Xenornis

Karl Kaufmann sent in the following report: Yesterday morning I saw a Java Sparrow in a fruiting tree behind our house at Albrook. Then it flew off. Here is a photo. It sucks, but it was early in the morning and I didn't have my glasses on to set up the camera properly and now Rosabel is mad at me for not waking her up to see it. I told her it doesn't count as a real bird anyway. I saw it a few minutes later sitting on a fence while walking the dog. The dog was unimpressed. Java Sparrows are widely available on pet shops throughout Panama City, so we feel this bird can be safely written off as an escapee. Move on, move on, there's nothing to see here.

Rosabel and Karl Kaufmann stopped by the lake in Albrook and found a Snail Kite enjoying, of course, a snail. This is the first recent record from the Pacific side of the Canal Area, the previous one being the original sighting from Chivo Chivo Ponds. Also present was a clearly overworked Black-bellied Whistling-Duck single parent, escorting a raft of thirty-two obedient ducklings.