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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Birds observed in Panama, 24-28 March 2001,

Mark and Cindy Lockwood

Cindy and I had a very enjoyable trip to Panama.  We spent the entire trip in central Panama, mostly within the former Canal Zone.  We stayed at the Canopy Tower for this trip and were very happy with the decision (for more information see www.canopytower.com).  The facilities are first rate as was the staff, I would highly recommend this lodge to anyone.  The Canopy Tower is located with Soberania National Park and is surrounded by quality forest.  The birding along the road down Semaphore Hill and on the Plantation Trail was nothing short of fantastic.  We also visited the Ammo Dump Ponds in Gamboa, Pipeline Road, Summit Ponds and the old Gamboa Road that are within a few minutes drive.  Our longest excursion was to Achiote Road on the Caribbean slope.  The staff of the Canopy Tower included two guides, Carlos and Jose.  These two young men are from Panama City and are well on their way to learning the ecology of these forests.  They both know birds fairly well and are a pleasure to be around. 

24 March ‑ Arrives at the Canopy Tower (www.canopytower.com) late on the 23rd.  Birded from the roof of the tower in the early morning then walked down Semaphore Hill.  Again birded Semaphore Hill in the afternoon as well as a short distance up the Plantation Trail.

25 March ‑ Birded Semaphore Hill and Plantation Trail in the morning and Plantation Trail in the afternoon.

26 March - Birded the Ammo Dump Ponds at Gambo between 6:30 and 7:15 in the morning before visiting Pipeline Road.  Birded south Old Gamboa Road near Summit Garden in the late afternoon (3:30-6:00).

27 March - Birded Achiote Road in the morning and Old Gamboa Road in the late afternoon.

28 March - Traveled to the airport in Panama City seeing a few birds along the way.

AP - Ammo Dump Ponds in Gamboa
AR - Achiote Road
CT - the vicinity of the Canopy Tower proper
GR - Old Gamboa Road south of Summit Ponds
PL - Pipeline Road
PT - Plantation Trail
SH - along the road on Semaphore Hill

