Mixed Bag, from Ken Allaire
I wanted to send in a report for Xenornis of some of the more significant sightings during my visit for the last half of October.
On October 17th, Danilo Rodriguez and I heard (only) a pair of Stripe-cheeked Woodpeckers on the Caribbean slope of Las Minas Trail, near El Valle (good audio was captured). These birds have now been present in the area for at least 5 months, and we are on the alert for signs of breeding. Other good finds at Las Minas were a calling Black-headed Antthrush, large numbers of Black-and-yellow Tanagers, a Spot-crowned Barbet, a pair of amorous Ornate Hawk-Eagles, a point-blank Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, and a flock of at least 10 Yellow-eared Toucanets. A field trip to the western limits of Altos del Maria on 10/19 (also with Danilo) yielded Black-crowned Antpitta, Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Barbtail, White-tailed Emerald, Snowcap, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, and Purplish-backed Quail-Dove. On 10/22 I took a trip with Danilo, Eliacer and Rodrick Rodriguez to Bocas de Lura, in northern Coclé Province, northeast of Penonomé. Danilo and I traded life birds- I called in a pair of Jet Antbirds (according to Ridgely, not known from west of Río Indio), and Danilo found a roosting Crested Owl. A female Rufous-crested Coquette seen quite well near Bocas del Tucue was also noteworthy. On 10/23 I found (and filmed) a Barred Forest-Falcon in the town of El Valle- this forest bird was most unexpected in this very suburban locale. On 10/25, en route to the airport for my flight to NYC, I was (un)fortunate enough to spot a European Starling in the neighborhood of Panama City that my driver called "Santana" (I don't know the city well- it was an area near the water with many old, and decrepit, buildings) [perhaps was along Avenida de los Poetas in Barraza? —Ed.]. We were stuck in traffic, and I had my bins at hand, and I have no doubt regarding the specific identification- I can only hope that this sighting, near the mouth of the Canal, represents a lone ship-assisted stray, rather than the vanguard of approaching invasive doom!
On October 17th, Danilo Rodriguez and I heard (only) a pair of Stripe-cheeked Woodpeckers on the Caribbean slope of Las Minas Trail, near El Valle (good audio was captured). These birds have now been present in the area for at least 5 months, and we are on the alert for signs of breeding. Other good finds at Las Minas were a calling Black-headed Antthrush, large numbers of Black-and-yellow Tanagers, a Spot-crowned Barbet, a pair of amorous Ornate Hawk-Eagles, a point-blank Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch, and a flock of at least 10 Yellow-eared Toucanets. A field trip to the western limits of Altos del Maria on 10/19 (also with Danilo) yielded Black-crowned Antpitta, Red-faced Spinetail, Spotted Barbtail, White-tailed Emerald, Snowcap, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, and Purplish-backed Quail-Dove. On 10/22 I took a trip with Danilo, Eliacer and Rodrick Rodriguez to Bocas de Lura, in northern Coclé Province, northeast of Penonomé. Danilo and I traded life birds- I called in a pair of Jet Antbirds (according to Ridgely, not known from west of Río Indio), and Danilo found a roosting Crested Owl. A female Rufous-crested Coquette seen quite well near Bocas del Tucue was also noteworthy. On 10/23 I found (and filmed) a Barred Forest-Falcon in the town of El Valle- this forest bird was most unexpected in this very suburban locale. On 10/25, en route to the airport for my flight to NYC, I was (un)fortunate enough to spot a European Starling in the neighborhood of Panama City that my driver called "Santana" (I don't know the city well- it was an area near the water with many old, and decrepit, buildings) [perhaps was along Avenida de los Poetas in Barraza? —Ed.]. We were stuck in traffic, and I had my bins at hand, and I have no doubt regarding the specific identification- I can only hope that this sighting, near the mouth of the Canal, represents a lone ship-assisted stray, rather than the vanguard of approaching invasive doom!