2018 Panama Journal - Day 6 - Part 2

Thursday 2/15/18 Continued

After lunch we headed out to Lajas Blancas. 

Lajas Blancas is the closest Embera Indigenous community to the Canopy Camp, a large community with a population of over 1000 residents.

This bridge had just been completed enough that we were able to drive over the river.  During the “wet season” heavy rains wash away the bridge.  The bridge is re-built every year during the “dry season.”

We birded this area for a couple of hours before heading back to camp for dinner and some night owling.

We enjoyed watching this Collared Aracari pulling fruit from this tree. The pictures give a great look at the serrated bill. As always, click on the picture for a better look!!

We had been seeing Black-chested Jays throughout the trip, but they hadn't stayed still long enough for a picture. This one finally posed for us!

Black-chested Jay

This Rufous-tailed Jacamar looked metallic when the sun was just right. The males have a white throat, while the females throat is buffy.

Rufous-tailed Jacamar male

Rufous-tailed Jacamar female

Jacamars look like giant hummingbirds with their long pointed bills, but they are actually flycatchers. This Jacamar looked interested in a butterfly that was getting a little close.

Our woodpecker luck continued as we got looks at both of the big ones, the Lineated Woodpecker and the Crimson-crested Woodpecker.

Lineated Woodpecker male

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

We also enjoyed good looks at Red-rumped Woodpeckers.

Red-rumped Woodpecker female

Somewhat similar to woodpeckers, but not closely related, are woodcreepers. Cocoa Woodcreepers were common throughout Panama, and we got many good looks. 

Cocoa Woodcreeper

It started getting dark quickly after dinner.  Carlos led us around the camp looking for owls and night creatures.  We did not see any owls but we did come across an Olingo.  It was too dark for pictures.  

Next time:  Day 7 -  The last Kingfisher and a very memorial day.

Birds seen today:  Great Tinamou (H), Little Tinamou (H), Pale-vented Pigeon, Ruddy Ground-Dove, White-tipped Dove, Squirrel Cuckoo, Greater Ani, Smooth-billed Ani, White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Pale-bellied Hermit, Black-throated Mango, White-vented Plumeleteer,  Sapphire-throated Hummingbird, Violet-bellied Hummingbird, Southern Lapwing, Wattled Jacana, Wood Stork, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Cattle Egret, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture,  Roadside Hawk, White Hawk, Crested Owl (H), Central American Pygmy-Owl, Mottled Owl (H), Black-and-White Owl (H), Black-tailed Trogon, Whooping Motmot, White-necked Puffbird, White-fronted Nunbird, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Spot-crowned Barbet, Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan, Yellow-throated Trogon (H), Olivaceous Piculet (H), Red-crowned Woodpecker, Striped-cheeked Woodpecker, Red-rumped Woodpecker, Cinnamon woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot,  Red-lored Parrot, Mealy Parrot, Great Antshrike (H), Black Antshrike, Black-crowned Antshrike, Moustached Antwren (H), White-flanked Antwren, Bare-crowned Antbird (H), White-bellied Antbird (H), Spotted Antbird, Black-crowned Antpitta (H), Cocoa Woodcreeper, Forest Elaenia, Yellow-bellied Elaenia (H), Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Olivaceous Flatbill, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Flycatcher, Royal Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Lesser Kiskadee, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Piratic Flycatcher (H), Tropical Kingbird, Speckled Mourner, Black-crowned Tityra, Cinnamon Becard, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, Rufous Piha, Golden-collard Manakin, Golden-headed Manakin, Black-chested Jay, Scaly-breasted Wren (H), House Wren, White-headed Wren, Black-bellied Wren, Bay Wren, White-breasted Wood-Wren (H), Tropical Gnatcatcher, Clay-colored Thrush, Thick-billed Euphonia, Northern Waterthrush, Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blue-gray Tanager, Palm Tanager, Golden-hooded Tanager, White-eared Conebill, Blue-black Grassquit, Crimson-backed Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Bananaquit, Buff-throated Saltator, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Great-tailed Grackle, Orange-crowned Oriole, Crested Oropendola, Chestnut-headed Oropendola.

Geoffroy’s Tamarin, Panamanian Night Monkey, Mantled Howler (H), Red-tailed Squirrel, White-nosed Coati, Allen’s Olingo, Bat Species, House Gecko, Dobson Fly.