Species List

Little Tinamou - one seen very well along the Pipeline Road on the 26th
Neotropic Cormorant - one at the Gatun locks on the Panama Canal on the 27th
Anhinga - one at AP and another at the Summit Ponds on the 26th
Magnificent Frigatebird - four at the Gatun locks on the Panama Canal on the 27th
Rufescent Tiger-Heron - immature birds seen at AP (26th), CT (26th & 27th), and AR (27th)
Great Blue Heron - one at Summit Ponds on the 26th
Great Egret - singles along AR and at Summit Ponds on the 27th
Snowy Egret - singles at AP on the 26th and along AR on the 27th
Little Blue Heron - singles at AP on the 26th and Summit Ponds on the  26th and 27th
Tricolored Heron - one along AR on the 26th
Cattle Egret - common along AR and at AP
Green Heron - one at Summit Ponds on the 26th and 27th
Striated Heron - two at AP on the 27th , one at Summit Pond on the 26th and three there on the 27th
Capped Heron- one at Summit Ponds on the on the 26th
Boat-billed Heron - one seen on the 26th and seven on the 27th at Summit Ponds
Wood Stork - one along AR on the 26th
Turkey Vulture - common at all locations
Black Vulture - common at al locations
Muscovy Duck - two adult at AP on the 26th
Osprey - singles seen from the CT on the 24th and near Summit Pond on the 27th
Swallow-tailed Kite - one is a kettle of Mississippi Kites at the CT on the 24th
White-tailed Kite - one along AR on the 27th
Mississippi Kite - small kettles ranging from 40 to 100 individuals seen at Ct on the 24th and 25th and from GR on the 26th
Roadside Hawk - one along PR on the 26th
Broad-winged Hawk - large kettle (250 individuals) seen from GR on the 26th
Short-tailed Hawk - two at CT on the 24th and singles seen from there on the 25th and 26th
Swainson's Hawk - at least 200 seen from GR on the 26th
Zone-tailed Hawk - one from CT on the 24th
Black Hawk-Eagle - one adult seen from SH on the 24th
Yellow-headed Caracara - two along AR and another along GR on the 27th
Gray-headed Chachalaca - small numbers (2-5 birds) seen along SH and PT on the 24th and 25th, two at AP on the 26th and three at GR on the 27th
White-throated Crake - at least five seen at AP on the 26th and several heard along AR on the 26th
Gray-necked Wood-Rail - one seen very briefly at Summit Ponds on the 26th
Common Moorhen - one at AP on the 26th
Purple Gallinule - three at AP on the 26th
Sunbittern - one along PT on the 25th and one along SH on the 27th
Wattled Jacana - up to 10 at AP on the 26th and one at Summit Ponds on the 26th and 27th
Solitary Sandpiper - one at Summit Ponds on the 26th
Spotted Sandpiper - two on the beach at Pina on the 27th
Rock Dove - small numbers in Colon on the 26th and Panama City on the 28th
Pale-vented Pigeon - small numbers seen in open habitats along AR and GR.
Scaled Pigeon - two seen from CT on the 24th and 25th
Ruddy Ground-Dove - two along AR and at GR on the 27th
White-tipped Dove - three along PT on the 25th, four along PR on the 25th and five along GR on the 26th
Orange-chinned Parakeet - common at CT, SH, PT, PL and AR
Blue-headed Parrot - a flock of seven at AR on the 27th
Red-lored Parrot - less common than Mealy, but a few pairs seen daily
Mealy Parrot - common with several pairs seen daily
Squirrel Cuckoo - up to three per day
Smooth-billed Ani - uncommon in open habitats such as at AP, GR, and AR
Greater Ani - two at Summit Ponds on the 26th and 27th
Spectacled Owl - two on a day roost at AR on the 27th
Great Potoo - one found on a  day roost near the bottom of SH on the 27th
Chimney Swift - uncommon (10-20 per day) from the CT
Short-tailed Swift - uncommon (about 10 per day) from the CT
Band-rumped Swift - common with over 100 per day seen from the CT
Rufous-breasted Hermit - four along AR on the 27th
Long-tailed Hermit - one at CT feeders on the 25th and two along AR on the 27th
Little Hermit - one along PT on the 24th
Scaly-breasted Hummingbird - two along SH and one at the feeders at CT on the 24th
White-necked Jacobin - common with 10+ at the feeders at CT daily
Black-throated Mango - a female seen along AR on the 26th
Violet-bellied Hummingbird - common with 25+ visiting the feeders at CT daily
Blue-chested Hummingbird - uncommon with 5 or so visiting the feeders at CT daily
Snowy-bellied Hummingbird - uncommon with 5 or so visiting the feeders at CT daily
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird - two along AR on the 27th
White-vented Plumeleteer - singles seen in the forest along SH on the 24 and PT on the 25th and one along PL on the 26th
Purple-crowned Fairy - one or two at CT on the 24th, 25th and 26th
White-tailed Trogon - one along AR on the 27th
Violaceous Trogon - two along PR on the 26th and frequently heard along SH on the 24th and 25th
Black-throated Trogon - one along PR on the 26th and frequently heard along SH on the 24th and 25th
Black-tailed Trogon - one male seen very well along PR on the 26th
Slaty-tailed Trogon - common at CT, SH, PT, PL, and AR with up to three seen per day and many others heard daily
Blue-crowned Motmot - one along PT on the 25th and PL on the 26th
Rufous Motmot - one along PT on the 25th
Broad-billed Motmot - four along SH on the 24th and 25th and two along PR on the 26th
Ringed Kingfisher - singles at AP on the 26th and Summit Ponds on the 26th and 27th
Green Kingfisher - one at Summit Ponds on the 26th and 27th
Black-breasted Puffbird - one along AR on the 27th
