Xenornis

Paul Coopmans sent a short report of a new species for Panama's list: Choco Toucan Ramphastos brevis . One individual was seen and heard on Cana on March 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30. Its calls were recorded on the 24th. Apparently it had been seen previously in late December, 1999 by Hernán Araúz.

From 27th to 31st March Bill Porteous was in Chiriqui and sends the following report: On 27th March there was a lot of activity on the new trail at El Respingo above Cerro Punta, and a pair of Silvery-throated Jays joined a pair of Emerald Toucanets in the same tree, where they were later joined, briefly, by a pair of Black Guans! On the 28th there at least two Masked Ducks, both female-plumaged birds, at Volcan Lakes. In the evening, in the clearing above the first forest patch above Cerro Punta, Dusky Nightjar sang, and then reacted to tape playback by landing on a post in full view where it continued singing. On the old Oleoducto Road in Palo Seco on the 30th there was White-bellied Mountain-Gem at the top, and Lattice-tailed Trogon further down, where the pipeline crosses a small valley. Rufous-breasted Antthrushes were singing on both sides of the road, and a good view was had of one of them. They were singing as well on the Continental Divide Trail, where I was surprised by the n

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.

The PAS fieldtrip to Summit Ponds had lots of interesting sightings. A large flock of migrating Swainson's Hawks included one dark-phase individual. A single Philadelphia Vireo was also seen feeding on an Indio Desnudo Tree. The highligt was the return of the Capped Herons: two were seen on the far shore of the pond on the right. The Boat-billed Herons were also there.

Rosabel and Karl Kaufmann spent the afternoon shorebirding at Panamá Viejo. The mudflats between the IPAT building and the old stables had a big flock of shorebirds, and a few gulls and terns. The highlight was a Dunlin, picked out from the nearby Western Sandpipers by its larger size and differently shaped bill. The same mudflat also had a Long-billed Curlew, possibly the same bird seen there on the Christmas Bird Count. There were plenty of Whimbrels nearby for direct comparison, so picking it out was especially easy. There were large numbers of sandpipers, plovers and dowitchers, and a large flock of Surfbirds had a Red Knot molting into breeding plumage. The gulls were mostly Laughing Gulls, but there was one Ring-billed and one Herring Gull.