Xenornis

MacGillivray's Warbler and Ruby-throated Hummingbird seen at Raton Comunity (Comarca Gnabe) on January 18. I saw two other MacGillivray's at Volcan Lakes and Hotel Dos Rios on February 10 and 11. Bonaparte's Gull seen at Panama Viejo on February 10 and April 7 at Panama Viejo Mudflats. A big group of Violet-green Swallows (over 50) were seen at Volcan Lakes on February 10. They were flying really low close to the water, field marks were really evident with its unique rump and face pattern. Some individual were seen through the scopes. Melodious Blackbirds are around Hotel Dos Rios (Volcán) where two were seen on February 11. Crimson-bellied Woodpecker showed up around the ground of Sierra Llorona Lodge on April 6. I think this is the second report of this rare woodpecker close to The Panama Canal, the first report is from Pipeline Road. Next day was even better around the hotel grounds at Sierra Llorona, with a Crested Eagle perched on the top of a tree for more ...

The Bonaparte's Gull that's been making the rounds at Costa del Este and Panamá Viejo  since late November is still around. Rosabel and Karl Kaufmann found it yesterday at 5 pm, conveniently standing at the edge of the flock of Laughing Gulls, and right in front of the mirador at Panamá Viejo.

The Bonaparte's Gull seen at Costa del Este last month is still around. Itzel Fong Gadea found it at Panamá Viejo on Saturday, December 28 , and got some great photos, including some of the upper wing that show the dark M-shaped pattern of a 1st winter bird. The gull was found again by Itzel on the morning of Sunday the 29th, who again took some great photos... ...and was seen later by Osvaldo Quintero, Rafael Luck and Jan Axel Cubilla, who also took some great photos. On related gull news, there's also a Lesser Black-backed Gull this season, also at Costa del Este/Panamá Viejo. It was first seen on December 22, the day of the Pacific Christmas Bird Count, by Rosabel Miró. And again by Itzel Fong Gadea on December 29. And there's lots of Franklin's Gulls, too.

Jay Carlisle, Sarah Hamilton, Larry Barnes and Robin Garwood found a first-winter Bonaparte's Gull flying over the Matasnillo River at Paitilla. Here is the information on the Bonaparte's Gull seen in Panama City on Dec. 23: Observers: Jay Carlisle, Sarah Hamilton, Larry Barnes, Robin Garwood Location: at water outflow near intersection of Via Italia and Ave Balboa (Punta Patilla area) All four of us have seen hundreds and/or thousands of Bonaparte's Gulls in the United States in all plumages and are also experienced at differentiating them from other of the "Black-headed gulls" that could potentially occur. We saw the bird at approximately 1400 (2pm) and observed it clearly in good light at a distance of 50-400 feet for about ten minutes (it was still present when we left for the airport). It was flying up and down stream on the south side of Balboa Ave among numerous laughing gulls. It was in first-winter plumage and we clearly observed the black bill, fleshy le...