Chiriquí and Bocas Bonanza, a report by Euclides Campos Cedeño
During the first weeks of January, I spent a few days birding in the Chiriquí highlands and foothills of Bocas del Toro with some friends, looking for some of the Talamanca range endemics. On January 5th a male Masked Duck and a Masked Yellowthroat were seen at Volcán Lakes. The next day we had a White-fronted (Rough-legged) Tyrannulet on the way to the ANAM headquaters at Respingo, where we saw a Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl close to the main building.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5d2Nihk0BImHSdgz9nhWWy4GZKyu-EXjUamuJAFenRYI0ZJprvcjz_ZNoAss261SRN51rlkENRLM0o-JYITFr9kvf7-GKaBTYYq5hIutkbrC1P_Cep1TCZZz3m7TYQW265Q9l-rKQ-YQ/s400/White+throated+flycatcher.JPG)
On January 7th a single White-throated Flycatcher (juvenile) and two Bran-colored Flycatchers at Volcán Lakes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ho8gQppKOATZv67gPxXSQlpbJDzsPrmQsMu5KNCOGZxp6EY7CYUTDtJi2nR6WB8ehxrm62aEea-pixvN3fDwLZq09hrE2ys5EEhP61MuoGI-9XBKdDeUnuVWJYh-7Uro6djfKeo0O6U/s400/umbrella+bird.JPG)
The following day we moved to Rancho Ecológico Willy Mazu. The birding was superb around the area yielding White-crowned Manakin on 8th; Lanceolated Monklet, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, Dull-mantled Antbird, plenty of Yellow-throated Bush-Tanagers, a Black-headed Antthrush (heard only) and a good bonanza for the day: a male Bare-necked Umbrellabird on the 9th.
On 10th at the Verrugosa trail, Ochre-breasted Antpitta almost at the entrance of the trail and again a great view of a Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, a female White-crowned Manakin, male Snowcap, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet and Brown-billed Scythebill.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShDk3pQsVEqw-srn8n15n-UKe5BK5cjyxpXfdQXmhivJRXuw63z1cpUkX0ibvuj_TjeG6SXkW5swH1PPKD78lAq2fbhIJBWSa8TIwzLh3xi6sUAUjA7i6r_ekUg2n_ez7i_O_xmF8HEY/s400/Mangrove+cuckoo.JPG)
This Mangrove Cuckoo was seen on the 12th at Las Lajas Beach. On Cerro Santiago on the 13th we had Yellow-green Finches, but no Glow-throated Hummingbird; we did see a male Magenta-throated Woodstar, though. The last day in the area, January 14th, we decided to visit the grounds of Cerro Batipa where we found about three male and one female Yellow-billed Cotingas. Also seen was Rose-throated Becard and a Blue-throated Goldentail.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BvzhHXJ0YLnweWSbvYZYnHxNbnG1SAQjcF80u_OSIq89OeEImwPVeju_duGVU8OmREMtNUkoLxhjp7xhPiXsfcjkqcUvVsrJ4pYqrj-L3nyr6-UThxD2IQRfrF862bRkKbI3V6glP1c/s400/Yellow+billed+cotinga.JPG)
On January 7th a single White-throated Flycatcher (juvenile) and two Bran-colored Flycatchers at Volcán Lakes.
The following day we moved to Rancho Ecológico Willy Mazu. The birding was superb around the area yielding White-crowned Manakin on 8th; Lanceolated Monklet, Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, Dull-mantled Antbird, plenty of Yellow-throated Bush-Tanagers, a Black-headed Antthrush (heard only) and a good bonanza for the day: a male Bare-necked Umbrellabird on the 9th.
On 10th at the Verrugosa trail, Ochre-breasted Antpitta almost at the entrance of the trail and again a great view of a Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager, Purplish-backed Quail-Dove, a female White-crowned Manakin, male Snowcap, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet and Brown-billed Scythebill.
This Mangrove Cuckoo was seen on the 12th at Las Lajas Beach. On Cerro Santiago on the 13th we had Yellow-green Finches, but no Glow-throated Hummingbird; we did see a male Magenta-throated Woodstar, though. The last day in the area, January 14th, we decided to visit the grounds of Cerro Batipa where we found about three male and one female Yellow-billed Cotingas. Also seen was Rose-throated Becard and a Blue-throated Goldentail.