Pied Puffbird - one along AR on the 27th
White-whiskered Puffbird - two along SH and another on PT on the 25th
Great Jacamar - two on SH on the 25th
Spot-crowned Barbet - two along AR on the 27th
Collared Aracari - two at CT on the 25th, four along GR on the 26th and six along AR on the 27th
Keel-billed Toucan - common at all locations with up to 10 seen and many more heard per day
Chestnut-mandibled Toucan - two at CT on the 25th and 26th, heard less frequently that Keel-billed
Black-cheeked Woodpecker - four along AR on the 27th
Red-crowned Woodpecker - a female at the base of SH on the 24th, a family group of four on GR on the 26th and two others there on the 27th, and six along AR on the 26th
Lineated Woodpecker - a female on SH near CT on the 26th in the same tree as a pair of Crimson-crested Woodpeckers
Crimson-crested Woodpecker - two on SH on the 24th and 26th
Plain Xenops - three on SH and two on PT on the 25th, four along PR and three along GR on the 26th and one along GR on the 27th
Plain-brown Woodcreeper - three with an army ant swarm on PL on the 26th
Northern Barred-Woodcreeper - one with an army ant swarm on PL on the 26th
Cocoa Woodcreeper - one at CT and two on PT on the 25th and two along PR and one on GR on the 26th
Streak-headed Woodcreeper - two along AR on the 27th
Fasciated Antshrike - three along SH on the 25th, a pair on GR on the 26th, and four along AR on the 27th
Western Slaty-Antshrike - two along SH on the 24th, three along SH and two along PT on the 25th, three at CT on the 26th, and one along AR on the 27th
Checker-throated Antwren - two along SH on the 24th, up to 10 along SH and PT on the 25th, and two along AR on the 27th
White-flanked Antwren - one on SH on the 24th and two along SH and two along PT on the 25th
Dot-winged Antwren - five along SH on the 24th, up to 20 along  SH and PT on the 25th, two at PR and two at CT the 26th, and two along AR on the 27th.  Dot-winged Antwren was the most common antbird encountered on this trip.
Dusky Antbird - one on Sh on the 24th, up to six along SH and PT on the 25th, and one along PR and two on GR on the 26th
White-bellied Antbird - one male on PR and a pair along GR on the 26th
Chestnut-backed Antbird - three along SH on the 25th, a pair on GR on the 26th, and four along AR on the 27th
Jet Antbird - a male along GR on the 26th
Spotted Antbird - three along SH on the 25th, a pair on GR on the 26th, and four along AR on the 27th
Bicolored Antbird - approximately 15 with an army ant swarm on PL on the 26th
Ocellated Antbird - a group of four seen at the bottom of SH on the 25th
Black-faced Antthrush - two seen and at least six others heard along PR on the 26th
Paltry Tyrannulet - two along SH on the 25th, three along the PL and two on GR on the 26th
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet - two along AR on the 27th
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet - one along AR on the 27th
Forest Elaenia - aingles along PT on the 24th, AR and GR on the 27th
Yellow-bellied Elaenia - three at AP on the 26th and one along AR on the 27th
Southern Bentbill - two along SH on the 25th and two along PR and another on GR on the 26th
Common Tody-Flycatcher - one along GR on the 26th and two along AR on the 27th
Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher - one at the CT on the 24th and 25th
Olivaceous Flatbill - one along SH on the 24th and 25th, one along PT on the 25th, and two along AR on the 27th
Golden-crowned Spadebill - one along PT on the 25th
Royal Flycatcher - two along PT on the 25th
Black-tailed Flycatcher - one along GR on the 26th
Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher - four along SH and two along PT on the 25th, five along PR on the 26th and two along AR on the 27th
Olive-sided Flycatcher - one along AR on the 27th
Eastern Wood-Pewee - one along AR on the 27th
Acadian Flycatcher - one along AR on the 27th
Long-tailed Tyrant - two along AR on the 27th
Bright-rumped Attila - one seen and others heard along PR on the 26th and two along AR on the 27th
Dusky-capped Flycatcher - four along SH on the 24th, up to ten at CT, SH and PT on the 25th, two along PR on the 26th, and three along AR on the 27th
Panama Flycatcher - one at AP on the 26th and another at Summit Ponds on the 27th
Lesser Kiskadee - one at AP on the 26th
Great Kiskadee - three at AP on the 26th
Social Flycatcher - four at AP on the 26th and six along AR on the 27th
Streaked Flycatcher - one along PR on the 26th, two along AR and one at GR on the 27th
Piratic Flycatcher - one at CT on the 25th and one at AP on the 26th
Tropical Kingbird - common in open habitats
Eastern Kingbird - one at CT on the 25th
Masked Tityra - three along SH on the 24th and 25th, two at CT on the 25th, and two along GR on the 27th
Blue Cotinga - a male at CT on the 24th and 25th and two males at AR on the 27th
Purple-throated Fruitcrow - two at the beginning of PT on the 24th and 12 along AR on the 27th
Golden-collared Manakin - two females along PT on the 25th, several males and females along PL on the 26th and up to 10 males and females along AR on the 27th
Blue-crowned Manakin - three females and two males along SH on the 25th
Red-capped Manakin - three females along SH on the 24th and 26th
Red-eyed Vireo - one at GR on the 27th
Tawny-crowned Greenlet - two at GR on the 26th and one on the 27th
