Xenornis

A light phase adult Swainson's Hawk was seen soaring over the parking lot of the PCC training center at Balboa. September is way too early for this migrant to arrive to Panama, and this is the first sighting of any migratory raptor for this season that I'm aware of.

A single Vaux's Swift was seen in a flock of Short-taileds by the PAS birdwatching course at Summit Ponds. Also seen at the same place were a pair of Blue Cotingas, and (to my knowledge) the first Red-eyed Vireo of the season.

On their drive up Cerro Campana, María Allen and Wally and Sandy Murdoch encountered a pair of Blue Seedeaters right by the road.

Loyda Sánchez et al report a Hook-billed Kite on one of the Madden Road trails, Soberania National Park. On one of the Madden Road trails, Soberania National Park (close to tower #12), a male Hook-billed Kite was seen through a Leica APO Televid scope (Eyepiece B 20x to 60x) on Sunday, August 2, 1998 by Judith Anguizola, Carmen Martino, Jose Tejada and Loyda Sanchez. The bird was first inside the forest, it was disturbed by our presence and when we approached went flying just below canopy. It then perched on a horizontal branch. It was observed for about 15 minutes, distance was about 50 meters. Its upperparts were slaty gray, plain gray below (no barring observed), we were all able to see its small yellowish spot in front of whitish eye.

Loyda Sánchez and José Tejada visited Costa del Este, where they found Gray Gulls, Elegant and Caspian Terns, and a few Royal Terns.

Easily a hundred, and possibly more, Gray Gulls were seen at Costa del Este on high tide. We also saw many Elegant Terns and one Caspian Tern . Last week's rains have flooded Costa del Este, creating two different ponds that were full of seabirds during high tide on Saturday and Sunday. They were mostly cormorants, but also Lughing and large groups of Franklin's Gulls, not to mention the Gray Gulls: about 25 were counted on Saturday, and at least a hundred were present on Sunday. Also, a small flock of Surfbirds in full breeding plumage, small flocks of Elegant Terns, a few Common Terns and one Caspian among the commoner Gull-billed and Sandwich's Terns. The ponds were noticeably smaller on Sunday, so it would be wise to check them ASAP, unless it keeps on raining. Expect an article about the Gray Gull Saga on the next Toucan

Karl and Rosbel Kaufmann, with Neil Smith, counted up to 24 Gray Gulls in a pool of rainwater at Costa del Este. Also seen were large numbers of Franklin's Gulls feeding on mosquito larvae.

Bill Adsett, Maria Allen, and Norma and Tatiana Ponce found a male Xenornis and a Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo on Vistamares Trail, Cerro Jefe.

Yet another Gray Gull was seen, this time at Costa del Este. Also present was a flock of Surfbirds , some in breeding plumage.

Four Gray Gulls were observed a few hours before high tide on avenida Balboa, right across from Galerías Balboa. In the same small flock were a pair of Elegant Terns , a Ring-billed Gull , and a few Franklin's Gulls .

Over the weekend, Bill Adsett, Rafael Cortez and Jan Cubilla visited Fortuna and nearby Chiriquí Grande. They had some very interesting sightings, such as Lattice-tailed Trogon , Strong-billed Woodcreeper , Rufous-rumped Antwren , at least 9 or 10 Rufous-breasted Antthrush on the Continental Divide Trail, of which 3 seen well; Black-and-white Becard , a female Bare-necked Umbrellabird observed for 15 minutes on the trail behind IRHE station; Black-thighed Grosbeak , and Sooty-faced Finch . They even saw a puma crossing the road at night about 100 yds from the vivero.

Loyda Sánchez, Carmen Martino and Mike and Karen McGinty encountered a Fasciated Tiger-Heron foraging on the banks of the Río Indio at Cerro Azul.