen were older, bigger lizards, and quite grey in colour. However I dd see a young one in the treetops through a window at the Canopy Tower. It was a beautiful light green, with white marking similar to many of the Fijian iguanas. I was sure I had seen a new species and rushed off to find out which it was.
10. Four-lined whiptail Holcosus quadrilineatus
A couple were seen at the Castillo San Lorenzo.
11. South American slider Trachemys callirostris
Quite a large specimen seen at the Summit Ponds.
12. Pond slider Trachemys scripta In.
Seen at the Metropolitan National Park pond mentioned above.

Amphibians
A disappointment as I had at least hoped to see poison dart frogs. The lack of frogs was due to a drought caused by an extremely dry dry season, We did not even hear anything in the way of calls until some rain fell a couple of days into our stay at the Canopy Tower. Both species seen at the Canopy Lodge.
1. Giant toad Rhinella horribilis
Recently split from the cane toad, which allows me to claim it as a new species. However I am not sure about its name, as I have seen bigger toads in the French Alps. (the scientific name, however, is accurate)
2. Savage's thin-toed frog Leptodactylus savagei (new Family)

Fish
5. Blue-point flag cichlid Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus
Seen in a stream along the Pipeline Trail. The guide called it the black-and-white Oscar, which I presume might be an aquarium name. Quite distinctive, and seen on two days.

The common names that iNat picked for the split Cane Toad and Smoky Jungle Frog are really dumb. I have them on my list as Mesoamerican Cane Toad and Savage's Smoky Jungle Frog.

 

[MRJ]

Panama day 11

The morning activity was one of the more enjoyable wildlife watching experiences - a cruise on Lake Gatun.

Lake Gatun is an artificial lake created by damming the Chagres River. It forms the major part of the Panama Canal, connecting the two lock systems, and also provides the water needed to operate the locks. There are numerous inlets teeming with wildlife, and our tour mainly consisted of investigating some of these inlets.

First animal of significance seen was a lesser capybara, poking it's head up above the grass along the edge of the lake. This is all many people see of this species, but fortunately a few minutes later we were watching three of them move along the river bank. The only other mammals were a family of white-fronted capuchins, unusually down on the lake bank feeding.

There are two crocodilians in the lake, the American crocodile and the spectacled caiman. I would have preferred to see the later as I have not seen any members of the alligator family, but still enjoyed the two crocodiles we did see.

Otherwise the large numbers of waterbirds we did see kept us occupied, including my first limpkin. On the drive back we saw a laughing falcon on top of a power pole, and they do indeed laugh.

It seems anyone can charter a sightseeing cruise on one of the small boats we used, however I imagine it would take a reasonable knowledge of Spanish to negotiate a satisfying wildlife cruse, as most of the boats seemed to rush around looking at the scenery.

In the afternoon we visited the Panama Rainforest Discovery Centre, which is located about 5km up the Pipeline Road. We sheltered in the entry building during the rain on our first visit to the road. From the Entry Building visitors drive a little further to park at the Visitor Centre.

From here paths radiate out, one to a lookout of the end of one arm of the lake, and another to a steel observation tower. We climbed the tower, apparently 176 steps, where we had a great view over the forest canopy. However despite this we saw very few birds, probably because the afternoon was quite hot. We did observe a roost for a small colony of proboscis bats about half way up the tower.

The night drive did not produce any mammals besides the ubiquitous sloths and agutis, but we did see a great potoo.

Mammals
24. Lesser capybara Hydrochoerus isthmius (new Family)
25. Proboscis bat Rhynchonycteris naso

Birds
321. Black-bellied whistling duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
322. Grey-chested dove Leptotila cassinii
323. Short-billed pigeon Patagioenas nigrirostris
324. Great potoo Nyctibius grandis
325. American purple swamphen Porphyrio martinicus
326. Limpkin Aramus guarauna (new Family)
327. Cocoi heron Ardea cocoi
328. Green heron Butorides virescens
329. Tricolour heron Egretta tricolor
330. Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius
331. Hook-billed kite Chondrohierax uncinatus
332. Snail kite Rostrhamus sociabilis
333. Laughing falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans
334. Brown-hooded parrot Pyrilia haematotis
335. Grey-headed tanager Eucometis penicillata

 

[MRJ]

Panama day 12.