Lesser Greenlet - two on SH on the 25th
Green Shrike-Vireo - three along SH on the 24th and one on the 25th, and two along GR on the 26th.  This species could be heard almost continuously at CT, SH, PT and PR.
Black-chested Jay - two along PT on the 25th and up to 10 along AR on the 27th
Gray-breasted Martin - common around the CT and at other locations
Mangrove Swallow - one at Gatun on the 27th
Blue-and-white Swallow - three at CT on the 25th.  These were likely austral migrant overshoots and are apparently rare in central Panama.  These were the first reported for the Canopy Tower.
Southern Rough-winged Swallow - four at Gatun on the 27th
Cliff Swallow - five at CT on the 24th
Barn Swallow - common everywhere, over 100 at Gatun on the 27th
Black-bellied Wren - one at PR and another at GR on the 26th
Bay Wren - foure along PR on the 26th and six along AR on the 27th
Buff-breasted Wren - one at GR on the 27th
Plain Wren - one along AR on the 27th
House Wren - three at AP and three along GR on the 26th and two along AR on the 27th
White-breasted Wood-Wren - two at CT and two along PT on the 25th
Song Wren - three with an army ant swarm and another elsewhere on PL on the 26th
Long-billed Gnatwren - two along SH on the 25th and along GR on the 26th
Tropical Gnatcatcher - four along Sh on the 24th , two along GR on the 26th and three there on the 27th
Clay-colored Robin - four at AP and up to six along GR on the 26th, 10+ along AR and five along GR on the 27th
Tropical Mockingbird - singles at Gatun on the 27th and in Panama City on the 28th
Cedar Waxwing - a flock of about 15 individuals at CT on the 24th and 25th
Tennessee Warbler - common in mixed flocks with 20+ per day, especially from the CT
Yellow Warbler - one at AP on the 26th
Chestnut-sided Warbler - common in mixed flocks with 10+ per day, especially from the CT
Bay-breasted Warbler - common in mixed flocks with 5+ per day, especially from the CT
Black-and-white Warbler - one at Ct on the 24th and one along PT on the 25th
Northern Waterthrush - one along PT on the 25th and 26th
Kentucky Warbler - one on SH on the 25th
Bananaquit - up to 10 along AR on the 27th
Gray-headed Tanager - four along SH on the 24th and two along PT on the 25th
Sulphur-rumped Tanager - three along AR on the 27th
White-shouldered Tanager - up to 10 per day at all locations
White-lined Tanager - a male along AR on the 27th
Red-throated Ant-Tanager - eight along PR and four at GR on the 26th and six along GR on the 27th
Summer Tanager - five per day
Scarlet Tanager - up to 10 per day
Crimson-backed Tanager - four at AP and six at GR on the 26th and four along AR on the 27th
Flame-rumped Tanager - at least 20 along AR on the 27th
Blue-gray Tanager - four at AP on the 26th and four along AR on the 27th
Palm Tanager - common at all locations
Yellow-crowned Euphonia - one along AR on the 27th
Thick-billed Euphonia - two, and adult male and an immature male, at AP on the 26th
Fulvous-vented Euphonia - males at SH on the 24th and 25th and CT on the 25th
Plain-colored Tanager - two from the CT on the 24th, five at PL and three at GR on the 26th, and four along AR on the 27th
Bay-headed Tanager - two at CT on the 25th
Golden-hooded Tanager - six along AR on the 27th
Blue Dacnis - two from CT daily and four along PL on the 26th
Green Honeycreeper -  - two from CT daily, two along PL on the 26th, and one along AR on the 27th
Red-legged Honeycreeper - a pair along PR on the 26th
Blue-black Grassquit - six at AP on the 26th and common along AR on the 27th
Variable Seedeater - Up to 10 at AP on the 27th also present in disturbed habitats along GR and AR
Yellow-bellied Seedeater - four at AP on the 25th and six along AR on the 27th
Thick-billed Seed-Finch - two at AP on the 26th and up to six along GR on the 26th and 27th
Saffron Finch - a male at Gatun on the 27th
Orange-billed Sparrow - two along AR on the 27th
Black-striped Sparrow - four at AP on the 26th
Streaked Saltator - one at AP and three along GR on the 26th
Buff-throated Saltator - four at AP on the 26th and two at AR and Gr on the 27th
Black-headed Saltator - two along AR on the 27th
Slate-colored Grosbeak - two along SH on the 24th and another at CT on the 25th
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - three along GR on the 26th and eight there on the 27th
Blue-black Grosbeak - a pair along PR on the 26th
Red-breasted Blackbird - six along AR on the 27th
Great-tailed Grackle - common in open, disturbed habitats
Bronzed Cowbird - one along AR on the 27th
Giant Cowbird - one along GR on the 27th
Yellow-backed Oriole - four along AR on the 27th
Baltimore Oriole - one from the CT on the 26th and eight at GR on the 27th
Yellow-billed Cacique - two along SH on the 25th and 26th and two along GR on the 27th
Scarlet-rumped Cacique - four along SH on the 24th and 25th and up to six along the PR on the 27th
Yellow-rumped Cacique - one along AR on the 27th
Crested Oropendola - three along AR on the 27th
Chestnut-headed Oropendola - one seen along SH on the 24th and two along PT on the 25th

Total
- 216 species

Heard Only

Great Tinamou - heard daily around the CT and along the PT on the 25th
Cinnamon Woodpecker -
heard along SH on the 24th and PR on the 26th
Tawny-throated Leaftosser
- one heard along AR on the 27th

 

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