Mixed bag, from Barry Zimmer
Barry Zimmer sends in the highlights of three Panama tours led on October and November.
Blue-footed Booby - 100+ off Costa del Este (east of Panama City) October 19 feeding very close to shore; more impressive was more than a thousand along the beaches (and covering an offshore island) off Santa Clara and near Juan Hombrón November 12
Swallow-tailed Kite - two from the Canopy Tower October 18 seemed very late. I have not seen them here in October before.
Sharp-shinned Hawk - one at the Canopy Lodge in El Valle November 8 was the first I have seen in that area of Panama
Collared Plover - pair at Panama Viejo October 23; only my second for Panama
Long-billed Curlew - one found and photographed at Panama Viejo October 23; this is the third or fourth time I have seen one at this location in the last ten years (maybe the same bird coming back to winter each time?); attached photo
Black-billed Cuckoo - one seen on La Mesa above El Valle October 25; only my second in Panama
Touit species - a group of four Touit parrotlets came low right overhead on Los Altos del María on October 26. From the view I had I could not distinguish which species as I was either looking straight up or at the flock going away so I could not see the head clearly, However my co-leader Danilo Rodriguez says that only Blue-fronted has ever been documented in this region of Panama, so I am assuming that is what they were.
Spot-crowned Barbet - three just above the Canopy Lodge on November 8 were my first for that location; also had a pair at Cerro Azul October 19 and another pair at Achiote on October 21 (more expected locales).
Rufous-browed Tyrannulet - one on Altos del María November 11.
Rose-throated Becard - one female found and photographed just outside of El Valle on the Las Mozas trail November 10. I am guessing this is a fairly significant record as Danilo had never seen them there before and Ridgely indicates only records for the Chiriquí region. Even given that the species has expanded in Chiriquí I would think this could be a southernmost (easternmost?) record.
House Sparrow - we had a pair in Panama City on October 23 which were my first for that city. I had previously only seen them around Colon, but perhaps they have now spread into Panama City with regularity.
Blue-footed Booby - 100+ off Costa del Este (east of Panama City) October 19 feeding very close to shore; more impressive was more than a thousand along the beaches (and covering an offshore island) off Santa Clara and near Juan Hombrón November 12
Swallow-tailed Kite - two from the Canopy Tower October 18 seemed very late. I have not seen them here in October before.
Sharp-shinned Hawk - one at the Canopy Lodge in El Valle November 8 was the first I have seen in that area of Panama
Collared Plover - pair at Panama Viejo October 23; only my second for Panama
Long-billed Curlew - one found and photographed at Panama Viejo October 23; this is the third or fourth time I have seen one at this location in the last ten years (maybe the same bird coming back to winter each time?); attached photo
Black-billed Cuckoo - one seen on La Mesa above El Valle October 25; only my second in Panama
Touit species - a group of four Touit parrotlets came low right overhead on Los Altos del María on October 26. From the view I had I could not distinguish which species as I was either looking straight up or at the flock going away so I could not see the head clearly, However my co-leader Danilo Rodriguez says that only Blue-fronted has ever been documented in this region of Panama, so I am assuming that is what they were.
Spot-crowned Barbet - three just above the Canopy Lodge on November 8 were my first for that location; also had a pair at Cerro Azul October 19 and another pair at Achiote on October 21 (more expected locales).
Rufous-browed Tyrannulet - one on Altos del María November 11.
Rose-throated Becard - one female found and photographed just outside of El Valle on the Las Mozas trail November 10. I am guessing this is a fairly significant record as Danilo had never seen them there before and Ridgely indicates only records for the Chiriquí region. Even given that the species has expanded in Chiriquí I would think this could be a southernmost (easternmost?) record.
House Sparrow - we had a pair in Panama City on October 23 which were my first for that city. I had previously only seen them around Colon, but perhaps they have now spread into Panama City with regularity.