This morning we returned to the Pipeline Road. The road goes for about 16 kilometres in a straight line into the wilderness. The first five kilometres up to the Rainforest Discovery Centre are open to the public using conventional vehicles. Immediately past the Centre there is a locked gate, as the road beyond is only suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles. In fact the road is only open to the vehicles of park workers, researchers, and Canopy Tower tours. It is of course open to walkers, and quite a few people seemed to walk up to a kilometre beyond the gate.

We probably went four or five kilometres beyond the gate (progress was slow because of the road conditions) before continuing on foot. Despite being further up the road, we were suffering from the law of diminishing returns. We saw 50 species of bird through the day, but only 15 of them were new. However we did see the great jacamar, the only member of it's family found in Panama, and the broad-billed motmot, which meant we had seen all three motmot species found in the canal region.

That afternoon we visited the Gambia Resort primarily to see the Sloth Sanctuary. The Gambia Resort is a large hotel, which due to its location, is often used by visiting bird and mammal watchers. The relationship between the Sanctuary and the Resort is unclear. You buy a ticket to the Sanctuary at the tours desk in the Resort then a vehicle takes you a few hundred metres down the road to the Sanctuary. A guide takes you past a couple of tortoise exhibits, a frog exhibit, into a netted butterfly enclosure, then through an orchid display. Finally you reach the sloths. Four animals are displayed on a platform that sits in the middle of an old but roofed basketball court. They each have a framework of branches to move around. A presenter then gives a talk about the animals, concluding with the usual "this is a sanctuary not a zoo" comment.

The Sanctuary flouts it's conservation "credentials" and receives support from an American conservation organisation. However, I could see no evidence of any conservation actions. They work entirely with one species, the two-toed, presumably because of diet this is the easiest to keep in captivity. This is despite the fact that being in the in the habitat, they are ideally situated to investigate the captive care of the three-toed sloth. In any case, neither are threatened. As an education and rehabilitation facility it is probably adequate, but as far as conservation goes it is a non-starter.

We then went through an area of forest next to the lake where we came across a nest site for night monkeys, opposite which was a tree with a large split in the bark with a porcupine sitting it it. I would say our guide knew about the night monkey roost but the porcupine was fortuitous. The night monkeys were very inquisitive and poked about half their body length out of the hole of their nest, giving great views. The porcupine had it's back to us and never stirred. We then continued birding, finding a green-and-rufous kingfisher, which our guide told us was the most difficult to observe of American kingfishers.

Mammals
26. Panamanian night monkey Aotus zonalis (new Family)
27. Andean porcupine Coendou quichua (new Family)

Birds
336. Great jacamar Jacamerops aureus (new Family)
337. Broad-billed motmot Electron platyrhynchum
338. Green-and-rufous kingfisher Chloroceryle inda
339. Rufous mourner Rhytipterna holerythra
340. Spot-crowned antvireo Dysithamnus puncticeps
341. White-flanked antwren Myrmotherula axillaris
342. Chestnut-backed antbird Poliocrania exsul
343. Black-crowned antpitta Pittasoma michleri (new Family)
344. Plain-brown woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa
345. Black-striped woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus lachrymosus
346. Chestnut-headed oropendola Psarocolius wagleri
347. Crimson-backed tanager Ramphocelus dimidiatus
348. Flame-rumped tanager Ramphocelus flammigerus
349. Rufous-breasted wren Pheugopedius rutilus
350. Long-billed gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus

 

[birdsandbats]

Green-and-Rufous is the only kingfisher species in the Americas that I don't have. They are a really hard species to get! Count yourself very lucky on that one!

