Xenornis

Mariló Castro had been monitoring daily for months an active Spot-crowned Barbet nest in a hole in a dead trunk behind CEASPA's El Tucán Community Center at Achiote, Colón. On June 9 she and I (visiting for the day) were alarmed to find that the nest had been ripped open all the way down one side during the night or extremely early in the morning, and the adult and young birds were nowhere to be found. It was feared a predator had taken them. But then a barbet was heard vocalising nearby and we were relieved to find both parents and two fledglings safe and sound in a fruiting tree. One fledgling was in male plumage, the other in female plumage (is this unusual?). The male parent was feeding the female fledgling (and vocalising) and the female parent was feeding the male fledgling. Despite having left the nest for the first time only a few hours previously, both young birds were jumping from branch to branch and flying strongly and proficiently. The young male had been seen befor...

Barry Zimmer sends in the highlights of three Panama tours led on October and November. Blue-footed Booby - 100+ off Costa del Este (east of Panama City) October 19 feeding very close to shore; more impressive was more than a thousand along the beaches (and covering an offshore island) off Santa Clara and near Juan Hombrón November 12 Swallow-tailed Kite - two from the Canopy Tower October 18 seemed very late. I have not seen them here in October before. Sharp-shinned Hawk - one at the Canopy Lodge in El Valle November 8 was the first I have seen in that area of Panama Collared Plover - pair at Panama Viejo October 23; only my second for Panama Long-billed Curlew - one found and photographed at Panama Viejo October 23; this is the third or fourth time I have seen one at this location in the last ten years (maybe the same bird coming back to winter each time?); attached photo Black-billed Cuckoo - one seen on La Mesa above El Valle October 25; only my second in Panama Touit speci...

Bill Porteous found a pair of Spot-crowned Barbets in a mixed flock in the pines round the old park buildings at Cerro Campana,foraging at middle levels. The birds were nominate maculicoronatus with yellow flank patches. The male, identified by his yellow chest band, was seen singing a rapid "poop-poop-poop-poop" song not mentioned in the literature.

Rosabel and Karl Kaufmann, Dodge and Lorna Engleman and Bill and Esther Adsett met on Altos de Cerro Azul for some midday birdwatching. Species seen included Barred Hawk, Scarlet-thighed Dacnis, Violet-capped Hummingbird, Spot-crowned Barbet and a pair of Blue-fronted Parrotlets that might have been looking for a nest site.