Slender-billed Kite and more in Darién, a report by Guido Berguido
A rather short but successful birding extension trip into El Real and Rancho Frio, in the Darien National Park by Advantage Tour's Guido Berguido, revealed a couple of interesting sightings.
Clearings near the ranger station proved productive and the following were recorded: Double-banded Graytails, both male and female Purple Honeycreepers, Yellow-backed Tanager, and Scarlet-browed Tanagers, and Great Green, Red-and-green and Chestnut-fronted Macaws. Also, both Western Syristes and White-ringed Flycatchers were plentiful.
On March 9, a strategic stop along the Pan-American highway, in the vicinity of the Tierra Nueva property, produced Yellow-breasted Flycatcher. Also noteworthy was a pair of copulating Plumbeous kites way up in a Cuipo tree. Along the Chucunaque river en route to El Real, Black Oropendolas were seen. Late afternoon birding at El Real showcased a small flock of Blue Grosbeaks, as well as a couple of thousand migrating Turkey Vultures with both Broad-winged and Swainson's Hawks. They settled down in the trees near the airstrip for the night.
On March 10, near the Rancho Frio ranger station a Harpy Eagle nest contained a healthy-looking eaglet.
Exploring the trails near the Rancho Frio Ranger station inside the Darien National Park, produced goodies such as Stripe-throated Wren, Lemon-spectacled Tanagers, both Plumbeous and Ruddy pigeons, a pair of Crimson-bellied Woodpeckers, as well as the main target for the trip an adult female Crested Eagle.
Exploring the trails near the Rancho Frio Ranger station inside the Darien National Park, produced goodies such as Stripe-throated Wren, Lemon-spectacled Tanagers, both Plumbeous and Ruddy pigeons, a pair of Crimson-bellied Woodpeckers, as well as the main target for the trip an adult female Crested Eagle.
Clearings near the ranger station proved productive and the following were recorded: Double-banded Graytails, both male and female Purple Honeycreepers, Yellow-backed Tanager, and Scarlet-browed Tanagers, and Great Green, Red-and-green and Chestnut-fronted Macaws. Also, both Western Syristes and White-ringed Flycatchers were plentiful.
Departing the Rancho Frio ranger station, walking along the Peresenico River, a couple of hundred meters away from the ranger station, I heard something walking parallel to us along the trail about 6 meters away. At fist glance I just noticed a large gray furry creature, and thought we had a White-lipped Peccary like we've seen in Cana before. But when I looked trough my binoculars, I realized it was a mammal I had never seen before in the wild: Myrmecophaga tridactyla, the extremely rare "Oso Caballo" or Giant Anteater! Around the corner we were able to watch it again as it crossed the river in front of us. What a sight!
Later along the same trail, While searching for a vocalizing Plumbeous Hawk in the middle canopy above us, we stumbled upon a dark raptor. We originally thought to be our Plumbeous Hawk. Fist glances with Swarosvski 10x42 binoculars showed the "hook" on the bird´s bill. Upon more closely examination with a compact 60mm Kowa scope revealed the light-colored eyes, this in addition to the bulky appearence made me realize we were looking at a SLENDER-BILLED KITE.
I immediately advised the birding group that we were looking at a LIFER for me! At the moment I didn't realize how special this sighting was, but still asked our local guide Isaac Pizarro to take some digiscoped photos using Julie Trott's small point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot camera. The photos are not that great but they are diagnostic.
Later along the same trail, While searching for a vocalizing Plumbeous Hawk in the middle canopy above us, we stumbled upon a dark raptor. We originally thought to be our Plumbeous Hawk. Fist glances with Swarosvski 10x42 binoculars showed the "hook" on the bird´s bill. Upon more closely examination with a compact 60mm Kowa scope revealed the light-colored eyes, this in addition to the bulky appearence made me realize we were looking at a SLENDER-BILLED KITE.
I immediately advised the birding group that we were looking at a LIFER for me! At the moment I didn't realize how special this sighting was, but still asked our local guide Isaac Pizarro to take some digiscoped photos using Julie Trott's small point-and-shoot Canon PowerShot camera. The photos are not that great but they are diagnostic.
On the way back, a brief visit at the San Francisco Reserve, near Torti produced more Blue Cotingas, a pair of Barred Puffbird, Spot-crowned Barbets (Darien race), both Sooty-headed Tyrannulet and the
endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet which was missed at Metropolitan Park earlier in the birding trip.
Also recorded were Dusky-faced and Sulphur-rumped tanagers, Thrush-like Schiffornis, both Golden-headed and Red-capped manakins together, Rufous Mourner and Rufous Piha, as well as Rufous-breasted hermit, Sapphire-throated and Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, and Blue-throated Goldentail.
endemic Yellow-green Tyrannulet which was missed at Metropolitan Park earlier in the birding trip.
Also recorded were Dusky-faced and Sulphur-rumped tanagers, Thrush-like Schiffornis, both Golden-headed and Red-capped manakins together, Rufous Mourner and Rufous Piha, as well as Rufous-breasted hermit, Sapphire-throated and Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, and Blue-throated Goldentail.