 

[MRJ]

Panama day 13

In the morning we headed off to the Metropolitan National Park, or Metro Park for short, located not surprisingly close to the city centre. It was very popular with joggers, walkers and family groups, and here we saw the bulk of the birds for the day. Again we saw 52 species.

Next stop was Punta Culebra, which is an island which has been connected to the foreshore of Panama City by a long causeway. The Smithsonian has a number of displays here, the feature one being a display of Panamanian frogs. There is a population of racoons here, often described somewhat misleadingly as crab-eating racoons. To be sure living on the seashore they do eat crabs. However they are the northern racoons familiar to Americans, not the crab-eating racoon species that is only ever found away from human habitation and along freshwater streams. In any event they are a lifer for me and my 300th mammal species. Otherwise the only animal action were flocks of shorebirds.

On the way back we made a short stop at Caminos des Cruces National Park, to see a spectacled owl roosting site, where we saw two. On the way out we observed a group of Geoffroy's tamarins, the first we had seen away from the Tower.

The afternoon trip was to the Miraflores Locks, to see the canal in operation. Probably not something I would have chosen to do but reasonably interesting.

The night drive produces another spectacled owl, as well as the spectacular sight of a great potoo flying across the night sky. The only new mammal seen was a white-tailed deer.

Mammals
28. Northern racoon Procyon lotor
29. White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus

Birds
351. Sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
352. Spectacled owl Pulsatrix perspicillata
353. Black-cheeked woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani
354. White-winged becard Pachyramphus polychopterus
355. Forest elaenia Myiopagis gaimardii
356. Brown-capped tyrannulet Ornithion brunneicapillus
357. Olivaceous woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus
358. Chestnut-sided warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
359. Yellow-backed oriole Icterus chrysater
360. Red-throated ant-tanager Habia fuscicauda
361. Scarlet tanager Piranga olivacea

Seen the day before flying over the canal.

362. Brown booby Sula leucogaster

 

[MRJ]

Panama day 14

Today was the last morning at the Canopy Tower before moving on to the Canopy Lodge, so we made sure to be on the observation deck for early-morning coffee, and all the favorites were there. In particular we got great views of a group of aracaris. We had heard the call of the green shrike-vireo most days, and finally got to see it. A stunning little bird.

Birds
363, Tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus
364. Yellow-margined flycatcher (Yellow-winged flatbill) Tolmomyias flavotectus
365. Green shrike-vireo Vireolanius pulchellus

On the first day a white object flashed by a window of the Tower, which somebody said was a king vulture. Later, we saw three birds circling high up. I was waiting for better views, but none happened, so here it is.

366. King vulture Sarcoramphus papa

After breakfast we transferred to the Canopy Lodge. which was about 2.5 hours drive away. The lodge is at a higher elevation so there was a new suite of birds, but not nearly as high as Boquete. The lodge is also far more comfortable, with large modern rooms and no need to climb five flights of stairs from bottom to top. A stream ran though the property, which was wooded, and provided ideal habitats.

We did an afternoon walk around the property and up the road. Notable birds included the beautiful little rufous-crested coquette and the orange-billed sparrow, the world's most stunning sparrow. The night walk was an opossum fest, with the species below plus Derby's wooly opossum, which we had already seen. The highlight of course was the water opossum, which we watched through thermal scopes, then watched it plop under water and disappear as soon as the lights were turned on. We were lucky that Jonathan, a young American bird photographer who had been a guide, was present. He knew exactly where to look for it.

Mammals
30. Water opossum (yapok) Chironectes minimus
31. Southern opossum Didelphis marsupialis
32. Dark four-eyed opossum Philander melanurus
33. Orange nectar bat Lonchophylla robusta

Birds
367. White-vented plumeleteer Chalybura buffonii
368. Violet-headed hummingbird Klais guimeti
369. Rufous-crested coquette Lophornis delattre
370. Grey-cowled wood rail Aramides cajaneus
371. Ochre-bellied flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus (new Family?)
372. Orange-billed sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris
373. Dusky-faced tanager Mitrospingus cassinii (new Family)
374. Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
375. Buff-throated saltator Saltator maximus

 

[birdsandbats]

Panama day 14

Today was the last morning at the Canopy Tower before moving on to the Canopy Lodge, so we made sure to be on the observation deck for early-morning coffee, and all the favorites were there. In particular we got great views of a group of aracaris. We had heard the call of the green shrike-vireo most days, and finally got to see it. A stunning little bird.

