Xenornis

On the 7th of October, walking around Tranquilo Bay ecoadventure lodge, located on the south peninsula of the Bastimentos Island we observed a male  Blue-thoated Goldentail  perched and then fighting a Green-breasted Mango. Fortunately one of the guests, Christopher Ng, had a camera, and got some good pictures for identification.  The following day, in birding excursion to the Snyder canal, at the San San Pond Sak wetland, we observed a Black-collared Hawk. It was not afraid at all with our presence, and gave several opportunities to photograph it.  Also seen was an immature Bare-throated Tiger-Heron . In the same area were several hundreds small dead fishes, all of them where the same species and in a high grade of decomposition.

And speaking of spoonbills, Howard Laidlaw and Margot Ramos found a bunch in Aguadulce on September 21. But birds of the day were 2 American Avocets  on the last ponds on the west side of the road before reaching the beach. Also present  amongst the multitude of shorebirds were 6 Wilson’s Phalaropes.

Mario Ocaña found two Roseate Spoonbills in Panamá Viejo on September 9.

On September 5, while birding with Diego Postigo and his 6 year old son Carlos, I saw an Empidonax with relatively long bill, whitish lores, pale yellow belly and a totally white throat and upper chest. Bird was moving constanly. Did not heard it call. I send this pictures to Ito (Genover) Santamaria and he agrees that the bird is a White-throated Flycatcher . The bird was spoted near the 2nd balcony on the walkway from the Yacht Club to Biomuseo.

As a follow-up to Darién's "Xenornis" report of Streaked Xenops possibly nesting at the río Mono bridge in February, we had good looks at one at the same place on August 19. Despite difficult light, we got some photos that show well the colour and streaking on the lower parts, but not so well those on the upper parts. However, it appears that the streaking on the upper parts is pretty much confined to the neck and shoulders, and does not continue down the upper back as in some races. Dave might be able to elaborate more on that. Are we assuming that these birds are the incomptus race described by Wetmore from Cerro Pirre? I cannot find an illustration of that race anywhere, but the description fits pretty well. In Restall's Birds of Northern South America there is an illustrtion of hetererus of eastern Colombia which is quite similar to the Bayano bird. [And elaborate he did. Dave Klauber: Thanks for the photos Bill. The streaking on the back goes...

On our way back to the city on August 26 we stopped to scan the ponds at the Malibu development in Nueva Gorgona with Cindy Lieurance and Leslie Lieurance. The pond seen from the fence had about 30 Least Grebes and we found 1 Pied-billed Grebe. The pond at the back of the development is in a much more natural state and had a number of other species. Most notable - there was a Capped Heron on the far shore and a non-breeding adult Black Tern. We also saw a single American Kestrel and 2 Whistling Heron in the field area. Leslie Lieurance shared this video of the sighting.

Joris Deruwe and I found at least 2 Least Bitterns at Ammo Dump on Sunday, August 23. The birds were constantly flying back and forth between the shoreline and the tall vegetation on the floating island. On Sunday, the wind had blown the island to the northeast corner of the pond, near the Ammo depot entrance gate, so it was pretty far away. Quality is not optimal due to the distance, but I would say this is the resident race. 

El sábado 22 de agosto encontramos tres ejemplares de Bare-necked Umbrellabird  [incluyedo este macho adulto] mientras pajareábamos en El Copé. Los pájaros respondieron al play back en pocos minutos. Inicialmente los observamos a escasos metros del inicio del sendero de la Rana Dorada como a las 7:30am, un par de horas más tarde los vimos nuevamente en el mismo sendero y a las 3:00 pm los volvimos a encontrar en la salida. Además vimos Dull-mantled Antbird , Orange-bellied Trogon , Yellow-eared Toucanet , Russet Antshrike , Northern Schiffornis y 30 especies más. El guía fue Ariel Aguirre y nos acompañaron Glen y Janet Lee, y Craig Bennet.

Domiciano Alveo shared these photos (taken by Theresa Bayoud) of a Gray-capped Cuckoo seen at Aruza Arriba, Darién on August 6 and again on August 12.

I decided to follow up on your Umbrellabird sighting and visited El Copé this morning. At the exact spot mentioned in your report (the intersections of the Cuerpo de Paz and Auxiliary Trails with the Las Ranas trail, I played the tape and immediately not one, not two but three Umbrellabirds flew in. Some pictures attached, they appear to be one adult and two younger males. Other good birds this morning were Crested Guan and Snowcap .  I also saw several Smoky-brown Woodpeckers . I have been seeing these woodpeckers in El Copé for 12 years, even though Coclé is not mentioned in the range description of that species in Angehr nor Ridgley I believe.

Camilo and Darién Montañez and César Trejos found a female Bare-necked Umbrellabird at El Copé on the morning of Sunday, August 2. The bird perched quietly on a low branch near the intersection of Las Ranas Trail and the Sendero Auxiliar.

Mario Ocaña sent us these photos of a  Peruvian Booby  seen at Peñón de San José on July 19 and of an  American White Pelican at Panamá Viejo on July 22.