Fortuna and Environs, a report by Bill Adsett
George Angehr, Gilles Seutin and I spent a few days in Fortuna and Palo Seco last weekend. George will no doubt be covering things in the FieldEditor's report, but here are some things you might wish to put in the Xenornis.
January 30 - Three Snowy Cotingas and one Lovely Cotinga (and two Keel Billed Toucans!) were all seen sitting on the top of a single large tree at about 5.00 pm from the lookout at Km 28 of the new Punta Peña-Almirante road. The tree was in swampy coastal forest, close to an area cleared for cattle pasture. The whole length of the road is now open, with no restrictions at weekends. During the week, however, the middle part is closed for most of the day. There is a fair amount of forest, especially along the first half of the road, but it is not easy to stop and pull off due to steep drop-offs. We saw timber being extracted, almost certainly without ANAM permits, at several points.
February 1 - A small group (5 to 6 individuals) of Ashy-Throated Bush-Tanagers was seen on the new ANAM trail which goes off of the Oleoducto Road into the Palo Seco Forest Reserve starting about one Km down from the Continental Divide on the Atlantic slope (Bocas del Toro Province). They appeared to be leading a small - and very quiet - mixed flock which included no Common Bush-Tanagers. They were feeding from mid levels up into the canopy. Also, on the same trail, a White-Crowned Manakin (first record for Bocas?).
Feb 2 - An adult male Prairie Warbler was closely observed for some 5 minutes near to the summit of the Quebrada Alemán Trail in Fortuna, Chiriquí Province. All the field marks were clearly seen. The forest at this point is elfin and light in nature, with some small clearings. According to the books, the Prairie Warbler prefers light forest and forest borders.
January 30 - Three Snowy Cotingas and one Lovely Cotinga (and two Keel Billed Toucans!) were all seen sitting on the top of a single large tree at about 5.00 pm from the lookout at Km 28 of the new Punta Peña-Almirante road. The tree was in swampy coastal forest, close to an area cleared for cattle pasture. The whole length of the road is now open, with no restrictions at weekends. During the week, however, the middle part is closed for most of the day. There is a fair amount of forest, especially along the first half of the road, but it is not easy to stop and pull off due to steep drop-offs. We saw timber being extracted, almost certainly without ANAM permits, at several points.
February 1 - A small group (5 to 6 individuals) of Ashy-Throated Bush-Tanagers was seen on the new ANAM trail which goes off of the Oleoducto Road into the Palo Seco Forest Reserve starting about one Km down from the Continental Divide on the Atlantic slope (Bocas del Toro Province). They appeared to be leading a small - and very quiet - mixed flock which included no Common Bush-Tanagers. They were feeding from mid levels up into the canopy. Also, on the same trail, a White-Crowned Manakin (first record for Bocas?).
Feb 2 - An adult male Prairie Warbler was closely observed for some 5 minutes near to the summit of the Quebrada Alemán Trail in Fortuna, Chiriquí Province. All the field marks were clearly seen. The forest at this point is elfin and light in nature, with some small clearings. According to the books, the Prairie Warbler prefers light forest and forest borders.