Birds
363, Tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus
364. Yellow-margined flycatcher (Yellow-winged flatbill) Tolmomyias flavotectus
365. Green shrike-vireo Vireolanius pulchellus

On the first day a white object flashed by a window of the Tower, which somebody said was a king vulture. Later, we saw three birds circling high up. I was waiting for better views, but none happened, so here it is.

366. King vulture Sarcoramphus papa

After breakfast we transferred to the Canopy Lodge. which was about 2.5 hours drive away. The lodge is at a higher elevation so there was a new suite of birds, but not nearly as high as Boquete. The lodge is also far more comfortable, with large modern rooms and no need to climb five flights of stairs from bottom to top. A stream ran though the property, which was wooded, and provided ideal habitats.

We did an afternoon walk around the property and up the road. Notable birds included the beautiful little rufous-crested coquette and the orange-billed sparrow, the world's most stunning sparrow. The night walk was an opossum fest, with the species below plus Derby's wooly opossum, which we had already seen. The highlight of course was the water opossum, which we watched through thermal scopes, then watched it plop under water and disappear as soon as the lights were turned on. We were lucky that Jonathan, a young American bird photographer who had been a guide, was present. He knew exactly where to look for it.

Mammals
30. Water opossum (yapok) Chironectes minimus
31. Southern opossum Didelphis marsupialis
32. Dark four-eyed opossum Philander melanurus
33. Orange nectar bat Lonchophylla robusta

Birds
367. White-vented plumeleteer Chalybura buffonii
368. Violet-headed hummingbird Klais guimeti
369. Rufous-crested coquette Lophornis delattre
370. Grey-cowled wood rail Aramides cajaneus
371. Ochre-bellied flycatcher Mionectes oleagineus (new Family?)
372. Orange-billed sparrow Arremon aurantiirostris
373. Dusky-faced tanager Mitrospingus cassinii (new Family)
374. Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
375. Buff-throated saltator Saltator maximus

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher is in Tyrannidae, so not a new family for you. Don't worry, I thought it was in Oxyruncidae, too

 

[MRJ]

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher is in Tyrannidae, so not a new family for you. Don't worry, I thought it was in Oxyruncidae, too

I had them as in Pipromorphidae, which is one of six families that the source I used to set up my list had as Families, but seem not to be used any more. I was going to investigate a bit further before deleting them.

 

[birdsandbats]

I had them as in Pipromorphidae, which is one of six families that the source I used to set up my list had as Families, but seem not to be used any more. I was going to investigate a bit further before deleting them.

Pipromorphidae isn't valid anymore according to most sources.

 

[MRJ]

Panama day 15

I was up early so made my way out to the lounge and dining area, which was a deck overlooking the creek. To my absolute surprise there was a sungrebe making it's way up the creek. This is a species that I had written off as a possibility. In all we had about 20 minutes of excellent views. What a great start to the day!

After breakfast we went up the road a bit to a small adventure park. It was the first business established by the owners of the Canopy Family, and is on the same property as the lodge, but separated by thick forest. Here we saw the slaty seedeater, a rare bird with a fragmented population that is only found in this area when the bamboos are seeding.

From here we went further up to Senderos Las Minas, which we walked, and found it good for raptors. At the far end of the walk, we saw further scarce tanagers, including the wedge-tailed grass-finch and the thick-billed seed-finch.

In the afternoon we went to Mata Ahogodo where we birded the roadside, and saw a second New World barbet, as well as a fourth motmot. However we missed the tody motmot, despite it's continual calls.

After dinner we gave the water opossum another try, but missed. However, we did see a tropical screech owl, which was to be the last new bird of the trip.

