More Regional Records in August
Thanks to some serious late-season computer problems I'm quite a bit behind on adding reports to this page, so I'll do my best to give the Reader's Digest version of some outstanding sightings for the balance of August.
From the Canal area, perhaps the best report comes from Karen Rubenstein of New York City, who with a group led by Alexis Sanchez, enjoyed a Semiplumbeous Hawk consuming a lizard deep on Pipeline Road on August 15th. This deep-forest raptor may be somewhat overlooked due to its secretive habits, but it is certainly only present in Panama in very small numbers, and any sighting is quite serendipitous. On 8/23 José Perez, Alexis Sanchez, and I enjoyed great looks at a pair of Olivaceous Woodcreepers from the observation deck at the Canopy Tower. Working solo on Semaphore Hill I heard this same species on 8/25 and saw and heard a pair on 8/29. Olivaceous Woodcreeper is seldom-seen in the Canal area, but it seems that a pair may have, at least temporarily, taken up residence on Semaphore Hill. On the Caribbean side of the Canal, on Achiote Road, a large flock of White-headed Wrens was watched at length by a large group of birders (including myself); Alexis Sanchez estimated that at least a dozen of this scarce species were present. I believe I managed to collect some audio of the wrens, a vocalization I have not been able to find through any public resource, so I'll share that recording in this forum as soon as possible. East of the Canal, a single Green Ibis was observed at Tocumen Marsh on 8/24 by me and a large group led by Alexis Sanchez. The bird was keeping company with a Glossy Ibis, offering a great opportunity to compare the structure and plumage of the very similar species. Green Ibis is seldom reported from Pacific central Panama, but may be overlooked in larger flocks of the relatively-common Glossy Ibis.
To the west, a handful of excellent sightings were collected in the grasslands and rice fields of southern Coclé Province. A pair of Pearl Kites were vocalizing at El
Chirú on 8/27; this species is fairly common in the area, but colonized the region within only the last decade or two. Pearl Kite seems to be one of the handful of species that have
actually benefitted from humans' large-scale conversion of habitat to agricultural use. The same might be said of Aplomado Falcon, which was seen nearby on the same date, although the latter species is expanding
its range from the west rather than the east as is the case with Pearl Kite. Another good raptor for the day was a Mangrove Black-Hawk obligingly perched just outside our van along the beach at Juan Hombrón; this species'
range is patchy and poorly-understood in Panama. On 8/27 a pair of endemic Veraguan Mangos were also found at El Chirú, although Armodio Rodriguez and I were unable to get the group
onto the fast-moving birds. The mango has only been noted as far east as El Chirú for less than a year now, and the guides at the Canopy Lodge should be credited for their mastery of the identification
criteria that separate this species from the more widespread Black-throated Mango, not always an easy call in the field.
The most exciting finds of the day on 8/27 came at a large heron rookery on private property at Juan Hombrón. Tino Sanchez discovered this site earlier in the season, and the managers of a local rice farm have been very gracious in allowing access
to this splendid roadside rookery. On the 27th the aforementioned group found a pair of roosting Boat-billed Herons (a preening bird pictured at right). This unique species is found with some regularity in the Canal area and (especially) at Tocumen Marsh, but I believe
this image represents the first documented record for Pacific Coclé Province. Also interesting was an adult White Ibis feeding a dark and downy nestling; this species is a fairly common resident
of coastal Panama, but I do not believe it was previously known to breed in the central lowlands.
From the El Valle area: on 8/26 Armodio and I enjoyed scope views of a Gray-headed Kite at La Mesa; this raptor is distinctly uncommon in the central foothills, as evidenced by the fact that the kite was a life bird for Armodio, a full-time guide for the Canopy Lodge.
A Wedge-billed Woodcreeper found nearby on the same date was also unusual for the region, the reasons for which are uncertain, as the species is relatively easy to find at similar elevations to the west and east of El Valle.
Also on the 26th, Armodio and I heard a somewhat distant but distinct vocalizing Black-crowned Antpitta, also in La Mesa; this striking bird has only recently been seen in the area, and quite infrequently at that.
The most exciting finds in the area came on the morning of the 28th, when Armodio and I found a pair of Rufous Pihas
near the start of the road to Rio Indio (a meager still from video is presented at left). Armodio says he has only seen this species previously at Altos del Maria (most of which is on the Caribbean slope), and our
sighting, to the best of my knowledge, represents the first for Pacific central Panama (La Mesa is, just barely, on the Pacific side of the Continental Divide).
The birds were observed at close range and at length, and Danilo Rodríguez was able to relocate the birds later that morning. Another fine sighting on the 28th, which on any other day would have been the clear highlight, was that
of an Emerald Tanager, close to the area where the Pihas were found. I spotted the bird first, but it slipped away
before the rest of my group could find it; Armodio was able to relocate it an hour or so later, and eventually everybody got at least brief looks.
This stunning bird is little-known from this region of Panama, and I am only aware of two or three other sightings from La Mesa. The species breeds in El Copé to the west and Cerro Azul to the east, and the rare sightings in El Valle probably indicate
movement between these two disjunct populations.