Mammals
34. Central American tapeti Sylvilagus gabbi
35. Velvety free-tail bat Molossus molossus

Birds
376. Sunbittern Eurypyga helias (new Order and Family)
377. Long-billed starthroat Heliomaster longirostris
378. Ruby-crowned fairy Heliothryx barroti
379. Crowned woodnymph Thalurania colombica
380. Double-toothed kite Harpagus bidentatus
381. Barred hawk Morphnarchus princeps
382. Roadside hawk Rupornis magnirostris
383. Tropical screech owl Megascops choliba
384. Mottled owl Strix virgata
385. Spot-crowned barbet Capito maculicoronatus
386. Lesson's motmot Momotus lessonii
387. Lesser elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis
388. Tawny-capped euphonia Crithagra sulphurata
389. Chestnut-coloured warbler Basileuterus delattrii
390. Canada warbler Cardellina canadensis
391. Louisiana waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
392. Shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
392. Wedge-tailed grass finch Emberizoides herbicola
393. Streaked saltator Saltator striatipectus
394. Thick-billed seed-finch Sporophila funerda
395. Slate-coloured seedeater Sporophila schistacea
396. Tawny-crested tanager Tachyphonus delatrii
397. Emerald tanager Tangara florida
398. Isthmian wren Cantorchilus elutus

Missed from the Pipeline Road

399. Bicoloured antbird Gymnopithys bicolor

 

[MRJ]

Panama day 15

I was up early so made my way out to the lounge and dining area, which was a deck overlooking the creek. To my absolute surprise there was a sungrebe making it's way up the creek. This is a species that I had written off as a possibility. In all we had about 20 minutes of excellent views. What a great start to the day!

After breakfast we went up the road a bit to a small adventure park. It was the first business established by the owners of the Canopy Family, and is on the same property as the lodge, but separated by thick forest. Here we saw the slaty seedeater, a rare bird with a fragmented population that is only found in this area when the bamboos are seeding.

From here we went further up to Senderos Las Minas, which we walked, and found it good for raptors. At the far end of the walk, we saw further scarce tanagers, including the wedge-tailed grass-finch and the thick-billed seed-finch.

In the afternoon we went to Mata Ahogodo where we birded the roadside, and saw a second New World barbet, as well as a fourth motmot. However we missed the tody motmot, despite it's continual calls.

After dinner we gave the water opossum another try, but missed. However, we did see a tropical screech owl, which was to be the last new bird of the trip.

Mammals
34. Central American tapeti Sylvilagus gabbi
35. Velvety free-tail bat Molossus molossus

Birds
376. Sunbittern Eurypyga helias (new Order and Family)
377. Long-billed starthroat Heliomaster longirostris
378. Ruby-crowned fairy Heliothryx barroti
379. Crowned woodnymph Thalurania colombica
380. Double-toothed kite Harpagus bidentatus
381. Barred hawk Morphnarchus princeps
382. Roadside hawk Rupornis magnirostris
383. Tropical screech owl Megascops choliba
384. Mottled owl Strix virgata
385. Spot-crowned barbet Capito maculicoronatus
386. Lesson's motmot Momotus lessonii
387. Lesser elaenia Elaenia chiriquensis
388. Tawny-capped euphonia Crithagra sulphurata
389. Chestnut-coloured warbler Basileuterus delattrii
390. Canada warbler Cardellina canadensis
391. Louisiana waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
392. Shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
392. Wedge-tailed grass finch Emberizoides herbicola
393. Streaked saltator Saltator striatipectus
394. Thick-billed seed-finch Sporophila funerda
395. Slate-coloured seedeater Sporophila schistacea
396. Tawny-crested tanager Tachyphonus delatrii
397. Emerald tanager Tangara florida
398. Isthmian wren Cantorchilus elutus

Missed from the Pipeline Road

399. Bicoloured antbird Gymnopithys bicolor

401. Spotted woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
Numbering correction.